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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kit - 2015-06-03iooi000�i /0000ii' /o COMPASS KITCHENER MINUTES June 3, 2015 — 4:00 -6:00 Conestoga Room, KITCHENER CITY HALL Present: Chris Hyde Nathan Dorsch Lynn Gazzola Mark Paul Roberto Villamar Pete Lennox Daniella McIntosh Lori Trumper Kirk Zurell Guest: Atilla Staff: Laurie Majcher Jenn Grein Janice Ouellette Regrets: Bojana Kojic Graham Jackson Zoe Zahara Fadi Abd- Ulhamid Tristan Wilkin 1. Review of past minutes The minutes from May 6, 2015 were approved by Compass Kitchener. Moved by Lori, second by Pete. Passed. 2. Kitchener Economic Development Strategy • With the use of a PowerPoint presentation, Frank presented 'Ideas of the Brave' the engagement taking place to develop the new Kitchener Economic Development Strategy. • He provided a summary of what Economic Development means to the city for the committee as well as examples from all around the city. • Kitchener's Economic Development team is looking for BRAVE ideas on what could be accomplished in the next 4 years. • What do you like best about Kitchener? • Living in a smaller city that has the amenities and culture of a larger city, restaurants, transportation, yet close to country side. • The parks throughout the city and how they are connected, and family oriented. • Centre in the Square and other cultural amenities, amount of green space. • Trails and parks, but also how close our region is to others including Toronto, Hamilton, London. • Diversity of not only the people and culture, but also the business. • Sense of community, which seems to be clear especially when returning from time in other cities. ■ Think about the future of your profession /industry. What excites you? What worries you? • Are we creating enough jobs through our new strategies and businesses to cover for the loss recently within the manufacturing industry? • Diversity of community and support from many in various communities thoughout our region. Worry about the loss of manufacturing. • How would folks feel if we hypothetically lost the tech sector? • Concern that momentum would be lost and that structures would erode. • Concern with high wages and focus on tech only. If tech was to drop out, many would be affected and results could be hard to handle for the community. Would be better to be diverse in the focus areas throughout the city. • Important to have a wide variety of diversities for a health community. Lack of funding at federal level for housing is concern. ■ What is one idea that would solve an economic development issue in Kitchener? • Diversifying various focus sectors for the city, instead of only tech. • Continue relationships with Universities and grow on these opportunities. • Encourage universities treat students as desirable, and find ways to keep them here, build things they will enjoy. • Go train service into Toronto. • Attraction of immigrants, notjust students. • Help immigrants 'hit the ground running'— provide supports to make life easier. • Assist Social Services for businesses looking to locate in the downtown, eg. An ECE professional may only make $35k /year, however parking for their vehicle or transit into downtown would cost a significant amount. • Taxes could be used as an attractant into the downtown as well. • Go to other cities for events that are not offered here. Big Music Fest was a great opportunity for our community and it would be good to have more of these types of events here. • There is excitement when going to a nearby city for various experiences as well. This is convenient since they are so close. Don't want to loose this piece of culture either. June 3, 2015 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER • NightShift is also super, and would be good to increase funding for events such as this. Do more for the arts as a whole. • It would be good to have unique items to our area, not duplicates that are available in a near by city, especially if GO to Toronto is increased. • Imagine a better Kitchener 10 years from now. What do you see? How do we get there? What could make the economy stronger? • We need an iconic element in Kitchener similar to the CN Tower in Toronto. This would be something that is unique in many ways and draws people in from all over the world. • Schneider site redeveloped, an example of this is McLennan Park, converted from a dump to a municipal park. • Long, cold winters make it difficult to do anything outside. It would be good to have other options indoors during the winter so residents can continue to be active. Neighbourhood associations could increase this activity for residents as well. • Parks in this city are phenomenal! Would be nice to have additional water parks. • It would be great if in 10 years from now, we don't have parking lots downtown. • Emphasis placed on live near you work. Work to change the focus on requiring a car. • East West public transportation routes in the future, not just north South as we have now. • Environment should also be a major focus for the future of our city • Frank thanked everyone for their time and thoughts today, and is looking foward to seeing what themes come out of these and building the next 4 year strategic plan for Economic Development in our city. ■ He reminded the committee, just because our conversation is done, does not mean input is over - we still want to hear more from you, collect ideas and continue the conversation! Please visit the website: https:// www. kitchener. ca/ en/ businessinkitchener /ideasoftheBrave.asp, and take a look, provide some additional input, and tell everyone you know! 3. Workplan /Terms of Reference for subcommittees • Chris started with a summary of the Terms of Reference for the Report Card Subcommittee. They are considering broadening the engagement process used for the report card to includ stakeholder feedback and consultation in the formative stage. This would take place via social media outreach as well as through other avenues. They propose that two priorities would be reviewed at each committee meeting, July, September and October, with wrap up report and performance plan in November, followed by draft of the report card coming forth roughly March -May, and presentation to Council in June. The committee will need to decide if reporting will be based on community priorities or the finalized strategic plan. The committee is also proposing a pilot of the development/recruitment of an online citizen panel, to provide input into the evaluation process over the next four years. • Lynn provided information on the Actively Engaged Citizens subcommittee. They plan to review projects that impact the city has a whole. They would like to consider case studies for various projects, compare case studies and measure how successful the city was at engaging the community, determine best practices and develop recommendations. They will be referring to the draft engagemetn policy /toolkit and assess processes used by the city for community outreach on issues with a similar reach in the community. Further they plan to consider actions to determine impact and research approaches and processes used in other communities on similar issues. After discussion, the subcommittee may review the timeframe outlined with the possibility to extend into the second year in order to complete work outlined. • Nathan provided information on behalf of the Actively Engaged Neighbourhoods subcommittee. They have planned to engage key neighbourhood connectors in various neighbourhoods and consider what motivates their activity. They would like to consider various pieces of their background, interests, past event planning as well as challenges faced so they can flesh out how they can be encouraged and supported from a city perspective. Festival of Neighbourhoods information and connections may also be very helpful to this sub committee. There may be connections with the Safe and Healthy Communities Advisory Committee which could be raised at the upcoming chair gathering. • Additionally, an MSW student may be available to assist with each of these subcommittees. Janice to offer options, student will select their preference, if at all. • Information reviewed today will be reviewed with other chairs at the all chairs gathering, and connections may be made for future work and cooperation. • Compass Kitchener agreed to Chris and Graham sharing this information with the other committees. Next meeting: July 8, 2015 Location: Conestoga Room Attendance: .n �N Compass Kitchener Attendance 15- 16.xlE