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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKitchener BIA - 2014-02-18 8:30 am - 11:00 am February 18, 2014 Location: 29 King St. E Unit B Kitchener, ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Minutes In attendance: Zenia Horton, Michael Falcone, Sharon Morton, Shannon Weber, Councilor Frank Etherington, Cory Bluhm, Domini Baldasaro, Paul Walman, Kevin Ballantyne, Kevin Thaler, Regrets: Le-Anne Pilecki, Dawn Phillips-Brown, Mayor Carl Zehr, Councilor Dan Glenn-Graham, Darryl Moore, Linda Jutzi, Lindsay Walden Guests: Kimberley Moser, Region of Waterloo; Greg Hummel, City of Kitchener Welcome and Introductions Zenia Horton Call to order at 8:40 am Zenia Horton Approval of Agenda __________________________ _ Zenia Horton No conflicts of interest declared Motion: To approve the Agenda. Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Second by Sharon Morton Carried ION Presentation Kimberly Moser Kimberly Moser from Region of Waterloo presented a brief ION pre request support from the BIA Board of Directors moving forward. business and community perspective we (ION and the BIA) should e on a united front. Sharon Morton asked if it is possible for the BIA to pr to Downtown Businesses - it would help the businesses understand the benefit of ION to lo business. Kimberly said ION would have packages ready by April. Signs will be put up April/May which will generate excitement and the LRT Cars are coming back Downtown Kitchener. Frank Etherington said there is still a hug they need to know where the actual stops are. Actual stops will final design time. Kimberly asked the board for a letter of endorsement th March 4 Council meeting. She will need this letter by February 2. Snow Removal Downtown Greg Hummel City of Kitchener Greg Hummel addressed snow removal concerns with the downtown bu Weber said the BIA has received complaints regarding sidewalks a members are asking for a solution. Greg said that roads are the ewalks are second. This has been an unusual winter and the snow removal cre around the clock to try to keep up. Greg said another issue has with two options being a melter and hauling snow to a snow dump.He said the City does its best to get the snow removal done in a timely manner. Greg said to side streets for 16 hours. Sharon Morton said the timing for sidewalk snow removal does not work for the businesses - 3pm is not the best time 8am would be better. Greg said that King Street is the first downtown priority and is done in the morning windrows are a problem for sidewalk snow removal. Shannon Weber said on street important and wonders if the Downtown could explore hiring a pri val and it is a balancing act. The board requested numbers from Jeff to the BIA to hire lower contractors. Approval of Minutes Zenia Horton Motioned by Michael Falcone Second by Domini Baldasaro Carried. Governance Committee Update Shannon Weber Shannon Weber provided a Governance Committee update on behalf o-Brown. Board recruitment: Three potential candidates have been identified. Shannon noted importance of engaging new members as part of the Board recruitment process and reaching out to Communitech as a first step in engaging new members. Shannon requested names be put forward by Tuesday March 4, 2014 in time for Governance Committee to finalize the nominations for the AGM on March 26. Shannon noted that a brief meeting with the new Board of Directors will take place immediately after the AGM to confirm Executive for 2014. Constitution for Approval Shannon Weber Shannon noted final constitutional changes Motioned to approve changes to the Constitution Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Second by Michael Falcone Carried Finance Report Kevin Ballantyne Kevin Ballantyne presented the December 2013 financial report. Motion: To approve the revised December 2013 financial statements. Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Second: Michael Falcone Carried Kevin Ballantyne presented the January 2014 financial report. Michael Falcone discussed the possibility of other places to put Deposits) Call to action: Michael and Kevin will explore this. Motion: To approve the January 2014 financial report. Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Second by Paul Walman Carried Kevin Ballantyne questioned whether there was a motion to approve the 2014 Budget Janu Motion: To amend the January 2014 Board minutes to reflect the approval of the 2014 budget. Moved by Michael Falcone Second: Paul Walman Carried Shannon stated that the budget was approved at the January meeting as follows: Moved by Michael Falcone Seconded by Domini Baldasaro Carried Motion: To approve the amended January 2014 Board of Directors minutes Moved by Paul Walman Second: Michael Falcone Carried Michael Falcone asked that the Board continue the discussion to rev bonus days program. Shannon Weber highlighted some of the operational concerns with 2014-2016 Strategic Plan Shannon Weber Shannon presented an update/changes to the Strategic Plan Framework. A fourth pri added to the existing plan outlining the goal to foster a positi Paul Walman expressed concern with regards to the perception of Downtown core. He asked how the board is going to get people dow restaurants in the evenings. He believes the perception is the Downtown is not safe after 5pm. Zenia Horton said that NightShift was a successful event that dro the downtown after dark. She said that NightShift proves people will come Downtown Shannon Weber wants to build in a Board calendar to keep track of progress and on priorities. Cory Bluhm suggested an agenda around the topics would also help. Motioned to approve the Strategic Plan as presented. Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Second by Michael Falcone Carried Boundary Expansion Outreach Shannon Weber Shannon requested the Board to assist the BIA to reach out to new members. A spread sheet was passed around for board members to identify businesses they that an estimated 150 new members need an outreach connection by Shannon reported the BIA has engaged a Laurier MBA Consultant gr framework that will help to foster engagement between the BIA an result in a better understanding of what new members needs are f Economic Development Update Cory Bluhm Council has deferred the approval of extending the Façade Grant to BIA members to December 2018 to next year. Cory suggested the message to members be to take advantage of it now rather than wait until next year. Michael Falcone asked if businesses would need permits for events but the city is working on a way for them (businesses) to get easy access to permits. Shannon wants to get the general feel of what the Board and the on-street parking or closed streets for events. Major decisions are being know what we are supporting. Action Item: Have the discussion parking at an upcoming meeting. WRPS Update Kevin Thaler Officers are riding transit buses for extra security measures, a colder days. Security remains an issue for OOTC needles are being found in the toilets in washrooms. Kevin expressed the importance of continued police support for OOTC services. Police presence is better in the downtown and the police are mor be doing a walk around with the BIA Board. Other Business Shannon Weber asked if the Board was comfortable with taking a position on ION and that this th would be communicated in a letter to Regional Council for Februa. Motion: To support the Region of Waterloo iON Rapid Transit proj Moved by: Kevin Ballantyne Seconded by: Michael Falcone Carried Shannon will provide a draft support letter to the Board for review and approval v Adjournment Motion to adjourn the February 18, 2014 meeting. Moved by Kevin Ballantyne Seconded by Michael Falcone Carried