Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-09Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Tuesday June 9, 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 Laura Knox, MOC Ec Dev representative Amber Ross, owner Pink Lemon Natalie Dookheran, owner Roam Coffee Regrets: Lloyd Rang, Council Representative Erin Kemp, Director Delegations Present: Monika Machacek, CEO Clarington Library, Museums & Archives 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 M. Machacek shared a presentation on screen regarding a proposed renovation of the Bowmanville Library. Goals: incorporate heritage exhibits, add meeting spaces, return of café operated as social enterprise, play and exploration for children. Sarah Jane Williams Museum will remain open for programming. ClaringTOWN exhibit will move to Library. Removal of periodicals racks and replace with museum nook. Second floor quiet study area, microfiche, historical exhibit. Community feedback through survey on website. Naming contest for café. Mezzanine will remain largest meeting space, additions will be small rooms. The BIA will distribute the survey link to members. Construction to start this winter, completion next spring. No planned closures. The Chair thanked M. Machacek for the presentation. M. Machacek departed 6:43pm. 5. Updates from Community Partners (a) CBOT B. Wrightman shared that the date of the Shop Clarington Showcase has moved to October 3. Asks that the information be distributed to BIA members. CBOT has partnered with Invest Clarington on seasonal campaigns for shopping local and a marketing push. 81 responses on the recycling survey from Clarington businesses. Meeting with Durham Business Alliance next week to review draft letter to Minister. Current system in place isn’t consistent with goal of diverting waste since most responded that they are throwing Historic Downtown Bowmanville 2 JUNE 2026 Business Centre (BIA) away blue box materials. Draft will be sent to BIAs. Letter to all Durham mayors and regional council. August 7 date of next CBOT coffee hour all members welcome. New industry moving to Clarington. (b) Invest Clarington L. Knox shared that there is excitement for the marketing partnership and that the BIA will be notified when filming is taking place. Public Meeting for CIP draft is 5pm Monday June 15 and encourages feedback and attendance. Existing CIP is still available to business. Working with real estate agents on the vacancies in downtown. Mural on Boss Nails has been removed and refurbished and will be installed on side of Clarington Firehall Youth Centre. Application for CIP for mural did not move forward. Property owner is working with Chad from The Paint Factory on moving forward with a new mural. Mural on the Gay Construction building was removed and being refurbished and will be relocated. Hoarding at fire site will remain. 6. Adoption of Minutes Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the minutes of the meeting of May 5, 2026 be approved as circulated. CARRIED 7. Business Arising from Previous Minutes none 8. Consent Items - Correspondence Correspondence was received from i. Invest Clarington re: CIP Draft Proposal & Notice of Public Meeting (distributed to members) ii. Planning Department re: Notice of Recommendation – Soper Springs iii. Legislative Services re: Notice of Decision OPA 149, ROPA 3, PD-044-26/PDS-026-26 iv. Davies Howe LLP re: Notice of Hearing – Townline Rd N v. Legislative Services re: Notice of Passing ZBA2025-0015, PD-047-26/PDS-035-26 vi. Planning Department re: Public Meeting Notice – 222 King St E, Bowmanville vii. Planning Department re: Public Meeting Notice – Adelaide Ave, Courtice viii. Legislative Services re: Notice of Decision OPA 150, PD-069-26/PDS-036-26 ix. Legislative Services re: User Fee Bylaw C-130-26/FSD-019-26 Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by G. Lucas THAT the correspondence be received for information. CARRIED 9. Consent Items – Discussion Item 8.ix. User Fee Bylaw The Board is grateful that Council has waived the fees for BIAs for 2026 and hope that the newly installed Council will consider the same waiver moving forward in 2027 and beyond. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 3 JUNE 2026 Business Centre (BIA) The Chair would like for Clarington staff to meet with local community groups since the fees will still apply to them. 10. Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer presented the following: i. $230684 in current account ii. Audit is ongoing but should be close to finished. New auditing company has been challenging. Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by E. Lucas THAT the Treasurer’s Report be adopted as presented. CARRIED 11. Directors’ Reports (a) Council Liaison – The Chair reported that Black & MacDonald was testing the light poles earlier this week. Next year is 50th anniversary of Bowmanville BIA. (b) Events – C. Holmes reported that Twilight Tuesday coming up July 14 and business participation will be surveyed in coming weeks. Sidewalk Sale August 14 & 15 hoping for better business participation this year. Applefest vendor applications are posted and are over 80% sold out already. The Chair reported that he was approached about an idea for a food event. The Chair informed the person that the budget and event schedule for 2026 was already set. The proposed food event would include businesses located outside of the BIA and outside of Bowmanville. If the BIA were to host a new event in the future it would need to be restricted to BIA business. Suggestion that this food event would be a good fit for the future Destination Marketing Organization to be established in 2027 by Clarington with the MAT funds. (c) Membership Relations – G. Lucas reported that flowers were sent to 2 L’s Rx at 80 King W. Dam Foods has closed. KeepFit HQ moved into former Lash Maven. The Chair recognized businesses celebrating anniversaries. (d) Streetscape – E. Lucas reported that new brackets are installed. Watering is organized for when hanging baskets are delivered. Basket install is being provided as a complimentary service. BMO tree property owner sent document in writing and what is being requested but has not had a response back. Seems to be a back and forth between bank and property owner over who is responsible or making decisions. Banners on the bridge were in disrepair but seem to be improved now. C. Holmes reports that utility company was contacted to provide a quote on repair of the across the road banner wires. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 4 JUNE 2026 Business Centre (BIA) (e) Communications – L. Holmes reported that CIP draft proposal and public meeting notice shared with members. Letter sent to Public Works with cc to Council thanking for downtown clean up. (f) Website & Social Media – L. Holmes reported that business directory updated with new businesses and vacancies. New storefront images will be taken. 12. New Business (a) CIP Draft Proposal Urban design guidelines are required for CIP applications. Not required of building owners who do not apply for CIP. The Chair would like to know about downtown revitalization project. L. Knox confirms that infrastructure projects do not qualify for CIP funding. CIP funding can be adjusted by Council yearly. Disappointed in lack of funds for security. Minimum too high for signs. Feedback will be compiled by the Secretary and sent to board for approval before submission ahead of June 15 public meeting. (b) September Meeting Date Unable to achieve quorum. Suggest moving date – sept 22 Moved by G. Lucas, seconded by L. Holmes THAT the date of the next meeting be moved to September 22 2026. CARRIED (c) Clarington BIAs Collaborative Meeting Met virtually with representatives from Orono and Newcastle on May 26. Discussion topics: CIP, MAT, Bylaw 2025-033 and Events, Recycling (d) Member Involvement The Chair is thinking about succession planning. OBIAA is hosting a webinar on how to increase member involvement. OBIAA also shared info about elections in fall. Historic Downtown Bowmanville 5 JUNE 2026 Business Centre (BIA) The BIA received an email from an electoral candidate asking for endorsement and a meeting with the BIA. CBOT has policy against any political activities. As a local board of Council, the BIA must remain impartial with respect to Municipal elections and is unable to support or endorse any individual candidate or engage in any type of political activity. Further, any Directors or staff engaging in political activities must take care to ensure that personal activities are separated from any official position of the BIA. A response to this effect will be sent to the candidate. 13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Management is scheduled to be held on Tuesday September 22, 2026 commencing at 6:30pm, virtually. 14. Adjournment Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by C. Holmes THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 7:59pm.