HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 2004-08-12August 12th, 2004
DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
City of Kitchener
The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m., chaired by John
Smola, with the following members present: Sally Gunz, Glen Woolner, Christina Weylie, Nathan
Hallman, Anita Petsche-Good, and Mark Stranz
City staff present included Glen Richardson and Michelle Schurter (Frank Pizzuto arrived at 5:15pm)
1. Just Between Us
Liz Stopler, new owner of Just Between Us, located at 200 King Street West was introduced to
Committee members.
2. Approval of Minutes
On motion by Glen Woolner
It was resolved:
"That the minutes of June 10, 2004, as received by committee members be accepted."
3. Expansion of Financial Incentives
· Will be presented to Finance & Corporate Services Committee September 27th
· Want feedback from EDAC first (September 22nd)
· DAC prepared a letter of support that will go with Staff Report
Action:
·
G. Richardson to present business case to the Economic Development Advisory
Committee on September 22nd for their feedback to be included in the staff report to
Finance & Corporate Services Committee for September 27th.
S. Gunz to sign letter of support on behalf of DAC
Business Arising from Minutes
· Downtown Neighbourhood Association - Frank Pizzuto informed committee that Shelly
Adams will attend a Neighbourhood Association forum to canvas interest in a Downtown
Neighbourhood Association.
5. DAC Sub-groups
Market/East End
· Grand opening date is set for Saturday, September 25th
· Retail/Market Shop are nearly full
· "You Gotta Love It"-will be connected with Strategic Plan
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Retail Health
· Anita Petsche-Good and Howie Budd are both experiencing "softer Saturdays"
· Feel there is no anchor in the centre of downtown anymore
· Have weekdays stronger than Saturdays- new phenomenon
· How does retail get higher on the agenda?
· Request that KDBA be present at DAC meetings
· A downtown survey on how downtown businesses are doing was suggested (KDBA role)
DAC Minutes Page 1 of 3
August 12, 2004
· A request was made to have a project team explore "How do we keep retail healthy for the
next 3-5 years (until students arrive)?"
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Action: · John Smola and Chris Weylie will follow-up with KDBA at their next Board of Directors
meeting about their role in retail assessments
· City of Kitchener Events staff to talk to retailers to find out how events can help retail
· Glen Richardson to provide DAC with BIA role
· M. Schurter will request that Events staff include "the impact of events on retail" as a
criteria when planning the annual event schedule
· M. Schurter to investigate TABIA handbook for BIA's
· M. Schurter to investigate who would be involved in a project team to assess how to
keep retail healthy in the next 3-5 years (i.e., include WLU profs)
Arts
·
Report deferred
Housing/Neighbourhood Associations - (see minutes of June 8th for further information)
· Minutes were reviewed by Glen Woolner
· Glen Richardson - need to look at student housing needs (strategy for housing); met with
Jeff Willmer who will work together with universities town & gown
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Resolution:
· Staff be directed to establish Town & Gown with respect to the arrival of University of
Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University
Motion by G. Woolner
Second by S. Gunz
Carried
Safety Audit group
· Report deferred
4. Committee updates
Minutes of the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee, the Economic Development Advisory Committee,
and the Safe and Healthy Advisory Committee were provided for Committee input.
· EDAC - G. Woolner led a discussion on whether DAC and EDAC should be merged
· What's the role of EDAC in the downtown?
· Spin-off groups meeting every week for two hours
Action:
· M. Schurter to
members
distribute the communications (R. Pitfield) presentation on Tourism to DAC
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New Business
· DIRG - description of group was requested and provided
· Water Street Construction - DAC extended their '"thank you's" to Larry Lynch and team-
reconstruction looks great and they (DAC) recommend this type of work on other streets in the
downtown
· Neighbourhood Associations - Shelley Adams is looking at going to a Neighbourhood
Association forum
· Derelict buildings - get a committee to review properties that are not going to get fixed up
· Should we take them down for safety purposes?
DAC Minutes Page 2 of 3
August 12, 2004
Motion
· That Fire, By-Law and Building staff identify properties in Downtown boundaries
considered unsafe
On motion, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m
Motion by C. Weylie
Second by A. Petsche-Good
Carried
Next Meeting - Thursday, September 9th, 2004
4pm-6:00pm, Schmalz Room, 2nd floor, Kitchener City Hall
DAC Minutes
August 12, 2004
Page 3 of 3