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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1999-01-14 ] DAC\1999-01-14 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JAN UARY 14, 1999 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Karen Taylor-Harrison with the following members present: Anita Petsche Good, Tom Brennand, Denise Shelbourne, Ruth Tomlinson, Greg Kett, Trudy Beaulne, and Brian Scott. Others Present: Sybil Frenette, John McBride, Tim Fox, Peter Wahlberg, Grant Nixon and Tim McCabe. Regrets: Mayor Carl Zehr, Councillor Mark Yantzi, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Robert Braun, Nancy Brawley, Denise Strong, Peggy Walshe, Lillian Kehl, Martin de Groot, Janice Williams, Regis Coladipietro, Myrta Sahas, Arli Klassen, David Gowland and Staff Sgt. Gary Askin. It was noted that the committee did not achieve quorum at today's meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA- JANUARY 14, 1999 It was decided to defer this item to the next meeting as quorum was not achieved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 12, 1998 AND DECEMBER 10, 1998 It was decided to defer this item to the next meeting as quorum was not achieved. DOWNTOWN PARKING ISSUE John McBride attended the meeting to bring the committee up-to-date on the parking situation in the downtown. There have been a number of changes this year in the supply of parking. There is a shortage of long-term parking in the east end due to Manulife moving in to Canada Life Square and the closing of the market garage for repairs. The lot at King & Madison (125 spaces) is 80% full, the Market Garage has now reopened and is available for monthly and short term parking. Manulife moving into King Centre has caused a crunch in the west end as well. They have taken over most of the King Centre garage and the lot at Charles & Water. They are now able to accommodate almost everyone who was displaced in the west end. Lot #3 is being expanded, there are 200 spaces being provided on the Epton site, spaces have been leased at Ontario Seed Company @ Victoria & Joseph, and 40 spaces have been leased at the lot between Francis & Victoria. Council has approved $6,000,000 in 2000 for the development of a parking garage. A study will be underway in a month to determine where the greater demand is - Charles & Benton or Charles & Water. Construction will start in 2000. Emphasis will be placed on the facade treatment - must blend in with surrounding area. There would be approximately 400 parking spaces with the possibility of ground floor retail. Trudy asked if the area around KW Hospital could be included in the study· There is no study planned at present, it would most likely be done with any expansion or restructuring of the hospital. The City is planning on constructing a parking lot on the old rotary centre site across from the hospital. Trudy also asked about transit - are they part of the study? They are looking at offering discounted passes/corporate passes for large businesses. The study will not only look at existing uses but future uses as well. They need to consider the number of people there would be downtown if all downtown office vacancies were filled. Sybil suggested that the City should do a press release. We need to get the message out quickly that the parking situation has improved. There should be a map in the newspaper showing where new parking has been created. This is good PR for the City. Karen mentioned that the first floor of the City Hall parking garage was quite full at 8:15 this .... nd · morning. People w~th monthly parking should be parking on the 2 level, keeping the top · · · nd' · level free for short term parking. C~ty staff should be parking on the 2 level. John wdl send an e-mail reminding everyone. Brian Scott voiced his concern that with the increase of people coming downtown, there has been an increase of traffic in the adjacent neighbourhoods. People are cutting through the side streets to get downtown avoiding the more busy main streets. Are there any solutions to alleviate traffic in these areas and slow down traffic? John informed him that this is a classic example of our deficient road network, the roads cannot handle the demand. This issue will be addressed in the West Side Connector Study to look at alternative ways to access the downtown from the west side of the city. It will identify road improvements that need to be undertaken. It will be a few years before the improvements are implemented. Trudy would like to put 2 motions on the floor. That the City undertake a study on the parking situation at Victoria & Union (K-W Hospital) area. Moved by: Trudy Beaulne Seconded by: Brian Scott That the City undertake a study on the impact of traffic downtown on the surrounding residential neighbourhoods. Consider the liveability assessment, to look at pedestrians and residents, quality of life. Moved by: Trudy Beaulne Seconded by: Brian Scott 4. CITY STORE The city of San Diego has a city store where they sell items with a local theme. We would like to do something similar in Kitchener. The items would be souvenir/novelty items and surplus items from the City. At the present time surplus City items are sold at public auction or disposed of. The Purchasing Division likes the idea. We could partner with the Region or the City of Waterloo. The store could also provide visitor/tourist information, sell tickets, etc. We don't have a lot of information as to what inventory is available. We need to put it on the table with Senior Management. Once we have an understanding of what we have, what we need, we can move forward. DOWNTOWN CAPITAL BUDGET The committee had been supplied a copy of the downtown budget with their agenda. Sybil explained that in the past departments would put together their own budget. They often didn't know how the budgets affected one another. Some comprehensive budgeting needed to be done to co-ordinate work being done. This was done through DIRG (Downtown Interdepartmental Resource Group). The budget shows a 10-year capital forecast for projects downtown. It shows when things are intended to be done and how much has been allocated. Sybil will share this every year with the committee to show what the City is spending on the Downtown. Tim McCabe pointed out that Safe City Committee also spends money on the downtown which is not included in this summary. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Sybil will update the committee on where we stand with items from the Strategic Plan and how it's going. Some other suggestions for future discussion were: update on Church Tours (Martin de Groot), status of Community Development Planning Process, Healthy Communities, Victoria Park Strategic Planning Update, and Neighbourhoods in "Transition". It was also suggested that we reduce the number for quorum. Sybil felt that when all the new appointments are made, attendance will increase. 7. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TEAM Sybil updated the committee on what has been happening. Celebrating Our Successes will be held on February 9th (~ the Walper. Everyone will be receiving an invitation by mail. Our Strategic Plan is in the approval process and will be launched at Celebrating Our Successes as will our new wordmark "The Original City". The work on the Gaukel Street Promenade is proceeding. We are in the midst of hiring a database person. This is a joint venture with the KDBA. It will be a one year contract. The work on the database needs to continue. The more we know the more we can manage the downtown. The Market Square parking garage is complete. Manfred Conrad is now concentrating on the old Eaton's building. If there is no tenant, it will come down. It would be a great location for the Kitchener Farmer's Market. The team has been working on undesirable uses. We are cognizant of the uses we do not want downtown. There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to restrict these uses. NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION UPDATES Denise Shelbourne - Cedar Hill NA had a celebration of the season in Sandhills Park. Fifty people were attendance, St. Joseph choir was there, lots of lights and refreshments. Tom Brennand - Tom asked if there was a picture of what the Ottawa St. bridge and interchange will look like. Sybil will check with Don Snow. Trudy Beaulne - (Trudy's notes are attached for more detailed information) the Louisa-Ahrens Safety Audit has been done. Results will be summarized and Trudy will keep us up to-date. there is interest in using the Guelph Street fire station as a neighbourhood centre. they have decided not to pursue an OP2000 grant. This grant seemed more accessible to incorporated, staffed organizations. the neighbourhood held 2 Christmas parties. Both were very successful. movie night is a real hit. Movies are shown in the Breithaupt Centre Gym. They are drawing up to 100 each Friday night. the proposed Highway 7 is back on the books. The neighbourhood has been participating in public meetings. The environmental assessment didn't include the impact on residential. Trudy also expressed concern with the term "Transition Neighbourhood". This was once used to refer to Cedar Hill neighbourhood, now being referred to Mt. Hope-Breithaupt neighbourhood. What does this mean? It will be included as a future agenda item. KDBA Update Peter Wahlberg attended the meeting in Nancy's absence. (Peter's notes are attached for more detailed information.) the KDBA's Christmas promotions were very successful. They sold 600 of the 1,000 clock tower ornaments ordered. They will continue to be available throughout the year. The Frosty promotion was a big hit with the kids. They are considering "Frosty Dollars" and other give-aways for next year. the restructuring of the KDBA is well underway. Peter has been hired as Manager of Operations, Nancy is now Director of Community Relations. Celebrating Our Success is well underway as previously mentioned in the minutes. on January 27th there will be an open house welcoming Manulife employees to the downtown. There will also be one held in February for Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Lunch will be provided by downtown restaurants. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 am Carol Robinson, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS KDBA Report Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association Update