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Prescott BIA Annual General Meeting

January 12, 2016 5:30 PM – Social Time

6:00 Meeting

HEART

BIA Plan of Action

!  Vision:

!  Under the overriding principles of communication and coordination, linkages and focus, our historic downtown will be a significant place where people visit, work, shop and live in an extraordinary, historic riverfront setting.

!  Mandate of the BIA:

!  To take Bold Steps Forward and through a combination of management, maintenance and marketing to brand Historic Downtown Prescott, to plan special events working with others and to encourage a high level of maintenance for green space, lands, buildings and structures in the downtown for the encouragement of the local economy including tourism.

!  In summary we advocate, market and facilitate

!  Unchanged from 2014

Governance and Management

!  Serving as Board members during 2015: Councillor Leanne Burton ,Carolyn Burpee, Steve Crossman, John Harding, Scott Hubbard, Sandra Lawn, Sherry Spring, Sharon Spychi, Mayor Brett Todd Pearl Visser

!  Executive: !  Steve Crossman, Chair until May

20th !  P. Visser, vice-chair then chair after

May 20th !  John Harding Vice-chair after May

20th !  B. Todd Treasurer until November

12th !  Sharon Spychi, Treasurer from

November 12th

!  By-law 1.2014 – “Policies and Procedures Relating to Governance and Decision Making” in place

!  Lindsay Pennell was engaged as Joint Co-ordinator for the Town and BIA from April to December 31, 2015

!  Member of Ontario BIA Association

In February

!  Under Chair Steve Crossman the following committees were established:

!  Furnishings

!  Marketing

!  Taste of Prescott

!  Movie Night

!  Flea Market

!  Window Art

!  Decision to hire joint co-ordinator at approximate salary of $30,000/ year

!  Decisions on hanging baskets co-ordinated by Tammy Curry

In March

!  Economic Development Summit was held in Kemptville on November 20th: of special interest to the BIA were presentations on “leveraging our assets” to realize “our world class potential through visitor experiences using our natural and historic assets along the St. Lawrence Seaway. There was considerable focus on the 1000 Islands and the Rideau canal. Much talk of attracting new cruise boats to these areas.

!  discussion of opportunities for River communities presented by the Aquatarium

!  The Town has ordered new banners

!  The BIA has supported the Light Up the Night Parade with a $500 donation

Rural Economic Development (RED) grant for signage and Custom

Furnishings

!  EODP Custom Furnishing $10,500 for TOD signs, gateway signs and Farmer’s and Crafter’s Market sign

!  TOD signs in place on four lane highways

!  Rob Wittkie worked on putting bases in place; Brett Todd negotiated designs

!  Expected to be installed soon

In April and May

!  The Town has ordered new banners

!  Taste of Prescott committee Hard at work: Leanne Burton, Pearl Visser, Sharon Spychi, Rob Millar and Tammy Curry and others too

!  Cruise and Shine being started

!  Decision re Web site – to be part of town Website

!  Flea Market being organized

New in 2015 In June

!  Taste of Prescott, June 20th - a big success – kudos to the committee and all the volunteers

!  $750 put in budget for window cleaning clean windows

!  Sad news about BIBA closing

!  Progress on custom furnishings – funded by EODP

!  Flea Market underway and being well received

!  Anticipation of buses for Garden Tours

!  Students hired and trained by Lindsay for Museum/Information Centre

!  Draft business plan for flea market prepared by Steve Crossman and S. Lawn was tabled.

!  Later in month – new management for the Flea Market – things being sorted out

!  “Town” meets regularly with Lindsay and BIA Executive

Lots going on; BIA members participate

!  Business Fair

!  Renovations at Jim Holmes’

!  Shop the Neighbourhood

Taste of Prescott June 20

In July-August

!  Lindsay planning design of new map in time for 2016 tourist season

!  Kim Durant Squires takes on Flea Market co-ordination

!  Lively discussions about branding!!

!  BIA ad in Shakespeare Festival program reached over 6,000

!  Anticipation of buses for Garden Tours

!  Students hired and trained for Museum/Information Centre

!  Draft business plan for flea market prepared by Steve Crossman and S. Lawn was tabled.

!  Later in month – new management for the flea Market – things being sorted out

!  Town meets regularly with Lindsay and BIA Executive

Bikes for Beats

Communities In Bloom

!  Communities In Bloom:- BIA had agreed to be official partners in 2014 and members volunteered with others on the Harbour Gardens and Daniels

!  Achievement of Five Blooms, Martina Libby and Katie Allard became co-chairs with Mike Laking’s retiring to Mexico!!

Farmer’s and Crafter’s Market

!  Kevin Hutt, the chair, attended the October 29th BIA meeting and !  Thanked the BIA for their support

financial and morale !  Re the Farmers and Crafters Market

BIA participating in the Flea Market in the future: not interested at this time

!  The Market must follow the guidelines in order to maintain their

accreditation

!  Now at 47 vendors; they held their own with the budget.

!  fees for 2015 and had been upped to $35 for the season, from $25 in 2014

!  Pleased to have support of BIA 

Tourism crucial for Downtown On South Coast of Canada

September and October

!  Re: RED signs – decisions to go with one large sign, one small sign and a Farmer’s market sign – to be installed in 2016

!  Vista Radio at 107.9 FM becoming great part of community – Jamieson Bridal and Drew Headrick

!  Trucking for the Cure – great run through Downtown

!  Planning for hanging baskets as plants need to be ordered now

!  2015 budget approved on October 7, 2015

!  Christmas Committee set up to be chaired by Lindsay

!  Kay Kutt from Colonel’s Inn and Jodi and Adison from Nanny Cakes as well as Kevin Hutt were welcome guests to October 29th meeting guests

Prescott’s own Liquidation centre

In November

!  Economic Development Summit was held in Kemptville on November 20th:

!  The Town has ordered new banners

!  The BIA has supported the Light Up the Night Parade with a $500 donation

!  Trees for children in advanced planning stage

!  “Shop the Neighbourhood” newsletter from Lindsay

Web site Progress in 2015

!  In April the Board decided to not to proceed on our own but rather to become part of the Town’s new web site. It is expected that this new and improved site will be launched by the end of January 2016

!  In the interim Joint Co-ordinator Lindsay Pennell managed a lively Facebook presence for the BIA; for example there were 68 postings from October 4 to December 15th

!  Launch of new town web site anticipated by end of January 2016

Old Town Treats The Sweet Life

In December

!  Some members attended the Fort Wellington Strategic Planning session. Many good ideas that should benefit the downtown. Marketing discussed too.

!  BIA Strategic Planning Session was held on December 3, 2015

!  Dickens Christmas theme and seasonal greens displays organized by special Committee

!  Students from SGDHS and TR Leger decorated windowsRadio Station making a great impact –

!  BIA sponsored December promo – Dave Stevens organized it.Formal opening of Roverwalk Park

!  Founder’s Day

We have challenges but many strengths and press on to 2016!!