HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1993-05-20BIAC\1993-05-20
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1993
PRESENT:
Mike Hiscott (Chairman), Atso Saarkoppel, Martha George, Tito Gughelmi,
John Tibbits, Alderman Mike Wagner, Wayne Hussey, David lqYeure, George
Borovilos, Jane Jantzi and Valerie Gibaut
REGRETS:
Claude Schneider, Dan Beach, Jerry Mclnnis, Jim McCutcheon, and
Alderman Carl Zehi'
RECORDER: Jane Jantzi
1. Minutes of April 15, 1993 were accepted as wHttem
Joint Meeting with Waterloo's Economic Development Committee (WEI)C)
The proposed joint meeting was discussecL It was determined that it would be in the best
interests of both municipalities for some type of co-operative effort to take place between the
two Advisory Committee~ The question was raised as to whether or not it was necessary to
ask permission of City Council before proceeding to the next step. It was generally agreed
that as the Committee was appointed by Council and the mandate clearly stated, it should not
be necessary to approach Council It was agreed however, that working together and sha~qng
ideas and data is not a problem, but we should refrain from any discussion regarding
amalgamation or integratio~
V. Gibaut intbrmed the Committee that a few co-operative marketing ventures have ah'early
been undertaken with Waterloo thi'ough the staff level Valerie also stated that the economic
twinning initiative would have more impact ff it were to encompass Waterloo also.
It was agreed that the Chairman will appear before the Planning and Economic
Development Committee on June 14th 1993 to give a verbal semi-annual report outlining the
Committee's intention~ (Due to a heavy agend~ this has been deferred to July).
Review of Da'Mt Letter to Educational Excellence Committee
It was decided that the letter no longer needed to be sent to the Educational F~xcellence
Committee. Wayne Hussey advised that there could be overlap between that committee and
the Town and Gown Committee, which held a recent forum at Will~qd Laurier Univm~ity.
The primary focus of this group is housing and transportation for student~
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES
There was some concern that confusion will occur with the variety of educational committees
being formed in the Regiom It was proposed that a pubhc forum be organized whereby all
the interested groups would be invited to display theh' wares, the target audience being the
business community. No decision was made on this suggestiom
Wayne Hussey agreed to provide a catalogue of intbrmation on training and education
committees and V. Gibaut was asked to obtain Tom McKay's opinion of the above-noted
suggestio~
Future Meeting with Ted Cross - Office of Technology Transfer and Licensing University of
Waterloo
The committee was intbrmed that ~Vh'. Cross would be more than willing to come to a meeting
as an agenda item and speak for 15-90 minute~ There was some discussion as to whether we
should invite other City Hall staff to listen, as this topic deals with starting small busines~
John Tibbits offered to host a meeting and invite the same people as were invited to the
College for the Small Business Breald'ast.
It was decided that W. Hussey will talk with J. Tibbits and V. Gibaut to come up with a
package of intbrmation and report back to the next meeting. It was suggested that the list of
invitees include the financial community, lawyers, insurance agents, bankers, etc. - prospect
generator~
5. Economic Development Activity
Valerie Gibaut updated the Committee:
Huron Business Park Site 130 Marketing initiative. City Council has approved the
price of $90,000 per acre, which k now the official price of municipally-owned land.
b)
Environmental Management Inc. - George Borovilos advised that this new company
will be locating at 960 Shoemaker Street. The company is a transfer site for
hazardous waste. There will be no processing of chemicals on site as they will
transfer waste back to the recycler. Under the current zoning by-law this is a
pe~nitted use and this facility is not as hazardous as the previous user. The company
has taken every effort to intbrm the pubhc and alleviate any concerns by holding
May 50, 1993.
Economic Development Division
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES
several intbrmation sessions
c)
Movetech Inc. - Jane Jantzi advised that the company specializes in the total recycle
of th'e~ Movetech is a company specializing in the total recycle of th'e~ They have
just obtained theh' Certificate of Approval from the Ministry of the Environment and
are undergoing negotiations for the property at 980 Joseph Street.
Women's Correctional Facility - Valerie Gibaut advised that she has responded to a
few hunch'ed letters from resident~ Plans are progressing, although some delays
have been experienced in preparation of site/building plan~ Const~q~ction is still due
to begin prior to year-end.
e)
We are ente~qng the third year of exchange with WindhoSk, Namibia in Africa~ A
member of theh' Economic Development Department will be involved in this year's
exchange and he will be shadowing our department~ hence he will be present at the
next BIAC meeting. T. Guglielmi to has graciously offered to arrange a tour of JM
Schneider's for the four representative~ They will be here June 7-93, 1993.
A new counsellor hh'ed for the Small Business Centre will be introduced to the
Committee at the next meeting.
May 50, 1993.
Economic Development Division
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES
g)
Economic Twinning - Laurier Trade Development Centre will be presenting theh'
final report by the end of May. PI'eliminary indications show that certain areas in
the United States, Mexico and Western Europe are the regions which would present
the best strategic alliance opportunities and twin cities have been identified in these
region~ Eastern Europe and Asia, though important growth markets, should be
considered only as areas for market intelligence until such time as local fh~ns have
gained the international experience needed to deal with these market~
Economic Development staff are now analyzing the indust~qal base into appropriate
"clusters" to facilitate identification of companies which would be most receptive to
economic twinning strategie~
The fourth bi-annual Business Heritage Awards will be held in the new City Hall
on November 17/18t1~ Tito, Martha, Mike and Claude have all volunteered theh'
time to this committee and all members were urged to mark theh' calenda~
Meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m~
Next Meeting:
Thursday, June 10, 1993
11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m.
Deer Ridge Golf Course, Kitchener
May 50, 1993.
Economic Development Division
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