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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil - 2005-02-14 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2005 CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 12:30 p.m. this date, Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr and with all members present. Councillor B. Vrbanovic was in attendance for part of the meeting. Notice of this special meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure of the Municipal Code. Council was in receipt of Strategic Services Department report SSD-05-007 (S. Adams), dated February 8, 2005, recommending the establishment of the Healthy Communities Working Group as an ad hoc advisory committee and appointing various individuals as members of the Working Group. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor J. Smola "That Council establish the Healthy Communities Working Group as an ad hoc advisory committee and as per the Proposed Project Framework attached to Strategic Services Department report SSD-05-007; and further, That Council appoint the following individuals to the Working Group: Advisory Committees: Arts & Culture Compass Kitchener Downtown Economic Development Environmental Heritage Kitchener Safe and Healthy Community To be determined Don Bourgeois Doug Hoch Jane Jantzi Raj Nandakumar Donna Kuehl (interim) Brent Thomlison Sectors: Health/Social Service System New Canadians Social Research/Policy Seniors/MACKS Youth / KYAC Barrier Free Business & Industry Cathy Brothers Jasminka Klacar Ginnette LaFreniere Betty Brown Alaa Qahwash Lejla Dzindo Paula Saunders Terry Flynn Community Members: Theron Kramer Rebecca Nabert-Chubb Member of Council: To be determined." Carried. Moved by Councillor J. Smola Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That Councillor B. Vrbanovic be appointed to the Healthy Communities Working Group as the Council representative." Carried. Council was in receipt of Corporate Services Department report CRPS-05-025 (R. Gosse), dated February 9, 2005, regarding an appointment to the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of one of its members. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2005 - 37 - CITY OF KITCHENER Moved by Councillor J. Gazzola Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 3 of Council Policy No. 1-63 (Appointments to Boards and Committees), Council hereby confirms the following appointment namely, Isabel Cisterna to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee for a term ending November 30, 2006." Carried. C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer, advised that the remainder of the special Council meeting will be a strategic planning session which is part of a series of meetings that have been held over the past three years to allow discussion on various strategic initiatives and directions being taken by the City. J. Willmer, Director of Planning, circulated an internal memorandum dated February 14, 2005, entitled 'Conservation of Heritage Resources' which provides a chronology of the events leading up to the demolition of the Schoerg Barn and general information on conserving heritage resources in the future. Mayor C. Zehr declared a pecuniary interest relating specifically to the Schoerg Barn as he has purchased property in the area and did not participate in any discussion with respect to that property. Councillor B. Vrbanovic assumed the Chair. J. Willmer provided an overview of the site in the Pioneer Tower West Community including the Pioneer Tower, Betzner Farmstead and the Schoerg Farmstead. He also reviewed the events leading up to the demolition of the Schoerg Barn advising that the Demolition By-law does not apply to farm or non-residential buildings and since the Schoerg Barn was not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, the demolition of the barn could not be stopped. He added that the developer / owner of the property did not break the law with respect to the demolition of the barn. L. Bensason, Heritage Planner, advised that the Provincial government is expected to make significant changes to the Ontario Heritage Act which may remove the loophole which presently allows owners to demolish a designated heritage resource and staff will no longer be forced to negotiate starting from a compromised position when faced with an owner intent on demolition. He further advised that in anticipation of the legislated changes, developers may rush to demolish structures that could be worthy of designation and in order to mitigate this situation staff will have to undertake an inventory especially in the non-urban areas of the City in order to begin designation of any historic or heritage properties. Mayor C. Zehr assumed the Chair. F. Pizzuto, General Manager of Community Services, provided an outline of the next steps to be taken with respect to the Leisure Facilities Master Plan including discussion on: principles, goals and delivery strategies; parkland policy; a review of outstanding reports; and, a report regarding the recommendations contained in the Master Plan. It was agreed to hold a special meeting on March 21, 2005 to deal with the principles, goals, strategies and policies with respect to the Leisure Facilities Master Plan. K. Baulk, Director of Enterprises, gave a presentation regarding proposed changes to Special Events and how this unit will be administered. He advised that special events would be delivered in partnerships or staff would either facilitate the event or provide direct delivery of the event. He further advised that discussion will take place on the development of a 2005 event plan including events from the Kitchener Downtown Business Association (KDBA), and future management model options, such as Special Events as an independent arms-length corporation or how Special Events fits best into the current organization. F. Pizzuto advised that with respect to the KDBA events, it was intended that the KDBA would apportion a part of the budget to the City and the City would not take on any event that adds additional costs. K. Baulk concluded his presentation advising that a further report would be submitted to Council in the Fall of 2005. Councillor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting. C. Ladd introduced an initiative to promote the City as a desirable place to open a business and in which to live. Ms. Ladd then gave a presentation that has been given to various organizations as a SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2005 - 38 - CITY OF KITCHENER means of promoting the City as a large innovative urban centre with a diverse and multicultural community. R. Pitfield, Director of Communications, continued the presentation outlining a new branding initiative which will assist in promoting the City as young, fresh, diverse, dynamic and with a vibrant arts & cultural lifestyle. Ms. Pitfield explained this would be done through appropriate use of images and colours that will assist in demonstrating to the rest of the country that the City is an innovative entrepreneurial big city with a wonderful and exciting community lifestyle. K. Weiss, Manager, Business Enterprise Centre, concluded the presentation advising how Economic Development will use the new branding initiative in order to promote the City to its primary target audience as a means of attracting new businesses to the community. Councillor M. Galloway raised a concern that the City underwent a branding initiative in previous years and questioned if this was not a duplication of effort. Ms. Pitfield explained that the previous branding was an initiative to establish a consistent look for the Corporation whereas the proposed initiative being introduced this date is a means of promoting the City itself, as well as the business and cultural environment of the City. In answer to questions raised by Councillor J. Gazzola, K. Weiss explained that the goal of the branding initiative was to attract new companies and to increase non-residential assessment in the City. Council was provided with the Shared Agenda Progress Report, the Infrastructure Progress Report and the Status of Capital Projects up to January 21,2005. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. MAYOR CLERK