HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kitchener Minutes - 2026_01_07
Compass Kitchener Advisory Committee
Committee Minutes
January 7, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present C. Abarca, Member
K. Brabazon, Member
L. Thompson, Member
L. Terry, Member
L. Trumper, Member
R. Gill, Member
T. Glover, Chair
Staff: S. Sweazey, Senior Policy Advisor
A. Remillard, Committee Administrator
M. Love, Director of Strategy and Corporate Performance
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1. Commencement
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
3. Delegations
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Procurement Innovation Project Evaluation
Compass Kitchener members reviewed the Pitch Kitchener follow-up document
and identified the key areas that strengthened the project:
1) the interest from the Region, Cambridge, and Waterloo
2) the partnership with Communitech is innovative and should be encouraged
3) the development of priorities and key takeaways from the program are well
described.
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Compass Kitchener members agreed the project 'Meets Expectations'.
T. Glover offered to draft the Procurement Innovation Project final evaluation.
4.2 2026 Work Plan
T. Glover shared that 10 more strategic actions were completed and members of
Compass Kitchener will need to have a draft report card to submit to CLT by June
2026. T. Glover asked the group if they had any comments around the report and
timing. Members of Compass Kitchener agreed the 2026 Work Plan seems
reasonable.
The Director of Strategy and Corporate Performance, M. Love reviewed the Work
Plan meeting dates with Compass Kitchener members for the Strategic Action
Plan Updates and the Community Engagement Process.
M. Love anticipates the end of the Community Engagement Process will be near
the end of summer or early Fall. Compass Kitchener's roles and responsibilities
include both facilitating targeted community engagement and actively
participating in the process. M. Love noted that the dates outlined in the workplan
are subject to change.
There was additional discussion among Compass Kitchener members around
rolling evaluations of strategic actions as they continue to be completed
throughout the year, noting they will have 16 projects coming up that will be part
of the next report card.
Compass Kitchener members determined that they would like to hear from J.
Stephens-Wells and J. Young (both absent) on rolling evaluations. Members
agreed to table this discussion and T. Glover will update J. Stephens-Wells and J.
Young that this will be discussed and decided all together at the beginning of the
next meeting, at which point the 2026 Work Plan will also be finalized.
S. Sweazey indicated she will need to know of any follow-up questions or
whether a presentation is needed from staff by the end of the next meeting.
4.3 Project Evaluation Process
T. Glover suggested the approach to get through drafting all of the project reports
is to split into three teams of two with each team evaluating two projects. The
plan would be for Compass Kitchener to review the draft reports ahead of the
next meeting and finalize at the following meeting.
S. Sweazey indicated that she will be reaching out to project managers and
providing them with a deadline to complete project briefing templates by the end
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of January. Completed templates will be sent out in advance of the February
Compass Kitchener meeting.
From February to May teams will meet to work on drafting their two projects and
Compass Kitchener Members will draft the reports together the following month.
Compass Kitchener decided on the teams of two and which projects they would
like to evaluate as follows:
J. Stephens and C. Abarca - Projects iv & v
J. Young and R. Gill - Projects vii & viii
K. Brabazon and L. Trumper - Projects i & ix
L. Terry and L. Thompson - Projects ii & x
T. Glover - Projects iii & vi
4.4 Review Previous Minutes
Compass Kitchener members reviewed the December 3rd meeting minutes.
5. Information Items
5.1 Request for Pitches For Pitch Kitchener - Autonomous Technology
Solutions
5.2 Procurement Innovation Project - Compass Kitchener Follow-Up
6. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:32 pm.
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