Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2007-05-07COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 7, 2007 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 3:10 p.m. Present: Councillor K. Galloway -Chair Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. Vrbanovic, J. Gazzola and C. Weylie. Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer A. Pappert, General Manager of Community Services R. Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development K. Currier, Director of Operations M. Hildebrand, Interim Director of Community Programs & Services D. Keehn, Interim Director of Aquatics & Athletics S. Williams, Assistant City Solicitor S. Wright, Manager of Downtown Community Development C. York, Arts & Culture Facilitator R. Cyr, Coordinator of Athletics C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. CSD-07-042 - KITCHENER SOCCER CLUB LICENSE AGREEMENT - BUDD PARK OFFICE SPACE The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-042, dated April 25, 2007 regarding a License agreement with the Kitchener Soccer Club for the use of office space at Budd Park. Mr. R. Cyr advised that the License agreement is meant to formalize the relationship between the City and the Kitchener Soccer Club in regards to the use of office space at Budd Park. He stated that either party can remove itself from the License agreement by providing a minimum of 90 days notice to the other party. On motion by Councillor C. Weylie- it was resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a License agreement with Kitchener Soccer Club for the use of office space located at Budd Park, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." 2. CSD-07-047 - KITCHENER OKTOBERFEST LIONS CLUB INC. LEASE AGREEMENT - LYLE HALLMAN POOL OFFICE SPACE The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-047, dated April 27, 2007 regarding a new 5-year Lease agreement with the Kitchener Oktoberfest Lions Club Inc. for the use of designated office space at Lyle Hallman Pool. Ms. D. Keehn advised that the Kitchener Oktoberfest Lions Club Inc. has been the tenant of the office space at Lyle Hallman Pool since 1990. She added that the space was originally designated for the Club's usage due to a sizable donation it made toward the cost of the complex. She stated that the most recent agreement between the City and the Club expired at the end of 2006 and accordingly staff are recommending the new agreement to cover the next 5 years. Mayor C. Zehr commented that the original donation by the Lions Club was made at the same time the pool was named, and noted the importance of including timelines regarding naming rights in these types of agreements as a means of accommodating future donors. On motion by Councillor C. Weylie - it was resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a Lease agreement with Oktoberfest Lions Club for the use of designated office space located at Lyle Hallman Pool, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 23, 2007 - 26 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. CSD-07-045 - QUEENSMOUNT AND DOHERTY ARENAS UPDATE The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-045, dated April 23, 2007 regarding an overview of the initial process for determining the interim uses for Queensmount and Patrick J. Doherty arenas. Ms. K. Kugler advised that it will not be possible to accurately develop along-term strategy for the Queensmount Arena until after August 2008, when all of the building's tenants have completed their relocation to other facilities. She stated that once all of the tenants have moved, staff will commence the public process to determine suitable long-term uses for this arena. The Committee recessed at 3:18 p.m. and reconvened at 3:28 p.m. 4. CSD-07-050 - DOWNTOWN KITCHENER ARTS CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-050, dated May 2, 2007 regarding the `Downtown Kitchener Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework'. Ms. A. Pappert advised that in June 2005, Council approved CulturePlan II, a philosophical and fiscal vision for community-wide cultural development. She stated that CulturePlan II made several recommendations regarding the development of a creative cluster in Kitchener including: the City's involvement in developing creative industries; amulti-use downtown arts centre; the designation of King Street as a cultural corridor; live-work spaces for artists and research and development initiatives for film, multi-media, digital media and design industries. She added that to provide even more focus on arts and culture cluster goals, the City's Economic Development Division and Community Services Department commissioned Artscape to develop the `Downtown Kitchener Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework', as attached to report CSD-07-050. She stated that the main objectives of the `Downtown Kitchener Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework' were to: inventory and characterize arts and culture districts within the City; assess market potential and space requirements; link the study to the City's strategic cultural objectives; define potential development scenarios; and, make specific recommendations for the next phase of the cluster's development. Ms. Pappert noted that subject to the Committee's direction this date, the Cluster Development Framework will be circulated for review and comments to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, the CulturePlan II teams, downtown development stakeholders and other interested parties. Councillor J. Gazzola entered the meeting at this time. Mr. Reid Henry, Director of Research and Consulting, Artscape, advised that Artscape was retained to develop an initial framework through which the City could identify its creative assets, determine the sector demand for infrastructure provision, and assess its role in developing support for the clustering of creative activities in the Downtown. He stated that Kitchener is ahead of most municipalities in Ontario with regards to its recognition of the connection between economic development and culture. He outlined that over the last 6 months, Artscape has worked with the City's Project Advisory Committee to undertake athree- phase consultation process with various arts and culture stakeholders throughout Kitchener and the broader region. He noted that flowing from the community engagement process, and focusing on key leverage points and opportunities for investment, the following strategic directions have been identified for concentrating the efforts of the City in fostering its arts and culture cluster: • balancing `excellence' with `engagement'; • enhancing cross-sector leadership; • anchoring creativity in key locations, such as the Centre Block redevelopment; • shape an emergent arts district; • develop and promote sector intelligence; • acknowledge arts entrepreneurship as a driver for the Warehouse District; and, • creating an entrepreneurial leadership mechanism. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 23, 2007 - 27 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. CSD-07-050 - DOWNTOWN KITCHENER ARTS CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK tCONT'D) Mr. R. Henry further advised that in order to gain additional depth and detail about the cultural sector's market demand for infrastructure in Kitchener, questionnaire surveys were circulated from September to November 2006 to a wide range of cultural organizations and individual artists throughout Waterloo Region. He stated that the market survey provided additional information on the infrastructure needs of artists, which was used to further refine the development options for advancing creative workspaces in the Downtown and adjacent areas. Mr. Henry noted that the Cluster Development Framework provides an `aerial view' of the creative sector in Kitchener and identifies areas for strategic investment as well as potential partnerships opportunities. He added that this is only a preliminary scoping document and further sector analysis and development strategy refinement is required. Several members commented on the importance of circulating the `Downtown Kitchener Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework' to the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region. Ms. A. Pappert advised that requests have already been received from some members of the Prosperity Council to review this document, and as such they have been included on its distribution list. She added that it is estimated that the initial data from the community comments should be compiled by June 2007 and could also be circulated to the Prosperity Council at that time. Councillor J. Gazzola raised concerns with the way in which the Culture Cluster Development Framework is written, having found it difficult to clearly comprehend the objectives. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: "That the `Downtown Kitchener -Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework' report, as attached to Community Services Department report CSD-07-050, be received; and further, That staff be directed to circulate the `Downtown Kitchener -Arts and Culture Cluster Development Framework' report for community comment." 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:06 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator