HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-06-070 - Centre Block Evaluation Committee & the Public's Involvement in the Selection Process1
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Economic Development
Report To: City Council
Date of Meeting: January 8, 2007
Submitted By: Rod Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: January 4, 2007
Report No.: CAO-06-070
Subject: CENTRE BLOCK EVALUATION COMMITTEE & THE
PUBLIC'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE SELECTION PROCESS
RECOMMENDATION:
That the following citizens be added to the "Centre Block Evaluation Committee":
a. Brian Bennett, Citizen Advisor -Financial
b. Rick Haldenby, Citizen Advisor -Building Design
c. Donald Zehr, Citizen Advisor -Development/Real Estate/Planning
d. Reinhold Schuster, Citizen Advisor -Development/Construction
e. Marty Schreiter, Representative of Kitchener Downtown Business Association
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Kitchener has initiated a process for selecting a developer for the redevelopment of
its Centre Block property. The selection process, as outlined in staff report CAO-06-060 and in
the RFP documents approved by City Council on October 16, 2006, is founded on a
commitment to ensure that every Kitchener resident will have an opportunity to play a role in the
selection process.
A key component of that citizen input is the creation of a Centre Block Evaluation Committee
made up of citizens and staff. That evaluation committee will include five citizen advisors, each
representing an area of expertise required by the committee.
The purpose of this report is to recommend the appointment of four of those citizen advisors to
the committee. The fifth citizen advisor, Mr. Marty Schreiter, has been chosen by the Kitchener
Downtown Business Association as their representative. The four citizen volunteers who will
participate on the committee, participated in an open application process similar to the selection
of Council advisory committees.
In addition to the Centre Block Evaluation Committee, staff is currently working to develop the
details of a full public consultation process that will ensure all Kitchener citizens have an
opportunity to continue to play a vital role in the selection of the final proposal for Centre Block.
2.0 BACKGROUND:
Previous Citizens Input into Centre Block Redevelopment Project:
Citizens have played a vital role in the redevelopment of Centre Block for many months through
their participation in various public processes that have helped to shape the vision for Centre
Block redevelopment project, including: the 2005 Centre Block Design Charette, the 2006
Centre Block Citizens' Forum; and the 2006 Downtown Design Guidelines public consultations.
Based on the feedback received from those public consultations, the RFP contains a very clear
statement of the community's collective vision for the redevelopment of Centre Block. That
vision calls for the Centre Block to be, above all, a vibrant people place - anew main street
destination that will offer new stores, urban living alternatives and style.
Ultimately, Centre Block will reinforce downtown Kitchener as a cultural urban centre and act as
a catalyst for day and evening activities.
Public Input on Final Two Redevelopment Proposals:
Later in 2007, every single citizen of Kitchener will have an opportunity to play a very important
role in determining the final redevelopment proposal for Centre Block through a full public
consultation process. The detailed proposals submitted by the two short-listed developers will
be subject to extensive public consultation and comment.
Plans for the consultations are not yet final however, at minimum, the public consultation will
consist of presentations to Council and pertinent advisory committees, an on-line component, a
mail-in survey through Your Kitchener newspaper and citizen town hall meetings.
Comments received from the public during the consultations will then be taken into
consideration by the Centre Block Evaluation Committee when selecting the final proposal.
REPORT:
3.0 Centre Block Evaluation Committee
The mandate of the Centre Block Evaluation is to:
^ Evaluate the Expression of Interest Proposals received and screen applicants to be
interviewed based on ability to provide a successful redevelopment.
^ Interview the selected proponents and short list them to two final proponents based on
the scoring criteria outlined in Step 3 of the Centre Block RFP.
^ Gather public input on the final two detailed proposals and use that input as one piece of
information in evaluating those proposals based on the criteria and scoring system
outlined in Step 4 of the Centre Block RFP.
^ Conduct negotiations with the final two proponents and make a recommendation to City
Council on the final, preferred development proposal for Centre Block.
The members of the Centre Block Evaluation Committee will be:
1. Executive Director, Economic Development, City of Kitchener (Chair}
2. Chief Administrative Officer, City of Kitchener
3. Director of Project Administration and Economic Investment, City of Kitchener
4. Manager of Downtown Community Development, City of Kitchener
5. Director of Purchasing, City of Kitchener
6. Director of Planning, City of Kitchener
7. Representative of Kitchener Downtown Business Association
8. Citizen Advisor -Financial
9. Citizen Advisor -Building Design
10. Citizen Advisor -Development/Real Estate/Planning
11. Citizen Advisor -Development/Construction
The following Citizen Advisors applicants, all residents of Kitchener, are recommended as
participants in the Evaluation Committee. Staff recommendations are based on the
qualifications of the applicants relative to the requirements of the committee.
^ Brian Bennett (TD}, Citizen Advisor -Financial.
Mr. Bennett is Vice-President with TD Commercial Banking
• Rick Haldenby, Citizen Advisor -Building Design.
Mr. Haldenby is Director and Associate Professor of the University of Waterloo, School
of Architecture.
• Donald Zehr, Citizen Advisor -Development/Real Estate/Planning.
Mr. Zehr is President of Zevest Development Corporation, a local company that has
developed and owns a number of commercial properties in Kitchener.
• Reinhold Schuster, Citizen Advisor -Development/Construction.
Dr.Schuster is Professor Emeritus (Civil and Structural Engineering} at University of
Waterloo.
10.0 CONCLUSION:
By proceeding with the appointment of the private members of the Evaluation Committee at this
time the City of Kitchener will put in place the necessary resources to move the Centre Block
project forward and capitalize on the growing momentum and private sector interest in
Kitchener's downtown.
Rod Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development