Downtown Development Committee – Final Terms of Reference 2024
These Terms of Reference were reviewed and renewed at the Downtown Development Committee’s meeting, April 11, 2024. The changes to the previous Terms of Reference were the result of an extensive process (see Attached). The name and many other aspects of the Committee were changed.
1. Name: Kitchener Citizens for Livable Development
2. Purpose:
As urban neighbourhoods, to work collaboratively with one another, City staff, City Council, the Region, developers, and other stakeholders for planning and development that builds livable, affordable, sustainable, socially inclusive neighbourhoods with a mix of housing in and around Downtown Kitchener
3. Goals:
• Provide a networking forum for planning and development issues
• Identify, educate and inform members and neighbourhoods about planning issues
• Establish a central website for planning information, contacts, and other useful resources
• Share expertise in addressing planning issues
• Develop ways to collaborate with local government, planners, developers, and other
stakeholders
• Act collectively on common concerns, when appropriate
• Promote neighbourhood engagement in development issues, when appropriate
4. Membership:
Geographic focus : Kitchener’s PMTSA neighbourhoods, starting with those identified in the Growing Together process1
Members:
• Everyone is welcome to attend
• New members are expected to review the City of Kitchener’s “Planning 101” pamphlet and videos prior to attending their first meeting, to ensure they are familiar with the basics of land-use planning; they are also requested to attend at least two meetings before participating fully
Executive Committee:
• The membership will annually select 6-8 Executive Committee members, ideally from different neighbourhoods
1 Neighbourhoods included in Growing Together PMTSAs, March 2024: Mount Hope-Breithaupt, Civic Centre, Central Frederick, Auditorium, Eastwood, Rockway, Mill-Courtland, Cedar Hill, Victoria Park, Cherry Park.
• Executive members will commit to a year of service and consistent attendance
• They will share the work of leading and supporting the Committee
Roles and Responsibilities:
• Chair/Co-chairs
• Recorder
• Web-site Administrator(s)
• Subject-matter Experts (e.g., Committee of Adjustment, Traffic, Provincial Legislation, Parks, Affordability/Social Issues, others)
5. Scope and Authority
• The Committee is accountable and reportable to the membership; members report back to their respective neighbourhoods, according to each neighbourhood’s requirements
• Priorities for action will focus on planning issues that affect neighbourhoods, starting with those in the Growing Together PMTSAs, unless decided otherwise by the Committee
• Priorities for information and education will include broader planning and land-use issues
• New neighbourhood-specific issues being brought to the Committee should be a general concern that has already been discussed and informed by the respective neighbourhood
6. Meetings
• Meetings will be held monthly, normally up to 10/year, and typically limited to no more than 90 minutes; meeting dates will be set yearly and communicated for the upcoming year
• Based on a standard template, agreed to by the members, a draft Agenda will be developed by the Chair, to be revised and approved at the start of each meeting
• Minutes will be ideally shared within a week of the meeting, and no more than two weeks later
7. Decision-making
• Decision-making by consensus is preferred and is limited to Kitchener residents
• If consensus can’t be reached and voting is appropriate, at least a 60% majority is required for a decision to be approved
Approved by Downtown Development Committee Members
Date: April 11, 2024
Approved by: Catherine Owens, Chanel Cressman, Leslie Macredie, Donna Kuehl, Laura New,
Peggy Nickels. One abstention (Hal Jaeger, abstained as the outgoing chairperson)
Review: April, 2025