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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-08Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Tuesday April 8, 2025; 6:30pm Virtual Meeting 1. Attendance In Attendance: Ron Hooper, Chair Laura Holmes, Secretary Gerri Lucas, Treasurer Cathy Holmes, Director Edgar Lucas, Director Bonnie Wrightman, CBOT representative (departed 7:20pm) Amber Ross, owner Pink Lemon Sarah Gerdy, owner Markets Natalie Dookheran, owner Roam Coffee (departed 7:22pm) Regrets: Lloyd Rang, Council Representative Erin Kemp, Director Laura Knox, MOC Ec Dev representative Delegations Present: Vanessa Bilenduke-Guppy, MOC Manager of Community Development & Events Jessica McDonnell, MOC Events Coordinator Tijana Bogdanovic, owner Community Market Solutions and organizer Bowmanville Farmers Market 2. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order. 3. Land Acknowledgement The Chair read the land acknowledgement statement. 4. Presentation by Delegations T. Bogdanovic shared a presentation on screen. Request to relocate Bowmanville Farmers Market to downtown core for 2025 and host on Saturdays. Proposed locations — Division St parking lot (preferred), Bowmanville Valley parking lot. Past vendor feedback prefers Saturday market day. Market has been Friday at Rickard Complex and plans to keep Friday market. Vendors around 20 per day, has 45 committed part-time vendors. Vendors are local, but not restricted to standard farmers market offerings like produce and handmade goods. Some are local businesses. Saturdays from June to September, would exclude BIA event dates, aiming for 17 days in 2025. Asking for option for special markets ie. Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, etc. May expand to include event type offerings like childrens activities. Funded by collecting sponsorship funds and uses for marketing. Sponsors are promoted. Tijana owns the organizing company as a sole -proprietorship. It is a for - profit market. Believes that this market would be a cross -promotion opportunity. V. Bilenduke-Guppy states that this is typically a permit that the Municipality would approve but given that it is located within the BIA recognized that there needed to be some discussion. Has spoken with Whitby BIA and they had initial hesitancy but allowing a farmers market has not resulted in many issues for them. Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) The Chair opened the floor to questions. APRIL 2025 T. Bogdanovic confirms that this is a proposal for a new market, not a relocation as originally stated. She will still be hosting the Friday market at Rickard. This is a proposal for a Saturday market. T. Bogdanovic confirms that market only has 4 farmers as vendors. It does not meet the criteria to be considered a Farmers Market. Confirms Bowmanville Farmers Market is not, and cannot be, affiliated with the Farmers Market Association. Was asked why the name 'farmers market' is used when it is more aptly a 'vendor market'. Concerns raised about how the types of vendors accepted into the market are direct competition for the downtown BIA members. T. Bogdanovic believes that the fees paid to rent space from the Municipality should make her eligible as a BIA member. An explanation about how the BIA operates, including tax levies, memberships, and boundaries was provided. The mandate of the BIA was also explained and why it is to protect and promote the BIA business members. Concerns raised about taking away an entire parking lot at Division Street for market vendor stalls, vendor vehicles, and attendee vehicles on Saturdays. Downtown Bowmanville has a parking problem already and this would only exacerbate it. Concerns raised about the optics of having a vendor market downtown. The market would appear to be hosted by the BIA since the BIA has been hosting very successful events for 35+ years. To protect the BIA business members, the BIA has very strict criteria for the types of vendors permitted to our events. This new market has high likelihood to result in competition for BIA businesses as there would be no oversight or control on what types of vendors were permitted to this market. The Chair reiterated that the BIA levy paid by property owners and lessees is for strict promotion of BIA business members and that the BIA must advocate for its members. T. Bogdanovic was asked about sponsorship. Different levels of sponsorship are offered each with own opportunities for promotion. Local business, corporations, and organizations act as sponsors. Sponsor money is used for marketing and wages for the organizer. Concerns raised that sponsors would be promoted within the downtown area and this would be a direct conflict for the BIA members. The BIA itself does not accept sponsorship funds, as no outside business can be promoted. The Chair thanked the delegations for attending. The delegates departed at 7:10pm 5. Updates from Community Partners (a) Clarington BIAS The Chair reported that he spoke with Chad Harmer who will be heading up the Orono BIA. Offered to meet with Chad and potentially set up a meeting of all Clarington BIAS. (b) CBOT B. Wrightman reported that the Business Fire Relief Fund launched last month. Gave a report to Council a few weeks ago. Has had approx. 50 donations. Have been overwhelmed by the donation response. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 3 Business Centre (BIA) APRIL 2025 Durhamregion.ca online news has been promoting. Thanked BIA for promotion. Donations will close on April 16. Fund will be divided equally between businesses that have signed contracts. Will support costs that are not covered by insurance. CBOT has been in continuous contact with the affected businesses. Helping some with relocation efforts. There will be a lease space available in May in Balmoral Place where CBOT is located. The Chair reported that business owners are struggling. 6. Adoption of Minutes Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the minutes of the meeting of March 11, 2025 be approved as circulated. CARRIED 7. Business Arising from Previous Minutes (a) Tree at BMO An email was received from the company contracted to install/remove lights on tree. Lights will be removed as soon as ground is firm enough for the lift truck. Has informed that they will not install for 2025. May reconsider decision if a new tree is planted. The Chair has no report about the arborist. E. Lucas reports that no response from the letter to the property owner has been received. Went to speak with BMO bank manager again. Bank manager will try to get a contact phone number for the property owner from BMO head office. E. Lucas has taken photos of the tree. May ultimately require an in -person visit to the property owner address in Hamilton area. The Board agrees that action on the tree must be taken soon. (b) New Garbage Receptacles The Chair reports that this issue went to Committee recently. The Chair will ask Councillor Rang to report next meeting. (c) Recycling Regulations No update. 8. Consent Items - Correspondence Correspondence was received from i. Traffic Services regarding Traffic Notice re: road closure termination ii. Planning Department regarding Public Meeting Notice re: 53 Liberty St N iii. Planning Department regarding Public Meeting Notice re: 221 Liberty St N iv. Planning Department regarding Public Meeting Notice re: Green Rd & Boswell Dr Historic Downtown Bowmanville 4 Business Centre (BIA) Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the correspondence be received for information. THAT item 8.i. was time sensitive and was distributed to members. CARRIED 9. Consent Items — Discussion none 10. Treasurer's Report The Treasurer presented the following: i. Vendor fees are being deposited, many expenses are upcoming ii. $281692.81 in current account iii. Audit is ongoing Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the Treasurer's Report be adopted as presented. CARRIED 11. Directors' Reports (a) Council Liaison — APRIL 2025 No report. The Chair reported that parking enforcement is back in effect after the pause from the fire. (b) Events — C. Holmes reported that Girls Night Out is this Thursday with 36 business participants. Attendance may be impacted by weather. Maplefest is completely sold out. BMO wrap installed. Easter Bunny photos booked for April 19. (c) Membership Relations— G. Lucas has no report. The Chair reported he was invited to an awards ceremony last week where 99 King was presented with the Paul Harris award from Rotary Club. Award granted for outstanding community support following fire. (d) Streetscape — E. Lucas reported that a meeting will be set with the flower vendor to talk about the proposed new brackets. The BIA in Toronto could not provide any information about the brackets as the brackets outlived the personnel. There are two electrical cords that need removed from the power box near the tree. Photos have been taken of the garbage around the BMO property. (e) Communications— Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) APRIL 2025 L. Holmes reported that an issue has arisen lately where BIA member businesses are trying to get promotion for non-BIA businesses. Including situations where the BIA member business may own or be affiliated with another business that is not part of the BIA (example: own a graphic design side -business that is operated from home, or a relative is a real estate agent). The BIA member is the lease holder with the sign on the door/building - not subsidiary businesses - and the only one eligible for promotion. Includes asks for promotion on website directory, social media, and for participation in BIA events. (f) Website & Social Media — L. Holmes reported that the BIA has been inundated with requests for promotion of non-BIA businesses and fire relief fundraisers hosted by non-BIA businesses. While we are thrilled with the outpouring of support for those impacted by the fire, only fundraisers hosted by BIA members which support our trusted distribution partners — Salvation Army and CBOT — are eligible for promotion. These requests were initially numerous but have started to fall off this week as fundraising efforts are winding down. Social media accounts have maintained follower numbers. Updates to website have been completed. 12. New Business (a) Downtown Fire Response Road reopened March 20. Thank you to MOC for free parking until March 31. Bowmanville Strong posters distributed and can be seen in many downtown windows. Bowmanville Strong sign installed at Roegnik Drive and window wrap at BMO. BIA member business fundraisers supporting Salvation Army and CBOT 20 business fundraisers reporting total $67 368.11 raised 6 haven't reported yet 4 ongoing or upcoming The Municipality is planning some type of recognition for all those who supported in fire relief. It has been heartwarming to see the entire community come together to support. (b) Economic Uncertainty/Tariffs Trump announcement on April 2. The Chair bumped into Jamil Jivani, MP Durham, at an event and apologized for the BIA not being able to attend his economic forum last month. Mr. Jivani stated that the meeting was productive and hoped to host another soon. The Secretary reported that minutes from the meeting were requested from Mr. Jivani's office but has received no response. OBIAA shop local campaign example shown on screen. An image with Bowmanville BIA logo will be created. The Chair posed a question to OBIAA on how tariffs will affect small business, but it has not been discussed yet. OBIAA Executive Director Kay Matthews is retiring and will be succeeded by Rachel Braithwraite. The Chair plans to send images of the Bowmanville Strong to OBIAA. The Chair will speak with Todd McCarthy, MPP Durham, about any provincial initiatives for small business in Ontario. (d) Relocation of Bowmanville Farmers Market Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) APRIL 2025 Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the BIA opposes the proposed relocation of the Bowmanville Farmers Market to the downtown core. CARRIED Moved By L. Holmes, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the BIA opposes permits for any markets or events within the BIA boundaries without BIA prior consultations and approval. CARRIED 13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Management is scheduled to be held on Tuesday May 6, 2025 commencing at 6:30pm, virtually. 14. Adiournment Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 8:24pm.