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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness & Ind - 1997-05-14BIAC\1997-05-14 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1997 PRESENT: Carl Zehr (Chair), L inda Kieswetter, Councillor Christina Weylie, Dan Beach, Peter Cook, Hugh Munro, Mike Hisco~ John Hoffman, Jeff Morris, Denise Strong, Sybil lqYenette, John Hammer, Jeff Willmer, Tim McCabe, Valerie Gibaut and Jane Jantzi RECORDER: Sandy Curzon Downtown Development Team Sybil l~'enette, Director, Downtown Development Team gave Committee an overview of the progress made of the Mayor's Task Force on Downtown Revitalizatiom The two year term of the Development Team will expire in September '97. Of the 47 Task Force recommendations, thirty-three have been completed, eleven are in progress, one has not been adch'essed and two have been ch'oppeck IV[~ lqYenette elaborated on these tasks and what effect they have had on the downtow~ The downtown has five identified distHct~ 9. 3. 4. 5. Market Village including Market Square King Street East Market Retail Hub - between lqYederick and Ontario Streets Entertainment dishqct Office - consisting prima~qly of King to Weber Sh'eet area Other areas di~ussed included: concerns from the existing businesses in the downtown have prompted the Development Team to develop a marketing package to inlbrm the tenants of what's available. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES the Adaptive Reuse initiative, 15 buildings were identified and targeted for reinvestment~ Incentives were put into place to lure potential buyers/developer~ Some of these incentives were waiving of building per, nit fees, grants, loans for facade improvements, etc. Arts and Culture events du~4ug the past year and a hall' have increased (h'amaticaHy encouraging the potential liveAvork space for artist~ Festival activity has increased as well in the downtown b~qnging Kleidescope in July and Festival of the Senses in May along with numerous others~ an increase in the quality of businesse~ Originally there was a 3670 office vacancy rate now it has been reduced to 967~ The development of an inter-departmental resource group which meets once a monte This group, which pulls together representatives from each department was established to provide the expertise required on various issues concerning the downtow~ Meeting was inte~q~pted by a fire alarm - aH Committee members left the building M~ l~'enette ad(h'essed questions from Committee and asked for their input should the Development Team be of assistance. Sybil l~'enette left the meeting Waterloo Regional Airport John Hammer, Director of Transportation, Regional Municipahty of Waterloo gave Committee a brief overview of the role of the Ah~ort in the Community. Aviation k a key part of the economy both national and global ~V[r. Hammer asked Committee for their support in the future expansion plans of the airport~ The PI'ovincial government has stopped providing funds and in order to survive the airport is sohciting the help of the community which it feels will benefit greatly. Waterloo Regional Ah~ort k the 96th busiest airport in Canada with 6470 of aircraft movements being US companie~ The airport sees itself as potentially providing four major roles Rehever Ah~ort - secondary to Pearson International Charter/Air Cargo- ie Fedex, Purolator Regional Scheduled ah' service Economic Development Division May 14, 1997. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 4. Corporate/General aviation Regional scheduled ah' service is leaning toward being the primary role. Jeff Willmer, reviewed the Grand River South Community Development Plan and the effects it has on the future growth of the airport~ Currently the 500+ acres are zoned agriculture, however Grand River South Developments are moving towards a subdivision applicatiom The NEF 30 which is inappropriate for residential development takes up 7570 of the Grand River South Development The airport is looking at protecting the integrity of the airport to become sell' supporting. It has become a very complex issue in deciding the best land use for this area The residential developers are 7070 towards completion of the development To defend the interest of the airport~ support was encouraged by Committee. It was identified that other organizations such as CTT, local Chambers and CTTA will also be asked to pledge theh' support~ Jeff Willmer was asked to provide an update at the next meeting of BIAC on June lltk a) Minutes of April 9, 1997 Minutes of ApE4l 9, 1997 were approved and adopted b) Business Arising from Minutes Committee were reminded to provide theh' comments regarding the Urban Design Guideline Report previously provided to then~ Economic Development Division May 14, 1997. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES 4. Other Business a) Team Kitchener Jane Jantzi along with 8 other staff members from various departments, chaired by Sybil l~'enette, Director of Housing were asked by Mayor Chiqsty to provide a (h'aft terms of reference for a team which will eventually advise Council on the direction of the City as it relates to: coordinating marketing efforts role of local government future of indust~qal land sales follow up on Team Canada t~qp to Asia partnerships in business and education strategic economic plan The (h'aft terms of reference report will go to Management Committee on May 90th, Planning & Economic Development Committee May 96th and then onto Council for final approval June 3rd, at which time Team Kitchener will be established from various community sectors including marketing, educators, bankers, communications/medJa~ etc. It was confh~ned that this process is similar to the one developed by the Downtown Task Force. Members of Committee expressed their concern that this is the exact purpose of their role and that they (BIAC) should form the nucleus of the Tea~ Action: Carl Zehr will send a letter to Ms. Frenette and Council indicating the concerns of Committee and requesting the consideration of including BIAC members to participate. 5. Economic Development Activities Valerie Gibaut has had two recent requests for options on adjacent property purchased by the City. Currently the City of Kitchener does not have an Option Policy. There has been a Council caucus meeting arranged for May 90th to decide if we should have one. As a matter of interest Cambridge and Guelph currently have one in place. Meeting adjourned at l:95pm Economic Development Division May 14, 1997. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - MINUTES Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 11, 1997 11:00 am - 1:00 pm City of Kitchener, Council Caucus Room City Hall, ~nd Floor Economic Development Division May 14, 1997.