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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Action - 1994-06-02DAC\1994-06-02 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE JUNE ~, 1994 The Kitchener Downtown Action Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Bryan Stortz with the following members present: Mayor Dominic Cardillo, Councillor Mark Yantzi, Doug Max~hman, Nancy Brawley, Karen Simonean, Gerald Graham, Brian Hunsberger, Karen-Taylor Harrison, Rhonda Russell and Sheila Made Biers~ Others Present: Staff Sgt~ Rita Westbrook, Stephen Lauer, Lod Gove, T. Brock Stanley, Valede Gibaut~ Sybil lqYenette, Grant NLxon, Julie Dean, Gayle Redgwelk 1. OPENING REMARKS Councillor Stortz opened the meeting by expressing his deepest regret that Gayle Redgwell will no longer be Secretary for the Downtown Action Committee. He expressed his gratitude to Gayle for all the hard work and dedication she has contributed to the Committee. Sonja S. Tobin will be taking on this positiom APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councillor Stortz advised that there are two additions to the Agenda~ 1. Demolition Policy- Sybil Frenette. Visioning PI'ocess - T. Brock Stanley. Due to illness D'Arcy Farlow is unable to attenck A Report prepared by M~ Farlow is to be dishqbuted. On motion by Karen Simoneau Seconded by Brian Hunsberger it was resolved: That the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee Agenda of June ~, 1994 be accepteck 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Nancy Brawley Seconded by Karen Taylor-Harrison it was resolved: That the minutes of the May 5, 1994 Kitchener Downtown Action Committee meeting, be accepteck 4. SAFETY AUDIT - LORI GOVE Lori Gove handed out a report re Safety Audit Update and thanked the Committee for b~qnging this item forward. Lori went over the Report with the Committee. A copy of her report is attached to the minutes~ Throughout the Safety Audit both Lori Gove and Jure Dean sta'essed that hghtJng is a major issue. To date, site plan concerns have related only to the encroachment of light onto a neighbours property. In the future site plan concerns related to hghtJng should also adch'ess safety. Lori noted the sexual assault workshops on safety and safety audit as well as the training workshops are to be held at the Sexual Assault Centre on June 91 and 99, 1994. Training workshops will also be held in Toronto in June. Discussion Bryan Stortz noted that a document re safety was put together by the Safe City Committee in Toronto. This may be a useful training tool It should be directed to the appropriate Strategic Plan Committee. Nancy Brawley enquired as to what progress has been made regarding the shift to white light for the Brian Hunsberger noted that discussion have been held with Ontario Hych'o. Such discussions documented that the change from sodium to white light could be very expensive. He noted that lighting is designed for the car not pedest~qans~ Bryan Stortz noted that this issue has also been discussed at Council Jure Dean discussed the fact that hghting has to be looked at on a site specific basis There is a need to have a study to specifically adch'ess hghting in various parts of the Downtow~ Nancy Brawley suggested that the Downtown should be looked at as a whole - hghting is mainly adch'essed for cam There is a need to follow up on Victoria and Toronto experience - they have white hght~ The need at this time is to say this is a priority and to get direction from Council to review the issue.. Brian Hunsberger noted that Victoria Park has white hghL Different types of lighting create a maintenance problem for Public Work~ Councillor Yantzi stated that it is not as simple as changing a bulb in a light standard. Council bought into the sodium lighting on the basis that it saved energy. Nancy Brawley talked about the other costs What are we loosing financially from a tax persepective - people not coming Downtown, this cost is greater than the cost of lighting. 44 Councillor Yantzi confh~ned his view that a study should be undertakem Julie Dean suggested that we identify problems in different areas and then pursue that area, put in white light and document the difference. Nancy Brawley attended a conference which looked at different options of hghting beside incandescenb There are white hght alternatives nearly as energy efficient as sodiun~ Grant NLxon mentioned that high pressure sodium is a major cost to refib Councillor Stortz suggested bEqnging in pedest~qan scale lighting. Lower scale lighting is equally as important as the colour of lighb Instead of going to Public Works and the Transportation Department can it be referred to the appropriate Standing Committee to bEqng in a st~'onger recommendatio~ Mark Yantzi noted that the Study may have to be broken down adch'essing white light and low level lighting. Can we get report from Ontario Hych'o? Stephen Lauer advised that the Status Report will be coming from the Committee. Won't have to wait until the St~'ategic Plan is completed. Brock Stanley noted that Council should have the background, cost and recommendatiom We should take time to work with Pubhc Works and Parks and Recreation, through the Urban Design Study and work it into the St~'ategic Plan and then bEqng it forward to the D.~LC. as an Action Plan within two months~ Sybil l~'enette suggested it was time to get the lighting issue moving, develop a study, including Terms of Reference for a specific area together with study costs and then go to Council for support. Councillor Stortz agreed that we should take a month or so to develop Terms of Reference and then go to Council After a lengthy di~ussion Councillor Stortz called for a motio~ On motion by Nancy Brawley Seconded by Sheila Made Biers it was resolved: That the Department of Parks & Recreation, Public Works~ and Planning and the appropriate Committee members are to prepare a Report with specific Terms of Reference to review the safety issue concerning lighting in the Downtown to be presented to Council in two months to bEqng forward the lighting issue. 45 Karen Simoneau enquired whether the Safety Audit is done on a regular basis? Lori Gove answered that it hasn't beem Training should be encourage& Direction is needed to encourage staff to get t~'aJning. Councillor Stortz will speak to 3/h'. Tom McKay re educating staff. Nancy Brawley suggested bKqnging staff into mixed groups There is a need for a safety audit to be done on a regular basis every two years` Lori Gove agreed that it is worthwhile to do it~ Sheila Marie Biers felt that we need to only update the audit to adch'ess new problem areas, Sgt~ Rita Westbrook questioned whether the safety audit should be done at different times of the day. If this is the case, who would go out at night? Councillor Stortz asked the Committee what would be the best way to monitor this on an ongoing basis, Should it be an ongoing process? We could use the Social and Safety Committees` Nancy Brawley expressed concern about the matter being considered under the direction of the Social and Safety Committee. Perhaps another group should be set up. The two directions may not be compatible. Karen Simoneau stated their Committee had heard some of these concerns` Stephen Lauer advised that there will be a meeting next week to develop a work plato Will look to see if a new Committee should be established. Brian Hunsberger suggested that an ad hoc Committee could be established who are conversant with this issue. Councillor Stortz suggested a small working group, Bryan, Nancy and people who've been involved with this Committee. The Safety Committee will be meeting next Wednesday, June 15, 1994 at ~:00 p.m, in the Caucus Lounge for discussiom Stg. Rita Westbrook asked if her people working downtown could help? They can specify the problem locations` Jude Dean felt this was an excellent idea as area specific inlbrmation related to a particular incident can be reviewed and related to the development of design guidelines` Councillor Stortz agreed that having an officer involved would be very helpful to get the police perspective. 46 5. DEMOLITION POLICY - SYBIL FRENETTE Sybil l~'enette gave an update on the Demohtion Pohcy. The Demohtion Conta'ol Bylaw has been in place for 13 years, it was brought forward to deal with the issue of premature demolitio~ This Bylaw was developed when the City was healthier as a whole and redevelopment followed closely behind demolitio~ Once a house was demolished the area had to be redeveloped within two years~ This presented a problem; houses were often left standing for five to seven years~ Because of the Rental Housing PI'otection Act the landlord now gets rid of the tenants and then boards up the building. There is no motivation for the landlord to improve his property. A new demohtion pohcy is being developed. There is to be more involvement from the surrounding neighbours regarding a building proposed to be demohshed. Neighbours will be notified if a building is to be torn dow~ Demohtion is to occur with specific conditions set out. We are also looking for other forms of legislation to have grading and landscaping done which the Planning Act presently does not allow. Councillor Stortz commented that this new pohcy is looking for a balance between the community and the individuals in the specified area~ This issue will be brought back to the Committee for further discussio~ 6. VISIONING PROCESS - T. BROCK STANLEY Brock Stanley outlined that work on a Corporate Strategic Han is underway and stated that it's essential that the City has a Vision and that the community has input into this Visiom After numerous meetings between Council and Senior Staff the City has come up with a (h'aft City Vision with two major components being Kitchener is a livable community and a community continuing on the leading edge of change. The City has sent out over ~00 mailings to community groups, schools, business associations, government agencies, and other interested parties inviting participation in a Vision Workshop to be held on Saturday, June 18, 1994. Participants will be introduced to the visioning process, will break up into small working groups to discuss the (h'aft vision and review the 18 focus area~ The objective is to get a consensus on a City Vision and the important focus area~ Brock sta'ongly encouraged everyone to work with the City and attend this Vision Workshop. Councillor Stortz advised KDBA has done a Sta'ategic Plan which can be presented as a Brief at the 47 Vision Workshop. Brock Stanley felt this could be worked Councillor Bryan Stortz turned the Chair over to Councillor Mark Yantzi and left the meeting. 7. STRATEGIC PLAN Stephen LAuer asked the working groups established at the last meeting to report on their progress What has been done? Is guidance needed? More input and short term projects are needed over the next few months Nancy Brawley pointed out that in the Downtown Business Associations newspaper (passed out at the beginning of the meeting) on page 3 there is a questionnaire "Please Help Make Downtown a Better Place". Everyone should be encouraged to fill it out and mail it i~ This would give us more of a focus for future direction of the Downtow~ Media Working Group Gerry Graham, Chairman of the Media Working Group handed out a Report (attached) to the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee from the Strategic Plan Media Sub-committee. Gerry pointed out that the atmosphere for negotiation seems to be improving. We need responsible people to meet with the media~ A Study Team comprising of l,inda lqYyfogel, Mayor's Office Coordinator and Sharon Tranter, Training and Development Officer has been set up to work on a Mission Statement. Once this Team has been well organized they will meet with the media and push for media representatiom The following suggestions were made: Nancy Brawley Is Rogers is interested in doing a monthly report? Sgt. Rita Westbrook Pubhc Service Announcements DO they help? Nancy Brawley Sometimes They have too many to p~qnt. Same with the Radio. Sgt. Rita Westbrook Have CKCO take good shots of the Downtown to encourage people to come downtow~ 48 Gerry Graham Identify a coordinating producer and then contact media~ Individuals should not contact media one at a time. PI'opertv Standards Group Karen-Taylor Harrison reported meeting since the middle of Marcl~ Is there a problem? What is it? They have been looking at the block bounded by Charles, Eby, Church & Cedar. There is no standard of beauty for the downtow~ A property may not look very good but may have no inlYactions in terms of zoning or property standard~ Upon reviewing the why's and wherefore's of zoning standards there seems to be a one track -chronic problem or two track - one time problem~ Safety Committee and Livabilitv Sub-Committee Karen Simoneau reported that there was a good response at theh' last meeting. Fifteen people attended. They would like to see some seniors attending to get theh' concerns A broad range of interests and concerns were di~ussed. The image of the Downtown was adch'essed. needs work through media, tabloids safety perception - feel there is a perception problem - intimidation everyone felt the Downtown needs to be vital and used by the whole community youth employment initiatives needed Committee is broad and needs to be focused on particular issues At theh' next meeting priority areas and working groups will be set. The Social Planning Council was in receipt of a private donation and therefore will have more staff time available. The Committee is looking at going down to the Dufferin Mall for another community's insight. Economic Development Group Nancy Brawley advised that presently they are in transition with changes occu~qqng on the Board of Dh'ectors and staff. Long-term framework is the key we are not trying to come up with a short-term solutio~ Transportation Gayle RedgweH advised MicheHe Morissetti has indicated that she wishes to remain as Chat'. Strategic Plan F~xecutive Committee 49 (Nancy Brawley, Brock Stanley, Stephen Lauer) looking at who uses the Downtown in order to determine the "trade area". lots of data broken down by neighbourhoods which can be used once the trade area is estabhshed types of businesses and uses of the downtown- Study done in 1989 that maybe useful looking at physical image help could come from LACAC and urban design students more inlbrmation needed re issues to be able to establish prioEqties and set Strategic I)h'ection 5/Is Brawley is interviewing students to help with data collection and to conduct street surveys Rhonda Russell left the meeting Karen Taylor-Harrison expressed concerns that as a result of the Social Contract. she fears we're not going to find long-term solutions and are only going to look at short-term solutions Long-term problems need to be looked at in a long-term perspective and hopes this problem will be ad(h'essed in the Strategic Plato Stephen Lauer stressed that liming doesn't need to be force& There is an opportunity to get more input from residents trying to be more focused problems can be looked at in more detail need not necessaEqly find a solution there will be continual evaluation building frameworks can evolve over time Karen Simoneau stated she felt there will be concrete results for short-term problems 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 10:40 a~m~ Sonja S. Tobin Committee Secretary 5O g:brock\dac.min