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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1994-12-08BIAC\1994-12-08 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRESENT: ALSO PRESENT: REGRETS: RECORDER: MINUTES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1994 Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Martha George, Carl Zeht; David lqYeure, L inda Kieswetter, Atso Safu'kopel, Councillors Mike Wagner, Tom Galloway, and Berry Vrbanovic. Tom McKay, Councillor Karen Redman, Valerie Gibaut~ George Borovflos, and Jane Jantzi Tito Gughelmi, Richard Lewchuk, Dan Beach and Wayne Hussey Sandy Curzon Valerie Gibaut assumed the chah' 1. Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair Moved by Tom Galloway Seconded by Mike Wagner That Mike Hiscott be appointed as Chairperson for 1995. Carried Moved by Mike Hiscott Seconded by Atso Saarkoppel That Tito Gughelmi be appointed as Vice-Chairperson for 1995 Carried Mike Hiscott assumed the chah' Minutes of November 10, 1994 The minutes of November 10, 1994 were changed to include: Dan Beach requested that a trial run on the City of Kitchener's building process be BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES conducted~ Mr. Beach volunteered to represent Committee during this process. Moved by Tom Galloway Seconded by Atso Saarkoppel That the minutes of November 10th, 1994 be adopted with changes as indicate& Carried 3. TERMS OF REFERENCE V. Gibaut reviewed the composition of committee members, indicating that Council has approved an additional member of the business community at large. It was pointed out that Council has the prerogative of adding members~ It was suggested that the K-W Area Visitor and Convention Bureau should be represented on Committee with reference to Powers and Duties, item #5 under the Terms of Reference. It was felt that an executive member of the Convention Bureau would be appropriate. The size of Committee was a concern which was shared by those members present. It was therefore agreed that when the agenda is prepared, the Chah' will decide if a member of the KWAVCB be invited. Martha George entered meeting There was a suggestion to change the Terms of Reference with respect to the Union Representative. Committee has not had a member of this organization represent itself, even though they have been invited to do so. It was agreed Committee will provide names of suggested representatives from the Labour Union which Committee will approac]~ Plqor to next meeting, V. Gibaut will ask the Labour Union if they have appointed someone. With reference to Powers and Duties, item #~, Councillor Wagner asked ff the business community are aware of the avenues in which they can approach the City on matters affecting economic development. V. Gibaut indicated du~4ug company visits made by Economic Development staff, companies are encouraged to di~uss concerns with the City of Kitchener, but there is a degree of reluctance. V. Gibaut offered to run a column in the Economic Development Division December 8, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES January '95 Economic Development Newsletter, hsting the BIAC members and sohciting feedback on 'how we are doing'. 4. Other Business IVL Hiscott referred to a recent section on the Regional Review which appeared in the K-W Record. He asked if Committee wish to take a position regarding the questions presented. T. McKay asked that discussion be deferred pending an official City of Kitchener positio~ M~'. McKay indicated that this could be a future item regarding the regional role towards economic development. b) IVL Hiscott asked in light of Mayor Chiqsty's comments concerning economic development~ that this committee have an opportunity to comment on the size, function and structure of Economic Development once administration and council review this corporate responsibility. T. McKay indicated that committee would be given an opportunity for input. c) V. Gibaut inlbrmed Committee of a proposal for Office Space in the Downtow~ The City Hall proposal was not short listed, however 99 lqYederick Street wa~ Committee continued to discuss the downtown with respect to the amount of vacancte~ IVL George stressed the need to work together with the Downtown Revitalization Committee to reach a common vision since there was a dilTerence of opinions amongst various "downtown" group~ Committee will channel theh' ideas thi'ough Economic Development staff who are members of various Downtown committee~ It is understood that the Downtown is a prime focus for the new Council Meetings will be arranged starting in February for every second Thursday of the month, 11:00 a~m~ to 1:00 p.m~ The January meeting has been scheduled for January 19t]~ It was suggested that if members would like to host the Committee for future meetings, they contact the Economic Development Staff. It was also suggested that a joint meeting with the Waterloo Economic Development Committee be set up once budget approvals have been made. Meeting dates for 1995: January 19, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October lQ, November 9 Economic Development Division December 8, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES e) g) Nh'. Tim McCabe, General Manager, Department of Planning and Economic Development will be invited to the January meeting to provide an overview of the rest~q~ctu~qng that has taken place in Planning & Development. V. Gibaut inlbrmed committee that the relationship with the Planning Department has improved greatly with respect to the new st~ctu~4ug. An example of this would be the sidewalk issue that k being conducted in the Huron Business Pare V. Gibaut updated the Committee on the recent enquiry from a German company which manufactures base material for p~4uted circuits, has decided against a relocation in Canada~ Staff were advised that the company has decided to locate in the Southern U.S. due to a number of factors including labour costs in Ontario; high unionization; main suppliers being located in the Southern U.S. It was noted that Quebec surpassed Ontario in terms of incentives offered. At the present time, the City of Kitchener has 87 acres of land to sell If there is a st~'ong market~ these 87 acres could be gone in a relatively short time. It was noted that the City should ensure that there will be adequate land zoned to accommodate future local business expansion~ It was decided that the Advisory Committee should di~uss this issue in a future meeting. V. Gibaut was asked to provide a map showing undeveloped privately owned land zoned for indust~qal development to assist the discussio~ The Canadian Institute of Technology of the Environment (CITE) will be operating in the Regional Administ~'ation building for the next two year~ It was noted that aH four municipalities of CT~ cont~qbuted $10,000 to this initiative. Internet 9000, an initiative of key software companies in Kitchener-Waterloo, are holding a pubhc meeting January 6 at 8:00 am in the Regional Administ~'ation building for businesses to support this inlbrmation technology marketing tht~st~ aH members are urged to attend. Economic Development Division December 8, 1994. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 5. Land Sales J. Jantzi and G. Borovilos provided, for the benefit of the new Committee members, an overview of land sales which have taken place in the Huron Business Park over the past few month~ Also mentioned were potential prospect inquiries in Huron Business Park and imminent closings on various indust~qal buildings in the City. PI'oblem areas were identified with respect to Site 130 and 13~ regarding pond costs and floodplain line consideration~ It was also mentioned that in spite of increased activity, the market is still h'agile and raising the land prices was premature. l,inda Kieswetter left the meeting Councillor Wagner provided an overview of the International Conference on Making Cities Livable in Carmel, Calflbrnia~ He indicated that the City of Kitchener's new City Hall was mentioned by several delegate~, He emphasized the importance of the downtown area as a prime focus of all municipalities represented at the conference. When compaKqng Kitchener, Councillor Wagner felt that one of the only areas lacking was the presence of residential in the downtow~ It was suggested that a survey of those who currently live in the downtown be asked why they live downtown and where they shop. It was also noted that perhaps an inventory of committees/community groups ah'early established who are working on the downtown initiative be reviewecL Meeting adjourned 1:05 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, January 19, 1994 11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m. Council Lounge, ~nd Floor Kitchener City Hall Economic Development Division December 8, 1994.