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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 1999-09-22EDA\1999-09-22 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 22, 1999 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Schmalz Room, 2na Floor, City Hall MINUTES Attendance: Hans Pottkamper, Chair Brock Stanley Scott Baird Paul Britton Peter Benninger Henrik Noesgaard Glen Scheels, Vice-Chair George Borovilos Lawrence Bingeman Mike Sully Manfred Conrad Mayor Carl Zehr Linda Thompson, Recording Secretary Media: None Regrets: Terry Flynn Councillor Christina Weylie Ray Robinson Shawky Fahel Councillor Tom Galloway o o Approval of Minutes of June 25, 1999 Minutes were approved save and except page 2, first paragraph, which should read "To proactively assist the City of Kitchener .... initiatives at a municipal and regional level to improve the economic health of the City." Motion by S. Baird, Seconded by M. Sully. Carried. Introduction of George Borovilos Hans Pottkamper welcomed George Borovilos as the new Director of Economic Development. Visioning and Community Development Plan - Bin Newell Bin Newell gave a brief overview of the project which will work towards setting a Visioning and Community Development Strategic Plan for the City of Kitchener. Bin explained that the City has been doing a Corporate Strategic Plan for o some time now and one initiative from that plan was to develop a vision and community strategic plan - Council approved the Healthy Communities Concept to guide this process along. Bin further advised that the Healthy Communities approach be basically modelled into three (3) sections: social, environment and economic health. The whole idea is to strike a balance between all three sectors. Bin explained that the Work Plan for the project is divided into 8 phases. Phase 1 - formation of the Steering Committee, Phase 2 Project Development by staff, Phase 3 - Consultation Process, Phase 4 - assembling of information and feedback from roundtable/kitchen table discussions (with groups such as neighbourhood associations, service organizations, school boards, chamber of commerce, social planning council, industries, etc), Phase 5 - Draft Plan, Phase 6 - Draft Plan Review, Phase 7 - Finalize Plan, Phase 8 - Final Approval. This process will run from July, 1999 through to September, 2000. Bin mentioned that she would hope that a member or two from EDAC would volunteer to be a part of the External Resource Group - possibly assist in facilitation of the roundtable discussions. Brock Stanley mentioned that EDAC is already underway with looking at Vision for the City through the Subcommittee - Economic Vision Committee. Brock asked if anyone was also interested from this group to sit on the Steering Committee - if so, they were to let Linda Thompson know. Paul Britton congratulated the City on taking this initiative noting that it definitely was a risk. Hans Pottkamper thanked Bin Newell for her informative presentation and reminded everyone that if they wished to get involved with this project in any way, to call Linda Thompson 741-2311. Economic Vision Committee - Draft Report on Short & Long-Term Industrial Land Recommendations to Council Hans Pottkamper briefed everyone on how the Economic Vision Committee Came up with this draft report which was distributed with their Agenda and Opened the floor up for discussion on the draft report. Hans also pointed out That the recommendation on page 1 of draft report in italics should read Shirley Avenue and not Stirling Avenue. Paul Britton questioned the budget cycle. Was it a timely recommendation to be putting forward? Mayor Zehr commented that the timing was, for the most part, timely. 2 Short-Term Industrial Land Recommendation Mayor Zehr further cautioned everyone, however, that the current capital Budget has a line that is still paying for the Huron Industrial Park (and will be for at least a couple more years. Therefore, anything we talk about re: Huron Business park is additional to already present Capital Budget and this could be a major issue with Council. Glenn Scheels mentioned that some development charges would come to cover costs. Brock Stanley further mentioned that in both of these areas under discussion (Shirley Avenue & Huron Road) the development charges deal with the extensive road works. Mayor Zehr suggested that possible this group could try to find alternative Needs/ideas in which to finance these and other similar projects in order to get them on-stream in a timely manner. Mayor Zehr further mentioned that Council needs advise on this issue and a Push to get on with it and this recommendation should go forward - the intent is quite helpful. It was suggested that the following motion be approved by this Committee: "Subject to fine tuning and wordsmithing between Brock Stanley and Hans Pottkamper, Chair of Economic Development Advisory Committee, and Once reworded, the recommendation for the short-term industrial land strategic plan be put forth to Council for consideration and approval." Moved by P. Britton, Seconded by G. Scheels. Carried. Long-Term Industrial Land Recommendation Hans Pottkamper advised that a formal recommendation with respect to the long-term plan for industrial land had not been drafted, however, hopefully this committee could come up with this recommendation today. Hans asked that the floor be open for discussion. He further advised that the Committee should keep in mind that the lands mentioned were not within City boundaries. Manfred Conrad voiced approval that these lands would help all cities and would definitely help Kitchener and improve our visibility from the 401. Everyone agreed that these lands were a natural for industrial land. 3 Mike Sully mentioned that we should ensure to have key attributes or alternatives for developing these lands in order to not look like we need this to happen as we have nothing else, no where else to turn or grow. Mayor Zehr said timing is absolutely critical and agrees that identifying these areas as industrial land development, however, recognizing that these lands are generally owned by Woolwich Township. Paul Britton mentioned that he felt we must decide either to declare up front or incrementally approach it. With everything else going on around ie. Wellhead protection study, regional reform, etc. the timing is right. It was mentioned that our approach could be one of "this is the best choice for long-term industrial land solution for our people (of the Region), its right here in our own backyard and before other areas within our province or our country start offering solutions for company's long-term industrial land shortages we must start working together and offering this solution. Mayor Zehr suggested this is something that could also be discussed and receive support from CTT whose mandate is primarily to represent all CTT to the outside world and lobby for infrastructure to make that happen. Paul Britton commented on the Regional Transportation Master Plan which indicates that all transportation infrastructure is in place to accommodate exactly what we are trying to accomplish. Hans Pottkamper summarized to the committee that these lands were ideal from a business perspective; the fact that these lands were generally flat, infrastructure in place, transportation available, 401 and labour pools within. all markets, and the fact that economically there is a real blur between industries involved. Paul Britton suggested that EDAC distribute this Long-Term recommendation as vehicle for discussion to CTT, Township of Woolwich and all area planners. In summary, Hans Pottkamper advised that the Economic Vision Committee would meet prior to next EDAC meeting to draft a long-term industrial land recommendation/report and distribute to each member for discussion at the October 27, 1999 meeting. Replacement of Gord Huntington (Manufacturing Sector_ Deferred. Meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m. Moved by S. Baird, Seconded by M. Conrad. Carried. Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, 1999, Caucus Room, 2na Floor, City Hall.