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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1998-01-15 1 DAC\1998-01-15 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JAN UARY 15, 1998 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Mayor Carl Zehr, Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison, Dave Mota, Nancy Brawley, Deb Schlicter, Denise Strong, Peggy Walshe, Lillian Kehl, Marriane Wasilka, Edee Schmitt, Trudy, Beaulne, Chris Winters and Anita Petsche-Good. Others Present: Brock Stanley, Birgit Helig, Grant Nixon and Avril Tanner (minutes). Regrets: Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Sybil Frenette, Robert Braun, Marleen Guttensohn, Michelle Morissetti, Deborah Budd, Rita Westbrook, Martin de Groot, Janice Williams, Regis Coladipietro, Myrta Sahas, Debbie King and Neil Carver. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - JANUARY 15, 1998 A motion was made to approve the Agenda for today's meeting with the following changes being noted: Sybil will not be at the meeting this morning therefore items 4 and 6 will be postponed until the next meeting, Add an item to deal with Affordable Housing Representative, Moved by: Trudy Beaulne Seconded by: Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison CARRIED 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 11, 1997 It was moved that the Minutes of the December 11, 1997 meeting be approved with the following change being noted: On Page 251 Second Paragraph, Trudy mentioned that the suggestion also included exploring summer grant programs as well so this paragraph should read: "A suggestion was made that the department also look at utilizing a High School Co-op Student as well as exploring summer grant programs to help with set up of events etc." Moved by: Dave Mota Seconded by: Chris Winters CARRIED 3. JOINING THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION Brock reminded the committee that this item relates to a discussion we had at the last meeting and referred to the information attached at the back of the minutes from the last meeting. He pointed out that it was suggested that this committee was already building a Healthy Community and that joining the Coalition would just be formulizing and affirming this initiative. It was mentioned that the forum that was mentioned at the last meeting has been postponed until the Spring and more information will be available soon. Some concerns were mentioned about joining the Coalition due to the fact that building a Healthy Community was not included in the City's Mission Statement. Marianne Wasilka handed out copies of the City's Mission Statement (see attached) and suggested that this be included as an initiative before joining the Coalition. At this time Brock explained that the document handed out by Marianne was part of a Corporate Action Plan that was seen as a 1 year to 18 month Action Plan. This Plan was primarily developed by City Council and Senior Management. He indicated that he thought the Council and Senior Management Planned to review the plan again this year. Brock read the Mission Statement out loud and indicated that there had been a great deal of discussion concerning the wording of the Mission Statement at the time the Plan was developed. He shared with the committee the interpretation that Council and Senior Management and come up with for the Mission Statement when it was developed. Trudy mentioned that she too feels that this initiative should be included in the Mission Statement and indicated that she had mentioned this before. After some discussion the following motion was made: To encourage the City of Kitchener to start a Community based process to promote the adoption of Healthy Community Principles as part of a Healthy Community Coalition. It was mentioned that a report be developed to go to Council and Community Members and this committee review the report before going to Council. It was also suggested that Finance and Economic Development be included as well. Moved by: Marianne Wasilka CARRIED 4. NEW YORK CONFERENCE PRESENTATION It was indicated that Sybil was unable to attend today's meeting and therefore her presentation would be postponed to the next meeting. 5. BRAINSTORMING SESSION - WHAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OVER NEXT FEW YEARS During the Brainstorming Session the following points were mentioned: Building Healthy Communities. Strategic Planning Process should be focussed on, particularly those initiatives in the plan. It was suggested that we look at dealing with a few initiatives each meeting. Developing Grocery & Hardware Stores in the Downtown. Mayor Carl Zehr mentioned that he was working at pursing a couple issues pertaining to Grocery and Hardware stores within the Downtown. A volunteer Service to help Seniors, i.e. going to get groceries etc. An idea of Phone & Delivery Services with Grocery Stores was suggested. Maybe we should focus on smaller stores, like speciality bread stores, or butchers etc. A plan would need to be developed for something like this to thrive. These stores should physically be clustered together. We would need to understand peoples shopping patterns as well for something like this to take off. Process for Business Initiatives and Potential of Rental space above them. Encourage rental of vacant places. A budget for this Committee. Partnerships and Sponsorships. Let's develop this community on the statistics of who live here. Mayor Carl Zehr indicated that there is currently a survey being done pertaining to the statistics of who lives in the Downtown. Home Improvement loans. Encouraging New Home Owners and Helping them find places to shop etc. Learn how people develop these shopping patterns as well. Besides the Strategic Plan and Follow Up with the Plan we should look at following up with initiatives and ideas that come from this committee. A process needs to be developed to follow up on motions that are made at this committee. Deal with perception problems in the Downtown, i.e. having speakers to deal with these issues (like the parking issue). Have someone bring us up to date on where Parking stands with their Strategic Plan. Looking at developing a Community Based Co-op Grocery Store. Keeping in mind the affordability issue as well. We have a negative and a positive to build on and we should look at how we will deal with these elements pertaining to the amount of construction that will take place in the Downtown over the next year and a half. We should look at how we are going to build the plus side of this construction as we will have a beautiful downtown after the Construction will be complete. The following suggestions were made pertaining to this item: That we add this as an update item. Nancy asked if any money could be given to the KDBA to help with dealing with this issue. It was suggested that a request be placed for money for media, at least $25,000 for advertising in the newspaper and on the radio. It was suggested that we go through the Downtown Development Team or Management Committee to request this money. It was suggested that we include before and after construction maps in the Leisure Magazine. 6. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TEAM Sybil was unable to attend today's meeting therefore this item was postponed until the next meeting. 7. K.D.B.A. UPDATE During Nancy's Update the following items were mentioned: A high end Men's Clothing Store will be looking to open in the Downtown in May. Eddie Bauer is now looking at locating in Fairview Mall. A personnel service is looking a locating in the Downtown. There is lots of Call Centre Potential in the Downtown. A package has been put together for proposals and receipt of Expressions of Interest in the Goudies building and vacant lots, interest is being shown on these sites. The Downtown Development Team is getting together for a day long brainstorming session. AMC project is still alive and well but not yet signed. Poseidon Project is coming along very well. A business plan is being developed and a logo has been selected. Once the plan is completed then the financing will hopefully be put together. A new festival is being looked at called Open Ears Festival that will be occurring in May. The plan is to have music on the streets in the Downtown and it sounds exciting. This festival is being planned by the Community. -. Working on a summer publication that will be developed to advertise those programs for the next year. -. Still concerned about Countdown to Canada Day. The KDBA is not going to be able to take the lead on this event and would like to see the City pick this event up. She would like to recommend that this committee look at this event. -. The owner of the Market has some really good ideas for building the Market and the Downtown Core. -. The Welcoming Committee made an offer to Cantel to come and welcome their new employees, they indicated that they really did not have the time for this type of event at the moment. -. The Mural program - a new one has just been completed and will be mounted onto the Charles side of the building at Queen and Charles in the Spring. There is a potential for 2 new sponsorships for murals this summer. -. Employee discount cards, people are happy with the idea and the response from the businesses is also positive. -. March 3rd will be the Celebrating Success Event at the Walper Terrace Hotel, they will have a. hguest speaker and the Mayor will also be speaking and doing awards. -. April7' is the Annual KDBA General Meeting. -. Catherine Heal has put together a newssheet on the Downtown and it will be mounted in key areas to help as a reminder of what is taking place in the Downtown. A suggestion was made that this committee should look at co-ordinating the Kaleidoscope Festival and that this committee liked the idea being proposed of a Festival of Festivals. It was also mentioned that all of the Festivals need to be co-ordinated in terms of timing and support. The list of Festivals should include all festivals, those from the Neighbourhoods, KDBA and Parks & Recreation. It was suggested that this be an item for discussion at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS Deb Schlicter indicated that she would not be able to represent the Housing Coalition any more as she was moving to a new position. She indicated that she can go back to the Housing Coalition and request a new representative or we can review the membership of the committee. Brock indicated that we will look at the Membership Issue at the next DAC meeting. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 am Avril Tanner, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 1. City of Kitchener Mission Statement.