HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 2001-02-28ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
February 28, 2001
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room, Main Floor, Kitchener City Hall
Attendance:
Staff:
Regrets:
Jane Jantzi
Mayor, Carl Zehr
Mike Sully
Manfred Conrad
Councillor, John Smola
Peter Benninger
Ray Robinson
Scott Baird
George Borovilos
Kathy Bissell
Marie Morrison
Lawrence Bingeman
Hans Pottkamper
Shawky Fahel
Jeff Willmer
Councillor, Christina Weylie
Councillor, Berry Vrbanovic
Henrik Noesgaard
Peter Cook
Brock Stanley
Patricia Bacon
Recording Secretary: Sandy Curzon
Glenn Scheels
In the absence of Glenn Scheels, Jane Jantzi assumed the Chair and welcomed everyone.
Ms. Jantzi introduced Manfred Spitz, who is the Team Leader of a Study Exchange Group
from Germany. Mr. Spitz explained that the group consists of himself an Economics
Teacher; two Biologists/Chemists; an Army officer and an Electrical Engineer. They are in
Canada for 4 weeks under a program sponsored by the local Rotary Chapter.
1. Approval of Minutes of January 24th, 2001
Minutes of January 24th, 2001 were approved as written.
Moved by Peter Benninger Seconded by Mike Sully Carried.
2. Presentation- Business Development
Kathy Bissell, Manager of Business Development, using PowerPoint, reviewed the Work
Plan for the Business Development Team as it relates to Business Retention, Expansion,
Facilitation and Attraction. A five-pillar approach has been developed in order to carry
out the mandate of the Development Team with respect to:
Response Packages Ms. Bissell emphasized that client follow-up was an
extremely important part of their work plan. Utilizing and customizing a client
contact software program (Maximizer) allows staff to follow-up in a timely manner
as well as view the database on each entry.
Work Projects - Publications - various publications are available for general or
customized (specific)inquiries.
Corporate Visitation Programs - in the past 6 months 245 companies were
targeted in areas of expansion, relocation and exporting, of which 124 companies
have been visited.
Inquiries/Client follow-ups - 365 inquiries were received in 2000 of which 41%
were land/building sales; 29% Downtown; 15% Facilitation; 7% General; 6% Retail
and; 2% Statistical.
Special Projects -include ongoing events such as Business Heritage; Passport to
Success; Physicians Recruitment and a new initiative Developers Handbook
Launch.
In summary, the Business Development Team have been focusing on the quality of the
information being provided; speed of response to inquiries; increasing and follow-up of
corporate calls; and examining and launching of new initiatives.
3. Benchmarking Economic Development
Committee entered into a lengthy discussion on 'How To' benchmark Economic
Development for the City of Kitchener. Other municipalities have their specific areas ie.
Cambridge -industrial land; Waterloo - high tech companies; CTT - global. Some
suggestions on benchmarking Kitchener using activity-based indicators are:
Performance
Industrial sales per square foot
Retail dollars per square foot
Rental rates - office and retail
Employment rate
Population growth
Approval process - site plans
Tax Assessment breakdown - commercial/industrial/retail
Growth - where it is coming from
Quantitative and Qualitative measurements
Employment
Action: Economic Development Staff to prepare an information report on possible
economic development performance measurements.
4. Downtown Focus Group
To ensure that the Economic Development perspective is addressed, the Downtown
Focus Group will be involved in the Draft Strategic Plan for the Downtown. Committee will
have a chance to comment on the draft prior to its final report.
EDAC Minutes
February 28, 2001
5. Highway #7
Brock Stanley advised Committee that on March 1st the Environmental Committee is
meeting to consider the Highway #7 alignment. At this time there are 6 delegations
scheduled to attend.
Mayor Zehr has received 1200 petitions from businesses opposing the existing alignment.
With the new proposed alignment, the route would take you north of these businesses
thus Highway #7 would become a local road.
Committee agrees that Hwy #7 is an important link - it was noted that the highway does
not affect business within Kitchener's jurisdiction. There was some concern expressed of
the impact on existing businesses and the environment, however future lands would be
affected whichever link (road) is approved.
Mr. Stanley revisited EDAC's recommendation (BPS#00-45) to Planning & Economic
Development Committee on April 10, 2000. After further discussion it was decided that
the following changes are to be made to the April 10th report:
First bullet
- Remove the word new
Second Bullet
- Add the words technically
alignment
preferred alternate between the words proposed
RECOMMENDATION
"That the Economic Development Advisory Committee supports a controlled Hwy #7
And;
That a decision on the alignment is done as soon as possible"
Motion by: Ray Robinson
Second by: Hans Pottkamper
Carried.
Compass Kitchener
Marie Morrison, Project Co-ordinator gave Committee an update/review of Compass
Kitchener and the future direction as it relates to:
City/Citizen Relationship
Affordable Housing
Downtown Development
Community Health
Environment
EDAC Minutes
February 28, 2001
As Compass Kitchener moves forward, Ms. Morrison asked Committee for their continued
support/involvement by taking part in a business 'Kitchen Table Talk' session. The input
Compass Kitchener has received to-date lacked input from the business sector.
Action: Next meeting of EDAC - March 28th, will take place at 4pm for one hour
followed by dinner and a two hour Kitchen Table Talk.
7. New Business
EDCO AWARDS - Committee was in receipt of a Press Release dated February 12,
2001 which announced the City of Kitchener as the winner of six marketing awards at the
44th Annual meeting of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario held Wednesday,
February 7th, 2001, which included:
Award of Distinction - Non Illustrated General Publication
INDUSTRIAL LAND STRATEGY STUDY
Award of Excellence - Non Illustrated Business Directory
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Award of Excellence - Non Illustrated Community Profile
CITY PROFILE
Award of Distinction - Illustrated Newsletter
NEWSLETTER
Award of Distinction - Publications
KW TOURISM BROCHURE
Award of Excellence - Non Traditional Promotion
SKYDANCER
Meeting adjourned at 1:05p.m.
Moved by Hans Pottkamper, Seconded by. Scott Baird Carried
Sandy Curzon, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Department of Business & Planning Services
PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 28th, 2001
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room, 1St Floor, City Hall
EDAC Minutes 4-
February 28, 2001