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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1998-10-08DAC\1998-10-08 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 8, 1998 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Nancy Brawley, Denise Strong, Anita Petsche Good, Peggy Walshe, Lori Gove, Brigid Loveday, Trudy Beaulne, Brian Scott and Arli Klassen. Others Present: Brock Stanley, Sybil Frenette, Catherine Heal, David Corks, Bob Arnot, Birgit Heilig, Lucinda Gravelle, and Carol Robinson (minutes). Regrets: Mayor Carl Zehr, Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison, Robert Braun, Tom Brennand, Lillian Kehl, Martin de Groot, Janice Williams, Regis Coladipietro, Edee Schmitt, Myrta Sahas, and Staff Sgt. Gary Askin. APPROVAL OF AGENDA- OCTOBER 8, 1998 The Agenda for the October 8th meeting was approved with the following additions: Courtland School Closing Addition of Neighbourhood Association Updates to future agendas Moved by: Brigid Loveday Seconded by: Denise Strong CARRIED APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 10, 1998 It was moved that the minutes of the September 10, 1998 meeting be approved. Moved by: Denise Strong Seconded by: Arli Klassen CARRIED DOWNTOWN VISION STATEMENT Sybil Frenette handed out an update of the Downtown Vision Statement. The committee had asked that more mention of the residential neighbourhoods and how they relate to the downtown be added. This report will be used when we meet with various groups to show them that this is what we want our downtown to be. Sybil went over the new statements that were added. Birgit Heilig asked that schools also be mentioned as a vital part of the downtown. Trudy Beaulne wants to add that downtown is for families, it is an exciting, rich environment to raise a family. A place people come to, not a place they leave. Brian Scott was concerned about the phrase "high density". He felt it was a planning term, and doesn't want to see "high density" downtown. Sybil explained her use of the wording. High density can refer to both residential and commercial. Berry Vrbanovic suggested that the statement be phrased "high density commercial centrepiece". Downtown is clearly the most dense area of the City. Sybil will make changes and distribute the report to the committee. TERMS OF REFERENCE UPDATE The committee has reviewed and revised the Terms of Reference every 2 years. Brock wanted to discuss some of the changes to be made in reference to the membership. The Affordable Housing rep should be changed to a Housing Sector rep so that all housing issues are represented, not just affordable housing. In addition to the Social Planning Council of K-W rep we would like to add a Social Services rep, more generic so that all social agencies would be represented. The third change should be to the Waterloo Regional Arts Council rep to a more generic rep from the Arts & Culture Community. Berry Vrbanovic questioned whether we wanted to be that broad in our membership. The last thing that needs to be done is to clarify some of the proper names of the neighbourhood associations. DAC has always been handled differently than other committees. In most cases members are appointed by Council. An ad is placed in the paper, people apply for appointment, and Council makes the decision. With DAC, the neighbourhoods have appointed their own reps to the committee. This poses a problem for the City Clerk as he rarely gets any response to his letters asking who the representatives are and their alternates. We need to be more formalized. We will have Council add to the Terms of Reference that DAC should appoint representatives from each of the following sectors: Senior Citizens, Physically Challenged, Social Services, Housing, Arts & Culture. Brock will check this out with Legal. Nancy Brawley is afraid the committee could become more fragmented. We have to go back to what we want to accomplish with this committee. Members interests have to be first and foremost with the downtown. Birgit mentioned that there are a lot of neighbourhood groups that are not incorporated, but have people who are very interested in the downtown and would like to be represented on the committee. Could we allow them to apply as well. Berry suggested that we allow 2 or 3 non-designated reps on the committee. These people would not necessarily be representing any group, but have a vast interest in the downtown. Arli felt that it seems to be making it more structured from the neighbourhood associations, but too flexible from other agencies. Brock explained that there are rules for standing committees of Council. DAC has the greatest latitude and slack. Clerks needs to know specifically who the membes are on the Committee. He likes Berry's idea of the 2-3 non-designated reps. DOWNTOWN MONITORING REPORT Catherine Heal presented a summary of the report using overheads showing what has been happening downtown in the last year. She asked questions of the committee pertaining to the results of the report. The report shows a very steady and positive improvement in the downtown. Trudy asked that "Festival of Neighbourhoods" be added to the the list of events downtown. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - INNER CITY HOUSING MARKET STUDY Sybil asked that this item be deferred to the next meeting. REVIEW OF AMUSEMENT ARCADES IN THE RETAIL CORE ZONE Brock updated the Committee on the zone change requests for arcades downtown. The City has been dealing with the problem of arcades for over 10 years. Arcades are allowed downtown, but must be in a building with floor space of 10,000 square metres and not fronting on a street or lane. This was good until 1997, when Sammy's applied for a zone change application to allow for 20 arcade machines. He was granted permission for 8 machines on a temporary basis while the zone change is in process. The City has also received a zone change from the Lyric to allow for up to 20 arcade machines. Council has instructed staff to pursue an approach, and to hold public meetings. We need to re-examine the whole issue. Planning staff are working with Legal and Licensing to develop a position. It is not easily solvable. A well run operation can bring people downtown. The KDBA would be opposed to changing the existing by-law. Anita Petsche Good would not want to see another arcade in the Lyric so close to the Metropolis and Zappers. Peggy Walshe asked why the City can't just say no. The business would have to appeal to the OMB which takes time and money. Sammy's is a well run operation, but if he sells the business, the zoning comes along with it which could cause problems in the future. Trudy is concerned with mixing youth and adults in a business where alcohol is sold. Arcade machines could lead to gambling machines. We are faced with a huge dilemma. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TEAM Sybil handed out a copy of her update and reviewed it with the committee (see attached). KDBA REPORT Nancy did a verbal report on what has been happening downtown. The end of construction event was moderately successful - the parade was great, maypole erection went well, but the events in the afternoon were not well attended. The 2® Annual Downtown Jazzy Fashion Show was held on September 23rd at the Walper Terrace Hotel. The event went very well and was well attended. It was too bad the stores weren't open afterwards as everyone was in the shopping mood. Two new murals have been installed: 1) the Girl Guide mural has been installed on the Rugged Comfort building; and 2) the German Heritage mural has been installed on the 4- Points building at King and Benton. There have been calls asking for framed prints of the German mural. There are t-shirts available with the mural on the front. Nancy suggested that everyone go down to Market Village and see what Shawky Fahel is doing in that area - very exciting. Oktoberfest events are getting started - corn stalks being put on poles, treasure hunt is on, activities are growing along Frederick and Benton. KDBA has 3 marketing students from Conesoga College who will be doing market research surveying the public- Is our target market what we think it is, is our advertising working, are they coming down to events? The next Networking Meeting is on October 21st @ 5:00 at the 4-Points Hotel - DAC is welcome. Two locations are concerned with the length of parking on the street. Ontario Street and in front of the post office on Gaukel would like there to be a 10 minute loading zone time suggested in these areas. COURTLAND SCHOOL CLOSING Birgit Heilig attended the meeting asking the committee for suggestions on how they can keep the school open. The parents affected value and choose downtown living which includes sending their children to school downtown. People won't want to live in the area if there are no schools available for their children. The Ministry doesn't see the enrollment as economical for a single school. This is a very emotional issue. Some suggestions made were: 1) To move students from overcrowded schools to Courtland. Unfortunately the Board doesn't consider schools overcrowded even though portables are being use. 2) Move the French Immersion students from Stanley Park to Courtland. 3) Community use of schools with rent paying tenant. The Ministry doesn't recognize a tenant, they are only concerned with the number of students in the school. 4) St. Joseph's is also fragile - could the 2 boards negotiate to combine the two schools together. Lucinda Gravelle's husband has done a Facilities Management Report for the Toronto board on how to run schools more efficiently and save money. She will speak to him to see if he will share this report with the concerned parents of Courtland School. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 Carol Robinson, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Downtown Development Team Update Downtown Vision Statement Update