HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 2003-01-22ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
January 22, 2003
11:00 am- 1:00 pm
Conestoga Room, Main Floor, Kitchener City Hall
Attendance:
Staff:
Regrets:
Glenn Scheels
Lawrence Bingeman
Mayor, Carl Zehr
Mike Sully
Peter Cook
Ray Robinson
George Borovilos
Jeff Willmer
Terry Boutilier
Patricia Bacon
Councillor, Christina Weylie
Peter Benninger
Paul Kuntz
Sandy Curzon
Hans Pottkamper
Scott Baird
Jane Jantzi
Councillor, John Smola
Shawky Fahel
Kathy Bissell
Larry Masseo
Leon Bensason
Rob Morgan
Henrik Noesgaard
Councillor, Berry Vrbanovic
Manfred Conrad
1. Approval of Minutes of December 18th, 2002
Minutes of December 18th, 2002 were approved as written
Moved by Shawky Fahel
Seconded by Hans Pottkamper
Carried
Regional Growth Management Strategy
Kevin Curtis with the assistance of Dave Astin outlined the Regional Growth
Management Strategy (see attached presentation).
The purpose of the strategy is to provide a framework to identify where, when and how
future growth should best occur.
Key highlights included:
a. External and internal challenges
b. Strategy development options -- intensive re-urbanization and
urbanization
c. Technical reports -- employment, water, wastewater & transportation
moderate re-
A number of questions were raised concerning the development options, transportation
linkages throughout the region and the GTA, residential intensification in the Central
Transit Corridor and the Region's participation in financial incentives for re-urbanization
in the corridor.
Mr. Curtis outlined that the next steps which included consultations, public information
sessions and a recommended Growth Management Strategy for Regional
consideration in April 2003.
Motion -- To strike a sub-committee of EDAC to partner with the Greater K-W
Chamber sub-committee and report back with a recommendation with respect to the
proposed Regional Growth Management Strategy.
Moved by Hans Pottkamper
Seconded by Scott Baird
EDAC representatives will include Hans Pottkamper, Scott Baird and Glenn Scheels.
3. THE KITCHENER EDGE
Glenn Scheels relinquished his position of chair and did not participate in the
discussion because he is a tenant of potentially designated property. Councillor John
Smola assumed the Chair.
Larry Masseo provided committee with a brief update. He indicated that the sub-
committee of EDAC met and after a lengthy discussion they could not reach a
consensus. A report was tabled to Finance & Corporate Services Committee and it
was deferred to the Council meeting of January 27, 2003.
A number of unresolved issues were outlined by Mike Sully, one of the sub-committee
members:
1. Concerns with respect to the logic of the retroactivity;
2. Given the limited amount of eligible properties, is a program warranted;
3. The proposed program is different than the Brownfields initiative;
4. Perpetuity clause is great in theory, but things change in a 10-year period; and
5. Does this create an uneven playing field?
A number of additional questions and/or comments were raised by various committee
members:
1. Has there been an analysis of the end cost of this program to the City?
2. Does this initiative create a potential conflict for competing interests
Community?
in the
EDAC Minutes
January 22, 2003
3. Does retroactivity set a precedent?
4. Should there be a reduced time period of the program e.g., 5 years instead of 10.
5. Why is the agreement registered on title?
Given the lack of quorum and absence of two sub-committees members, it was
suggested by Mayor Zehr, that the list of concerns raised by the sub-committee
members be tabled as a delegation to the next Council meeting. If that was not
possible because of other business commitments, then it was suggested that the list be
tabled in writing to Council.
Meeting called to adjourn at 1:05p.m.
Moved by: Hans Pottkamper
Seconded by: Mike Sully
Carried
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2003
11:00am- 1:00pm
Conestoga Room, Main Floor, City Hall
Kitchener
EDAC Minutes
January 22, 2003