HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv Comm - 2004-04-28ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
April 28, 2004
11:00 am - 1:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room -City Hall
Attendance:
Shawky Fahel
Howie Budd
Lawrence Bingeman
Robert Denton
Councillor John Smola
Glen Woolner
Mark Paleczny
Scott Baird
Mayor Carl Zehr
Councillor Christina Weylie
Edward Brooker
Jane Jantzi
Staff:
Regrets:
George Borovilos
Kathy Weiss
Jeff Willmer
Cherie Sajkunovic
Rob Shamess
Ruth Anne Goetz
Frank Pizzuto
Rob Browning
Hans Pottkamper
Peter Cook
Janette MacDonald
Rob Morgan
Patricia Bacon
Carla Ladd
Larry Masseo
Pauline Houston
David Mansell
Peter Benninger
Approval of Minutes of March 24, 2004
Minutes of March 24, 2004 were approved as amended.
Moved by Shawky Fahel
Seconded by Mark Paleczny
Carried
Development Charge Background Study Presentation
Pauline Houston introduced members of the Development Charge Team.
She opened her presentation by providing an overview of the rationale behind
Development Charges.
Specifically:
1. The City will experience growth through development and redevelopment. This will
require an increase need for city services.
2. The City's policy is to ensure that the capital cost of growth does not place a
financial burden on existing taxpayers.
3. The DC Act enables a City to impose Development Charges to pay for increased
capital costs required because of new development or redevelopment.
After outlining the background and methodology of the review and where the charges
are allocated to, the study has proposed three area specific charges:
1. Downtown Core Area Exemption
2. Central Neighbourhoods
3. Suburban Area
There were a number of questions raised by the Committee to understand the
proposed impact to non-residential development.
Action:
1. Economic Development Staff provide an opinion on development charges and
research what competing jurisdictions are proposing.
2. Economic Development Staff illustrate what the impact would be on a "phantom
company" taking into account key cost variables.
3. Employment Lands Update
George Borovilos provided an update on the status of Grand River West Business
Lands. He indicated that staff was preparing a business case exploring potential
development options and their associated costs. In terms of the Breslau North
Employment Lands, staff was meeting with representatives of Woolwich Township to
investigate the next steps.
4. Tour of the New Market
Kathy Weiss explained that the New Market is planning marketing activities around the
opening. As part of this, members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee
are invited to a barbeque event to be held on May 26. It was suggested and agreed by
the Committee, that the next EDAC meeting be scheduled for 45 minutes and the
remaining time be allocated to tour the new facility.
5. Economic Development Direction
George Borovilos presented via Power Point some of the considerations that staff has
to take into account as a result of the Economic Development Investment Fund. He
EDAC Minutes
April 28, 2004
outlined the role of economic development in the past and the new emerging role. The
discussion of EDAC focused in particular on the concern that Corporate Visitations are
not being made on a regular basis. It was reiterated by Chair Weylie that this item was
a concern raised at the November 2003 meeting of the previous Economic
Development Advisory Committee. Committee members reinforced that concern and
requested that staff look into this direction as part of any potential re-organization of
activities and organizational structure for Economic Development.
6. New Business
a. Tourism
Lawrence Bingeman, representing the Tourism Sector raised the issue of the city's
direction and role for Tourism. Staff explained that Tourism is being administered
through the Communications Division of the City and the focus is on Sports tourism.
EDAC requested a presentation on this direction.
Action: Economic Development Staff to contact Rosemary Pitfield to arrange a
presentation for the June meeting.
b. Branding
Ed Brooker raised the issue of branding, specifically what is the City's brand and has
that been discussed and evaluated. Staff indicated that no brand equity studies have
been conducted.
Action: Economic Development Staff to co-ordinate a meeting of appropriate City
Staff to explore this concept and report back to EDAC in the future.
The meeting adjourned at 1:10 pm.
Cherie Sajkunovic, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Moved by: Scott Baird
Seconded by: Edward Brooker
Carried
Next Meeting May 26, 2004
11:00 am to 11:45 am
Conestoga Room, Kitchener City Hall
11:45 am to 1:00 pm
"Your New Kitchener Market"
EDAC Minutes
April 28, 2004