HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv - 2005-03-23
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
March 23, 2005
11:00 am -1:00 pm
Conestoga Room - City Hall
Attendance: Ed Brooker, Howie Budd, Len Carter, Bob Denton, Jane Jantzi
Henrik Nosegaard, Mark Paleczny, Glen Woolner
Councillor-John Smola
Shelley Adams, Patricia Bacon, Rob Browning, Hans Gross,
Carla Ladd, Bernadette Lowry, Janette MacDonald, Rob Morgan,
Michelle Schurter, Kathy Weiss, Silvia Wright
Mayor Zehr
Regrets:
Peter Benninger
Absent:
Scott Baird, Lawrence Bingeman, Manfred Conrad, Shawky Fahel,
Hans Pottkamper, Councillor-Christina Weylie
1. Welcome and Introductions
Councillor John Smola chaired the meeting.
Rob Browning introduced Bernadette Lowry. Bernadette joined the Business Development and
Business Enterprise team in March, as their Administrative Assistant.
2. Review and Adoption of Minutes of February 23, 2005
The minutes were approved.
Moved by: Ed Brooker
Seconded by: Mark Paleczny
Carried
3. Follow-up to Retention Strategy - Valerie Bradford
Valerie Bradford updated the committee on the status of the Business Retention Strategy. To date 75
appointments have been scheduled which represents 530A> of the list. There are 27 companies who
do not wish to participate, and 39 companies left to call. A press release regarding the Retention
Strategy was released today (March 23rd) in The Record. Modifications to the questionnaire have
been made, and training will take place on March 31st. Individual packages will be made up and given
to the 11 individuals during the 8 week retention strategy visits commencing April 4th.
4. City of Kitchener Economic Strategy - Presentation - Carla Ladd
Carla's presentation centered on profiling Kitchener's changing identity. We are not only known as a
blue collar town, we are emerging as a place to come for research, health sciences and biotech. Our
mayor is this region's representative at the Big City Mayors' Caucus (which includes 23 other Mayors
around the country. He has been very successful in demonstrating that Kitchener is a major innovative
urban centre. Our council is committed to supporting our manufacturing sector, developing and
growing new employment opportunities, ensuring a healthy diversified economy and supporting new
partnerships with educational institutions, private and public sectors. Council has successfully
obtained the community's support in the growth of our economy. An investment fund has been created
and both project decisions and financial support based on solid business cases will make the strategy
a reality. Examples of this success include: WLU School of Social Work in the St. Jerome's High
School, and the U of W's new Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus. We are becoming a
regional centre for arts and culture and have a diverse and multicultural community. Kitchener has an
innovative partnership with the Waterloo Region Catholic School Board and Downtown
Neighbourhood Alliance. The programming commences shortly, June 2005. A new central library
with possible partnership with WPL is in the works. Greenfield development continues to progress.
There are active discussions underway with the Township of Woolwich, Region and landowners for
the development of lands in Breslau north. All in all, our success with be achieved by: "repositioning
ourselves as an innovative entrepreneurial 'big' city that provides a balance of economic opportunities
with a healthy vibrant community and quality of life".
Questions arisina from Carla's presentation:
Partnership with Waterloo reaardina librarv - Waterloo has decided to build 2 satellite branches in
their own system. Kitchener has other options they are exploring.
Industrial lands in Breslau: - The land is privately owned. Discussions between the 3 parties are
currently taking place. It is hoped that a decision will be made by the end of the year.
5. Terms of Reference - Rob Browning
As a result of item 3 in the February 23, 2005 meeting - Attendance at meetings, the Terms of
Reference were handed out in a new format. Most of the wording has remained the same; however,
several questions and recommendations were made. As a result of Carla's presentation, it was noted
that there is no representation from the 3 new sectors: education, vitality and health care. It was
recommended that 3 additional people be added to the quorum. However, the number required will
remain at 9. Revisions to the Terms of Reference have been made and sent to all the members.
A motion to accept the resolution was made.
Moved by: Len Carter
Seconded by: Glen Woolner
Carried
7. Other Business - June 22nd Meeting Conflict
Rob Browning asked committee members if there were any conflicts with the June 22nd meeting.
There will be a Trade Fair taking place in Kitchener at the time and it was thought that perhaps there
would be a conflict. Members were polled and it was decided that the meeting will take place on June
22nd as already listed.
Meeting terminated.
Bernadette Lowry, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Next Meeting: April 27, 2005
11:00am-1:00 pm
Conestoga Room , Kitchener City Hall