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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1996-02-22BIAC\1996-02-22 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY ~, 1996 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Councillors Berry Vrbanovic and Jake Smola, Dan Beach, David lqYeure, Susan McConnell, Carl Zeht; Elliott Currie, John Bingeman, l,inda Kieswetter, Denise Strong, John Hoffman, Larry Blundell and Klm Cowan ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut~ l~'ed Standeven, Jane Falconer, and Wayne Hussey RECORDER: Sandy Curzon 1. Kitchener-Waterloo Area Visitor and Convention Bureau Mike Hiscott introduced Jane Falconer, General Manager and l~'ed Standeven, PI'esident of Kitchener Waterloo Area Visitor and Convention Bureau. IVh'. Standeven gave an overview of the economic impact of tourism in the Kitchener- Waterloo At'ex Based on input from the accommodation sector for 1994, the bureau conducted its fhst study in conjunction with the Conference Board of Canada (Canadian Tourism Research Institute) dh'ected at the impact of tourism expenditures in the Kitchener- Waterloo area~ Some of the findings of the study include: $~07 million tourism dollars in expenditures; 3,300 full time jobs; a gross domestic product of $13~ million and; $9 million in local taxe~ The study will be updated on a regular basis using the initial study as a benchmark for future review~ IV[~ Falconer presented an overview of the Kitchener-Waterloo At'ea Visitor and Convention Bureau. In 199~ the bureau had 13 members, as of December 1995 membmship had increased to 148. The bureau serves three markets being consumer, group tour and conventions/event~ Cooperative dollars totalling $80,000 plus over and above membmship fees, fund a large portion of the BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES advertising for the bureau. The City of Kitchener contaqbutes $190,000; Waterloo $109,000 and the remainder comes from the rural area~ M~ Falconer provided guest books for viewing containing comments from visitors throughout the worl& It was noted that tourism in Cambridge N handled within its Chamber of Commerce. Minutes of January 18, 1996 Minutes of January 18, 1996 were approved and adopted 3. Terms of Reference This item was deferred to a future meeting. 4. Annual Report Valerie Gibaut presented the Economic Development Division's Annual Report which is an internal document prepared by all City Departments for Council The 1996 objectives were reviewe& Questions were asked regarding the importance of investigating trade opportunities in the Pacific Rim and South America~ ~Vh~ Gibaut indicated that she had been specifically asked to initiate discussions with local companies to determine if there is any desire to participate in a trade mission to China led by the Mayor. She expressed the opinion that a municipality the size of Kitchener should become involved in these activitie~ Companies are now dealing in a global economy and investment~'ade opportunities are therefore more likely to come from partnerships such as these. Potential funding sources are also being explored, prima~4ly through the Federation of Canadian Municipalitie~ M~ Gibaut was asked ff a tracking system was in place to monitor business people that decide against investing in Kitchener and those that leave or go out of busines~ She advised that staff do have a very accurate system of tracking prospects and can provide details of "lost opportunities" and the reasons why. Businesses that leave the City are harder to track and there is presently no accurate system in place. Councillor Jake Smola asked ff a monthly summary could be provided to members of Council outlining current prospects and their statu~ ~Vh~ Gibaut agreed to provide this intbrmation via E-maiL With reference to the Small Business Centre, it was mentioned that the service is provided as part of an agreement between the PI'ovince and the City. The PI'ovince pays the salary of the Economic Development Division February 99, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES counsellor and the City's contaqbution is to make appropriate space available. As long as the PI'ovince considers the program valuable and continues paying the salary, the office will remain opera If cutbacks should occur at a PI'ovincial level it would be a decision of City Council whether or not to keep the service which would have to be funded_ Marketing Plan Valerie Gibaut reviewed the 1996 Marketing Plan for the Economic Development Divisiom The total budget for 1996 is $89,500. and covers literature, advertising, trade shows and special marketing initiative~ The Business Dh'ectory and the possibility of providing it on disc was brielqy discussed by Committee. Action VMerie Gibaut and Elliott Currie will explore the various possibilities and report back to Committee. Economic Development Activities a) Erust & Young property, sale of 9 acre site b) The company from Texas looking for 10 acres is rethinking theh' decision to purchase a site at Highway #97. The Huron Business Park site is theh' second choice. John Hoffman continues to negotiate with the company and is hoping to persuade them to purchase in the Huron Business ParlL c) The number of enquiries for land has increased over last year, with 6 prospects from Quebec. In response to questions, Valerie Gibaut indicated that she has not specifically targetted Quebec due to political sensitivitie~ Sue McConnell felt that Committee should be advised of potential land sales that are not successful M~ McConnell indicated if kept intbrmed, perhaps Committee could assist in making future sales successful by eliminating potential road blocks that may occur. e) Valerie Gibaut met with Mayor Chiqsty and the U.S. Ambassador to Canada on February 20t]~ Economic twinning with Austin, Texas and Plqnceton, N.J. was di~usse& The Ambassador has offered assistance from his office and invited us to Economic Development Division February 99, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES contact them at any time. Jane Jantzi and Valerie Gibaut were invited to a meeting at which two investors from Jordan were present. They are interested in importing Canadian made products for a large Jordanian market. g) A copy of a discussion paper prepared by the Township of Wilmot regarding the Regional Review was circulated to the Committee. Members were invited to consider a co-ordinated response on behalf of the Committee which should be provided to Councillor Karen Redman who is Kitchener's representative. 7. Other Business Committee congratulated Valerie Gibaut on her appointment as Secretary-Treasurer and vice-Chair of the Education sub-committee for the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. ~Vhx Gibaut was chosen by her peers to represent their PI'ovincial Assoication in this capacity which k a compliment to Valerie and to the City of Kitchener as her employer. At its annual meeting, the Economic Development Council of Canada presented the City of Kitchener with three separate awards as part of their Ontario Marketing Awards progra~ The City placed second in the PI'omotion and Web Site Category and third in the Special Event category. Again, ~Vhx Gibaut was congratulated by Committee for these accomplishments c) Committee was encouraged to present items for upcoming agendas and provide background material if available. A copy of a report prepared by KPMG - An Analysis of Hamilton-Wentworth's Business Cost Competitiveness, was dist~qbute& As Kitchener staff provided statistical data which was incorporated into the report~ we were circulated with a copy of the study. Almost all the comparison factors indicated that Kitchener was average among the 14 cities surveyed. e) A copy of the results of the City's customer service survey is available to Committee. Mike Hiscott asked that copies be provided together with a copy of the original questionnaire which was used in the telephone survey. Economic Development Division February 99, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Councillor Jake Smola asked Committee for theh' input into the 1.3% increase that Council has recently implemente& Diseussion on the recent 1.3% increase ensue& Meeting adjourned 9:10 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, March RI, 1996 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Kitchener City Hall, Council Caucus Room, ~nd Floor ~00 King Street West, Kitchener Economic Development Division February 99, 1996.