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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Action - 1994-10-06DAC\1994-10-06 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE OCTOBER 6, 1994 The Kitchener Downtown Action Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Bryan Stortz with the following members present: Ken Clark, Brian Hunsberger, Karen Simoneau, Gerald Graham, Robert Braun, Marty Wasilka, Nancy Brawley, Councillor Mark Yantzi Others Present: Staff Sgt. Rita Westbrook, Beth Christensen, Stephen Lauer, Brock Stanley, David Corks, Larry Masseo, Sarah Wilhelm, Sybil Frenette, Jane Jantzi 1. OPENING REMARKS Councillor Stortz opened the meeting welcoming Marty Wasilka, President of the Central Frederick Neighbourhood Association to the Committee. Mr. Wasilka originally from St. Catharines went to the University of Waterloo. He is married and has 4 children and works at Zehrs. He has lived mostly in the downtown area and was involved with the ONIP program for the Benton-Courtland area. Councillor Stortz spoke in Montreal the past week-end about downtowns and stable communities. Since the last meeting, Councillor Stortz received a letter of rejection for the Restructuring Community Innovations Grant. The letter stated that required criteria was not met and he wanted the Committee to know that the work done was not in vain as there could possibly be another submission. The Demolition Control Bydaw was approved by Planning Committee October 3 and scheduled for approval by Council on October 11. The Property Standards Committee will be making a recommendation to Planning Committee and Council within the next few weeks. He suggested that the recommendation should be discussed by this Committee prior to going to Council. Councillor Stortz circulated brochures about a "Community Witness Program" and "Neighbourhood Impact Statements". 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A Community-Building Workshop Day scheduled for Friday, November 4 organized by the Social Planning Council of K-W was added to the agenda. ~ 157~ On motion by Robert Braun Seconded by Karen Simoneau it was resolved: That the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee Agenda of October 6, 1994 be accepted. :3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councillor Stortz stated that someone else must have moved the motion to accept the minutes at the last meeting, because under the Roberts Rules of Order, he could not make the motion. On motion by Nancy BraMey Seconded by Brian Hunsberger it was resolved: That the minutes of the September 1, 1994 Kitchener Downtown Action Committee, be accepted. 4. COMPREHENSIVE URBAN DESIGN STUDY ~ TERMS OF REFERENCE Larry Masseo distributed copies of the Terms of Reference for the Comprehensive Urban Design Study. Brock Stanley and Bob Arnot will oversee and be the Steering Committee for development of the guidelines. Cumming Cockburn and AJ Diamond from Toronto are the chosen Urban Design Consultant. He was looking for a representative from DAC to provide input in the preparation of the policies. It should take between 12 and 15 months to complete the study. Jane Jantzi entered the meeting at this time. Bryan Stortz recommended that Nancy Brawley be the Committee's representative to work on the urban design policies. Brock Stanley stated that studies that need to be done will be identified. Nancy Brawley felt that too many studies are done before any actual work is done. There is $ 25,000 in the budget for two years to cover the cost to prepare the policies. Work should start shortly and Larry will provide updates. He was thanked for his presentation and he left the meeting. 5. COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ~ 158 ~ Karen Simoneau distributed an invitation and registration form for the Community Building Workshop scheduled for November 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The $ 20 registration fee includes lunch. Anyone interested can contact Karen. INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ~ DAVID CORKS David reviewed a statistical brief he had assembled about the downtown population and demographic change and circulated the document to the Committee members. During his 12 years of experience at the City, he has been contacted by businesses as to where they should locate. Nancy Brawley said that they could be referred to her also. Brian Hunsberger left the meeting at this time. When the Business Development Department hosts their next breakfast meeting, they will include the downtown and have David Corks and the DBA attend. David said that currently the people coming into the downtown is balanced by those who leave to go outside but the trend will be that more leave than come in. As well, employment in the downtown has decreased. Jane Jantzi left the meeting at this time. 7. STRATEGIC PLAN ~ STEPHEN LAUER Stephen Lauer showed a number of overheads and they are attached to these minutes. A number of meetings have been held since April and it is now time to see where we stand. Information has been collected over the months and work teams have been formed. It's now time to establish a vision/role/image as a whole group. The working groups are: media, property standards, social/safety, economic development and transportation. As well, Nancy Brawley, KDBIA, Brock Stanley, Planner and Stephen Lauer, Heritage Canada have been involved in the collection of data. More input is required from the working groups. A survey to residents included in the newspaper had a poor response. An on~street survey for the primary trade area should be ready soon. To encourage better response, a survey to the downtown users and office workers needs to be user friendly. The following information is still required: ~ 159~ ~ demo/lifestyles/spending patterns ~ competition ~ trade area observations ~ business observations ~ property profiles ~ physical image survey Sybil Frenette left the meeting at this time. Councillor Stortz stressed it is important to set deadlines now in order to have the information ready to present to the new Council as their first item of business would be discussion of the budget. To get input from residents, Marty Wasilka suggested a one page questionnaire be attached to the Neighbourhood Associations' newsletters and include prepaid postage. Postal codes could be used to identify areas. The City's Print Shop could do the printing and volunteers in the neighbourhoods could deliver the questionnaire. Nancy BraMey said that a survey form is prepared but the big concern was how many would be returned and the fact that prepaid business reply postage is very expensive. Marty Wasilka left the meeting at this time. Nancy BraMey felt more information is required from the community and trade area. Stephen Lauer agreed but did not feel it was necessary to have this information before the presentation to Council as time is of the essence. David Corks left the meeting at this time. Following discussion, it was decided that a half day session will be held on Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with all chairs providing reports on their working group. As well, an update of the progress will be an agenda item for discussion at the DAC meeting in December. The Committee was reminded to give agenda items and any attachments to Brock Stanley for inclusion in the circulation of the agenda and minutes. AGENDA ITEMS 7. KDBA REPORT, AND 8. NEIGHBOURHOOD REPORTS were deferred to the next meeting. 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m