SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes (draft) - May 25, 2015

SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes

May 25, 2015 - 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Location: City of Williams Lake

In attendance: Carla Bullinger, Rosanna McGregor, Larry Stranberg, Leah Selk, Monica Johnson, Diana French, Jan Hermiston, Kathie Vilkas and Jessica Knodel.

Accept Minutes & Agenda:

Review meeting minutes from Apr 27, 2015 - Remove one duplicated sentence.

MFSC to accept minutes as amended

Review meeting agenda for May 25, 2015

MFSC to accept agenda as presented.

Revisit action items from last meeting - write letter of support to Seniors Advisory

Council re: Hospital Renovations. Update - draft written and sent out for review.

Guest Speaker - Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Association (WLCBIA):

The WLCBIA's Chair Jan Hermiston gave an organizational update to the table. The discussion is summarized below.

The WLCBIA...

• Is supported by levy monies from owners of properties in the downtown core.
• Has one staff member and one summer student.
• Has a Board of 11 people, new board will be elected at next AGM in a few months time.
• July 8th at 6pm at the Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society next AGM - open to any merchants and land owners. Merchants can vote too due to paying levies via rent. Five year plan in progress.
• Bike racks will be installed around the City's downtown core soon.
• Walking maps for the downtown core (with points of interest) are now available.
• The first Billboard (in over 85 years) signaling that we have a downtown core will be erected soon across from Coyote Rock golf course.
• Some levy monies are distributed for community initiatives (more so now with their new budget). Including partnerships that make projects more affordable.
• A new webpage for the BIA was put on hold at this time.
• Annual events continue such as Street party, Winter lights, Show & Shine.
• New paid parking structure for their lot in conjunction with Cariboo Growers and Community Policing. Special needs adult will be hired to help with lot maintenance from any revenues (8 spots for $20/per month).
• Bike to work week display in our parking lot today (May 25th).
• New board - younger and full of energy.
• Jan has had lots of fun but is looking forward to stepping back from Chair this year (has been involved with the BIA for 37 years now!).
• Is happy to see a younger board full of energy and is hoping for increased participation from the younger generation to step up.
• Question: what worked to get younger persons to get involved?
• Answer: it's just time for change. They like web pages, face book, etc. The new energy mostly started with one person (Angie) who is starting to recruit others with the same. There will be monies available for the new board which helps pique people's interest.
• Challenges encountered have been asking businesses to stay open later. Discussions related to this follow:
• As a small business owner it's hard to find the extra energy for increasing hours, especially with staffing costs. Yet, this is a problem that has been identified at the SPC table as a barrier to a lively downtown core (e.g. most coffee shops close as early as 5pm).
• Starbucks (inside Safeway) is only place open to sit down in. Once people know this, patterns begin to develop e.g. people stop making plans to go out for desert & coffee.
• New World Coffee and Tea House is now open in the evenings.
• The Toy store near the bookstore was great when they were both open (complimented each other).
• Friday nights in the summertime the downtown core appears to "die"- local people seem to leave town almost every weekend.
• Even for ArtWalk - a special day open (till 9) was proposed but not enough businesses would go for it.
• Women's Clothing stores - all have the same hours (which are also the same as bank & regular work hours) making it difficult for women to shop at them. Could these stores work together to have a trial for being open (e.g. Thurs & Fri till 8 pm for a one month trial - e.g. this July?).
• The success of the Yellow Umbrella is a great example of how many people will go OUT of their way (e.g. travel to 150 Mile House) because "they do it so well". People will make the trip if they know it's worth it.
• There are some hard times in the downtown core currently due to hard recent economic times but places like hairdressers and spas are doing very well (people still want to feel good during hard times).
• Pop-up stores are appreciated by many people and bring nice variety of specialty items. This also allows people to try new things without having to commit to starting a new business if they find the demand is not there.
• Creative ideas should be explored based on what the community is lacking (e.g. a clearance store for other stores to sell discontinued items on sale).
• The new Game store has been doing very well (near Dollar Dollar) and the number of people who attend their events on Sunday's is encouraging.
• Question - Would a survey asking people what they want available, help the BIA develop plans for the downtown core?
• Answer - the City is currently working on getting those answers.
• On some long weekends last year - only three stores were open (shutters, bars and windows coverings are the norm for closed stores - making even window shopping impossible).
• Lavender Lingerie is one example - unfortunately for this shop owner, many people will visit the store to try on sizes, and then go buy the exact same item online.
• Question: "Love Williams Lake" - what is happening with this?
• Answer: Northern Trust sponsored them out of Quesnel. It costs $100/business. Launch on June 14th outdoors. Big launch versus advertising campaign like in other communities. It is a City initiative with some assistance from the BIA. There will be no book (like in Quesnel). After the Jun 14th event nothing is formally planned but making it an annual event has been discussed.
• Comment: The initiative was supposed to be in conjunction with "Love the Puddle" and "Project Comeback" as off-spin projects. Restructuring of City staff has affected this original plan.

Action Item: Formally ask the City for an update on all three above projects.
A creative idea is to "house" many small home based businesses into one location (as a Co-op of sorts).

BIA discussion cont'

• The SPC really appreciates the work of the BIA, and supports a thriving and vibrant downtown core.
• A public bathroom at Spirit Square is being worked on. Long term plans are to turn the associated parking lot into green space.
• Public Parking lots -  there are nine in WL. Putting up more lighting in these lots is being worked on.
• One example is the Curves "issue" of being open so early (from 6 - 8 am). Cariboo Growers is not yet open at that time so is ok with clients using their parking lot. Note: when businesses talk to each other many problems can be solved!
• Question: What can the SPC can do to help or support you or your activities?
• Answer: The new board will be appreciative of assistance after the next AGM.
• Street walking encourages people to visit businesses they normally would pass by or not notice. Could there be a day where the streets are closed?
• We are a "bypass" City (e.g. large vehicles cannot even get in & out of the City easily). Station House Gallery will become a hub with daytime parking for large vehicles for downtown core and access to the River Valley.
• Junior Council - had a small budget for a project where some garbage cans in the downtown will be outfitted with recycling containers on the side (not for roadside pick-up however).
• Community Policing partners - they have been walking around town to find areas that need to be cleaned up (e.g. back alley near B&G club, lot behind the Theatre being a known drug house).
• "Colour bombing" - e.g. dead flowers in winter could be painted to bring some colour to town (it has been done successfully in other communities).
• This has been a very great discussion. If people have more ideas please speak with Sheila at the BIA office.
• Discussions that followed: In summary... The variety of fields in one room has been wonderful. Working together brings a new perspective to everyone involved. Communication between organizations is of such value and brings up ideas that may not have been considered before (e.g. one group may be primarily concerned with an increase in the crime rate which is affecting their business, and another group can tell you specifically the factors that are contributing to this increase). Networking and communication is a powerful tool.

Strategic Planning Session - recap:

Last month's strategic planning session in relation to the Official Community Plan (OCP) was well received. There was a high rate of return of Surveys. The most common request for assistance from the SPC from organizations was help with advertising of their events and general awareness of their programs and services. The community update "service" was mentioned as a huge benefit as was the capacity for networking between organizations.

Comment -  At the Early Childhood Education (ECE) table a summary of the SPC process was given. Many people did not know what the SPC is, or does. The OCP broken down for them and it's review in relation to what organizations are doing was greatly appreciated by all. There is great value in revisiting this as a group and to address gaps.

As someone who recently joined the SPC network, Larry Stranberg was asked for his opinion on the value of the SPC from his perspective. In summary, Larry came to the SPC table because he was specifically invited (and at the very least there would be lunch). After attending, he saw the value in having so many different organizations in one network - sharing and learning what each other are doing - linked together by common goals, rather than a desire to dictate (which is a possible misconception some people might have about the SPC).

Larry  recommends we talk to groups about how the SPC can directly benefit them (e.g. networking, advertising, a different perspective - e.g. economic and social well being are interconnected). Attending a Chamber of Commerce luncheon with the mindset of "here is why it is good for business..." is a suggestion.

The communications of upcoming events within the City was then brought up. The question: Is the audience even reachable? was asked. In summary, no matter how much advertising an event puts out, it is up to people themselves to find, sand then actually attend events. There are many factors at work and there is no one right way (some events are advertised only online, some in print, some both, some events many people sign up for but not all attend, some events fill up last minute, etc.).

One suggestion is for an "upcoming events sign" for Williams Lake (like the one at the Horsefly & Likely junction).

Word of Mouth is still the best way to advertise.

Roundtable Updates:

(those not included in community updates).

Rosanna McGregor (Cariboo Friendship Society)- some Friendship Society staff is leaving. Interior Health and updates will continue.

Jessica Knodel for Cariboo Growers - There are salad greens at Cariboo Growers now so some come get your fresh local food four days a week.

Larry Stranberg (Community Futures)- six new businesses started up in May, and there are more new business plans now, than in the last three years. Optimistic times. Most are under the age of 40.

Kathie Vilkas (Hospice Society) - May is Palliative Hospice Awareness Month in Williams Lake. There will be info at Seedy Saturday and a booth at Street Party this year. Volunteer training sessions start in June if you are interested in just sitting with clients, or getting more involved. Training take place Jun 12 - 13th from 9 - 3 pm (Fri & Saturday). Intense with a pre-interview. Training available regardless of commitment to volunteering. More info to be sent out in updates.

Leah Selk (Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society)- Announced our 2015 grant program (25K allocated). Performances in the Park lineup (mini market option being looked at including food vendors). Businesses for the Arts (throughout BC) Artsfest funding matching. Brand new sponsorships. Celebration event on Jun 15th.

Diana French (Museum & CCCS) - Museum is involved with Street Party this year. Re: Conservation Society - The "Up your Watershed" performance with more than 200 children involved was so well attended they had to turn people away. Earth Day Challenge was also a great success - info sessions and then Jeopardy style quiz. The reopening of Mt. Polley mine is up in the air so it is hard to make decisions at this time.

Jan Hermiston (BIA) - Timothy Lake Garden centre is in the shared parking lot until Jun 13th and the BIA will allow some vendors a free venue on Saturdays (but not to sell food that is in competition with the Growers). Not looking to fill up the lot, but some increased activity is great!

Carla Bullinger (CCPL & Communities that Care)- CCPL provides free tutoring for reading writing and literacy skills. Thursdays at 10:30 am is computer literacy at the Library (but you must sign up it's so popular). And financial literacy workshops in small groups is also available. Family Fest event - the "Worm composting" table that the CCCS did was the most popular table! Hospice will be at the next Family Fest too.

Motion to adjourn - MFSC

Meeting adjourned. The next monthly meeting will be held on Jun 22nd at 11:30 am, location TBA.