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Home My WebLink About2025-11-10Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Monday November 10, 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 Amber Ross, owner Pink Lemon Nadine Herron, owner Nest Desserts Sarah Gerdy, owner Markets Regrets: Lloyd Rang, Council Representative Erin Kemp, Director Laura Knox, MOC Ec Dev representative Delegations Present: Asya Bidordinova, Consultant, Sierra Planning & Management Andrea Sinclair, MHBC Planning Glen Macfarlane, Invest Clarington 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 Glen Macfarlane is an economic investment officer with Invest Clarington. He is the staff lead on the Community Improvement Plan. Asya Bidordinova, the project consultant, shared information on screen about the Clarington Community Improvement Plan. CIP promotes property development and investment with public interest goals. Involve financial, procedural, and other incentives to encourage private sector investment. Review started September 2025 and update to be complete by June 2026. Andrea Sinclair, MHBC Planning, is focused on design aspect for physical aspects. Asking for BIA to distribute business owner survey to members in January. Existing CIP - Building permit fee grant program - Site plan control fee grant program - Signage grant program - Façade improvement grant program - Upgrade to building code grant program - Reconstruction grant program - Accessibility grant program Historic Downtown Bowmanville 2 NOVEMBER 2025 Business Centre (BIA) There is an issue with awareness for the program. Invest Clarington has assumed the CIP in their portfolio and will market the new program. Signage and façade improvements are the most utilized. Suggestions for new programs: crime prevention tools, landscape improvement, heritage grants, funding for graffiti cover-up. Concerns: lack of awareness, confusion over what programs are for landlords and what tenants can apply for, too many steps in process Design aspects: certain types of signs not allowed, certain colors, in keeping with heritage and historic character https://www.clarington.net/en/business-and-development/Community-Improvement- Grants.aspx#Reconstruction-Grant-Program Concerns raised with project consultants about being put on spot and not receiving prior notice that they wished to conduct a roundtable discussion. The board would have appreciated advance notice of questions and being given opportunity to obtain feedback from all members. The Chair thanked the delegations for attending. Departed at 7:26pm. 5. Updates from Community Partners (a) CBOT B. Wrightman shared that Salihi Rug had grand opening on Friday and Bowman Bins had grand opening on Saturday. Grand reopening of Oak Unlimited on November 27 at 10am. Video ‘what’s in your backyard’ released. 4 min video – three-six kitchen, markets, kemp travel featured from downtown Bowmanville. 6. Adoption of Minutes Moved by C. Holmes, seconded by G. Lucas THAT the minutes of the meeting of October 14, 2025 be approved as circulated. CARRIED 7. Business Arising from Previous Minutes (a) Recycling Regulations In late October a letter was sent to Clarington Council asking for coordinated action with Durham Region on providing an alternate level of service for business in downtown Bowmanville. Representatives from the Board met with representatives from Orono and Newcastle BIAs and CBOT in late October and are drafting a collective letter to Clarington Council on behalf of all businesses set to lose curbside collection. On Wednesday, the Durham Region Economic Task Force meeting will have a discussion on the blue bin changes. The Chair and Secretary plan to attend. Information to be shared with downtown businesses as it becomes available. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 3 NOVEMBER 2025 Business Centre (BIA) 8. Consent Items - Correspondence Correspondence was received from i. Interim reply from Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks acknowledging receipt of letter ii. OBIAA notice of membership renewal and new fee structure for 2026 iii. Invitation to join Durham Economic Task Force Meeting iv. Notice of Public Meeting re: 3071 Bowmanville Avenue v. Notice of Passing ZBA2024-0023 & PD-092-25/PDS-049-25 vi. Regional Clerk providing copy of correspondence sent to Durham Region from Minister McCarthy regarding recycling Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by G. Lucas THAT the correspondence be received for information. CARRIED 9. Consent Items – Discussion none 10. Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer presented the following: i. $148762 in current account ii. Expenses for Moonlight Magic outstanding Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by L. Holmes THAT the Treasurer’s Report be adopted as presented. CARRIED 11. Directors’ Reports (a) Council Liaison – The Chair shared that Loblaws will be making an application for the Peavey Mart land. (b) Events – C. Holmes reported that Santa Claus Parade is this Saturday with our vintage carriage entry. Visit Santa happening three Saturdays in December. Moonlight Magic on Fri Dec 5. Lights to be installed on existing tree soon after weather cancellation last week. Window decorating contest. Window item hunt. Grinch Giveaway two Saturdays in December. BMO window wrap changed. (c) Membership Relations – G. Lucas reported that flowers were delivered to Salihi Rug, Bowman Bins, Noire Hair Extensions, and treats to Aspen Florist. Speakeasy Cannabis is now closed. Flowers sent to Hoopers Jewellers for 80th Anniversary. Vacant office space on Silver Street. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 4 NOVEMBER 2025 Business Centre (BIA) (d) Streetscape – E. Lucas reported that there is no update about the BMO tree replacement. Christmas décor and winter banners will be installed in the next few weeks. Need to make decision on new basket holders. Error in count last month – new count is approx. 100. Welder is no longer willing to install. Has requests for quotes for install and remove old poles out to other companies. Welder will draw up plans and will produce a sample holder. Old poles lasted over 30 years. This would be investment for future. Moved by E. Lucas, seconded by L. Holmes THAT $20 000 be set aside from the 2025 budget CARRIED (e) Communications – No report. (f) Website & Social Media – L. Holmes reported that new businesses added to website directory. 12. New Business (a) CCTV program No update available. Discussion deferred. (b) Consultation for planned construction work The Chair would like for more consideration be given to the businesses when construction work is ongoing. Concerns about signs saying sidewalks are closed. Detrimental impacts for businesses. Suggestion to invite representative from Clarington to present on upcoming infrastructure projects in 2026. (b) Business operating hours The Chair would like if businesses would offer standard operating hours, particularly during the holiday shopping season. If more businesses stay open then more people would come downtown. His business will open on Sundays and offer later evening hours. Social media posts to be used to promote extended business hours for shopping downtown. 13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Management is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 commencing at 6:30pm, virtually. 14. Adjournment Historic Downtown Bowmanville 5 NOVEMBER 2025 Business Centre (BIA) Moved by E. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 8:43pm.