Napanee BIA
Board of Directors Meeting
October 15, 2014
6:15pm
Napanee Business Centre
Attendance: Brad Way, Ashley Arnold, Rob Hendrick, Bill Pierson, Doris Lucas, Michelle Edgar,
Guests: Hubert Hogle (Property Owner), Teresa Hendrick (Touch of Class Fashions), Elizabeth Botting (MiLady’s Lace), Sondra Elliott (Pet Penache), Jerry and Marlene Sweet (Mayhew’s)
1. Call Meeting to Order: 6:26pm
2. Disclosure of pecuniary interest: NONE
3. Motion for Approval of Agenda: MOVED BY ASHLEY ARNOLD: SECONDED BY BILL PIERSON: CARRIED
4. Motion for approval of the previous meeting minutes: September 17, 2014: MOVED BY MICHELLE EDGAR: SECONDED BY BILL PIERSON: CARRIED
5. Deputation: Hubert Hogle: Downtown Parking
Mr. Hogle spoke with the Board regarding the possibility of future downtown parking development. He feels that this is an urgent matter as with the rumoured development of the Gibbards property is on the horizon that there will be a greater sense of urgency of additional parking thus resulting in an even busier downtown. He sees an immediate opportunity to capitalize on this now, and would like the BIA to lobby the Municipality and together work to develop new additional parking along East Street. Mr. Hogle has roughly a 100 spots available at the Campbell House lot. He feels that its good business for him to give 100 spots free for his tenants and for the betterment of the town. However, at some point in the future, he would like to see this property become developed and thus making parking development at East Street even more important. He does recognize the financial implications of purchasing parking, however over the next five years especially if the east end continues to get developed, there could be 60 to 65 parking spots available which would aid and support the new development of the eastern end. Hubert stated that the primary issue with these properties is that there are many environmental concerns with the three properties available.
Hubert looked into the cost of an environmental report on the lands and he estimates that it would cost roughly $10,000. He feels that this is an important project for the Downtown, and he is going to continue to speak with the property owner regarding the land. If he finds out anything else that is of significance, that he could come back at a later date. He is looking for BIA support for this project and is hoping that the BIA could assist in moving this project forward.
Brad thanked Hubert for coming to the meeting. He also thanked him for allowing people to park at his centre street location. Brad is happy that this BIA Board has brought up parking many times with the municipality. Brad opened up to Bill and Shaune for comments.
Shaune informed the BIA Board that this property has been brought up at Council. He feels that everything that Hubert has stated is true and once Gibbards, Hubert’s land, and the Lyon’s property get developed, the parking opportunities will turn into a deficit and that the purchase of the Lyon’s property by the Municipality should react by an instinct and be pro-active and act ahead of the curve.
Bill feels that Shaune’s point and Hubert’s point are consistent and he feels that the Town has to look ahead and if the BIA felt that they would support as a group the purchase of the land and that the staff is hoping that the owner would be more reasonable on his expectation of a purchase price. Bill mentioned the linkage from Aldephi to Market Square that this property has. Bill asked Hubert about his email that he wrote regarding that if Council creates the right condition, that staff will always support it. If staff buys into what you want, life becomes much easier.
Bill would support this and hopes that the BIA would support this. Shaune feels that this should be fast tracked because the second that the Gibbards factory gets developed, the Lyons property will sky rocket. Shaune feels that this should be a priority for the new BIA Board should take it to the new Council for consideration. Shaune feels that a meeting between the new BIA Board and staff should make this a priority
6. Committee Reports: A) Greater Napanee Joint Beautification Committee
Tom informed the board that he is looking at getting a reconciliation statement from the Town regarding the costs of the beautification. Brad asked Tom to invite a town staff and Marg Isbester, Chair of Communities in Bloom to come to the November meeting and provide a recap on how the Joint Beautification Committee worked for 2014.
ACTION: Tom will invite Marg and a town staff to come to the November meeting and provide the Board a recap of the Joint Beautification Committee for 2014, and the Board will look to discuss 2015 Beautification.
ACTION: Tom will get a reconciliation statement from the Joint Beautification Committee which will highlight the BIA Beautification related expenses for 2014
B) Marketing and Communications
Michelle brought up the idea of additional forms of advertising and the Board weighed the pro’s and con’s of different advertising media. The topic was brought up with Downtown Napanee and advertising it on as a whole. Based on talking with the Board, Michelle will do some investigation on pricing and explore the costing of facebook advertising for the Napanee BIA. She will also explore costing with Kingston, Belleville, and Picton.
ACTION: Tom will talk to a few of the merchants regarding a facebook advertising workshop
ACTION: Michelle will get a Facebook advertising packaging plan
ACTION: The Board will give Michelle discretion and full use of the current available marketing budgeted dollars to develop a year end marketing campaign for Downtown Napanee.
7. Unfinished Business: A) 2013 Financials Received of Draft Financial Statements
Brad caught Tom’s error in putting these on the agenda. The board would like statements from Welch no later than April 1st.
Discussion continued on financials, and Rob informed the Board that he and Tom and whomever else would like to sit down and work on a draft budgetary framework for the next Board to consider. Brad asked the Board who would like to sit in on budget talks. Brad, and Shaune both agreed to. Rob will work with Tom, Brad, and Shaune on creating a draft budget.
ACTION: Tom will contact Welch and ask for financial statements to be developed no later than April 1st of a calendar year.
ACTION: Brad, Shaune, Rob, Tom will meet before the next meeting in November and look to create a proposed budget for 2015.
8. Business Arising from Previous Board Meeting
A) Marketing Packages for Boaters
Tom informed the Board of his updates with marketing packages from Land O Lakes and Bay of Quinte. Shaune stressed the importance of this and ultimately the Board felt that the BIA should continue to explore this project with Bay of Quinte. Shaune feels that the BIA should continue to have an active role in waterfront tourism and to continue to work with the Town whenever and wherever possible.
ACTION: Tom will continue to explore these new opportunity with the Bay of Quinte and Tom will investigate the purchase of the waterproof containers from Land o Lakes
B) Spark Brain’s Bike Program
Brad purchased a bike for St. Charles School and he wanted to share this wonderful program with BIA membership.
C) Krysta Lee’s Downtown Dollars
Ashley gave a brief overview on what Krysta Lee’s initiative. Brad and the rest of the board felt that we should wait until she returns.
9. Reports:
A) Chairperson’s Report
Brad brought up a past BIA resolution to the Municipality on downtown parking. He was upset that the three components that were included with the Market Square parking request was lost and he would like to see the three other components brought back to the Municipality for support. Tom will examine this.
ACTION: Tom will investigate this and look to place it back onto the next council agenda
Shaune stressed that if a dedicated bus service was built that a bus shelter should accompany it.
MOTION TO REVISE THE MARKET SQUARE PARKING RESOLUTION FOR COUNCIL’s REVIEW: BILL PIERSON: SECONDED BY ASHLEY ARNOLD: CARRIED
B) Council Report
Bill provided the report and reported that Tom did an excellent job in presenting to Council the back of the Greater Napanee signs that the Board is looking on. He also commented on the work that Doris has contributed with the JBC on downtown beautification. He said that even the Mayor recognizes the contribution and Bill hopes he has her energy when he ages.
C) Treasurer’s Report
Both Rob and Tom examined the monthly statements. Rob iterated the importance of having a meeting with those interested directors before the next meeting. Tom concurred as he feels that its important for this Board to give the new Board a proposed budget for which they can use if they feel like it which would help get the new board off of the ground.
D) Chamber of Commerce Report
NONE
E) CAAC
The name is changing to a broader scope which will involve the entire Municipality. Shaune doesn’t want to be redundant and he wants to ensure proportional representation throughout the Chamber, BIA and the Town. He wants to continue to see the BIA contribute to the progress of Greater Napanee.
F) Office Manager Report
Shaune asked whether or not Cogeco would broadcast the Big Bright Light Show. Could the event be taped? Posted? Streamed?
Cogeco or CKWS TV could possibly come out.
ACTION: TOM WILL INVESTIGATE SCREENING OF THE BIG BRIGHT LIGHTS ON COGECO, CKWS TV OR STREAM IT ONLINE
Shaune asked Tom about parking in Downtown. Shaune would like Tom to post parking ticket procedures in the next newsletter.
ACTION: Tom will post this in the next series of newsletters.
ACTION: Tom will look at ensuring that the Christmas tree for the BBLS is put up.
10. New Businesses: A) New and Old Businesses
Shaune commented that in the old Waste Management Building that Ingrid Tiffe has opened up a business. Ashley commented that the Supercleaners have been closed.
B) New Business: Holiday Magic Gift and Fashion Event: December 5th, and 6th
Teresa Hendrick spoke regarding this. She would like the BIA to fund some media and business cards for the event. Ashley felt that the Shopping Party is all about Customer Appreciation and this event would be different as it is more about the individual products and sales orientated. The Board continued to discuss this. Teresa feels that this event is particularly different. It is a pre-Christmas sales event. Teresa commented that so far there are fifteen businesses participated.
MOTION FOR 13000 CARDS TO BE PURCHASED AND PRINTED BY THE BIA AND FOR FUNDS TO COME OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN SHOPPING PARTY: MOVED BY ASHLEY: SECONDED BY MICHELLE: CARRIED
Teresa commented that Linda Warner will be going around and discussing this event with other merchants. Tom commented that he feels that the BIA Board should only support this sales event if every Downtown business was contacted.
Michelle brought up the Parade of Lights and stressed the importance of closing Dundas Street for safety matters. The Board agreed and Michelle made the following motion.
MOTION TO DISALLOW PARKING FOR THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE FROM TWO HOURS BEFORE THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE: MOVED BY MICHELLE, AND ASHLEY: CARRIED
ACTION: TOM WILL WORK WITH THE TOWN AND MERCHANTS TO ENSURE THE ROAD CLOSURE OF DUNDAS FROM ALDEPHI TO EAST.
Shaune commented that If you start advertising for no parking now we would be ahead of the game.
New Business:
Shaune would like Tom to provide the Board with an update on how the lighting project has been going and stressed that it should be important.
ACTION: Tom will provide an illumination update for the next Board Meeting
Shaune has been asked about accessible walkways and beeper notification for walkways
ACTION: at a future meeting, this will be discussed
Shaune brought up the resurrection of the Turkey Draw. Rob and Ashley would both like to see the turkey ballots be given out with a purchase. The Board felt that the turkey board isn’t needed and that it would be straight ballots internally so its minimal cost. Rob commented that he has eight free turkeys donated. Tom thought that he would do the Turkey Draw Ballot over Constant Contact.
MOTION FOR TOM TO WORK WITH SHAUNE AND ROB ON THE TURKEY DRAW: MOVED BY SHAUNE: ASHLEY: CARRIED
MOTION TO RECEIVE ALL REPORTS: MOVED BY BILL PIERSON: SECONDED BY DORIS LUCAS: CARRIED
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT AT 8:35pm: MOVED BY BILL PIERSON: SECONDED BY ROB HENDRICK: CARRIED