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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1994-11-10BIAC\1994-11-10 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1994 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Dan Beach, Martha George, Claude Schneider, John Tibbits, Councillor Carl Zeht; David lqYeure, Tito Guglielmi and Wayne Hussey, Elliott Currier, 15nda Kieswetter (for Roger Downer) ALSO PRESENT: Tom McKay, Valerie Gibaut~ and Jane Jantzi REGRETS: Atso Saarkoppel RECORDER: Sandy Curzon Minutes of September 8, 1994 The minutes of September 8, 1994 were adopted. Caucus Item ° IVL George presented Committee with a concern from a private developer and asked Committee for dh'ectio~ After discussion it was agreed that the concern should be adch'essed at the staff level IVL George was asked to have the private developer contact either Tom McKay, CAO or Valerie Gibaut~ Economic Development to have theh' concerns adch'essed. Africa EO00 V. Gibaut provided an overview of her trip to Namibia which was part of the Africa 9000 exchange program through the Federation of Canadian Municipalitie~ Valerie was invited to the City of Windhoek to advise them on the creation of an economic development function within the municipality. Visits were made to some key business leaders in the community to determine theh' attitude towards the City. It was discovered that they felt cut-off from City staff and no liaison was encouraged, despite the fact that decisions were being implemented which affected theh' livelihood. A presentation was made to the Economic Development Committee at which time Valerie encouraged them to implement the idea of an economic development centre with staff who would keep in close touch with the business community and provide feedback to City staff. The presentation was received with enthusiasm by the Committee, although there was some reservation from senior staff. It was decided to take the idea further as soon as possible with presentations to City Council It was observed that Windhoek experiences many of the same problems as a City as Kitchener - concerns of safety, parking, retailers, etc. Valerie said that she found the experience both personally and BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES professionally rewarding and found that "going back to basics" with regard to prepa~4ug a paper on the economic development function, was a worthwhile exercise. Personally ~V[t~, Gibaut felt that the t~qp was 'ext~'emely educational' and gave her the experiences of a lilbtime of which she thanked management for the opportunity. 4. New Marketing Proposal J. Jantzi presented a new marketing idea- that of developing a brochure in which local businesses could advertise theh' product~ Advertising space would be sold to each company and the brochure would be dist~qbuted both locally and nationally. Samples of different brochures were dist~qbuted, it was recommended that it could be produced fah'ly inexpensively by use of desktop pubhshing and in-house p~4uting. The cost would be offset by the advertising doHar~ Committee reviewed samples of brochures ah'eady developed and suggested that either Waterloo or Canada's Technology Triangle be approached to make it a joint initiative. Dave lqYeure entered the meeting Economic Development Division November 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 5. Toyota T. McKay discussed with Committee the impact that Toyota's expansion announcement will make on the City of IGtchener. It was noted that in 1988 Toyota used very few local supphers, since that time they have increased their local supphers tremendously, this will mean the announcement will have much more effect on the local economy than the original announcement. Due to this announcement~ Nh'. Mci(ay felt that our land prices should be increased to an asking price of $100,000 for indust~qal land. Staff mentioned that the issues of water quality and storm water management should be addi'essed on each site prior to any sales taking place. To that end, staff were convening a meeting immediately to discuss the issues It was also suggested that a series of local seminars could be planned to advise staff and local developers of development issues Oktoberfest - Passport to Success W. Hussey expressed his appreciation to City Staff and Council for their support of this initiative. Nh'. Hussey felt that the greatest disappointment was the lack of VIP's who expressed interest. Feedback from local guests was very positive, with many of them offe~qng to provide names of contacts for next year's event. Nh'. Hussey felt that there were areas for improvement. Nh'. Mci(ay agreed that the format was good however room for a changes in 1995 were evident. Nh'. Hussey also felt that the municipal cont~qbution was well spent and that private fh~ns will be asked to cont~qbute more. J. Tibbits suggested that the educational institutions be involved again next year and include the Separate and Public School Board~ A suggestion was made that perhaps more emphasis should be on what education can do to help business It was also suggested that groups be invited to erect display booths (Le. school boards, institutions etc.) Huron Business Park J. Jantzi gave Committee an overview of the activity taking place in Huron Business Park which included recent sales, offers, expansion requirements, water quality issues, building per, nits, development charges, etc. She also reviewed the Site Plan Concept for Hogg Fuel It was noted that du~qng a recent visit by staff to a local company, the issue of the lack of Economic Development Division November 10, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES available skilled workers was discusseck The company in question recruits skilled machinists from the Ukraine. Nh'. Tibbits adch'essed this concern and mentioned that he felt there was a need for a local Training Centre. Such a centre could take the place of small, inadequate machine shops in local schools, he would make the Centre available to all high school students who would then be able to learn on up-to-date machines, giving them the skills needed for these high paying jobs He suggested that Grade 9 students could enter an apprenticeship program on a half-day basis, attending school for halt' the day and workshop training for the other half. He stressed his personal feelings for the need of a Training Centre and is hopeful that his ideas will be listened to at the PI'ovincial and Federal levels of Government, Other Business ]VL Hiscott thanked Committee members for theh' participation du~qng the past year. The next meeting scheduled for December 8, 1994 will be the fh~t meeting of the 1995 Business and Industry Advisory Committee Members of Committee mentioned that they have enjoyed theh' participation and felt that they have had some real issues to contend with which gave them a certain amount of personal satisfactio~ meeting adjourned 1:05 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, December 8, 1994 11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m. Council Lounge, ~nd Floor Kitchener City Hall Economic Development Division November 10, 1994.