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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-14Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Tuesday April 14, 2026; 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 8:06pm) Laura Knox, MOC Ec Dev representative (departed 8:25pm) Natalie Dookheran, owner Roam Coffee Regrets: Lloyd Rang, Council Representative Erin Kemp, Director Delegations Present: Glen Macfarlane, Invest Clarington (departed 7:24pm) Asya Bidordinova, project consultant Sierra Planning (departed 7:24pm) 2. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order. Recognized that Director E. Kemp has just welcomed first baby. 3. Land Acknowledgement The Chair read the land acknowledgement statement. 4. Presentation by Delegations G. Macfarlane shared presentation on screen on the Community Improvement Plan update. The CIP program will expand to all of Clarington but there will be priority programs for downtown areas/BIAs. Feedback was collected from BIAs directly, and through survey responses. Also met with committees for accessibility, heritage, etc. Some programs will remain and others will be added. A.Bidordinova shared the proposed/draft CIP area and programs. Proposed programs: Façade & Signage, Commercial Accessibility, Commercial Building Renovation, Municipal Fees, Environmental Site Assessment, Multi-Stream Comprehensive Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG). Next Steps: Statutory public meeting June 15, Council June 22, NOA, appeal, implementation likely early 2027. The floor was opened for Q&A. Concern raised about minimums set, particularly for signage, as they may be too restrictive. Want to ensure that bylaws and design considerations be met to apply for grants, particularly related to historic considerations and sign types. Unsure if there is a maximum amount of funds that will be distributed until gone or if will be an application period to select from. Concern raised that most programs do not benefit business owners and are geared towards larger projects. G. Macfarlane will share the proposal once it is finalized. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 2 APRIL 2026 Business Centre (BIA) 5. Updates from Community Partners (a) CBOT B. Wrightman shared that on April 10th there was a CBOT Coffee Hour at Roam with 40 attendees. Plan to host another soon. Shop Local Showcase on July 25 at Rickard focused on Clarington businesses. Will honor CBOT member pricing for booths to all BIA members. Shop Clarington campaign ‘Spring into the Shops’ will launch soon. “4 downtowns, 1 Clarington” will include Courtice and the 3 BIAs. Survey being developed for how businesses are navigating changes to recycling. A report on findings will be sent to Minister McCarthy. (b) Invest Clarington L. Knox shared that patio permits are now open. Brewer’s Pantry would like special permission to install before Maplefest. Patio changes are being proposed for 2027 season. Mural on building at Boss Nails must be professionally removed – Ec Dev has funding for removal/reinstall. Working on plan for reinstallation location. Proposed MAT bylaw at Council yesterday. Implementation July 1st. 288 hotel/motel rooms. Airbnb and VRBO are not legislated to participate. Funds collected 50% will go towards Tourism and Destination Marketing. Will be run by a not-for-profit Municipal Service Committee. The Chair suggests a newsletter to share things that are happening in Clarington, much like one is sent to residential. 6. Adoption of Minutes Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by G. Lucas THAT the minutes of the meeting of March 10, 2026 be approved as circulated. CARRIED 7. Business Arising from Previous Minutes (a) Municipal Accommodation Tax The BIA would like more information on how collected funds will be used, and details on the Municipal Service Committee. Tourism support and destination marketing are very beneficial and has been greatly missed since disbanding of Clarington Tourism. 8. Consent Items - Correspondence Correspondence was received from i. Invest Clarington re: Central Counties Tourism partnership funding session ii. Planning Department re: Public Meeting Notice – Albert St (COPA2025-0012, ZBA2025-004) iii. Planning Department re: Public Meeting Notice – Newtonville (ZBA2025-0025, SC2025-0008) iv. Planning Department re: Public Meeting Notice – Bowmanville Ave (COPA2026-0004, ZBA2022-0026, SC2022-0015) v. Angela Baltkois, founder of Rockstalgia Music Festival, re: BIA collaboration (sent to R. Hooper) Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by E. Lucas Historic Downtown Bowmanville 3 APRIL 2026 Business Centre (BIA) THAT the correspondence be received for information. CARRIED 9. Consent Items – Discussion The following items were pulled for discussion: 8.i. & 8.v. 8.i. Central Counties Tourism partnership funding The Secretary attended the virtual session. Unfortunately, the BIA does not qualify for 2 of 3 of the funding streams. The remaining stream is for wayfinding projects – tend to be larger scale (eg. Buttertart trail) and typically it is Regions or Municipalities that receive this funding. 8.v. Rockstalgia Music Festival The Chair received a sponsorship/partnership request from the organizer of Rockstalgia Music Festival which will be happening at Orono Fairgrounds in July. The same request was sent to Orono and Newcastle BIAs, and both have declined. The request falls outside of the mandate of the BIA and will not be supported. A response will be sent to the organizer. 10. Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer presented the following: i. $278349.28 in current account ii. Audit is nearing completion, was challenging this year with new auditors, moving forward will ask for additional documentation for donations. Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the Treasurer’s Report be adopted as presented. CARRIED *** 8:02pm The Chair declared a conflict of interest. E. Lucas temporarily assumed role of Chair *** Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT a donation of $600 be directed to Concerts In The Park for the 2026 season. *** 8:04pm R. Hooper resumed the role of Chair *** 11. Directors’ Reports (a) Council Liaison – No report. (b) Events – C. Holmes reported that visits with the Easter Bunny suffered from cold, windy, rainy weather. Raised $465 for Salvation Army Bowmanville. Collaborated with Clarington Library to present a StoryWalk downtown which wrapped following Easter weekend. Girls Night Out this Thursday with 33 participants. Seeking volunteers for Maplefest. Listed downtown events on Central Counties Tourism website. BMO wrap installed. Christmas tree lights removed. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 4 APRIL 2026 Business Centre (BIA) (c) Membership Relations – G. Lucas reported that The Lash Maven has moved to Silver St and their former location will be taken over by KeepFit HQ. L. Knox shares that there are negotiations ongoing for several of the vacancies downtown. (d) Streetscape – E. Lucas reported that new plant holders are in production. Watering contract is set. Self-watering planters for sale by London but they require a long hose to fill. BMO is considering removing all trees and bushes from the property, but then no tree will planted for at least one year. Met with representative from BMO to look at tree and discovered person camped underneath. (e) Communications – L. Holmes reported that information about ICONIC HART HUB at St Pauls Church on Tuesdays and Maplefest road closure info has been shared with members. R. Brezina sent list of upcoming 2026-27 events. (f) Website & Social Media – L. Holmes reported that lots of contact us forms from the website have been coming in, mostly related to Maplefest participation requests. Business directory updated. Promotion of events and vacancies on social. 12. New Business (a) May Meeting Date Will be unable to achieve quorum on May 12. Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by L. Holmes THAT the May meeting be moved forward one week to Tuesday May 5 CARRIED 13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Management is scheduled to be held on Tuesday May 5, 2026 commencing at 6:30pm, virtually. 14. Adjournment Moved by C. Holmes, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 8:28pm.