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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv - 2005-11-23 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES November 23, 2005 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Waterloo Region Small Business Centre Training Room, Kitchener City Hall Attendance: Peter Benninger, Lawrence Bingeman, Howie Budd, Len Carter, Sunshine Chen, Adrian Conrad, Ian Cook, Bob Denton, Henrik Noesgaard, Sherryl Petricevic Hans Pottkamper, Glen Woolner, Donald Zehr, Councillor Christina Weylie Regrets: Ed Brooker, Kathy Durst, Dan Piedra, Mark Paleczny, Councillor John Smola 1. Welcome Hans Pottkamper called meeting to order and thanked everyone for attending. 2. Review and Adoption of Minutes of October 26, 2005 There were no errors or omissions to the October minutes. Moved by: Glen Woolner Seconded by: Howie Budd Carried 3. Chicago Core Renewal – Presentation by Sunshine Chen Sunshine Chen provided the Committee with a passionate, thorough presentation on the $475 million dollar Millennium Park, in Chicago. The purpose of the park was to make downtown Chicago a “safe” and attractive place to be. The Millennium Park in association with an ambitious community animation program, created citywide enthusiasm, pride and interest. Members from EDAC were asked if they would be interested in becoming a sub- committee to explore these opportunities. Those that were interested signed a list and plans are underway to meet in the New Year. They will then present their thoughts and recommendations to the rest of the committee. Action:Sunshine Chen to facilitate a subcommittee to explore the opportunity to enhance community animation in Kitchener. 4. Tourism – Presentation by Rosemary Pitfield Rosemary Pitfield, Director of Communications/Marketing gave a brief update regarding Kitchener tourism for the city. The areas focused on were: Membership, the Lure Brochure, New Visitor Information locations, Your Kitchener Market Visitor information booth and planning for the development of Sport Tourism strategy. Memberships: - include Kitchener, Waterloo and Waterloo region. Categories are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The first meeting with all members took place in October. Quarterly meetings to be held in 2006 with a target increase of 20%. The marketing program has a 2006 advertising budget of $69,000.00. The program will target – trade shows, sales mission and major tourism publication advertising. Lure Brochure: - 200,000 copies were distributed through the tourism outlets across Ontario and the bordering states. The magazine is 40 pages and includes advertising. It was a break even project and was done within 6 weeks of council approval. For 2006 an additional 200,000 copies will be distributed and hopefully increase to 56 pages. New Visitor: – Waterloo opened a visitor location with Kitchener staff administrative support. Statistics show that at 200% increase from 2002 has taken place. It is anticipated that Waterloo will continue with its location and Kitchener to also continue to have a location at the Kitchener Market. Sport Tourism: - $50,000.00 has been allocated to this program. The Community Services Department is currently developing Terms of Reference for a consultant to develop the sport tourism strategy. In summary 2005 has been an excellent year. The year 2006 will focus to include more destination marketing opportunities and a relocation program to be developed and supported. 5. Corporate Visitation Program – update by Valerie Bradford Valerie gave a brief overview of the developments of the 2005/2006 Corporate Visitation program. The focus will concentrate on auto-related manufacturing businesses. There are approximately 150 companies in Kitchener. Council has been advised of the Business Development plans and all councillors have been asked to participate. Councillors will be asked to visit those companies in their perspective wards. The first meeting for the sub-committee will take place on st December 1, 2005. The questionnaire will be revised by mid-December. Members to date on the sub-committee are: Hans Pottkamper, Henrik Noesgaard, Len Carter, John Tenant, Bill Elliott, David Young, Kathy Weiss, Janette MacDonald and Valerie Bradford. As in the past the assistance of the CAO’s office will play a part along with other Business Development staff. Calls to perspective participants will take place over a 3 week period commencing January 2, 2006. A letter from the Mayor Zehr will be mailed out in late December to “warm up” the businesses to expect a call from city staff. There will also be a “training session” for the “visitors” the first week of th February. These visitations are expected to commence the week of February 6. Action: Valerie Bradford to coordinate schedule for 2006 visitations. 6. Vacant land inventory motion Deferred to December meeting 7. Draft 2006 Meeting Planner A draft meeting schedule was handed out for members to review. Members were asked to review the possible discussion items and make recommendation for future agendas. Proposed items included: Overview of housing for community – past trends and looking forward. Alex Murray from Laurier. Jake Theissen – economic spin offs from School of pharmacy. Someone from Banking to talk about direction and challenges currently being faced. It was agreed that NO meeting will take place in July. Action: Economic Development staff will prepare a detailed meeting schedule for 2006 to be discussed at the December 14, 2005 meeting Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. _______________________________ Bernadette Lowry, Recording Secretary Economic Development Advisory Committee th Next Meeting: December 14, 2005 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Bingeman’s in the Berkley Room Location – Dates of 2006 meetings All 2006 meetings are scheduled for the Conestoga Room from 11:00am – 1:00pm. January 25 May 24 October 25 February 22 June 28 November 22 March 22 August 23 December 13 April 26 September 27