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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Kitchener BIA - 2022-02-23 February 23, 2022 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES Present: Linda Jutzi, Darryl Moore, Erika Holenski, Cara Watson, Councillor Debbie Chapman, Rebecca Coker, Councillor Sarah Marsh, Darren Becks, Julie Phillips, Phong Tran, Sgt. Kelly Prebble, Martha Wallace, and Michael Rederer. Regrets: Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and Benjamin Mathew. Recorder: Stefanie Golling The meeting began at 8:32 a.m., with Darryl Moore as Chair. APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS Darryl Moore welcomed Martha Wallace as a new Director to the Board. Moved by Julie Phillips, seconded by Cara Watson "That the Board approves the agenda." Carried Unanimously APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Councillor Debbie Chapman, seconded by Rebecca Coker "That the Board approves the January 26, 2022 meeting minutes." Carried Unanimously WRPS UPDATE Sgt. Kelly Prebble provided the following updates on behalf of Waterloo Region Police Service: WRPS is helping out across the province and are also experiencing staffing shortages due to COVID-19. Cst. Elliott and other members of the team continue to have a presence at the Kitchener Market during lunch hour. Sgt. Prebble has been having conversations with Darren Becks regarding trespassing issues in King East. Other issues are being addressed in Halls Lane behind Nicoya. Board Director questions and comments: Linda Jutzi provided an update on the creation of a reporting template for after-the-fact member business scenarios. o Sgt. Prebble asked that we encourage businesses to continue calling dispatch and document waiting times. Sgt. Prebble is able to take this information forward that will back complaints. o Ms. Jutzi added that she does not believe small business owners are willing to wait on hold for 40-minutes; can we use the information to share a report with Sgt. Prebble to take forward to WRPS? o Sgt. Prebble understands, but if we can have business owners try, the data will support and back the argument. Data-backed information will make a bigger impact. Businesses have been down this road before, and it was sorted out. The Slack app was that reporting tool, and now it has been then taken away. This feels very hopeless when all of the efforts are being tossed. It is clear that the online reporting system is not set up for an employee of a retail company, more a homeowner, or for stolen personal property. Much of the form asks for so much information and is not set up for urban areas. It's a disincentive to reporting. Has WRPS looked into this, so the database system is reflective? Types of calls missing for reporting include open drug use and disorderly behaviour. o Action item: Sgt. Prebble to follow up on with the type of reporting issues today. o Action item: Sgt. Prebble to continue to share information with WRPS and keep information open between meetings. These types of details should be registered into the data set. It will be tracked and shows patterns. o Building security should track in their own personal file (date, time, length of time for issue). For example: if they are asking an individual to move along regularly. This information can be shared with inspectors. DISCOVERY TEAM Linda Jutzi shared that she recently had a meeting with the Region of Waterloo and Leadership Waterloo regarding the Discovery Team. There have been a few complaints that we cancelled the Discovery Team program. Businesses that used it the most are feeling discouraged that it is gone. Ms. Jutzi explained in her meeting with both groups that the Downtown Kitchener BIA spent $60,000-$90,000 annually on the program, but it needed a much bigger and broader solution. The Region shared that they are leading a community safety plan development. Since the meeting, Ms. Jutzi was made aware that a program is being developed, and it will service Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Ms. Jutzi also shared that a class of Leadership Waterloo is writing a paper on issues regarding homelessness. It is a discovery document with recommendations. The class asked many questions: what happened to the Slack app, why the program started and ended, were there meetings and attempts to cross communicate between groups, etc. Director comments and questions: Great news that the Region has something is in the works! Darren Becks shared an update on the Region Outreach Program. o https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/Council/Detail/2022-02-23-1900- Council2/25cecc15-4a90-4fa3-9125-ae4401579a53 (reference section 12.2) o The Region of Waterloo would like to see the program up and running to determine how the City of Kitchener can support it. This is what we were expecting and hoping for by defunding the Discovery Team program. They are spending $1M-$1.5M annually (ref: page 89). People staffing the program include mental health and addiction councillors and paramedics. Great job, this is good! CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Darren Becks shared a brief update that he and colleague Rick Farwell (Downtown Operations) are working to develop an internal/external list of construction taking place in the core. Some of the construction work that will be completed is reactive, while other is proactive. The goal is to gather everything into one shared document, with the hopes of identifying a list of areas impacted downtown. Director questions: Any sign of completion at City Hall? o As of last week, they are still tracking towards the end of May. We believe there are a couple of challenging delivery items. o Once Carl Zehr Square is complete, they will move to College, Duke, and Young Streets to complete the remaining construction. BOARD UPDATES DTK Art Walk Linda Jutzi shared a brief update for the DTK Art Walk. Director questions: Can we make it an option to find the artwork a new home? o Action item: Linda Jutzi to speak with KWAG about the possibility of repurposing artwork. How can someone purchase artwork once it's removed - if there is a way to keep homage somehow, that could lead to sales for the artist. DTK Beehives Ms. Jutzi shared a marketing opportunity with the placement and sale of honey through the DTK Beehive program. Director questions: I was recently on a committee and discovered that honeybees in an urban setting are not as useful as expected. It may be worthwhile to reach out to the researcher, as she has done a lot of work on this and was part of the pollinator committee. Wondering how the beehives are going on top of the Walper. In the summer, our patio experiences bee issues with the sweet drinks, etc. The KPL has a hive, and the Kitchener Market is also looking into the possibility of having one. Concerned that if we do not look into it with local experts, we could be endangering the viability of existing hives. Don't think we should go full steam ahead until we understand better. Ms. Jutzi will take it back and have a further discussion; however, has noted hesitation. PATIO PROGRAM Linda Jutzi shared an update on the patio plans for 2022. Ms. Jutzi noted that there are a few new businesses opening and are asking for a patio. thth The BIA is working with the City of Kitchener to begin patio installation for April 4 or 11, weather permitting. Sails will likely be installed at the beginning of May. Director questions: Would like to confirm that the BIA owns the furniture and patio structure? What about somewhere like the Yeti (private property)? o Restaurants that are a part of the Pop-up Street Patio Program, with the exception of Abe Erb, are all on public property. The purpose of the program was to beautify and unify the core. There are some cases where patios are on private property. As an example, the Yeti spent significant money on building their patio. We contributed towards furniture (etc.), however, not towards the structural change of the building. In the last two years, the AGCO has lightened up on the extension of use for licensing rules. Will this be the case for this year? o We anticipate it will be a permanent arrangement for municipalities; however, there is no confirmation beyond that it runs till December of this year. OTHER BUSINESS Board Directors discussed returning to in-person Board Meetings or a hybrid model potentially this April. Darren Becks shared that the City of Kitchener was successful in the My Mainstreet request for Ambassadors. Three of the four Ambassadors started this week and will begin getting communication out. Mr. Becks will introduce the Ambassadors to the group. Mr. Becks also shared that the patio renewal portal is expected to be open next week. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Phong Tran, seconded by Erika Holenski "That the meeting adjourn." Carried Unanimously