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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1997-02-12BIAC\1997-02-12 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IQ, 1997 PRESENT: Carl Zehi' (Chair), John Bingeman, Dan Beach, John Hoffman, John Tibbits, l~inda Kieswetter, Jeff Morris, Peter Cook, Councillors Chiqstina Weylie and Tom Galloway ALSO PRESENT: Valerie Gibaut and Jane Jantzi RECORDER: Sandy Curzon a) Minutes of January 8, 1997 Minutes of January 8, 1997 were approved and adopted b) Business Arising from Minutes Committee received the amended Terms of Reference which were submitted to the Planning & Economic Development Committee on February 10th, and approved by City Council February 17tl~ CTT RESTRUCTURING Committee received a copy of CIW Restructu~qng Report that was presented at Planning & Economic Development Committee on February 10, 1997. Canada's Technology Triangle has been in existence since 19S7, the Stemqng Committee recognized that in order to retain their market~ CIW needed to be carried to the 'next step' if they are to compete effectively with other jurisdictions in the global marketplace. David Douglas from the University of Guelph underwent 6 months of research to come up with a workpla~ Over the past twelve months the mayors, CAO's and EDO's of CIW and the Region have been meeting, using the workplan IVh'. Douglas developed to prepare the Reshq~ctu~4 ng PI'oposak One of the fh~t recommendations from the proposal is for implementation of a Start-Up Board to develop a business plan work plan and budget~ organization and governance sh~cture, staffing requirements and a financing plan with projection for pubhc and private sector contHbutions~ Each municipahty within CIW approved in principal pending budget approval $30,000. The Region of Waterloo became the 5th partner also approving $30,000. for CIW. The Hydi'o Commissions will be approached to become contributors of $3,000. each - to date only Cambridge has committee[ D. Beach gave an overview of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce economic paper BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES which will officially be tabled February 14, 1997. This paper which was not available for dist~qbution at the meeting is attached to these minutes~ Some of the highlights include: for cla~qfication: Ciq~N is federal CT~AN is private, and CT~ is public all have different priorities and objectives how to co-ordinate if they were under one body looked at the competition ie Hamilton, GTA and Ottawa Carleton - reviewed existing systems Chamber committee made up of former EDO's Chamber model k similar to CT~ came up with dilTerence being that CT~ will become large including private sector - eventually where the Chamber recommends private sector involvement from the start financing became part of the model instead of 5years (CT~) Chamber says now land development will remain with municipalities have not as yet collaborated on each others report private and pubhc partnerships in both cases Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph Chambers involved not Cambridge Committee also discussed the David Lek Report which recommended that business attraction and promotion activities should be the responsibility of the Regiom Business retention efforts, on the other hand should be the responsibility of the area municipahties V. Gibaut gave Committee a recent example where business retention and attraction are not separate item~ Upcoming trade show in De~'oit (attraction) that CT~ will be taking part in- municipalities are taking automotive parts from local businesses (retention) to find supplier~ Purpose of todays' meeting was to deal with fundamental issues that affect Economic Development rather than incidental ones which would require less time. Broader issues to be given more time in order to pass on recommendations to PED, if necessary and then to City Council V. Gibaut discussed the City of Kitchener's Corporate Goals which have been made public. One area is the reorganization for Economic Development to strengthen the department and b~qng it back to its original statu~ This goal is a clear indication that Kitchener does not wish to join forces in becoming one economic (hqving force with the other CT~ municipalities and the Regio~ It became apparent that no matter how many models, no one is working together. Committee reviewed the agenda for the CT~ Start-Up Board and after discussion it was - Economic Development Division February 15, 1997. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Moved by L. Kieswetter that the Chambers Task Force and CT~ Alliance presentations be moved to the beginning of the CT~ Start-Up Board Agenda; and that the Ci~ Start-Up Board include members from Ci~ Alliance, Ci~AN, OCETALTI~ and the Chambers of Commerce of Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelp]~ C. Zehi' will discuss these recommendations with Mayor Richard Chiqsty and John Gazzola, Interim CAO who will be attending the February 14th meeting. 3. Economic Development Activities V. Gibaut inta'oduced Whitney & Company's 1997 Market Report - copy attached for Committee review. b) F~xchange Magazine February '97, advertised by the City of Guelph, reported on Indust~qal property and business taxes as they relate to area municipalitie~ Kitchener's were the highest at $9.5S. The survey compares property and business taxes for a 90,000 sq. ft. manufacturing building with 1Sft. ceilings on 9 acres of land. It was noted that tn past meetings, business representatives have indicated that Kitchener's costs are high, this report validates these ftndtng~ c) An offer to purchase for 1.99 acres of land tn the Huron Business Park at $75,000. per acre for an tndustrial mall has been received by staff. J. Jantzi discussed the Sidewalk Pohcy Report which is being presented to Management Committee on February 18t]~ M~ Jantzi expressed concern at what is being proposed for the business park~ Should the Report be accepted it would mean that sidewalks will be const~cted on one side of Trillium diqve and both sides of Huron Road at the owners expense. It was felt by the majo~qty of Committee members that there was no need for sidewalks tn the business park and charging the property owners for construction of same will diqve potential buyers away. Discussion: should the Sidewalk Pohcy Report be accepted by Management Committee is was felt it was the City of Kitchener's and not the property owners responsibility to pay for the construction of same. Economic Development Division February 15, 1997. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Moved by Dan Beach Seconded by Tom Galloway That the Sidewalk Pohcy Report dated February be opposed as it relates to Business Park/Indust~qal Zone~ Carried e) Canadian Ambassador to China~ Howard Balloch will be in Kitchener Wednesday, February 19th for a reception at City Hall J. Jantzi provided pamphlets on the "Export Exchange" Seminar on March 5th, Hohday Inn which the Ministry of Economic Development Trade & Tourism, the Department of Foreign Affah$ and International Trade and Canada's Technology Triangle are hosting. Meeting adjourned at l:05pm Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 19, 1997 11:00 am - 1:00 pm City of Kitchener, Clerks Department Boardroom City Hall, ~nd Floor Economic Development Division February 15, 1997.