Key decisions of Kitchener Council: August 28, 2023

Key decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items presented at Kitchener City Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Council approves new 20-year vision and strategic plan

Council has approved a citizen-informed plan to guide the City’s priorities over the next four years.

Kitchener’s new 20-year vision and its 2023 – 2026 strategic plan were developed after extensive engagement with residents, Council, staff, and community stakeholders. Public feedback was gathered through a telephone survey of more than 1,000 residents, ‘street team’ interviews with dozens of people and online engagement with many more residents over the course of the past year. The City recruited 36 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to form a ‘Plan WITH Us’ resident panel for the first time.

The priorities in the approved plan are:

• Building a connected city
• Cultivating a green city
• Creating an economically thriving city
• Fostering a caring city
• Stewarding a better city

For more information, read the report or visit kitchener.ca/OurPlan

Council advances construction of 10 “missing middle” residential units

Council approved a zoning by-law amendment to permit the construction of a three-storey building containing 10 residential units at 1154 Queen’s Blvd.

As the new building would replace the single detached house currently on the property, the amendment provides “missing middle” housing that addresses a need in our community. For details, read the report.

Council invests in UW innovation arena

Councillors approved investing up to $450,000 for leasehold improvements for the City’s space in the University of Waterloo’s Innovation Arena at 280 Joseph St. W. The City’s space would be operated by the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (WRSBC).

The approximately 465-square-metre (5,000-square-foot) collaboration space will support positive economic impacts by enabling health-based entrepreneurs and small businesses access to the UW Innovation Arena while enabling the WRSBC to provide co-working space, programming and supports tailored to health-based businesses.

For further details, read the report.

Council confirms natural gas price drop

Councillors approved a staff recommendation for the supply component of the natural gas rate be decreased to 16.70 cents per cubic metre from 20.85 cents per cubic metre and an increase of 1.50 cents per cubic metre to the M1 delivery rate for Kitchener Utilities customers effective November 1, 2023.

For average customers, the annual decrease amounts to roughly $53. For details, read the report.

Council advances heritage designation for 64 Water St. N.

Council intends to designate the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at the corner of Francis and Water Streets North, as being of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act. The church, at 64 Water St. N., was built in 1899-1900.

The building was designed by blending certain architectural styles – the Arts and Crafts, Tudor revival, American Craftsman, and the Shingle style.

The building is currently listed as a non-designated building of cultural heritage value or interest on the City’s Municipal Heritage Register. For further details, read the report.

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