TOWN OF SMITHERS. T. Bobb, Chair, called the meeting to order (12:05 p.m.).

Transcription

1 TOWN OF SMITHERS /Economic Dev Committee Members Present: Ted Bobb, Chair Councillor Jo Ann Groves Councillor Cress Farrow Brian Atherton Mark Bandstra Colin Bruintjes Robin Curry Kelly Ehalt Bonnie McCreary Richard Norton George Whitehead. Committee Members Excused: Mayor Jim Davidson. Town of Smithers Staff Present: Deborah Sargent, Chief Administrative Officer Susan Bassett, Director of Corporate Services Penny Goodacre, Recording Secretary. Public Present: Rick Braam, Regional Project Manager - Northwest/Nechako Rural BC Secretariat Ministry of Community Development Heather Gallagher, Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce. 1. CALL TO ORDER T. Bobb, Chair, called the meeting to order (12:05 p.m.). 1A-1. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS None. 2. DELEGATION None. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.a) McCreary/ THAT the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting held October 21, 2008, be adopted. 4. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES AND REVIEW UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4.a) New Agenda Process D. Sargent informed the Committee on the new agenda process; where Reports/Correspondence B Items Receive For Information will be ed directly to the Committee members on a weekly basis. This new procedure is to address the issue of receiving time sensitive issues in a timely fashion and to cut down on the amount of paper being used in the agendas. D. Sargent stated that the Committee could bring forward any items received via to discuss at a Committee meeting.

2 Page 2 4.b) Review the Unfinished Business List : The Committee reviewed and updated the Unfinished Business List. October 21, 2008 Unfinished Business List: Item #4.a) 2010 Commerce Centre/Minerals Roundup: Councillor Groves informed the Committee that on November 10, 2008, Council discussed the possibility of booking space at 2010 Commerce Centre in conjunction with Minerals Roundup. Council agreed that there is not enough time to prepare materials or organize meetings for the 2010 Commerce Centre at Robson Square. Council agreed to investigate the possibility of sharing a booth at Minerals Roundup with someone who has already secured one. Councillor Farrow added that he spoke with Mayor Brand-Danuser, District of Stewart, about Smithers partnering with Stewart, they are still deciding. D. Sargent, Chief Administrative Officer, stated that she would contact Minerals Roundup and have Smithers placed on the waitlist for a booth at future Mineral Roundup Conferences. Item #4.b) Draft Community Profile: Copies of the printed Community Profile were distributed amongst the Committee. BV Printers printed one hundred copies of the Community Profile. It was discovered that there were two page #4 in the Profile, the copies were collected and returned to BV Printers for correction. S. Bassett, Director of Corporate Services, informed the Committee that BV Printers quoted a price of $329 plus taxes to produce 100 CD s of the Community Profile. THAT the Committee authorizes BV Printers to produce 100 CD s of the Community Profile at a cost of $329 plus taxes, with the funds to come from the Economic Development Committee s budget. Item #6.k) Blue Pearl Community Advisory Panel: R. Curry stated that she would the Committee members the list of names on the Blue Pearl Community Advisory Panel. She stated that there would be an opening, as Carmen Graf has been elected Mayor of Telkwa, and cannot sit on the Advisory Panel as an elected official. Item #8.b) Economic Development Office:

3 Page 3 The Committee stated that they are currently investigating different structures for an Economic Development Office. The Committee requested that Z. Kline s report be re ed to all the members. 4.c) October 21, 2008, Item #8.a) Reversing the Tide Conference Ehalt/ THAT the Reversing the Tide Conference Summary provided by B. Atherton, be received. 5. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE A ITEMS ACTION 5.a) Sun Media Custom Publishing: THAT the Sun Media Custom Publishing regarding advertising in the 2009 British Columbia Report, be received; AND THAT Administration no longer place any correspondence from the Sun Media Custom Publishing on any Economic Development Committee agenda ( ). 6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE B ITEMS RECEIVE FOR INFORMATION 6.a) to 6.c) Curry/ THAT the following correspondence be received for information: a) Economic Development Committee budget for the period ending October 31, b) dated November 6, 2008, from Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., regarding Blue Pearl ( ). c) Reversing the Tide Conference, post conference initiative Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion submission. 6.a) 2009 Committee Budget: The Committee agreed to form a Sub-Committee consisting of B. Atherton, C. Bruintjes,

4 Page 4 and G. Whitehead, who would be tasked with preparing the 2009 Economic Development Committee budget, to be reviewed by the Committee on December 9, 2008, prior to submitting their budget recommendations to Council. The Sub-Committee will prepare a budget incorporating an Economic Development Officer and a status-quo budget. 6.c) Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion Submission: The Committee discussed what action to take in case the Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion submission is denied. S. Bassett commented that the Real Estate Foundation was very intrigued with the Committee s funding request, as it follows the Boomtown to Sustainable Town Study and that the Committee is moving forward on a recommendation from the Boomtown to Sustainable Town Study originally funded by the Real Estate Foundation. The Committee discussed the facilitated discussion workshop to last two or three days with the following participants: a) Smithers Council; b) Regional District of Bulkley Nechako; c) Village of Telkwa; d) various Smithers Council Committees; e) Economic Development Committee; as well as f) the Office of the Wet suwet en; and g) Moricetown Band Council. THAT the Committee approach the Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the Provincial Government, to request funding for the Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion, if the Real Estate Foundation application is denied. 7. SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED FOR DISCUSSION None. 8. NEW BUSINESS/OTHER 8.a) BC Natural Resource Forum: R. Curry informed the Committee of the BC Natural Resource Forum taken place in Prince George on January 23 and 24, The BC Natural Resource Forum is hosted by the

5 Page 5 Honourable Pat Bell, MLA, Prince George North, Minister of Agriculture and Lands". There is no charge for admission to the trade show or speaker sessions; there is a fee of $450 plus tax for a trade show booth is $450 plus tax; and the awards banquet ticket is $40. R. Curry stated she would send the Committee and with more information regarding the Forum. She asked whether the Committee would like to participate in the forum, be a sponsor, or have a trade show booth. 8.b) Skeena Quality Waters Strategy: R. Curry informed the Committee that there is a Stakeholders meeting being held on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hudson Bay Lodge, regarding the Skeena Quality Waters Strategy, and encouraged all to attend. R. Curry stated that the Tourism Advisory Committee had a delegation on the Skeena Quality Waters Strategy at their meeting on November 17, 2008, where they received a four page summary of the Draft Angling Management Plan. D. Sargent added that the summary would be ed to the Economic Development Committee members. 8.c) One Voice Magazine: Councillor Groves stated that she circulated the from Cliff Ford, One Voice Magazine, requesting participation to commit to $500 or more are able to do 50% cash and 50% contra in the new national lifestyle magazine. In the C. Ford discusses the 2020 expansion plans. THAT the Committee invite Lorne Borgal, 2020 Developments, to be a delegation to update the Committee on the developments happening at the ski hill, at a future Economic Development Committee. 8.d) Community Futures 1637: Councillor Farrow informed the Committee that Community Futures 1637 in Prince George is working towards Prince George becoming the hub of the mining industry. 8.e) Smithers District Chamber of Commerce New Business Gala: H. Gallagher, Smithers District Chamber of Commerce, informed the Committee that the New Business Gala would be held in January She stated that last year s gala was co-founded by the Economic Development Committee. She added that no funds were received from the Committee for the event, as there were no formal motions in minutes authorizing this. H. Gallagher requested that the Committee make a motion to provide funds for the 2009 New Business Gala. She stated that last year Scotiabank sponsored

6 Page 6 that event. G. Whitehead stated that the Scotiabank has not indicated if they would sponsor the whole event in 2009, as they have to apply for the funding each year. The Committee requested that H. Gallagher provide a budget for the Gala event to see what funding is required. THAT the Committee table the discussion of the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce s New Business Gala until the December 9, 2008, Committee meeting. 8.f) Smithers District Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: H. Gallagher, Smithers District Chamber of Commerce, informed the Committee that the Chamber Luncheon is being held at noon on Thursday, November 20, 2008, at the Pioneer Place, with guest speaker Roger Harris, BC Forest Safety Ombudsman. 8.g) Town of Smithers Special Announcement: Councillor Groves informed the Committee that there would be a special announcement at the Town Hall on Friday, November 21, 2008, at 12:15 p.m. and invited everyone to attend. 8.h) Rick Braam: Rick Braam announced that there has been another ministry change and that his new job title is Regional Project Manager - Northwest/Nechako Rural BC Secretariat Ministry of Community Development. 9. NEXT MEETINGS The next Regular Economic Development Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at noon in the West Fraser Room. 10. ADJOURNMENT Bruintjes/ THAT the meeting be adjourned (1:18 p.m.).

7 Page 7 Ted Bobb, Chairperson Economic Development Committee Penny Goodacre Recording Secretary DS/plg Certified a True and Correct Copy of the Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, in the West Fraser Room, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, B.C. n:\wordpro\min\min 2008 other\min economic dev comm #11 nov 18.doc

8 Page 8 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOLLOW-UP OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELD NOVEMBER 18, a) 4.b) 6.a) Minutes of Economic Development Committee Meeting: Get the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting held October 21, 2008, signed. Minerals Roundup Booth: Contact Minerals Roundup and have Smithers placed on the waitlist for a booth at future Mineral Roundup Conferences. Community Profile: 1. Send the Community Profile back to BV Printers to fix the printing error of two page 4 s. 2. Get 100 cd s made of the Community Profile in a pdf version Committee Budget: Prepare the 2009 Committee budget incorporating an Economic Development Officer and a status-quo budget and present it to the Committee on December 9, Penny Deborah Susan Susan Sub-Committee: B. Atherton, C. Bruintjes, and G. Whitehead 6.c) Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion Submission: 1. Invite to the facilitated discussion workshop the following participants: a) Smithers Council; b) Regional District of Bulkley Nechako; c) Village of Telkwa; d) various Smithers Council Committees; e) Economic Development Committee; as well as f) the Office of the Wet suwet en; and g) Moricetown Band Council. 2. Approach the Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the Provincial Government, to request funding for the Exploring a Sustainable Economic Development Model for Smithers A Facilitated Discussion, if the Real Estate Foundation application is denied. 8.c) 8.e) 2020 Developments: Invite Lorne Borgal, 2020 Developments, to be a delegation to update the Committee on the developments happening at the ski hill, at a future Economic Development Committee. Smithers District Chamber of Commerce New Business Gala: Table the discussion of the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce s New Business Gala until the December 9, 2008, Committee meeting. FOLLOW-UP OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELD

9 Page 9 OCTOBER 21, a) 5.a) 6.k) 8.b) Downtown Merchants Brainstorming Summary: Place the Top 5 Priority list on the December 16 9, 2008, Committee agenda. Top 5 Projects: Place the Top 5 Projects on the December 16 9, 2008, Committee agenda. Northern Development Initiative Trust, Capital Investment and Training Rebate program information: Placed on the follow-up for future reference. Blue Pearl Community Advisory Panel: Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. to request a list of their Blue Pearl Community Advisory Panel membership. Economic Development Office: Investigate the structure for an Economic Development Office. Penny Penny Robin Committee