Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Action - 1995-09-14DAC\1995-09-14 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES September 14, 1995 The Kitchener Downtown Action Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Councillor Karen Redman, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor Chiqstina 3/L Weylie, Robert Braun, Doug Marshman, Nancy Brawley, Deborah Budd, Karen Simonean, Brian Hunsberger, Karen Taylor- Harrison, Sgt. Rita Westbrook, Neil Carver, l~illian Kehl, David Gowland, Michelle 3/[oHssettZ Others Present: T. Brock Stanley, Sybfl Frenette, DOn Snow, David Corks, Roger Wyat~ Debra Rothwell, Jodi Murray, Jan Stroh, Harry Tasker, Hans Schilling. 1. OPENING REMARKS Councillor Mark Yantzi welcomed everyone. Councillor Yantzi expressed that he would like to start the KDAC meetings as close to 8:30 a~n~ as possible. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - September 14, 1995 Moved by Councillor Berry Vrbanovic Seconded by Sg~ Rita Westbrook That the Agenda of September 14, 1995 be accepted. CARRIED 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - July 13 and August 3, 1995 Moved by Robert Braun Seconded by Councillor Karen Redman That the Minutes of the meeting of July 13 and August 3, 1995 be accepted. CARRIED 4. YOUTH COMMITTEE Ms Jodi Murray introduced Ms Jan Stroh and IVh'. Harry Tasker. Ms Murray called on Ms Debra Rothwell to give the Youth Volunteerism & Employment Committee presentatio~ 1Vis Rothwell explained that she is a relatively new member to become involved with this Committee. 1Vis Rothwell stated that her two personal principles are to better nurture the young and to foster creativity in the young. Youth are our most important resource and the Youth Volunteerism and Employment Committee is trying to work with them and to understand then~ 1Vis RothweH presented the attached report and reiterated that their goal will be to hear the youth share with us who they are, how they feel and how they would like us to work among then~ Councillor Mark Yantzi asked for any responses or questions 1Vis Karen Taylor-Harrison inquired "How can we help you?". 1Vis Jodi Murray replied that they needed the KDAC's support~ ]Vis I Jllian Kehl mentioned that she came Downtown on a bus with other seniors last Tuesday night and noticed that there were about 100 youths congregating in front of City Hall This hqghtened the people on the bus ]Vis Kehl wondered what could be done. Ms RothweH agreed that this point was well takem The seniors she has spoken to also feel this way. This is why it's so important to have these two upcoming brainstorming sessions so we can better understand the youth and adch'ess their issues ]Vis Karen Taylor-Harrison commented that more surveillance is not necessa~qly the answer. When are the adults going to take responsibility. It's up to us to see that the kids have an alternative as far as chq~gs are concerned. Councillor Karen Redman mentioned that perhaps we have to change our approach and be sensitive to the fact that we have to have people from our side of the equation hstening to the concerns of the youtl~ We need to have action coming out of the initiatives from the planned brainstorming sessions Councillor Berry Vrbanovic stated that he frequently walks tin'ough Civic Square and does not feel tin'eatened by the yout]~ They are not necessa~qly a tin'eat but are being perceived as a tin'eat. Councillor Vrbanovic stated that we have to be careful we don't ostracize them as a whole because of their age. 1Vt'. Harry Tasker pointed out that for the last slx years he has been in a mento~qng program, "Students at Risk" and has found these youth to be very b~qght~ We have to start listening to see what's bothe~qng them and how we can help. ]Vis RothweH added that she has more fear of her peer group than the young people. This summer working on the coffee house has been one of her best summers and hopes that an alliance will be - 194- formed out of the brainstorming session~ The Co~ba Student House will be opening on Friday, September ~9, 1995. Rev. Nell Carver expressed that he thinks it's great we're getting people Downtown and that it's important to give young people encouragement. Councillor Christina Weyhe asked if we should have the young people write articles to be pubhshed in "Kitchener This Week". IVh'. Hans Schilling felt this was a good initiative. Being a parent of teenagers and in his marketing research he has found that teenagers tend to congregate when they are bored. Councillor B. Vrbanovic agrees that this k a good initiative and fully supports the brainstorming session~ As a community we have to deal with the problems of the Downtown before they become greater. Nancy Brawley felt it was important to involve youth so that they can become part of the solutio~ * Sybil Frenette entered the meeting. IV[~ Jan St~'oh stated that she has found working with young people that they want immediate gratificatiom Therefore, we need to react quickly. How can we put ideas into action? Where can we get support? IVh'. Brock Stanley responded and referred to Item No. 13 on the Agenda being Unfinished Business - Community St~'ategic Pla~ IVh'. Stanley pointed out that the Mayor's Task Force Report is only one component of the Community St~'ategic Pla~ The Community Plan will be brought to the KDAC after input has been heard from other Committee~ This Committee will work with this Community Pla~ It is an active Pla~ IV[~ Sybil Frenette added that intbrmation taken from various Committees has been incorporated into tables, including the Youth Committee, and this Plan will be brought back to the KDAC. IV[~ Sa'oh added that young people have ideas but are not interested in sitting on Committee~ If this Committee would give them one idea and the resources for it this would hook the kids i~ She noted that the Youth Committee is a small committee and does not have the resources to implement idea~ Councillor Redman suggested that people from the City, such as Parks and Recreation be present at the brainstorming session~ IV[~ Karen Taylor-Harrison shared IV[~ St~'oh's concern about actiom Our present process is too ponderous and takes too long to implement. - 195- Ms l,illian Kehl suggested that maybe the Committee could set up a Volunteer for Youth progra~ Nh'. Tasker stated that the ideas have to come from the youth not from Councillor lC Redman noted that there N risk and ta~st on both sides Councillor B. Vrbanovic hopes that when the coffee house opens up it will crate spin offs and show that it is worthwhile to invest in our youtl~ He suggested that when the Youth Committee starts prioritizing ideas that there will be a good cros~section of youth and there be a consensus from all youtl~ Councillor Mark Yantzi concluded that he likes the dh'ection the Youth Committee is taking and has heard that the Committee would like our support and would like to know what lO)AC can do to help expedite the process KDAC is supportive of the initiative but we should take care to manage youth expectations 5. APPROVAL OF REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE Nh'. Brock Stanley referred to the attached Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee Da'afb Terms of Reference. Nh'. Stanley stated that he took the comments from previous meetings and incorporated them into these Da'aft Terms of Reference. Nh'. Stanley pointed out the name change of the Committee from the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee to the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee. 5/ir. Stanley is asking for Committee approval The Terms of Reference will then go to Council ~Vh'. Robert Braun approved of the wording of the Terms of Reference except for under 1.0 PURPOSE AND SCOPE 1.1. ~Vh'. Braun felt the wording should be clearer to express that lO)AC wants to report dh'ectly to Council Nh'. Stanley suggested adding the words reporting directly to Council Councillor Mark Yantzi suggested that we put in the words and/or instead of or to the appropriate Standing Committee. Rev. Nell Carver refe~qqng to 3.0 MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION 3.1 "1 Rep - Kitchener Downtown Council of Churches" would like to see this change to "Kitchener Downtown Churches" to make sure aH faith groups will be consnlteck Councillor Mark Yantzi then called for a Motion Moved by Councillor Berry Vrbanovic Seconded by Robert Braun it was resolvetk - 196- o "That the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee adopt the Terms of Reference as revised and forward them to Council for approval" Carried UPDATE DOWNTOWN ACTION TEAM AND RETAIL ACTION PLAN Ms. Sybil l~'enette inlbrmed the Committee that the Action Team is working to implement the 45 recommendations of the Mayor's Task Force. Weekly meetings will be held and a monthly report will be presented to Planning Committee ensuring that all Council members are aware of what's happening. The most important thing k communicatio~ New technology k being created such as collecting inlbrmation for a database. Councillor Redman asked for an update on the position of Events Coordinator. Ms. l~'enette said that ads had been put into trade and newspapers and 201 applications have been receive& The applicants qualifications are very high and it will take time to short-list then~ The Department of Parks and Recreation has short-listed them~ Councillor Vrbanovic added that the Mayor is now short-hsting them~ It has been a difficult process because the quahty of the apphcants is so higl~ Hopefully this should be resolved by the middle of October. ~V[~ Brawley inquired why the Department of Parks and Recreation is short-hsting them instead of Human Resources Councillor Vrbanovic replied that the Event Coordinator will be reporting to the Department of Parks and Recreatio~ ~Vls lqYenette reiterated that this is one recommendation out of the 45 recommendations of Mayor's Task Force. The Retail Plan is intended to look at Districts, categorize them in order to enable businesses to locate in a more logical patter~ The KDBA is caxa'ying the bulk of this Plan with the help of a $20,000. contribution made by the City. The KDBA has hired a consultant and are working with the Action Team to create the database. They are surveying: people who work Downtown; visitors; and residents to find out where people shop, why they shop there, what their needs are and what they want to see in the Downtow~ This is action oriented Data~ This survey will then form important data that can be used to approach businesses to invite them to locate 7. COUNCIL OF NEIGHROURHOODS AND PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE "DOWNTOWN LIFE STYLE" - 197- M~ Frenette stated that it was important to get out the idea of the Council of Neighbourhoods and the l:q'omotional Brochure~ Nh'. Taylor-Harrison expressed that in her neighbourhood this lasted for about a year and was hard to continue but is a very necessary thing to do. M~ Brawley asked if there was a specific projec~ this would help to keep them together. Councillor Vrbanovic agreed that a project would keep the level of interest up. Nh'. Dave Gowland volunteered to help with the organization provided that there would staff' from the City able to help. Nh'. Gowland volunteered to contact the neighbourhood chairs and organize a meeting. Councillor Mark Yantzi asked any other volunteers on this Committee to contact Dave Gowland before the next meeting and then give an update at the next KDAC meeting. M~ Frenette suggested that a brochure could be made available to the Real Estate Board to get out more positive inlbrmation about the Downtow~ IVh'. B. Stanley assured the Committee that we have adequate resources and would be able to put together an excellent brochure. Councillor Mark Yantzi asked if the Committee wanted to make a Motion to support this initiative. Moved by Nancy Brawley Seconded by Karen Taylor-Harrison "That the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee support the development of a l:q'omotional Brochure entitled "Downtown 13re Style". Carried IVh'. Robert Braun suggested doing a video instead of a brochure. Councillor Mark Yantzi commented that this was a good suggestio~ After some discussion doing a brochure was favoured. Councillor Mark Yantzi stated that the Motion stands with Nh'. Brauffs comments noted. 8. CEDAR HILL NEIGI:IBOURHOOD FESTIVAL - 198- 1Vis Karen Taylor-Harrison handed out a brochure re the Cedar Hills Folk Fest` She noted that it was a great day with 400 to 800 people participating. City Hall staff went out of their way to help with this event, Sand Hills Park was divided into 5 areas There was 9 sohd hours of fhst rate entertainment enjoyed by all The goal to bring together a diverse community was very successful Another goal still being worked on was to map out dflTerent businesses running out of houses and businesses within the Cedar Hill Neighbourhoock When this has been put together it will be available to the KDBA~ N[~ Taylor-Harrison on behalf of the Cedar Hill Neighbourhood thanked everyone for a super, super day. 9. KDBA REPORT Nancy Brawley handed out the KDBA Report to the KDAC re Mayor's Task Force Recommendations (attached). Nh'. Doug Ma~hman reviewed the Recommendations outlined in this Report` Refe~q4ug to Recommendation No. 1 Nh'. Ma~hman indicated that the Action Plan for Business Development will be completed by the end of October or the beginning of November, 1995. Refe~q4ug to Recommendation No. 8, they are still looking for businesses to locate Downtow~ Refe~q4ug to Recommendation No. 1~, they are working on an educational program to promote that customers come fh~t and that parking spots should turn over quickly. Recommendation No. 37 specifically is working towards getting the entertainment industry to help and work together. Councillor Karen Redman refe~q4ug to Recommendation No. 13 inquired if there has been improvement` 1V[~ Brawley answered that some areas won't improve without a By-law. In other areas peer pressure helps to improve the parking situatio~ 1Vh'. DOn Snow added that Mohawk students are being hired who will be taking down hcence plate number~ They will have intbrmation for the KDBA within the next couple of weeks~ They have been working diligently to get abuse of free parking under control 1Vh'. Dave Gowling asked if this is work in progress - 199- kV[~ Brawley answered "Yes, under the Mayor's Task Force". Nancy Brawley moved on to the following KDBA news kV[~ Beth Chtqstensen is leaving the KDBA to take another positiom The KDBA is very sorry to see Beth leave and will miss her. The F~xecutive has met and staff reorganization k taking place. Restaurant Guide has been produced on a participant pay basis and N available. Holiday Tradition brochure has been produce& Octobex~est is generating much activity and anyone wishing to help is invited to contact the KDBA~ The KDBA will soon be connected to City Hall through E-ma~ Nh'. D. Gowling asked if the KDBA is responsible for the facelift in Downtow~ kV[~ Brawley rephed that they are not responsible for the Facade PI'ogram but have communication with City businesses re the PI'ogra~ IV[~ S. l~'enette added that the Facade Ih'ogram is almost out of money and she has been asked to report on how the PI'ogram has worked and ask for more fund~ This report will be brought back to lO)AC. The Mural Ih'ogram is now launched. The Brush Sta'oke Ceremony will take place on September 19, 1995 at 1~:00 noom Two murals have been started. Five are in the wings and will be started in the Spxqng of 1996. A process to conduct walking tours has begun and should be good PR for Octobex{est visitor~ 10. DISCUSSION ON FUTURE MEETING TIMES This question was tabled at a previous Kitchener Downtown Action Committee meeting. Councillor Mark Yantzi asked if there was any interest at looking at another date to hold KDAC meetings Di~ussion ensued as to the best date and time for the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee to meet. The Committee concluded that the present meeting date, being the second Thursday of each month, is still the best time to meet. - EO0- Ms. Sybil l~'enette asked the Committee if they would be willing to meet at 8:00 a,n~ in the morning for special meetings to give Mayor Chtqsty a chance to sit i~ The members agreed to the earher meeting time for special meetings Councillor Yantzi asked everyone to watch theh' minutes for meeting times 11. NEW BUSINESS Ms Karen Simoneau handed out two flyers (attached). One being a registration for the Social Planning Council's Annual meeting to be held on September 29, 1995. )/Ts Simoneau invited all Committee members to attend this meeting. The other flyer was an invitation to attend a Community Meeting on November 2, 1995; Community Building Workshop to be held on l~qday, November 3, 1995 and a Youth and Racism Forum to be held on November 4 and 5, 1995. See the attached flyers for further inlbrmatio~ )/Ts MicheHe Morissetti asked if it was relevant to ask for a Motion or a statement from this Committee saying that we can not support even one less policeman on the Pohce Force. Councillor Mark Yantzi wondered if more di~ussion should take place before a Motion is made. Councillor Karen Redman felt more discussion was necessary and perhaps the Region could be approache& Councillor Mark Yantzi expressed the feeling that residents appea~qng as a delegation dh'ectly to Regional Council on this matter would have a greater impact then a resolution of Kitchener Council Ms L illian Kehl handed out a flyer advertising a Community Chtqstmas Bazaar to take place November 26, 27 and 28, 1995 at the Market Square Hall She stated that they need vendors and are hoping to b~qng in business to the Downtow~ Councillor Karen Redman asked if there is a charge for vendor~ Ms Kehl rephed that there is a $30.00 daily charge for vendors and they will be charging $2.00 for admission to the Bazaar. 14. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a~m~ Sonja S. Tobin Committee Secretary