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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 2003-02-13 DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 13, 2003 CITY OF KITCHENER The Downtown Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m., chaired by Councillor John Smola, with the following members present: Doug Hoch, Denis Pellerin, Mark Stranz, Anita Petsche-Good, Canst. Mark Neill, Sam Head, Nathan Hallman, Marty Schreiter, Glen Woolner, Joan Euler Staff: Frank Pizzuto, Catherine Heal, Michele Hodgins, Michelle Schurter 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA M. Schreiter requested to add an item to New Business/Agenda Items regarding live/work in downtown. A. Petsche-Good requested to add to New Business/Agenda Items regarding an up-coming spaghetti dinner fund-raiser for King Edward Public School. On motion by Anita Petsche-Good it was resolved: "That the agenda for the February 13, 2003 meeting be accepted." 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Glen Woolner it was resolved: "That the minutes from the January 9,2003 meeting be accepted." 3. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS - WORKPLAN FOR INITIATIVES M. Schurter presented the Committee with a brief up-date on initiatives that the Downtown Development Group is working on, i.e. Special Events, Cleanliness, Enforcement, Communications and Neighbourhood (see the attached list). Committee members had the following questions/comments: . cleaning during the weekend is crucial, often a mess is created from an event or just general traffic in the downtown. M. Schurter questioned whether or not the business community could become involved with their group regarding cleanliness in the downtown. . the KDBA commented that it is important to have this initiative and noted there is lots of room for improvement, and that the KDBA is in support of this group. . these initiatives seem to be most important that the Downtown Development Group want to work on first. 4. DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN F. Pizzuto presented the Committee with a copy of the Downtown Strategic Plan (see the attached), and stressed that the present strategic plan needs to be more detailed, and staff are working on this. The Strategic Plan is designed to show the business community and the citizens of Kitchener what the city's vision is for the downtown, which in turn will help the business community realize downtown is a great place to relocate and do business. Public information sessions were held and citizen participation is evident in the forming of the Strategic Plan. DAC members agreed that the Strategic Plan is a good tool to work from. 5. INVESTING IN THE DOWNTOWN - NEXT STEPS FOR COUNCIL F. Pizzuto reported to the Committee that staff discussed with Council where and how the downtown needs to grow, realizing that good work in the downtown has already been done so far by both the private and public sectors, but more work is still needed. Staff are collaborating with Council on the Strategic Planning for downtown with regards to investments in the downtown, along with discussions on the centre block developments, St. Mary's/St. Jerome's block and what will help make these areas successful, and a new downtown parking structure will be discussed as well. 6. KDBA U P-DA TE . Kitchener Downtown Community Collaborative will meet March 4th and will be discussing working group reports, i.e. governance, host organization for the Job Cafe/Outreach Strategy. M. Schreiter will give an up-date at our next meeting. . Market District meeting re: Market Lane was a successful step forward in bringing together business members and city staff in envisioning a new Market Village Lane. March 6th is the next meeting. . The KDBA Board passed a resolution unanimously addressing the Benton St. corridor as it no longer is a viable thorough-way for downtown. This letter and resolution was sent to the Region of Waterloo Planning Committee. . Downtown schools - KDBA provided a grant of $1 ,500 to Eastwood and $3,000 to KCI for their parent/student campaigns to save their schools. APG is looking for speakers/delegations for next school board meeting. Wanted city representation to speak, however, council has already met with School board and feels that at the political level, they have done what they can do. . KDBA's Annual Meeting is scheduled for March 26th at the Four Points Hotel, all are welcome to attend - 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. . Networking Social is scheduled for February 26th at Peter Martin's 20 King from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., all are welcome to attend. . Ed Lake has been appointed the City's new downtown supervisor for operations, i.e. cleaning, etc. . Pedestrian survey from Trudy Bunting, professor from U of W (CURA) gave a good report and recommend she could come to DAC for up-date. 7. DOWNTOWN UP-DATE . the short list for the Centre Block redevelopment will be released on March 3rd. 8. EDAC UP-DATE No up-date was available at this time. 9. SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE UP-DATE No up-date was available at this time. 10. ARTS & CULTURE COMMITTEE UP-DATE . D. Pellerin reported that the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee has concerns when developers are naming landmark developments within the city, that sometimes the chosen name does not reflect the city's culture, i.e. the Farmer's Market and condominium "La Marche" project. A motion was put forth and carried that the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee reinforce to Council and City Administration that when large projects are developed within the city, that the culture and heritage of the area be considered. DAC suggested the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee could create a set of guidelines for developers to consider historical and cultural aspects to their projects when deciding on a name. . a joint meeting between ACAC and the Waterloo Cultural Development Committee will be held in September. . the Governor's House & Gaol has been confirmed for the Doors Open program, which will provide tours of heritage sites to the public. . ACAC will be drafting a list of criteria for high school art exhibits being displayed at City Hall Rotunda. . "Word on the Street" funding has been approved regarding adult literacy. . a cultural storefront "Your Kitchener Store" will be housed in the former Strand restaurant across from City Hall will open in April. 11. NEW BUSINESS/AGENDA ITEMS . J. Euler pointed out that the International Women's Day Breakfast, hosted by Karen Redman, M.P. will be held on March ih at the City Hall Rotunda. . Children's Museum atrium/skylight is completed, staff will be moving their offices in in April, with exhibits scheduled to arrive in Mayor June. The official opening is set for September 27/28. . A. Petsche-Good reported that a spaghetti party/silent auction is planned for February 20th at King Edward Public School to help raise funds to pay for a playground at the school. . KDBA and the Waterloo Regional Arts Council has undertaken a number of community consultations with local artists to assess the feasibility of a live/work environment in downtown Kitchener. It is recommended that we invite Martin de Groot, Executive Director of the Waterloo Regional Arts Council to DAC to speak on this issue. 12. ADJOURNEMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 1. Downtown Initiatives Up-Date 2. Downtown Strategic Plan (Contents) 3. Downtown News & Views Newsletter 4. DAC Contact List 2003