HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-19 ACAC Minutes
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Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
November 19, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Pipe Room - 6th Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407
Present: M. Melo, Member
M. Lam, Chair
A. Girard, Vice Chair
I. Stefanescu, Member
J. Hall, Member
Staff: K. Varin, Committee Administrator
E. Rumble, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industry
Andrea Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Commencement
The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee held a meeting this date commencing
at 4:00 p.m.
1.1 Acceptance of agenda
Accepted on motion by M. Melo, seconded by I. Stefanescu.
1.2 Acceptance of September minutes
Accepted on motion by I. Stefanescu, seconded by A. Girard.
1.3 Acceptance of October minutes
Accepted as amended on motion by I. Stefanescu, seconded by M. Melo.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
3. Delegations
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3.1 City of Kitchener 2051 official plan: Tim Donegani, Senior Planner, Planning
and Housing Policy
The city's current Official Plan (2014) is due for an update. The city of Kitchener
2051 Official Plan is currently being prepared by city staff. The Official Plan is a
document that shapes the way that the city grows and changes. Staff is sharing
an overview of the plan with the city's advisory committees, encouraging
questions, information input and future opportunities for involvement.
The Kitchener 2051 Official Plan will guide growth and shape how the city
evolves and changes over the next 25 years. The plan will align and reinforce
other plans, guidelines and strategies that shape the city. The goals of the
Official Plan will reflect the community, its values and creating groundwork for a
thriving city that offers well-being, potential and quality of life, for everyone.
Key areas of focus will include:
climate and energy study
population and employment forecasts including a housing needs
assessment
non-residential land use study
growth scenarios study and how to support it, as the city is expected to
grow to about 450,000 by 2051
The shaping of the plan is spread over four phases. Currently it is in phase two of
a more robust community engagement launch. Planned delivery of a finalized
plan to Council is in 2026. So far, community consultations have revealed a gap
of not including arts and culture in how it could shape the growth of the city.
Committee members suggested:
to look at engagement data from local cultural institutions
to look at engagement data from festival organizers active in the city
consider opportunities for the creation of affordable space for working
artists
consider lobby spaces as semi-public spaces in developments with
incentive similar to city's 1% public art policy
consider seasonally convertible spaces for the public: from summer to
winter months and vice versa
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similar considerations given by members as during the Bramm Yards
study input would apply here, namely:
o create public spaces that are adaptable for arts and culture activities
o consider opportunities for public pop-up placemaking
o allow for pedestrian friendly areas
o dedicate some spaces adapted specifically for creation of art and
culture
consider good design in amenities such as washrooms
continue to engage the multicultural community and multigenerational
communities
past member of ACAC did an audit of temporary art spaces in the city; this
information may be helpful
Action: A& CI staff to share the audit findings with Tim Donegani.
ACAC is looking forward to the maintaining the conversation during the
development of the 2051 Official Plan. Updated information can be found on the
Engage Waterloo page.
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Compass Kitchener updates: Annabelle Girard, ACAC vice -chair and Julie
Hall, ACAC member
The meeting was dedicated to the 2051 Official Plan. A. Girard sent three
questions prior to the ACAC meeting for members to consider that arose from
this meeting. Answers would be helpful as community feedback to the Planning
and Housing Policy Division as they develop the 2051 Official Plan.
4.2 Charles Street Terminal meeting update: Isabella Stefanescu and Annabelle
Girard
Section 4.2 was added on motion by M. Lam, seconded by M. Melo to share an
update from the Charles Street Terminal Visioning Project design charet te
workshop that took place in early November. This consultation is led by Region
of Waterloo. A. Girard and I. Stefanescu attended the charette. Attendees were
presented with five design proposals with many high rise buildings and few point
of entries, and invited to give feedback. An onsite visit was part of the workshop.
No comments on or suggestions for public art was included in any of the
proposed designs. Overall, attendees were not inspired by the designs. A. Girard
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and I. Stefanescu will reach out directly to the Region to communicate additional
feedback.
Next two public consultations are on November 21st and November 30th.
4.3 ACAC Terms of Reference: Margaret Lam, ACAC chair
The Terms of Reference are ready to be reviewed and finalized in the ne w year
by the new committee membership. K. Varin shared that Clerks has reviewed the
latest draft and has responded positively. The item of how public art programs
are to be juried in lieu of the Public Art Working Group duties being absorbed
back into ACAC, needs to be finalized in the new year.
5. Information Items
5.1 Standing items city updates: staff
E. Rumble informed members that the Mill Courtland Community Centre public
art jurying entered its second stage. There were 11 submissions in total. During
this second stage jury process, four artist teams presented detailed proposals.
The jury selected two to proceed to stage three where the public will have the
opportunity to share commentary through a survey that will be posted on
EngageWR. The jury will meet at the end of January, 2025, to finalize the
selection which will overlap with the RFP process for the expansion and
renovation of the centre. The final selection will be presented to the committee in
the new year. The estimated install time is in 20 26.
The submission window for the KIRC call for public art proposals has closed.
Staff received more than 60 submissions. There was a good number of
submissions from surrounding areas, some from Maritimes, British Columbia and
Ontario. Staff eliminated international submissions due to feasibility and
submissions that lacked all the required documents. The jury will review the
remaining submissions to meet in February, 2025 and select five. These artist or
artist teams will present to the jury during the second stage, allowing for the jury
to select the winning proposal. The KIRC team will also conduct a technical
review.
The building construction for KPL Southwest is on target. In finalizing the
interpretive signage, A &C staff is in the final stages of communicating with the
artist team before installation of the public artwork Wintertime Stories in
December. They are also working with an Indigenous film production company to
develop a video. The public would be able to access it through a QR code. This
is a prototype to approach signage in a unique way that makes the content of a
public art installation richer.
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5.2 Downtown Advisory Committee: Annabelle Girard
A. Girard was not in attendance. The October minutes can be accessed through
the city's website.
5.3 Economic Advisory Committee: Margaret Lam
M. Lam was not in attendance. Planning staff presented the 2051 Of ficial Plan
2051.
5.4 Public Art Working Group: Karoline Varin
No meeting was held in November. The 2024 Artist in Residence proposal was
approved by the Standing Committee to Council. Council will need to ratify it.
5.5 Council report: Councillor Dave Schnider
Councillor D. Schnider was not in attendance.
5.6 Member updates
I. Stefanescu, J. Hall and A. Girard shared updates.
6. Adjournment
On motion by I. Stefanescu, seconded by A. Girard, this meeting adjourned at
5:51 p.m.
Karoline Varin
Committee Administrator