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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1998-03-12DAC\1998-03-12 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 12, 1998 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Brock Stanley with the following members present: Mayor Carl Zehr, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Coucillor Karen Taylor-Harrison, Nancy Brawley, Anita Petsche Good, Tom Brennand, Peggy Walshe, Lori Gove, Staff Sgt. Brian Atchison, Marianne Wasilka, Ruth Tomlinson, Edee Schmitt, Trudy Beaulne and Arli Klassen. Others Present: Sybil Frenette, Grant Nixon, Terry Boutilier, David Corks and Avril Tanner (minutes). Regrets: Councillor Mark Yantzi, Robert Braun, Dave Mota, Denise Strong, Lillian Kehl, Martin de Groot, Regis Coladipietro, Myrta Sahas and Chris Winters. The meeting began with everyone introducing themselves and indicating their relationship to the Committee, as there were a lot of new members in attendance the meeting. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA- MARCH 12, 1998 The order of the Agenda was changed and Sybil's Presentation on the New York Conference that she attended last fall was moved to be the first item to be discussed. Trudy also mentioned that she would like to add an item for discussion. She would like to make a request that DAC speak at the Healthy Communities Forum. Moved by: Nancy Brawley Seconded by: Trudy Beaulne CARRIED 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 12, 1998 It was moved that the minutes of the February 12, 1998 meeting be approved. Moved by: Trudy Beaulne Seconded by: Peggy Walshe CARRIED 3. TOP 40 INITIATIVES Brock mentioned that rather than spending time going through those initiatives that were going to be submitted today he would like to set up a sub-group of approximately 3 members to review these initiatives and bring the Top 40 back to the next Downtown Advisory Committee Meeting. A discussion began pertaining to Marianne Wasilka's frustration with the Strategic Plan process and that the Community Development Strategic Plan had not yet been started. Brock explained that the objective is to complete the Draft DAC Strategic Plan by the end of June and submit the plan to Council for their review along with the Top 40 Initiatives for referral to public and community input in September 1998. It was felt that when this Public Meeting is held we would concentrate on presenting the Top 40 Initiatives to the public as the Strategic Plan in it's entirety would be too overwhelming to presented at one time. Brock also explained that the Community Development Strategic Plan has now been added to the Corporate Strategic Plan with the Parks & Recreation Department taking the lead role in developing the Plan. Work on this Strategic Plan will probably start in late fall and conclude in the spring of 1999. Brock mentioned that due to staff resources it is not feasible to start the Community Development Strategic Plan any earlier. It was clarified that the Community Development Strategic Plan presently under discussion for the Community Development Division of Parks & Recreation is not be confused with the plan noted above. Mayor Carl Zehr indicated that it was very important that we continue on with the DAC Strategic Plan and indicated that developing the Top 40 Initiatives would allow us to develop some form of a Report Card and allow us to focus in on the major initiatives and to track their progress. It was mentioned that even though we have a list of the Top 40 Initiatives we would still be working on the other Initiatives listed in the Strategic Plan. Brock reminded the Committee that we have to look at the other Strategic Plans that deal with initiatives in the Downtown when deciding on the Top 40 Initiatives for the Downtown. There was some discussion on what the process should be in determining those Initiatives and the following items were mentioned during this discussion: There was discussion on the Strategic Plans being developed and how they relate to one another. There was discussion on what the focus of this Committee was. It was indicated that all of the Strategic Plans circulated were presented to this committee in the past year. It was appreciated that a number of the members present were new to the Committee. Nancy reviewed the history of the Committee to help clarify what the Committee is responsible for. There was some concern noted about what the Committee's direction was and it was indicated that if there were issues that Neighbourhood Associations would like dealt with this would be the committee to bring them forward to. However, it was also pointed out that due to the limited amount of resources the initiatives brought forward might not always be the first initiatives worked on. It was mentioned that the Strategic Plan being worked on is very flexible in nature and is to be considered a working document that could be changed as we continue on through the process. Brock asked the Committee to prepare their Top 40 Initiatives in written form and have them available for the next meeting. It was also mentioned that an up-to-date copy of the Strategic Plan will be attached to the next Agenda. He asked that everyone review the plan in detail before the meeting and bring any comments or suggestions with you to the next meeting. 4. SPECIAL SAFE CITY MEETING - REVIEW OF LIGHTING DESIGN STUDY Brock informed the Committee that there would be a Special Safe City Committee Meeting held on Friday, April 3rd from 8:00 - 10:00 am in the Human Resources Training Room to review the Lighting Design Study. He indicated that rather than having two different presentations made that DAC members were invited to attend the Safe City Committee Meeting scheduled on the above noted date. He indicated that a copy of the executive summary would be circulated before the meeting. It was suggested that DAC provide muffins for this meeting. 5. STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW Brock asked everyone to review the new plan that will be circulated with the Agenda for the April meeting and bring their comments and suggestions with them to that meeting. 6. NEW YORK CONFERENCE PRESENTATION Sybil circulated a copy of a report that was developed for Council that includes the information that she would be presenting today (please see attached). Sybil then began her presentation. During her presentation she also passed around an outline of what Conference Seminars were offered. She indicated that the Conference underscored the need for the City to better market the Downtown. However, Sybil indicated that while we were relatively new to this group but mentioned that we could offer our participation in the next conference in the areas of Adaptive Re-Use and Relationship with the KDBA. She felt that our experiences would be of interest in these areas. It was suggested that we strongly consider offering to share our experiences at the next Conference in Victoria, British Columbia at the end of September 1998.. 7. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION Sybil indicated that a Committee has been formed to deal with marketing the plan for construction in the next year. She reviewed who the members were on the committee and pointed out that this committee was formed to develop a Communications Plan for the Construction that would be occurring during the next year. She mentioned that their hope is to give everyone an idea of when the construction will begin and end in specific areas of the City. The theme of the Marketing Plan is called "1 Dig Downtown" and we hope to have T-shirts available for the construction workers to wear. They would also like to plan events that would help promote the change in the Downtown. The committee is meeting next week and Sybil indicated that she would like to have Carolyn Oliver come and give a presentation to the Committee when the Plan is developed. 8. TERMS OF REFERENCE It was pointed out that Brock & Avril met with Lloyd Parkhouse and have resolved most of the questions and we can build in alternates for the Neighbourhood Associations into the Terms of Reference. We still need to develop a process to let representatives know that they have been appointed by the Associations. We will add in a Future Agenda Item to cover the discussion on developing this process. 9. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TEAM Sybil handed out a copy of her update and reviewed it with the committee (see attached). 10. KDBA REPORT Nancy Brawley handed out a copy of her update and reviewed it with the committee (see attached). She also added that Dave Mota has been promoted and has moved to manage A Guelph Branch at Canada Trust. She indicated that his vacancy would be filled shortly. 11. NEW BUSINESS It was pointed out that Student Seed Program Applications must be submitted by the end of March. Trudy indicated that there has been a request that DAC participate in the Healthy Communities Forum by having a display and speakers share their stories (see attached invitation). It is anticipated that DAC will be a key component of the Forum. It was suggested that Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison and Trudy Beaulne meet to discuss who would be appropriate to have as speakers from the Committee and that this item be discussed further at the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 am Avril Tanner, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS New York Conference Report. Downtown Development Team Update. KDBA Report, Invite to participate in Healthy Communities Forum in April.