HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-23
DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
August 23, 2018 City of Kitchener
The Downtown Action & Advisory Committee met on this date, commencing at 4:15 p.m.
Present: Aaron Francis, Andrea Santi, Bryan Gracan, Bryan Santos, Bryn Ossington,
David Harmes, Geoffrey Guin, Martin Timmerman, Melissa Bowman (chair)
Staff: Hilary Abel, Mistie Brown, Monika Grau, Chloe Howell
Updates
Hilary Abel provided the committee with the following updates:
1. Queen Street Reconstruction and Place-making Project
Underground work over the summer. Public consultations underway, working with a
consultant to finalize design with a start date of around May-June 2019.
2. One Young Street
Office building confirmed for old Mayfair Hotel site. The City of Kitchener has released
plans and renderings of the development.
David Harmes spoke to the committee about a project he’s working on: the Midtown Radio
Project. With help from a grant from the City of Kitchener’s Neighbourhood Development
Office, the aim of Midtown Radio is to create a digital radio station focused on local events,
people and music. The idea behind project is to have no commercials, news or propaganda
and feature local artists and resident-driven content.
There was no update from the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee at this time.
There was no update from the Downtown Kitchener BIA at this time other than informing the
committee of their annual Town Hall in October. More details will be provided over the coming
months.
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DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
August 23, 2018 City of Kitchener
Summer Roundtable
The summer roundtable was a chance for the Downtown Action & Advisory Committee to
present issues and key topics they are interested in discussing over the next couple of months
and also to provide staff with feedback on summer programming.
The group talked about what made them want to apply for this committee, highlights over the
summer and whether or not they attended any Downtown Kitchener programming from June-
August.
Mistie Brown asked the committee for some ideas on winter programming (indoors and
outdoors).
Other conversation points centered on:
Sport venues
Isolation and local democracy
Night/Shift, The Brush Off at THEMUSEUM
Instagram-friendly backdrops and signs (i.e. the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square)
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
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