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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDAC - 2014-04-23 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES April 23, 2014 City of Kitchener The Economic Development Advisory Committee met this date chaired by Jeremy Auger the following members were in attendance: Councillors Scott Davey, Bil Ioannidis, Paul Singh, Mark Derro, Adrian Conrad, Ashely Reid, Darrin Snider, Joannah Classon-Romero, Cory Ernst, Jeff Hoekman, Rebecca Short Staff in attendance: Rod Regier, Chris Farrell, Janette Macdonald, Brian Bennett, Sam, Ryan Hagey, Cory Bluhm, Tracey Murray The minutes of the March meeting were approved. 1. Development Charges Brian Bennett provided a background on the Development Charges and the options and possible recommendations. He also advised the Region is currently reviewing their policy as well. Ryan Hagey provided an overview of how the development charges are calculated based on needs in different areas of the city - greenfield vs. central neighborhoods. The committee engaged in the following question / answer discussion: What happens when development charges are not collected, where does the money come from to cover costs, what happens on the property tax side? 1) Statutory exemption would be potentially included in future development charge studies and if we had a short fall in our reserve fund our starting position for our reserve would be negative, and we would have to make that up over time. If it is a non-statutory exemption, that would have to be added that to property taxes and utility customers throughout the city. 2) Commercial / industrial , the tax rate revenue that would be generated is a benefit. On the other side we have to consider that those customers are still putting a demand on services and in order to open up the lands for commercial / industrial development we need money to install the infrastructure. Is the city losing out to communities to the west of Kitchener because they have no development charges and how are they making that up? 1) through taxes they will generate more tax revenue and are retaining manufacturing in their region. The biggest competition we have is Kentucky, North Carolina, Mexico, etc. . Do we know how many acres we have left of greenfield land is available and what would the exemption impact be if we had to cover that? About 100 acres. The committee brought forward the following resolution: On motion by Darrin Snider Seconded by Mark Hopkins That the Kitchener Economic Development Advisory Committee supports the exemption from payment of development charges for one or more enlargements of an existing Industrial building on its site up to a maximum of fifty per cent of the gross floor area as at June 1, 2014, as outlined in the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Report FCS-14-054, dated April 14, 2014. All in favour unanimous 2. Downtown Annual Report Cory Bluhm provided background information on how the downtown report is generated. He advised that it is an overview of what the city has been able to accomplish over time and highlight success stories. He advised the growth has been startups and art in the downtown. The committee was asked for feedback: The focus within the downtown is a younger demographic that will focus on keeping talent within the downtown Mark Hopkins will look into getting us a slot within the KW Real Estate board to do a presentation Format is very nice The Committee also watched the following videos: http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/en/livingdowntown/Downtown-Annual-Report- 2013.asp The committee suggested that the focus for 2014 include more than just events and questioned how we can do more for the retailers, Mr. Bluhm advised that the BIA is currently working on an After 5 program and weekend programming. The committee asked if there is information on retail services needed that the real estate community could review. There may be some need to educate the developers/retailers, to better understand their customer. Action Further collaboration with the real estate community will be organized. 3. Waste Management Ashely Reid asked that consideration to an additional agenda item be accepted. Ms. Reid raised the issue of what effect waste has on our local economy. She advised that the region is currently in the process of reviewing waste management and noted that the region is not responsible for industrial and commercial waste which is going to Michigan. There may be ways for the committee to be involved in the new plan for waste management. The committee expressed interest in learning more and Ms. Reid offered to bring forward a presentation outlining the details to a future meeting.