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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-11Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Tuesday February 11, 2025; 6:30pm Virtual Meeting 1. Attendance The Chair read the statement on meeting etiquette. In Attendance: Ron Hooper, Chair Laura Holmes, Secretary Gerri Lucas, Treasurer Lloyd Rang, Council Representative (departed 7:28pm) Cathy Holmes, Director Edgar Lucas, Director Laura Knox, MOC Ec Dev representative Regrets: Erin Kemp, Director Bonnie Wrightman, CBOT representative Delegations Present: Amber Ross, owner Pink Lemon 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 Amber Ross is the owner of Pink Lemon. Has some concerns about the new proposed garbage receptacles for downtown. Would like to know how new advertisement garbage receptacles fit into the landscape of a historic downtown? Will consideration be given to the design? Will there be a consultation process on the location of the new receptacles, including types of ads in front of related businesses? As far as Councillor Rang understands, staff has been given direction to solve the excess litter problem in the downtown and no decisions have been made on the receptacles. The Chair has previously spoken with the Director of Public Works and raised some similar concerns about advertising and locations. Councillor Rang will bring an update next meeting. 5. Updates from Community Partners (a) Economic Development L. Knox reported that the Clarington Vendor Directory has launched and there has been great uptake with the downtown businesses. Sidewalk Patio Program applications will launch in March. The program will remain the same as 2024. A new business is opening in the vacant Carwin Tax. It is a retail space called Historic Downtown Bowmanville 2 FEBRUARY 2025 Business Centre (BIA) Grounded but will also offer rental office space for mental health professionals. Combined with CBOT, Invest Clarington is offering Partnering for Safety in Council Chambers on March 4th, 5-7pm with DRPS, Fire Services. Free to attend. Offer to coordinate an update from Planning. 6. Adoption of Minutes Moved by C. Holmes, seconded by L. Rang THAT the minutes of the meeting of January 14, 2025 be approved as circulated. CARRIED 7. Business Arising from Previous Minutes (a) Feasibility of Historic Designation Councillor Rang reports that in the Secondary Plan there is a clause to investigate historic designation. Secondary Plan was passed by Council recently. Consultation process will begin soon and expects that staff will reach out to BIA when research begins. The Chair has shared some information from OBIAA with staff related to historic designations. (b) Tree at BMO E. Lucas spoke with the Manager at BMO and started the process on being put in contact with the property owner. The Municipality provided a mailing address for the property owner and a letter has been sent asking the owner to reach out to the BIA. The Chair will contact the arborist and report back next meeting. 8. Consent Items - Correspondence Correspondence was received from i. Communications Department regarding Invitation to Mayors Levee ii. Planning Department regarding Public Notice re: 500 Mearns Ave iii. Planning Department regarding Public Notice re: 3071 Bowmanville Ave iv. Communications Department regarding New Parking Meter Announcement v. Planning Department regarding Bowmanville East Secondary Plan staff changes update Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by L. Holmes THAT the correspondence be received for information. THAT items 8.i and 8.iv. were time sensitive and have already been distributed to members. CARRIED 9. Consent Items – Discussion none 10. Treasurer’s Report Historic Downtown Bowmanville 3 FEBRUARY 2025 Business Centre (BIA) The Treasurer presented the following: i. The proposed budget was shared on screen (see addendum A). 2025 levy equals $184 821.00 ii. The audit has started Moved by L. Rang, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the Treasurer’s Report be adopted as presented and the proposed budget be approved. CARRIED 11. Directors’ Reports (a) Council Liaison – L. Rang reported that Council has passed the Secondary Plan. During committee meeting, he spoke regarding supporting local especially in relation to the potential tariffs. Staff are investigating whether there is policy in place on sourcing Canadian-made. (b) Events – C. Holmes reported that Clarington’s Manager of Community Development and Events has asked for an opinion from the BIA on a request from the Bowmanville Farmers Market to relocate to the downtown core. Immediate concerns raised include impact on parking, optics of having a non-BIA event hosted downtown, competition for downtown business, vendors with similar products as downtown shops, market organizer as a marketing company, organizer accepting sponsorships. A question was raised about why there is a request to relocate as Rickard appears to be a very good location for this. Orono and Newcastle qualify as a Farmers Market and are members of the association. The Bowmanville Market does not qualify as a Farmers Market and cannot be a member of the association. It is a for-profit market and offers booth space to a variety of vendors. It is not mainly produce (nor run by farmers) and allows vendors with non-handmade products and others like real estate agents to participate. It also collects sponsorship funds. The BIA goes to great lengths to protect the downtown businesses and does not permit sponsorship or outside business participation in the events hosted downtown. Having a non-BIA event downtown would create confusion and direct competition for the downtown businesses. The BIA does not support the moving of this market to downtown. A response will be sent to the Manager. The construction at Clarington Fields may impact shuttle parking for events. Reports that Ribfest has been cancelled. (c) Membership Relations – G. Lucas reported that KeepFit HQ had their grand opening and flowers will be sent. Revel Rose expanded into the location next door. Hooper’s Trophy Centre is under new ownership. (d) Streetscape – E. Lucas reported that he spoke with the vendor about the lights on the tree. The vendor was aware of all the social media comments and expressed how difficult the tree is to decorate. The vendor also shared feedback heard in the crowds about the ceremony including desire for the length to be shortened and to eliminate all political speakers. Summer flower vendor and watering contractor are booked. Will inspect winter banners and stars when they are removed. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 4 FEBRUARY 2025 Business Centre (BIA) The Chair expressed concerns about the snowbanks and given the expected storms this week will reach out to Public Works about a removal plan. (e) Communications – L. Holmes reported that relevant communications have been shared. New businesses and changes to contacts have been added to correspondence list. A notice regarding the error on parking meter programming was circulated to members. The meters will be corrected to read enforcement hours MON- FRI. (f) Website & Social Media – L. Holmes reported that the issue with the payment processor has finally been resolved. The web company is doing an update and then the applications for Maplefest will be posted. The directory has been updated with the new businesses. There was significant social media activity/comments related to the new parking meters installed downtown. 12. New Business None. 13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Management is scheduled to be held on Tuesday March 11, 2025 commencing at 6:30pm, virtually. 14. Adjournment Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 7:39pm. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 5 FEBRUARY 2025 Business Centre (BIA) ADDENDUM A Proposed 2025 Budget PROPOSED 2025 Administration 43,150.00$ Events 95,000.00$ Marketing 39,000.00$ Streetscape 46,950.00$ Capital Works 29,850.00$ Contingency Fund 5,000.00$ Website 8,453.00$ Office Expenses/Utilities/Rent 11,400.00$ Total Budget 278,803.00$ less variable (vendor fees)68,957.00-$ less budget surplus 25,025.00-$ NET TOTAL = levy 184,821.00$