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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1996-11-13BIAC\1996-11-13 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1996 PRESENT: Mike Hiscott (Chah'), Dan Beach, John Bingeman, Larry Blundell, Denise Strong, Carl Zehi; Atso Saarkoppel, Elliott Currie, John Hoffman, L inda Kieswetter, Jeff Morris, John Tibbits, Councillors Chiqstina Weylie, Berry Vrbanovic, Jake Smola and Tom Galloway ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut~ Jane Jantzi and Paul Reich RECORDER: Sandy Curzon Chah' introduced Paul Reich, student from Grand River Collegiate Institute who is job shadowing Councillors Vrbanovic and Redma~ 1. Minutes of October ~3, 1996 The Minutes of October 93, 1996 were approved and adopted~ 9. General Discussion Committee openly discussed ideas and comments regarding the Business and Industry Advisory Committee. The following is a hst of these discussions with no reference to priority or source: o Economic Development proposed budget increase of 6.5% vs City Council recommendation of 0% t&x increase. o more di'amatic/active role in departmental issues te Marketing Plan - the focus the department is taking o it was felt that Committee had 'washed its hands' of the downtown problem~ Downtown issues which have been ignored should be a concer~ o City Council neither seeks or takes advise of Committee. o Concern that issues have been brought to the table after the deal has been done. o understood that the position of Committee was to advise o terms of reference need to be redefined o need to deal with more 'micro/global' issues that stimulate economic development/growth te what does it take to make a city more successful than another BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES future of industaqal land. Should the City buy more or get out of land development Ci~ and its future. Currently negotiations/reports are being put together by various outside groups including one from the K-W Chamber of Commerce. Committee has not been part of the process redefine why Committee exist~ Who do we report to - Economic Development~ Planning and Development Committee or Council role and st~q~cture of Committee where do recommendations go once they leave the table Committee needs to become a source of ideas/opportunities - need to become more pro- active need for a strategicAvork plan economic development 'vision statement' economic growth- what will improve the quality and reduce the cost under current st~q~cture, Committee doesn't feel they are being heard. This could be because resolutions are not being made to Council what are we currently doing that is good, not good or doesn't need to be done Committee needs to take a more pro-active stand St~'ategic Plan- goals, objectives Mandate for Economic Development business taxes and development charges Economic Development Division November 13, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES formal vs inlbrmal more focus on direction agenda setting - do it at end of meeting - assign staff to certain issues and set time lines to each issue - this will result in identifying and solving issues instead of them faJling between the cracks relationships with outside groups ie Chamber of Commerce Committee k not a lobby group what happens if Committee ceases to exist Committee k a resource for staff that represent the community at large Committee k represented by various business sectors - important to maintain variety of dialogue/opinions from the various professions represented utilize Committee members on specific issues that require their expertise hst long and short term issues then prioritize them Economic Development Division November 13, 1996. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES The following is a hst which summarizes the above topics 1) 6) Role/Reporting of Committee - does it need to exist Terms of Reference - redefine Issues- identify- prioritize Future of Industrial Land Stimulate business Cl~ Strncture Budget Meeting adjourned at l:05pm Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 11, 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 November 13, 1996.