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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1994-09-08BIAC\1994-09-08 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994 PRESENT: Mike Itiscott (Chah'), Dan Beach, Martha George, Claude Schneider, John Tibbits, Atso Saarkoppel, Councillor Carl Zehi; ALSO PRESENT: Councillor Tom Galloway, Valerie Gibau~ and Jane Jantzi REGRETS: David l~'eure, Tito Gughelmi and Wayne Hussey RECORDER: Sandy Curzon Minutes of August 11, 1994 The minutes of August 11, 1994 were adopted. Urban Design Study Committee - presentation Terry Boutilier and Brian Page members of the Urban Design Study Committee for the City of Kitchener made a presentation on "Tree Management Policy" to obtain Committees input prior to the report being presented to the Planning & Economic Development Committee, September 19, 1994. The purpose of the new pohcy is to formalize and revise existing procedures which would be beneficial to both City and the development industry with respect to vegetatiom By minimizing delays, changes and expenses in subdivision and site development approval process~ It was necessary to review the existing tree saving policies in order to monitor whether acceptable results are being achieved. It was noted that this is not a tree saving pohcy but a tree management pohcy. There will be a security deposit of $1,000 per lot for damages and insures that the developer will monitor the pohcy. It was felt that the security for lot grading could also follow under the tree management pohcy. It was suggested that the Economic Development Staff be advised on existing trees which should be saved on any City owned Business Park sites that are for sale prior to the sites being offered to potential buyers~ T. Boutilier inlbrmed Committee that under the Municipal Plan, Urban Design Study section a sub-committee is being formed and asked Committee for a representative - Dan Beach offered his time to this sub-committee. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 3. Marketing Plan '95 V. Gibaut reviewed the Economic Development Division's Di'aft Marketing Plan for 1995 and asked Committee for theh' comment~ It was questioned whether the Business Dh'ectory could be designed in future to replace pages as changes occur in order to reduce cost of p~qnting. It was noted that the amount indicated represents the cost in releasing the dh'ectories from stock and not for rep~qnting. The Economic Development has an ongoing practise of soliciting new intbrmation for the dh'ectory. A review of the advertising budget indicated the importance of maintaining the current level of advertising. It became apparent du~qng 1994 that it k not the size or colour of the ad, but the vehicle that's importanb V. Gibaut supported this with her recent experience with Report on Business where the Economic Development staff refused to pay for an ad which they felt was misrepresented when solicited~ Staff have received over 150 inquiries due to this 'free' ad resulting in qualified lead~ John Tibbits left the meeting It was suggested by Elliot Currier that Will~qd Laurier MBA students be used to estabhsh feedback by developing a method of evaluating results from ad~ 4. Oktoberfest It was noted that the V/P P3sspoz't to Success breald'ast on Thursday, October 13th is now being sponsored by the University of Waterloo, Will~qd Laurier and Conestoga College. While responses to the VIP invitation list have been slow - a telephone blitz is underway. Tom Galloway entered meeting 5. Mid Year Activity Report This item was deferred. 6. Economic Development Activities Economic Development Division September 8, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES b) c) BIAY[- Topsoil removal at a cost to the City resulted in the elevation of site 84 being two feet lower than expecte& After negotiating with BIAY[, Economic Development Staff agreed on compensating BIAY[ at an agreed price. V. Gibaut complimented her staff on a job well done in her absence. It was suggested that Staff contact BIAY[ to enquire about concerns they encountered du~qng the process of this Offer to Purchase as a learning tool for future negotiation~ Lancaster Corporate Cent~'e - an accounting fh~n wishing to consolidate their Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge offices have enquired about lots 6 & 7. These sites have been put on reserve pending the bid for proposal by the company. Huron Business Park- A New Hamburg high-tech fh~n will be submitting an Offer to Purchase on Site 98 which will be presented to Planning & Economic Development Committee on September 19t]~ Huron Business Park- Kleinlbldt Planning Consultants who did the original site plans, have been asked to design one for site 130. The enth'e area covers 3.6 acres, however only ~.~ acres are saleable/buildable. Any funds resulting in the sale of this site will go directly to the development of Pond #4 which had been the intention under the Storm Water Management Study. It was suggested that we not proceed with development of Site 130 at this time. e) g) The General Manager of the Planning and Development Department has offered to review the re-organization of the Department which resulted in the appointment of a General Manager upon the Commissioners reth'ement earlier this year. Committee requested an organizational chart to review prior to the presentatio~ Consumers Dist~qbuting are conside~qng property in Gateway Business Park as a new business locatiom There is an offer on the Deilcraft property from an out of town manufacturer. Economic Development Division September 8, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES A breald'ast meeting was hosted by Economic Development and Kitchener Downtown Business Association Board of Dh'ectors with area banks to discuss the lending practises which appear to be hinde~qng investment in downtown Kitchener. There will be a breald'ast meeting with owners of office towers in downtown Kitchener to discuss the concerns the owners are having with leasing theh' buildings It appears concerns of safety and overall perception of the downtown is poor. The meeting will explore ways of jointly dealing with these concerns to change the perceptiom PLEASE NOTE OCTOBER 13TH MEETING CANCELLED meeting adjourned 19:55 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, November 10, 1994 11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m. Council Lounge, ~nd Floor Kitchener City Hall Economic Development Division September 8, 1994.