HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 2002-09-25ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
September 25, 2002
11:00 am- 1:00 pm
Bingemans, Philip Room, Kitchener
Attendance:
Staff:
Regrets:
Glenn Scheels
Peter Benninger
Lawrence Bingeman
Henrik Noesgaard
Councillor, John Smola
Shawky Fahel
Paul Kuntz
George Borovilos
Patricia Bacon
Mayor, Carl Zehr
Hans Pottkamper
Mike Sully
Ray Robinson
Jane Jantzi
Scott Baird
Councillor, Christina Weylie
Peter Cook
Joan Euler
Sandy Curzon
Jeff Willmer
Councillor, Berry Vrbanovic
Manfred Conrad
Glenn Scheels introduced and welcomed Paul Kuntz, our newest member. Committee
then introduced themselves to Mr. Kuntz.
Lawrence Bingeman was thanked for hosting today's meeting. Mr. Scheels commented
on the big improvement on the entrance to the conference facilities from Victoria Street.
1. Approval of Minutes of July 24th, 2002
Minutes of July 24th, 2002 were approved as written
Moved by Henrik Noesgaard
Seconded by Joan Euler
Carried
2. Strategic Directions, Economic Development
George Borovilos gave an overview of the Strategic Direction for the Economic
Development Division as discussed by Committee on July 24th. He indicated that
today staff are soliciting further direction from Committee based on the four strategic
directions
1. Downtown
2. Employment Lands
3. Cluster Analysis
4. Infill/Adaptive Re-Use/Brownfields
GENERAL COMMENTS:
How do we move from a results based to activity based organization?
How do we become more revenue based?
What is our core business to generate dollars?
What business should we be in?
Is our role too narrow?
Should we discontinue activities and partnerships ie. Physicians recruitment; Export
development; business facilitation; workforce development?
How do we structure Economic Development Division to fit the goals?
CTT is the external marketing arm for this region - this covers 15% of growth. The
remaining 85% comes from local growth.
OTHER COMMENTS:
1. Governance
2. Two levels of Economic Development
3. Investor servicing
4. CTT/Communitech
5. Employment lands (Industrial)
6. Performance Measurements
7. Developing internal opportunities
8. Client relationships
9. Focus re-adjustment (land inventory)
10. Create Product
· Downtown
· Industrial Parks
11. Transportation Infrastructure
· Construction- road; airport
12. Reinforce Huron Business Park - Stagnation
13. West Side - Phasing?
14. Gapping Opportunities
15. Target
Committee Comments:
· Look at areas we can quantify - tough to see results from conventions
· Develop opportunities locally-need to help build opportunities
· Need a vision - is the support there?
· Focus on land inventory
· Only one road into City-infrastructure constraints - need upgrading
Committee then discussed the pros and cons of West Side lands vs East (airport) lands
· Expensive to buy, service and develop - $50mi1+
· Rolling hills vs flat land
· East lands have a governance issue - could take up to 20years to resolve
· Industrial lands - Kitchener gets 20% return vs 50% Province and 30% Region
· Look at proximity to 401 - east would sell faster than west lands
EDAC Minutes
September 25, 2002
· Land Strategy Study suggested Shirley Avenue; West Side; then the East (airport)
lands
Downtown
· Should be treated like a business park
· Develop a strategy to market the downtown
· Lead to private sector investment
· Downtown Strategic Plan going to Council on September 30th
Clusters
· Understand sectors- what are their needs
· Strength in diversification
3. Tourism
· How do we deliver Tourism?
· As a community- what is our attraction?
· Create a marketing piece and go after the market
· Where is money best spent?
4. New Business
· CTT Funding was approved by City Council for $134,000
· Update on Riverbend Drive, Patricia Bacon to keep committee informed
· Brock Stanley has been contracted by the Region for Development Permit System
Meeting called to adjourn at 1:10p.m.
Moved by: Jane Jantzi
Seconded by: Peter Cook
Carried
Sandy Curzon, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 23rd, 2002
11:00am- 1:00pm
Conestoga Room, Main Floor, City Hall
Kitchener
EDAC Minutes
September 25, 2002