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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1995-11-09BIAC\1995-11-09 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1995 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chair), Carl Zehi; Councillor Tom Galloway, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor Chiqstina Weylie, Dan Beach, Martha George, Bob C~ickshank~ David l~'eure, Atso Sarkoppel, Elliott Currie, and Richard Lewchuck ALSO PRESENT: Tom McKay, Dave Manse]l, Valerie Gibauk Jane Jantzi and George Borovilos RECORDER: Sandy Curzon 1. Minutes of October 19, 1995 Councillor Weylie pointed out that the minutes of October 19th erroneously stated that Barrels Restaurant had closed_ Minutes of October 19th were approved and adopted with this change noted_ Development Charges - To collect funds for capital works or services resulting from new growth Dave Mansell, Manager of Enginem4ug Development~ City of Kitchener attended the meeting to give an overview of the Development Charges Ach Bill 90, which will be reviewed in 1996. The Development Charges Act received Royal Assent on November 93rd, 1989. lVlunicipalities with existing levy policies such as the City of Kitchener, were given two years to amend their policies in accordance with the new legislatio~ Bill 90 pro, nits a municipahty to pass by-laws for the imposition of development charges against land, if the development of the land would increase the need for services and the development requires a building pm~nit or other specified approvals under The Planning Act such as a subdivision agreement~ rezoning or severance. The basis for any such development charges must be for 'growth-related net capital costs'. 'Net Capital Costs' are those costs which are net of capital grants subsidies and other contributions made to a municipality. 'Growth related net capital costs' is that portion of the net capital costs of services that is reasonably attributable to new growth in all or a defined part of the municipality. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES The City of Kitchener has chosen to assess the charges on a city-wide basis with residential and non-residential being assessed 7~% and ~8% respectively. This split was determined using the past ten years' assessment ratio~ The following is a hst of growth related capital works that were assessed to new development: EngineeK4ug services (t~nk facilities) such as watermains; sanitary sewers; storm sewers and water course facilities and road~ Costs are assigned to residential and non-residential on a city-wide basis with the apportionment of costs using the assessment ratio. b) Maintenance, ta'ansit and protective services such as works centa'e and capital equipment~ fh'e system; t~'ansit; parking and t~'affic cont~'oL Costs are assigned to residential and non-residential on a city-wide basis with the apportionment of cost using the assessment ratio. c) Community Services such as recreation (pools, parks, arenas) and libraries (buildings, fuK~ishings, resource material) where costs are assigned to the residential component only on a city-wide basis~ The City HaH (building) costs are assigned to residential and non-residential on a city-wide bases with the apportionment of costs using the assessment ratio. The engineeK4ug services portion of the development charges is collected at the time of the release of the subdivision plan for regist~'ation by the City. All other portions of the development charge are paid in full at the time of building peK~nit issuance at the rate in effect at that time. For residential development~ the charge is based on the number of housing units and the type of housing unit~ For non-residential development~ the charge is calculated on the basis of the measured gross floor area~ The present City of Kitchener development charge rates for non-residential is $0.85 per sq. ft~ of gross floor area~ It is estimated that the City will receive $3 million in non-residential development charges by 1996. Economic Development Division November 9, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES The City of Kitchener developed its own By-law before the act was approved in 1991. It was understood that the review of the development charge was necessary because the existing residential ta~xpayers should not have to pay for future growtl~ The new by-law which will coincide with the Region and Waterloo is scheduled for review in March '96. The by-law was amended to exempt City development charges on the fhst 5,000 sq. fb of expansion to an existing building. Since the By-law amendment was passed, the exemption has been applied to 4S developments of which lQ qualified for the full 5,000 sq. fb exemptio~ Total amount exempted was $S6,1SS. 79. It is planned to make a further amendment to exempt the downtown from development charges both residential and non-residentiaL Committee was asked for comments on ~[r. Mansell's presentatio~ The Chairman asked that the BIAC be involved as stakeholders at future meetings prior to finalization of the report which k expected in the Fall of '96. lVh'. ManseH left the meeting 3. Industrial Land This item is an ongoing discussion topic, and was a 1995 Corporate Goal identified by the Management Committee. There are 80.8 acres remaining of City-owned indust~qal land which could be depleted relatively quickly given the number of enquiries and the site sizes of acreage being requestecL P~qvately held, zoned indust~qal, but not serviced lands total 794 acreq including 161 acres owned by Canada Packers developmenL Economic Development Division November 9, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Discussion centred around the need for indust~qal land in the future - given the changing nature of the economy and the trend towards smaller, home based businesse~ It was agreed that we should assess the perceived needs and recommend a policy. Some of the suggestion made were: review existing inner-city indust~qes~ could the sites/buildings be redeveloped, te. Epton and Pe~torp properties the Adaptive Re-Use Committee has the mandate for this type of review preserve the current available land for the most desh'able uses - are t~q~cking companies, which use most of the land for parking, desh'able uses when there k a shortage. the desh'ability of accommodating growth of existing businesses within Kitchener Are we satisfied in encouraging business expansions elsewhere in the Region? suggested that a focus group session be held to discuss the issue~ Economic Development Activities a) J. Jantzi reminded Committee of the Business Heritage Event Wednesday, November ~, 1995. b) V. Gibaut inlbrmed Committee that the Passport to Success funding will be reviewed du~qng the budget proces~ It is being recommended that an additional $500. be allocated for 1996. IVhx Gibaut also inlbrmed Committee that the City of Waterloo will be hosting and organizing the 'breald'ast du~qng this event which is sponsored by the educational institution~ c) V. Gibaut brought to Committee's attention the fact that since the referendmn, there have been two inquiries from Quebec to relocate in Ontario. Staff has provided inlbrmation based on these inquiries and will advise should further action develop. Kuntz Electroplating is building another addition of 1~5,000 square feet~ Kuntz advised that the addition will make them the largest electroplating company in the world. They expect to add 100 more jobs once theh' expansion plans are completed. e) At the recent Junior Achievement Awards dinner the following Kitchener companies were honoureck BLM - Sphqt of Junior Achievement Award Spicer Corporation - KPMG High Tech Award Kuntz Electroplating - Award of Merit Economic Development Division November 9, 1995. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES l~'ontline Communications - New Business Award In closing, Mike Hiscott thanked aH Committee members for theh' support du~qng the past year. Council will approve the new membership for BIAC at a Council meeting December llt]~ At the next scheduled meeting, Committee will appoint a new chairpersom Meeting adjourned 1~:50 pm Next Meeting: Thurday, December 14, 1995 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Council Caucus Room, ~nd Floor Kitchener, City Hall Economic Development Division November 9, 1995.