HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-25 EDAC Minutes
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 25, 2023 City of Kitchener
A virtual meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee was held at 11:00 a.m. on
January 25, 2023, at the Downtown Community Centre.
Present:Ali Akbar, Mark Bingeman, Ben Campbell, Joe Curto, Chuck Howitt, Margaret Johnston,
Oanh Kasperski, Matt Kruschack, Laura Rodriguez Reyes, Paul Singh, Graham Trusler, Barclay
Whittaker
Absent: Srikanth Desikackar, Paul Kreutner, Jason Malfara, Keean Sarani, Dave Schnider
Staff:
Darren Becks, Brian Bennett, Cory Bluhm, Cameron Dale,Katelyn Remus, Emily Robson
DiscussionItems
1. Welcome and Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
C. Bluhm shared with the committee that this is a requirement of the Municipal Act for all
Committee members. Members should declare any conflicts they may have with any matters on
the agenda, the reason for their conflict and complete the form found on
www.kitchener.ca/conflict. The conflicts and general nature will be included in the minutes.
2. Committee Introductions
Committee members and staffintroduced themselves and their sectors of expertise.
3. Committee Training
Marilyn Mills, a Committee Administrator from the City’s Legislative team, provided a presentation
on committee training. The presentation is appended below.
4. Chair & Vice-Chair Selection
M. Mills provided an explanation of Chair and Vice-Chair and put a call out to the group for
volunteers. C. Howitt put his name forward to be Chair. This was moved by M. Bingeman, and it
was approved by the committee.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 25, 2023 City of Kitchener
M. Bingeman nominated J. Curto for Vice-Chair. J. Curto declined.
C. Howitt nominated M. Kruschack. M. Kruschack declined.
C. Howitt nominated L. Rodiguez Reyes. L. Rodiguez Reyes accepted the Vice- Chair nomination.
J. Curto moved the motion, and it was approved by the committee.
5. Economic Development Initiatives
C. Bluhm shared a presentation that provided an overview of the Economic Development
Strategy, Make It Kitchener 2.0, and spoke to the workplan for the year. Some key areas of focus
for 2023 are:
- The UW Health Innovation Arena
- 44 Gaukel
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Lab
- The Conrad Centre for Performing Arts
- Guakel Street Placemaking
Presentation is appended below.
6. 2023 EDAC Workplan
C. Bluhm invited the committee to share any key topics/initiatives/concerns that they also want to
see on the 2023 EDAC Workplan. Committee suggestions were:
- Tourism development
- Charles St Terminal
- Market shifting in tech sector
- Having outside experts speak to topics
o Ensuring that presenters share their agenda ask at the beginning of the presentation
and make it clear to the committee what they are looking for
- Roundtables of what group is seeing in their sectors
The format of EDAC meetings was also discussed. K. Remus shared that the technology for
hybrid meetings is not currently available, but she would keep the committee updated. The
committee decided that virtual meetings for the first few months would be best and to plan for an
in-person meeting in April.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 25, 2023 City of Kitchener
J. Curtomotioned to adjourn the meeting, M. Kruschackseconded.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Next meeting: February 22, 2023
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