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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1996-09-12BIAC\1996-09-12 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER IQ, 1996 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chair), Klm Cowan, David l~'eure, Larry Blundell, Elliott Currie, Dan Beach, Susan McConnell, 15nda Kieswetter, Dan Beach, John Bingeman, Denise Strong, Carl Zehi; Councillors Berry Vrbanovic and Jake Smola ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut, Jane Jantzi, John Gazzola, Peter Benninger and Bev Curran RECORDER: Sandy Curzon 1. Huron Business Park Study Peter Benninger and Bev Curran of Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty presented the findings of a survey which was sent out to approximately 373 companies in the Huron Business Parle Nh'. Benninger was very pleased with the 117 tenant/owners who responded (31.3%). The main thirst of study, which was jointly commissioned by the City of Kitchener's Economic Development Division and Coldwell Banker, was to compile inlbrmation for use in areas such as zoning, demand for new business services, demand for new space trends, and other business planning issue~ A survey questionnaire was used to collect the inlbrmation, with telephone follow-up made to companies for cla~4fication and additional comment~ As this is the fhst comprehensive survey of the business park trend analysis based upon a comparison to prior year inlbrmation is not available. Nh'. Benninger stressed that this survey is but one component in a strategic plan for the future of industrial lan& Areas covered in the survey ranged from exporting statistics; vacancy rates; corporate growth; average annual sales; rental/lease rates; forecast employee growth; current production; forecast for future growth; factors affecting choice of building site; desired services; and pubhc h'ansit services~ The survey raised some questions with respect to zoning that should be addi'esse& After some discussion the following recommendation was made. Recommendation: Moved by Carl Zehi' Seconded by Elliott Currie That economic development staff pursue avenues to assist property owners of selected properties within the Huron Business Park to initiate zone changes to pm~nit a wider BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES range of uses, including restaurants Carried Staff were dh'ected to identify properties and approach owners for possible city initiated zone changes 1995 Financial Statement John Gazzola, Interim CAO and City Treasurer gave a brief presentation on highlights of the 1995 Financial Statement which included: assessment; building per, nit fees; interest rates; tax arrears; revenues - which are 157o higher than in 1994 at this time; mill rate; debt management - which happens to be the second lowest in Ontario at $68/capita; fund balances; and gas work~ After some discussion ~Vh'. Gazzola encouraged the committee to call upon him should future questions arise. 3. Minutes of July 11, 1996. The Minutes of July IL 1996 were approved and adopte& 4. Proposed 1997 Marketing Plan V. Gibaut intbrmed the committee that staff were prepa~qng a 1997 Marketing Plan which will be presented at the next meeting. The plan will identify areas for increased marketing activity. ~V[t~ Gibaut pointed out that for the past several years the marketing budget has been slowly eroded du~qng the budget process and she leek it k time for a more aggressive approac]~ ~V[t~ Gibaut also reminded the committee that the proposed CT~ rest~q~ctu~qng ff adopted, would absorb some of the marketing activities however more funds would be require& In 1996 each municipality committed $19,000 to CT~ marketing, it was pointed out that $48,000 k not adequate for effective marketing of such a dynamic growth area such as C~. ~Vhx Gibaut presented a multi-page insert which the Region of Niagara had placed within an issue of Canadian Business The insert included ads and copy from a variety of organizations and indust~qes in Niagara Region and was an effective marketing tool ~V[tx Gibaut stated that CT~ has far more to offer than Niagara Region and should be conside~qng this type of promotiom Economic Development Division September 12, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 5. Economic Development Activities J. Jantzi presented a verbal report on the following: a) Huron Business Park MSD's building is almost complete; l:q'emier Machine will have theh' building per, nit issued soon; Highland Metal are awaiting di'awings; Jenson Technologies will be moving into theh' new building in October; and in Huron Business Park Phase 1~[ a sale is in proces~ b) Enquiries Overall enquiries were down for the month of August c) cTr A meeting is scheduled next week with the Cl~ Development Officers and CAO's to discuss the next step in the rest~ctu~qng phase. d) Passport to Success To date there are 19 individuals confh~ned to attend this year's event on October 16 & 17, 1996. The City of Waterloo is hosting this year's event which will include: welcome reception at the Waterloo Inn; dinner at the Transylvania Club hosted by Gowling Strathy & Henderson, Deloitte & Touche and the Toronto Dominion Bank and Trust; brealffast at the Waterloo Recreation Complex hosted by the Universities of Waterloo and Will~qd Laurier and Conestoga College and; PI'esidents Invitational luncheon at the Four Points Hotel As in the past tours of Kitchener-Waterloo's indust~qal parks and indust~qes will be conducted as specified by the VIP'~ e) German Twinning Mayor Richard Chiqsty has w~qtten the Lord Mayor of Karsh~he indicating the City of Kitchener's intention of twinning, however the response was not favourable enough to wan'ant a t~qp at this time. V. Gibaut indicated that she was disappointed of the outcome conside~qng the time and effort that went into this 'natural match'. Economic Development Division September 12, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES o Other areas being looked at are the Pacific Rim which would be focused on the South East Asia - Taiwan/Philippines area and Ci~ is pursuing a twinning with Dallas/Fort Wort]~ Other Business a) Videoconferencing V. Gibaut was asked by Management Committee to investigate the feasibility of offe~qng videoconferencing facilities within City Hall to the public and business community. Her specific task was to explore the potential market for such a facility. Her recommendation, which will go before Management Committee k that if the private sector k willing, capable and ready to offer a service of this nature, the City should assist them and not compete, lq¥om an economic development perspective, we should be assisting local companies in theh' growth opportunities and not involve govel~m~ent in a service ah'eady being provided by the private sector. b) Canada Games C. Zehr as Chairman of the 9001 Canada Summer Games Committee advised Committee on the status of Kitchener and Waterloo's joint bid to host the 9001 Canada Summer Games using the slogan "together we are one". The City of Guelph will absorb 1/3 of the cost should our bid be successful Other municipahties bidding are London, Windsor, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Ottawa~ Peterborough, Sudbury/North Bay, and North Yorl~ The results of the successful municipahty will be known June 1997. ~Vh'. Zehr noted that the potential economic impact could be as high as $49 million in revenue for the community. c) Centa'e for Environmental Science and Enginee~qng, University of Waterloo L, Kieswetter advised Committee that due to financial cutbacks the PI'ovincial Government will not be honou~qng its commitment of $95.9 million to the University of Waterloo to build a Cent~'e for Environmental Science and Enginee~qng. The Cent~'e will be built on a reduced scale/cost by relying heavily on private sector funds currently being raise& Meeting adjourned at 1:10 pm Economic Development Division September 12, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Next Meeting: Wednesday, October ~3, 1996 11:00 am - 1:00 pm City of Kitchener, Council Caucus Room City Hall, ~nd Floor NOTE CHANGE IN DATE OF NEXT MEETING Economic Development Division September 12, 1996.