HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-27
DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
March 27, 2014 City of Kitchener
The Downtown Action & Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Shannon Weber, Chair, Councillors Dan Glenn-Graham and Frank
Etherington, Tania Benninger, Melissa Bowman, Amina Gilani, Dean Knipfel,
Lawrence McNaught, D. Morton, Brad Watson and Don Zehr
Staff: Hilary Abel, Cory Bluhm and Monika Grau
Announcement: Shannon Weber announced that this will be her last DAAC meeting as Co-
Chair of the DAAC Committee. She has resigned as Executive Director of the Downtown
Kitchener BIA.
The Committee will require another volunteer to be the next Co-Chair. This will be
addressed at the next DAAC Committee meeting.
1. Information Items
Major Developments Updates
Cory gave updates on the following Downtown developments: City Centre, adjacent to City
Hall, the KPL (Kitchener Public Library) and the Mayfair.
2. Downtown Action Plan and Downtown Annual Report
The Downtown Action Plan is a joint collaboration between the City and the BIA. An Annual
stA the
accomplishments by the Community in 2013. Copies of the new Annual Report were given
to Committee members. Positive feedback was received by Committee members.
Downtown Annual Report Theme- The Start of Awesome
Progress was made this year in the following 3 areas:
1. Emergence of Start-ups in the Tech & Food sectors
2. Arts & Culture Businesses
3. Amazing King Street Experience, including:
a. The physical experience, building/façade improvements
b. Enhanced Street Cleaning with our new Clean teams
c. Social/Community Experience
d. People Activity (more people coming and experiencing Downtown)
The Downtown Annual Report is now available for viewing online.
http://www.kitchener.ca/flashgallery/mags/ecdev/2013downtownannualreport/index.html
Downtown Action & Advisory Committee March 27, 2014
3. Downtown Brand Strategy
Cory outlined the key challenge of any Brand Strategy - to understand what the Community
thinks of Downtown now and what we want them to think about the Downtown in the future.
Hilary provided the committee with an update on the direction for the downtown brand
strategy and marketing, including showcasing the new downtown website and an overview
of the downtown live programming and summer events
Ideas from the Committee:
1. Partnering with Neighbourhood Associations. Smaller organizations could reach out
2. Food Trucks and live music could be promoted in advance.
3. Layering of a multi-media approach to reach young and old alike.
4. Pick/tell stories that resonate with many people. behind
each story.
5. Social Work Neighbourhood Section. Show a video on those working with Downtown
people. There are many doing good things, show the different demographics. This
could help change attitudes towards these groups.
6. Tell stories in a motivating way, i.e. Faces of New York. Tell a polished story about,
7. High accessibility, events, locations. For example visual/hearing impairments,
mention as part of story, without highlighting it. Engaging accessibility group
symbols.
8. Interactive-
from others (i.e. similar to the Much Music Video Booth in Toronto). How would you
like to see and things done and contribute?
4. Future Agenda Items:
Downtown Action Plan Refresh
2014 Events Calendar for Summer Festivals
On behalf of the Committee and Staff members, Cory thanked Shannon Weber for
Chairing the Committee.
th
The next meeting of DAAC : April 24, 2014.
5. Adjournment
On motion, meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
M. Grau
Committee Staff Member
Downtown Action & Advisory Committee March 27, 2014