Downtown Advisory Committee

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Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present:
  • J. Leslie, Chair
  • B. Court, Vice-Chair
  • E. Kurian, Committee Member
  • J. Leasa, Committee Member
  • R. Peers, Committee Member
  • M. Weicker, Committee Member
  • J. Wheeler, Committee Member
  • S. Stretch, Councillor
  • D. Chapman, Councillor
  • L. Jutzi, Committee Member
  • L. Muller, Committee Member
Staff:
  • A. Nguyen, Committee Administrator
  • A. Hertzog, Manager, Downtown Development and Innovation

1.
Commencement

 

The meeting commenced at 4:05 p.m.

The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair.

2.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

 

3.
Delegations

 

4.
Discussion Items

 

4.1
Opening remarks

5 m
 

4.2
Downtown Safety Discussion

30 m
 
  • H. Fylactou outlined downtown safety efforts, highlighting reactive & proactive approaches, resource needs, and hotspot areas.
  • Enhancing Safety Measures: A. Hertzog noted the task force's role alongside DTK Ambassadors, with discussions on city-wide expansion and ongoing collaboration with law enforcement.

4.3
BIA Updates

15 m
 

  • L. Muller and L. Jutzi provided updates on the BIA’s ongoing initiatives and involvement in downtown safety efforts.

  • Key Initiatives:

    • Bite by Bite: Hosted at the Walper Hotel, this event quickly sold out in three weeks, attracting 1,000 attendees. It served as a strong promotional opportunity for local restaurants.
    • Traveller Tours: A program at the library celebrating the community's diversity through food, where BIAs cover costs for restaurants to provide samples, helping showcase local culinary offerings.
    • Retail & Restaurant Focus: With fewer retail spaces available, BIAs are shifting their focus toward promoting restaurants while ensuring that non-restaurant businesses are also highlighted through various marketing efforts, including magazines.
    • Patios & Marketing: Patio updates will continue throughout the season, ensuring businesses have opportunities to participate. BIAs maintain a strong social media presence to further amplify downtown promotions.

4.4
Current updates from Downtown Kitchener Team

15 m
 

A. Hertzog provided updates on key developments and initiatives in Downtown Kitchener:

  • Safety & Operations:
    • Increased focus on safety, with the data management team conducting weekly reviews.
    • The DTK Ops team is focused on enhancing downtown spaces, including ongoing maintenance and cleaning efforts.
  • Community Information & Engagement:
    • Launching the “Who to Call” contact card and updating the website, particularly with Ambassador details, to ensure clear communication for residents and businesses.
  • Square Peg & Retail Initiatives:
    • Developing a Square Peg postcard to promote the initiative, with plans for a permanent space as a starting point.
    • Square Peg will be featured in Active Kitchener 2026.
    • Consultation on downtown spaces, retail attraction, and incubation strategies has wrapped up.
  • Grant & Community Support:
    • The LoveMyHood Grant is now live. Apartment/condo dwellers are encouraged to apply.

4.5
2025 Meeting Plan Review

15 m
This item has attachments. 
1.Downtown Advisory Committee – 2025 Meeting Plan Proposal.pdf

A. Nguyen presented the revised monthly meeting plan for the remainder of 2025, incorporating committee feedback to move Green Spaces & Downtown Operations to April and reschedule Special Events for June.

Updated 2025 Meeting Plan:

  • March 27 – Parking & Accessibility

  • April 24 – Green Spaces & Downtown Operations

  • May 22 – Retail Strategy & Guiding Principles

  • June 26 – Special Events & Downtown Activation

  • September 25 – Charles Street Terminal Redevelopment

  • October 23 – Open Discussion: Emerging Priorities

  • November 27 – The Role of Art in Downtown

4.6
Open Discussion

30 m
 

The committee explored potential motions, discussing what actions could be taken in the future to address the issues at hand. Members also brainstormed how these motions could be effectively presented from the committee to the council, ensuring clarity and alignment with broader objectives. Various viewpoints were shared, and the group agreed on further research and collaboration to refine proposed actions before bringing them forward for formal consideration.

5.
Information Items

 

6.
Adjournment

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.