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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1996-01-18BIAC\1996-01-18 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1996 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Councillors, Tom Galloway, Berry Vrbanovic, and Jake Smola, Bob CE~icksh~nk, Dan Beach, David l~'eure, Susan McConnell, Carl Zehi; Atso Saarkoppel, Elliott Currie, John Tibbits, John Bingeman, Jeff Morris, John Hoffman, Larry Blundell and Kim Cowan ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut~ Jane Jantzi, Carla Ladd and Roger LeBrun RECORDER: Sandy Curzon Retail Zoning - Victoria Street Carla Ladd, Manager Community Planning & Development Review, Department of Planning & Development reviewed the current zoning on Victoria Street as it relates to the retail component streWhing east from King Street to the Breslau intersection on Highway #7. Currently there are as many as seven dilTerent zones depending which side or how far out Victoria Street the business is located. The zoning on Victoria Street was never intended to be full retail, however, duEqng the past 5 years or more, there has been pressure for retail zoning from busines~ The Economic Development staff advise that many potential investment opportunities and much assessment has been lost because of the current zoning (te Value Village). John Hoffman agreed that because of the zoning, mid-sized retail businesses have located elsewhere, and in some cases outside the city. In the early 80's there was a demand for large area commercial uses such as garden centres and fuEqfiture store~ Twenty-five percent of the gross floor area could be used for retail with the remaining floor space for warehouse usage. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Big Box users utilize 95,000+ square feet and mid box users use 10-90,000 square feet. When the mid box users are placed near other retailers they strengthen the 'other retailer'. Victoria Street is one opportunity to create mid box locations, however an amendment to the municipal plan needs to be put in place which ~Vl~ Ladd estimated would take another 6-8 months In the meantime the Planning Department is being very flexible with requests as long as they comply with the municipal plan- zone changes can then be processed. Ms Ladd feg that the study, once pubhc concerns are addi'essed, would be ready for Council approval in September '96. Ms. Ladd left the meeting Minutes of December 14, 1995 Minutes of December 14, 1995 were approved and adopted 3. City's Budget Process - Input Mike Hiscott indicated that this item was on today's agenda at the request of a Committee member. Can this committee be of assistance du~qng the process? Councillor Galloway explained the process Once departments have reviewed theh' individual budgets with the Chief Administrator and City Treasurer they are reviewed by the Finance Committee and then they go to Council for final approval Finance Committee expects to finish department reviews by January 19th for Council approval on February 9nd. It is likely that program and part time cuts will be considered du~qng this years' budget review. Council is committed to 070 trax increase. It was feg that the provincial action should be looked at as an opportunity to look deeply at the budget. Look at the fundamental tasks that shouldn't be completed even if funds have ah'eady been approved. John Tibbits explained his philosophy of attitude and will - if you have both, the rest will follow. Further discussion took place on improving quahty while cutting costs, as business has had to do - programs don't necessa~4ly have to be cut. Attitude has to be reflected regardless of the cost (whether its a $4 dollar item or a $400. dollar item). It was feR by some members of committee that perhaps city staff who are responsible for theh' individual budgets were not coming up with practical cuts because of attitude. Carl Economic Development Division January 18, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Zehi' advised that while a member of city council he felt that among staff the attitude was if you didn't spend it~ it would be taken out of future budget~ He felt that perhaps this attitude still existed today. Councillor Jake Smola felt that it was his job as a ward councillor to make sure projects are done, on time and at the best cost when questioned about the expense and necessity of projects ah'eady approved by Council Industrial Land - Financial Situation Roger LeBru~ Financial Analyst~ Finance Department reviewed with Committee a summary on the cash flow as it relates to the Huron and Lancaster Business Park~ A major concern of the city auditor is the unfunded hability as it relates to Huron Business Parl~ Land sales do not offset the interest/expense. Action R. LeBrun will provide further information to Committee to enable them to proceed with their discussion. Economic Development Activities Valerie Gibaut provided Committee with a copy of the Region of Waterloo Research Paper on the Impact of Regional Development Charges on new non-residential development and her follow-up memo to Councillors C. Weylie and ~VL Wagner. Valerie Gibaut felt that this report should not have been released without the municipalities' input~ The report says that there k no impact of development charges on development - Valerie Gibaut also produced a letter addi'essed to her a top indust~qal real estate professional supporting her belief that Ontario municipalities need to get service costs down to attract outside investor~ Current development charges are under review, both municipal and regional provides an opportunity to make change~ The provincial govel~m~ent could make changes to the rules as to what can be funded from development charge~ If the province does change the rules the results could be favourable. b) Alex Murray's Report - Business Outlook was distaqbute& 1996 could be a boom year for plant relocatiom c) Epton Industaqes update - ~30 unemployed; Epton action centa'e has placed 30 of these employees; the receivers have abandoned the site; MTI who were in the Epton building have relocated to Elora; there are tax arrears on the building; Geon Canada has assumed the responsibility of removing site contaminatio~ Economic Development Division January 18, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES e) J) Economic Development staff hosted a successful Brealffast Seminar in conjunction with the Building Division- targeting builde~/developers and expanding businesse~ Information packages were dist~qbuted and a presentation made by Mike Selling, Plans F~xaminer. Inquiries have increased since January lst~ 1996. Inventory of Sites and Buildings is currently being updated. J. Jantzi indicated that the majority of inventory from the previous issue has been depleted. Coldwell Banker, Peter Benninger Realty is working on a survey of tenants in the Huron Business ParlL The needs of the tenants; leasing costs; purchase costs; etc. are some of the areas that will be covered in the survey. Economic Development staff are providing input and assisting with the survey. City Clerks department has contacted the KDBA for an appropriate representative to participate on the Committee. The School of Journahsm at Conestoga College has been approached to assist in the production of the Economic Development Newsletter in an effort to cut costs, while giving students some additional experience. Valerie Gibaut advised that the Economic Development budget had been submitted to City Council Through the administ~'ative review process $6,000 was eliminated from the Marketing/l:q'omotion account~ Final budget approval by Council is scheduled for February ~, 1996. Economic Development Division January 18, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 6. Other Business Councillor Galloway advised that the local weather service is due to be close& He asked that ff members felt it was a necessary service letters should be w~qtten to the Federal Government~ A user pay system is being developed but the intbrmation will not be local but rather a pre-recorded message. NOTE: b) February 8th meeting changed to February 22nd and March 14th meeting changed to March 21st. c) Mike Hiscott asked each committee member to consider future meetings at theh' place of business. Meeting adjourned 1:10 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, February 22, 1996 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Kitchener-Waterloo Area Visitor & Convention Bureau 2848 King Street East, Kitchener NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE AND CHANGE OF DATE Economic Development Division January 18, 1996.