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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1994-03-10BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES BIAC\1994-03-10 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1994 PRESENT: Mike Itiscott (Chah'), Martha George, Dan Beach, Tito Gughelmi, Atso Saarkoppel, Councillor Christina Weylie, and Councillor Tom Galloway ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibauk Tom McKay, and Jane Jantzi REGRETS: David lqYeure, Wayne Hussey, Jim McCutcheon, Roger Downer, Claude Schneider, and John Tibbits RECORDER: Sandy Curzon 1. Minutes of February 10, 1994 The minutes of February 10, 1994 were adopteck Regional Official Policies Plan Review (ROPP) Committee reviewed the latest ch'aft of the ROPP which City of Kitchener Planning Staff have assisted in co-ordinating with the Region of Waterloo Planning Staff. Councillor Weylie asked if there were comments prior to it going to City Council on March 3L 1994. Economic Development staff were given an opportunity to review the ch'aft document and did provide input to the Regiom The ch'aft was subsequently reworded removing most of the controversial content There was a concern raised that the ROPP was too general, although it was agreed that the Region should play a general role in economic development in the area of providing economic researc]~ Tom McKay and Martha George entered meeting Economic Development Division March 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Canada Fineblanking V. Gibaut inibrmed Committee that she has received notice, not directly from Canada Fineblanking, that they have chosen to relocate in Cambridge. It was speculated that the reasons were due more to location than price. V. Gibaut was asked to follow-up directly with the Company and confh~n the reasons why Huron Business Park was not chosem Economic Development Activities a) Local Company Relocation V. Gibaut inibrmed Committee on the transaction that took place between the City and Berkshire Building Corp. A~ Shniffer, representing Berkshire exchanged their parcel of land with the City owned site 98. The exchange was necessary in order to facilitate the development of a new building for Emco Supply. DuKqng the site plan review/building peK~nit process, it was pointed out by Public Works that the site was subjected to constraints regarding water quality. Discussions with Public Works/Building staff resulted in agreement that the subject site be exempted from this requirement which would add a considerable cost to the development. The question was then raised whether water quality should be required in indust~qal park developmen~ particularly the lots which remain vacant. T. McKay pointed out that the major concern for water quality k on agricultural land, not indust~qaL V. Gibaut was asked to confh~n whether or not water quality controls is a legislated requirement. b) Land Exchange C. Schneider referred a local trncking company to Economic Development staff. The company wishes to vacate their current location due to space rest~qction~ J. Jantzi is dealing with the company who are consideKqng Site 84 in the Huron Business Parl~ It was agreed that the price should be negotiated between $70-$75,000 per acre. The company is presently purchasing aH their supplies and conducting preventative Economic Development Division March 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES maintenance work in the U.S. With the relocation they will be in a position to conduct all their work in the area~ The company is conside~qng a location at Highway 97 and 401 also, however, they will lose many of their employees with such a move. c) Jane Jantzi provided a summary of several enquiries and activities which she is presently handling which involve many local companie~ It was noted that the level of activity k increasing, however officeA'etail/commercial space in the Downtown remains hig]~ Councillor Weyhe left the meeting d) V. Gibaut provided a summary of the following: Buffalo visit~ March IL 1994. The visit has been an'anged in order to meet with a number of businesses which are dealing with Canadian companies who wish to export into the U.S. Syracuse NY taqp re Economic Twinning - further inlbrmation at the next meeting. Breald'ast Seminar, March 93rd - target Germany groups responsible for tourisn~ ~VL Hiscott suggested that local t~'avel agents be invited who offer business exchange with Germany. It was also suggested that emphasis be placed on the nmnber of high technology companies which are operating in the Regio~ CTT Symposium - Southwestern Industaqal Show, May 10tl~ CTT is hosting an ISO 9000 Symposium in conjunction with the show which is being held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditoritm~ ISO 9000 is an indust~qal standard which companies require if they wish to do business in Europe. A number of local companies do presently have ISO 9000 certification and it was suggested that they be highlighted in the new Business Directory or the Cl~ Science Economic Development Division March 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES and Technology Dh'ectory. CEX Show, March 18-90 Toronto. This is a joint venture with a local entrepreneur who is attempting to start a dist~qbution centre in Kitchener for the heating and ah' conditioning indust~qe~ F~xport Development Seminar which Canada's Technology Triangle F~xport Network k organizing for June F~xecutive Development Symposium to be held at the Valhalla Inn on Ap~4l 13t]~ All members are encouraged to attend. The topic is adaptation of local businesses to the current economy. Councillor Galloway left the meeting 5. Company Displays V. Gibaut met with Laurier PI'ouLx, Dh'ector of Building Maintenance who suggested that a storefront portable display unit be built to display company product~ This unit would be sell' contained and locked. A visual display was suggested as an addition or as an alternative should cost become a factor. 6. Oktoberfest Proposal City Council did endorse the proposal made by Oktober[est Inc. and it was recommended that an evaluation of the program take place in two years~ Semi Annual Report As part of the Terms of Reference, the Business and Industry Committee is to prepare a semi- annual report to City Council Committee agreed that due to the increase in current issues, the semi-annual report will be delayed. Economic Development Division March 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Continuous Improvement Process V. Gibaut brought Committee up-to-date on the status of CYP relating to the site plan approval proces~ The question of whether Kitchener's process was better or worse than other municipalities arose. D. Beach advised that Kitchener is becoming more and more bureaucratic - he presented an example of an Application for a Letter of Credit which he felt required an extreme amount of detail to complete. D. Beach accepted a recommendation that he attend the next CH) meeting to raise these concern~ School Attendance Works T. McKay advised that to date 30 jobs have been committed by local companie~ He requested members to assist in increasing the job opportunities for high school student~ 10. Junior Achievement ~VL Hiscott reminded the committee that Junior Achievement is holding a fun(h'aising event on Ap~ql 14th at the Va]ha]ix The guest speaker k An(h'ew Sarlos who will be speaking on current market trend~ ~V[r. Sarlos k donating his time and all proceeds will go to Junior Achievement. Meeting adjourned 1:06 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, April 14, 1994 11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m. Schmalz Room, ~nd Floor, Kitchener City Hall Economic Development Division March 10, 1994.