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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1995-07-13BIAC\1995-07-13 PRESENT: BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1995 Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Carl Zehi; Elliott Currie, Councillor Tom Galloway, David lqYeure, John Tibbits, Martha George, L inda Kieswetter, Wayne Hussey, and John Bingeman ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut~ Tom McKay, and Brock Stanley RECORDER: Nancy Hackett Minutes of June 15, 1995 Minutes of June 15th were approved and adopted. Introductions Chah' Mike Hiscott introduced and welcomed John Bingeman, the new Visitor and Convention Bureau representative. IVL Hiscott inlbrmed the committee that a downtown representative will be appointed in the future. Nancy Hacke~ of the Economic Development Division, was inh'oduced, she was present to record mi nute~ Huron Environmental Area Discussion on the Huron Environmental Area was carried over from last month's meeting. IVh'. Brock Stanley, Assistant General Manager of the Planning and Development Departmenl~ was in attendance once agai~ M~'. Stanley handed out a map showing the Huron area and depicting quite clearly the streets to be affected. M~'. Stanley pointed out that with the new Municipal Plan approved by City and Regional Council a substantial amount of property in the Huron Business Park is now designated residential Approximately 1500 acres have been changed from industrial designation to prima~qly low rise residential This will be followed up by zoning amendment~ Keeping this re-designation in mind the impact of the environmental area on the Business Park may be less severe than originally perceived by members of this Committee. V. Gibaut asked how many acres of industrial land remain in the Parl~ kVh'. Stanley indicated he would follow up and report back to her with an exact figure. C. Zehi' asked about the B- 1 and B-2 zones shown on the map. It was explained that these pockets have not BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES been changed in designatiom B. Stanley illust~'ated using the handout that the dfl'ect impact will be felt by only two small areas, one off St~'ausburg Road/Battler D~qve and one near Westmount Road. B. Stanley then handed out a copy of the revised Huron Environmental Plan indicating that policies reflect the new Municipal Plato NL Hiscott agreed with B. Stanley that the affected lands in Huron Business Park do seem small in the context of the map. But he was curious as to what thought has been given to the future of indust~qal land in Kitchener, what new initiatives does the Municipal Plan allow for? He felt ff the Committee could have some idea how many acres of indust~qal land remain, future demand/supply could be better assesse& Nh'. Stanley agreed and inlbrmed the group that the West Side Amendment has recently been passed in which just over 500 acres between Westmount and Trussler are projected for indust~qal development. B. Stanley said his department could calculate this area along with the number of acres of indust~qal land in Huron Business Park and report back to the Committee. T. NIcKay suggested the Committee look at aH private and pubhc lands, not just these two locations NL Hiscott recognised the need for this type of inlbrmation but felt compiling it may be a large task After discussion, B. Stanley felt the Planning Department could have this inlbrmation ready by early September. B. Stanley then explained that one of the recommendations in the Huron Environmental Area report dealt with an interim cont~'ol by-law. The Planning and Development Department is going to start discussion with owners in the Huron Business Park; one to let them know how this will affect their properties; two to gauge opinion on excluding dangerous uses from the park; and three to fully explain the environmental area policies The process will be consultative, based on consensus and focused on the long tenm V. Gibaut inquired as the projected time frame and the mechanisms to change uses especially in cases where existing owners may later wish to sell their land~ B. Stanley replied that the consultation will begin in early 1996. The aim k to gain consensus on permitted uses Admittedly, a great deal of discussion will be necessary. }VI. Hiscott wanted to know ff it would be possible to discuss, in conjunction with removal of uses, adding new uses B. Stanley pointed out that free standing office uses were added to B- 3 areas in the Municipal Plato Metal stamping will not be deleted from the park as mitigation techniques can be implementec[ NE Itiscott st~'essed, however, that there should at least be an opportunity to add uses NL Hiscott called for any final questions before Nh'. Stanley left the meeting. V. Gibaut asked for an update on the Natural Area Status B. Stanley replied that it is now a separate legal entity. Work on fun(h'aising, Board of Directors, Staff Committees is under way. T. Economic Development Division July 13, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Galloway added that two portable classrooms will be moving on site. T. McKay also added that the partueEship effort has been recognized with an award from CAMA - the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrator~ C. Zehi' asked ff the soil contamination issue oEqginaHy deferred in the community plan has been cleared up. B. Stanley answered that staff is still working with the Ministry on this issue. Areas with the potential for spillage/leakage - for instance loading zones are under review. It was decided Larry Masseo will attend the August 10th meeting in Brock Stanley's absence. In the interim V. Gibaut and B. Stanley will begin discussion on potential additional uses for the parlL Joint WEDC/BIAC Meeting ~VL Hiscott intbrmed the Committee that he and V. Gibaut had met with the Chairman of the Waterloo Economic Development Committee yesterday. There are some agenda items for a potential joint meeting but not enough to initiate a meeting at this time - possibly in September. One possible item concerns the Ah~ort~ issues include promotion, commuter services, and U.S link~ W. Hussey felt this would be a timely topic in hght of the new airport general manager. ~VL Hiscott suggested the new general manager, Phillip Bluck, be invited to the joint meeting or even that it be held at the Ah~ort. J. Bingeman asked where to forward agenda item~ ~VL Hiscott indicated all items are to be dh'ected to V. Gibaut. V. Gibaut discussed Business HeEqtage as an agenda item~ The event is not scheduled again after this year until 1997, at which time it has been proposed as a joint effort. Waterloo is interested but more discussion is needed on how and if to proceed with a shared event. Members considered refeEqqng the matter to the Twin Cities Committee. However, in the end, it was decided that this remain an item for a joint WEI)C/BIAC meeting. At this time, V. Gibaut announced Mutual Life will be honoured at this year's event. 5. Declaration ~VL Hiscott presented the declaration E. Currie had worked om The floor was then opened for discussiom W. Hussey felt the fh~t paragraph was within the committee's power but questioned the Economic Development Division July 13, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES o b) second paragrapl~ L, Kieswetter expressed the same concerns, suggesting the declaration expand its focus beyond taxatiom C. Zehi' felt perceptions compared with facts is a central issue. Both residential and business rates do affect our community. Facts are need to compare Kitchener with other areas Taxes are not high but "relatively" high, T. McKay felt the enth'e statement was off targeb Taxes are not that high, The Regional Chah' just did a study showing Waterloo Region on the low end" J. Bingeman commented that service delivery is importanb J. Tibbits concurred, adding that "the most cost effective service" should be cited in the declaratiom We can not ignore the deficit problems in this country. Businesses will come, however, if they get value for theh' money. }VL Itiscott pointed out that cities are moving in that direction with steps such as Total Quahty Managemenb W. Hussey sees the role of the Committee as one of ambassadorship and therefore members need to be fully intbrme& T. }VIcKay suggested the statement have a positive base. The group continued discussion agreeing that a focus on competitive taxation/service delivery was vital Other components discussed included the global market emerging, need for on going education, support for small indust~qes, and a solid strncture. J. Bingeman felt pointing out efforts to date may be useful D. Freure agreed with expanding the notion of the declaration, suggesting municipal taxes are a very confusing issue. He felt the group needed to educate themselves on assessment procedures and rates }VL Itiscott acknowledged this stating that the range of taxes for similar properties is quite vasb T. McKay explained to the members that the PI'ovincial Assessor's Annual Report has been released_ The group felt reviewing a copy will be helpful Discussion turned to school board taxes and the need for full understanding of the impacts high levek and/or increases have. The Committee felt the best quality for the lowest cost k a central issue. }VL Itiscott summarized the discussion by suggesting that step one k to review the Provincial Assessor's Annual Repor~ step two k to compare a range of similar properties across dilTerent municipalities, and step thi'ee may be to meet with school board management committees and in[bm them of findings/concerns E. Currie volunteered to work on a new declaratiom Economic Development Activities CTT Update Deferred to next meeting. Business Heritage Discussed previously du~qng the meeting. Economic Development Division July 13, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES c) Mayor's Task Force Final Report V. Gibaut handed out copies of the Mayor's Task Force Final Reporb T. McKay reviewed key elements and major areas of actio~ The effects of staff movement and major costs were discussed_ The Committee agreed to give support to "the maintenance of staff and service at an existing level in the Economic Development Departmenb" Other Information i) V. Gibaut announced a new small business councillor, Nh'. Chris Adamus, has been hire& ii) Ernst & Young's 'trenchless technologf efforts are progressing. ih) Updates · K-W Triple J Tooling, Mitchell Plastics, Barbarian Sportswear, and the Braten Tool addition are underway. · There is an offer to purchase in on the PIq~dential Building, with one tower proposed for conversion to residential · The Future Shop building constrnction is progressing. v) "One stop shopping" is being handled by the continuous improvement team~ vi) Home page will be up on internet for the Fall T. McKay explained that the approach is to produce a top quality product~ There will be the ability for related agencies and even businesses to place inlbrmation on the systerm vii) In response to C. Zehr's inquiry related to Epton Industries, V. Gibaut inlbrmed the group that Elizabeth Witmer, Labour Minister, held a b~qefing. Rubber parts manufactu~qng has close& Four lines for GM are still running until an alternate supplier can be foun& Other Business T. McKay asked that the Regional Water and Sewage report be placed on the next agenda for discussio~ The meeting adjourned at l:90pn~ Next Meeting: Thursday, August 10, 1995 11:00 mm. - 1:00 p.m. Economic Development Division July 13, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Council Lounge, ~nd Floor Kitchener City Hall Economic Development Division July 13, 1995.