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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1998-04-09DAC\1998-04-09 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 1998 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison, Nancy Brawley, Anita Petsche Good, Lori Gove, Lillian Kehl, Marianne Wasilka, Brigid Loveday, Edee Schmitt, Trudy Beaulne and Arli Klassen. Others Present: Brock Stanley, Sybil Frenette, Terry Boutilier, Caroline Oliver and Avril Tanner (minutes). Regrets: Mayor Carl Zehr, Robert Braun, Dave Mota, Denise Strong, Tom Brennand, Peggy Walshe, Staff Sgt. Brian Atchison, Martin De Groot, Regis Coladipietro, Myrta Sahas and Chris Winters. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA- APRIL 9, 1998 The Agenda for the April 9th meeting was approved with the following additions: Discussion on Downtown Lighting Design Study. Trudy Beaulne has an information item on the Justice Dinner. Moved by: Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison Seconded by: Marianne Wasilka CARRIED 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 12, 1998 It was moved that the minutes of the March 12, 1998 meeting be approved. Moved by: Councillor Berry Vrbanovic Seconded by: Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison CARRIED 3. TOP 40 DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES Brock indicated that he would like everyone to give their Top 40 Initiatives for the Downtown to Avril and that a sub-committee should be developed to sort through the initiatives. After some discussion it was decided that Trudy and Marianne would be the members of the sub-committee. It was also mentioned that a list of those initiatives that have been added will be compiled and brought back to the next meeting. 4. SPECIAL SAFE CITY MEETING - REVIEW OF LIGHTING DESIGN STUDY Brock explained that there was a joint meeting between Downtown Advisory Committee and Safe City Committee scheduled and everyone was circulated a copy of the Lighting Design Study. It was mentioned that a joint recommendation was not made as there were not enough members from the Downtown Advisory Committee present at the joint meeting. Brock reviewed the attached Recommendations that the Safe City Committee endorsed. Brock explained that these recommendations would be taken to Planning Committee at the end of April and suggested that the committee endorse the recommendations at today's meeting. A motion was made that the Downtown Advisory Committee has reviewed and endorses the following the Recommendations on the Downtown Lighting Design Study: That the Downtown Advisory Committee endorse the lighting principles, guidelines, concepts and over all Lighting Framework of the Downtown Lighting Design Study and recommend there adoption to City Council as the new lighting standard for Downtown. That an evaluation of the effectiveness of the new lighting standard be undertaken in the latter part of 1998 after construction of the demonstration projects. That, where appropriate, recommendations of the Downtown Lighting Design Study be incorporated into the new draft Urban Design Guidelines, the new Sign Bylaw for Downtown, the Fa~;ade Improvement Loan Program and the Porch Lights On Program. Moved by: Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison Seconded by: Arli Klassen CARRIED A motion was made that the Downtown Advisory Committee has reviewed and endorses the following the Recommendations on the Downtown Lighting Design Study: That the new lighting standard be implemented in a series of demonstration projects to be undertaken in the downtown by Public Works in 1998 and 1999; as well as in the conversion of a portion of the existing lighting on King Street from High Pressure Sodium to Metal Halide. Moved by: Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison Seconded by: Arli Klassen CARRIED Please note that the above motions were made in two phases as there was some concern noted about Recommendation #2 and fund required to implement this recommendation. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION Sybil mentioned that there would be so much construction and rerouting occurring this summer downtown that it was decided that we should develop a communications plan for the construction. She circulated a copy of the Communications Plan (see attached) and introduced Caroline Oliver. Caroline started her presentation by explaining that they were trying to turn a negative situation into a positive situation by keeping people focused on the benefits of the finished project. Caroline then reviewed the Communications Plan with the committee and the following items were mentioned during her presentation: Some of the information in the Plan will be changing on an ongoing basis. A monthly feature will take place each month in the Record and discussion has taken place on fees for the advertising and having colour advertisements. A logo has been developed. Working on a press kit to be circulated just before construction starts. It was suggested that Victoria School, King Belmont and Mount Houpe Breithaupt Neighbourhood Associations should also be added to the notification list. This is a joint project between the City and the KDBA. It was indicated that some Neighbourhood Associations would like to help advertise and they inquired if there was some information that could be set up in their display cases. 6. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FORUM It was mentioned that Nancy Brawley would be at the Forum and will give the Downtown Advisory Committee story at the forum on Saturday, April 25th at St. Paul's Church. Trudy handed out some brochures to committee members. Nancy indicated that if anyone wished to have certain items mentioned in her story they should contact her. A discussion occurred about having a Healthy Communities Representative and it was indicated that Bin Newell from the Planning & Development Department would be our representative. It was decided that there should be an update on this item at the next meeting. It was suggested that someone from Victoria Park be invited to attend the Healthy Communities Forum. 7. HOUSING REPRESENTATIVE The Terms of Reference for this committee currently includes a representative from an affordable housing agency, it was pointed out by Brock that we could change the Terms of Reference to include a more generic form and just list a Housing Representative. Sybil indicated that she already had someone in mind to fill this membership role. It was decided that the Terms of Reference could be changed to reflect the above noted discussion and that Brock would complete a report and bring it back to the next meeting. It was also mentioned that we should follow up with Debbie Schlicter about communicating with Social Agencies, Brock will do this and include any necessary changes in the report. 8. STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW Brock indicated that we have circulated a new Draft copy of the Strategic Plan and would like to receive any feedback back from the Committee on the Draft Report. He explained that the original text portion of the document came from this committee in the Fall of 1994 when DAC started the Strategic Plan process. The objective is to get the finalized report finished by the end of June. During Review of the Draft Plan the following items were suggested: 2. 3. 4. 5. Number 1 - Expand boundaries North of Victoria Street and include King Belmont and Mount Hope Breithaupt Neighbourhood Association. 4.1 - Mission Statement should reference Downtown as a place to live. 4.7 - Focus only on those Communciyt Development elements that relate directly to the Downtown as broadly defined. 4.3 - Mission Statement - look at Downtown Development Team Marketing Mission Statement. 4.8 - Use Mission Statement from Parking Strategic Plan as a draft. Brock mentioned that there are some missing Mission Statements and that for the next meeting he would develop some draft Mission Statements for review by the Committee and that the Top 40 Initiatives would also be available for review. 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 handed out a copy of her report and reviewed it with the committee (see attached). 11. NEW BUSINESS Trudy Beaulne circulated a flyer with information about the Justice Dinner (see attached). The meeting adjourned at 10:25 am Avril Tanner, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Communications Plan for Construction. Downtown Development Team Update. KDBA Update.