Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA) Tuesday, February 4

Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 4:00am
Centre for the Arts
MINUTES
Board of Management
Lori Smith, Chair
Gaby Nagy
Rob Rogers
Kristina Meisenheimer
Anne Eadie, Council Rep.
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Tonya Adams
Rob Millar
Steve Quon
Heather Shewfelt
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Staff
Rick Clarke, Development Manager
Steve Murray, Municipal Staff
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Kylie Pike, Accounts
Jackie Pawlikowski, C of C
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1.
Call to Order: Lori Smith, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm
2.
Declaration of Conflict of Interest: none declared
3.
Adoption of Minutes:
That the Minutes of the December 17, 2013 Meeting of the BIA Board of
Management be accepted.
Moved: Steve Q
Seconded by: Tonya
Carried
4.
Delegation or Guest: none
5.
Executive Committee Report: The Downtown Development Manager gave an update
to the Board on recent meetings and activities of the Tourism Table and Team
Kincardine, on which he and the Board Chair sit as BIA representatives. The
Downtown Development Manager also spoke to recent media articles, Letters to the
Editor and social media postings that have characterized the work of both volunteer
organizations. The Downtown Development Manager and the Chair both spoke to the
hope that a collocation of Team Kincardine (including the BIA) with Tourism staff could
be realized.
6.
Accounts for Payment:
Please Note: The Municipal Treasurer has suggested a more expedient method
for approving our monthly accounts. Moving forward from this meeting, our
Secretary will provide up to date financial statements and invoices to be paid for
and these will be available at each monthly meeting for Board perusal.
The Municipal Treasurer will attend our March 15 meeting to explain these new
procedures.
7.
Correspondence to be acknowledged: none
8.
Events Committee: The Downtown Development Manager presented a proposed
promotional campaign that will run throughout March. Customers will be given a
“passport” that will be stamped by stores with every $10.00 purchase to a maximum of
$100 per card. Once filled with the equivalent of $100 dollars in purchases, cards can
be signed, with a phone number and turned into a retailer. At the end of the month 5
draws for $100 in BIA Bucks will given away. The DDM was directed to arrange
necessary support materials and advertising so this campaign can launch March 1.
Events Committee will meet next week to update other plans for the spring.
9.
Status Review
A. Maintain and develop downtown “pulls or attractors” supported by the wider community’s
identification of needs.
Strategies
• Continue to lobby Municipality and aligned Economic Development officials and committees to include
downtown expansion and retention on official agenda. On-going participation on TEAM Kincardine.
Rick, Lori and Derek Griffiths represent the BIA at the Tourist Table.
• Ensure local (and higher level) government and is held accountable to maintain the health and vitality of
downtown Kincardine by emphasizing employment contribution and seeking strategies to ease
challenges associated with employment. On-going participation at the Tourist Table and support of
Cultural, Heritage and Arts Strategic Plan Committee.
• Continue to lobby and work with Municipality to balance anticipated highway development with the
provitalization of the downtown core. Motion to have Tourism office in downtown, north of Arts
Centre.
• Continue to lobby Municipality for short-term implementation of downtown signage and other denotations
of downtown environs (e.g., benches/seating, decorative pedestrian lighting, public art, etc.). Rick
working with Steve on possible new signage at Russell/Highway 21 intersection. Preliminary
design presented for comments. Simple wording suggested, “ Shop, Eat, Play…. with a View”.
Rick has asked JD Designs to prepare a design using photo submitted by a local artist.
• Continue to investigate and apply for downtown revitalization grant opportunities. That the Kincardine
BIA is in full support of the Municipality partnering with the County of Bruce in applying for two
available Rural Economic Development Grants, the first being for Destination Downtown Branding
and the second being an Economic Development Grant for Business Retention and Expansion
and so inform Council. (Motion passed September 17, 2013)
• Develop and host a one day workshop for local real estate agents informing them of study findings and
aligned strategies to attract downtown pulls. COMPLETED
• Facilitation of the use of ‘business intelligence’ by downtown stakeholders by the Kincardine BIA, the
Municipality and other vested interest groups (e.g., Chamber of Commerce) to enable expansion and
retention of businesses. Ongoing activities with Team Kincardine. And on-going participation in
network of BIA and Chambers of Commerce in Bruce and Huron County.
B. Engage in ‘smart’ advertising.
Strategies
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Continue to advertise downtown businesses and services in community newspapers, radio and
internet cognizant that each venue focuses on different sub-demographics. On going Facebook
presence as Lakeside Downtown Kincardine.
Invite local newspaper representatives to meet with BIA to discuss a cost sharing reduced cohort rate
for downtown business advertising and branding.
Invite local radio representatives to meet with BIA to discuss a cost sharing reduced cohort rate for
downtown business advertising and branding.
Produce and launch a downtown Kincardine radio campaign with active branding. Rick is now
producing with Jackie Pawlikowski, Kincardine Chamber of Commerce, monthly tv program
for BMTS Television, Channel 1, “What’s Happening in Kincardine” that focuses on activities
and events in Lakeside Downtown Kincardine.
Organize and present a “Facebook” seminar for interested businesses to launch a facebook site.
Seminar would include the creation of the site. COMPLETED
Address community perceptions of downtown shopping through targeted advertising.
Highlight and advertise new products/services; engage in niche marketing and services to increase
the importance of consumer segments to your business and to identify better customer’s needs.
Engage in price point comparisons;
Advertisement strategies that capitalize on messages and words such as “range” of products/options,
“varied” selection and “something for everyone”; Highly publicize sales and discounts; “We’re Here
for You” and March Madness Campaign
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Consider keeping a log of customer needs not currently met to act upon in the future;
Re-evaluate hours of operation in conjunction with other members of the business community.
Continue efforts to establish uniform hours amongst downtown retailers.
Make use of respondent feedback on supporting LOCAL businesses and shopping as a social
experience (e.g., open houses, combining entertainment with sale or promotion); 4 surveys of
downtown retailers including a summary report completed in 2013.
Network with community organizations to increase customer traffic (i.e., increase synergy); Team
Kincardine and Tourism Strategic Plan activities as well as liaison with Scottish Festival,
Lighthouse Blues Festival, Bluewater Theatre, Kincardine Summer Music Festival. That the
BIA contribute $4000 from its budget to the cost of installing a free wifi network as presented
by the Downtown Development Manager in partnership with Bruce Telecom and the
Municipality of Kincardine. (Motion passed September 17, 2013)
Formalize connections between downtown businesses and major employers in area; “What does
downtown Kincardine have to offer?” in Bruce Power Welcome and Orientation Kits along with
Welcome Wagon and Real Estate packages. Working with Team Kincardine to develop Welcome
Kit.
Continue to maintain friendly and welcoming service, a major attractor for downtown shoppers.
Blinky dolls now available. Price $15.00.
Provide training and incentives for downtown businesses regarding marketing and advertising.
COMPLETED
C. Appreciate and highlight strengths of downtown core
Strategies
• Any development that enhances the strengths of the downtown core must be highly publicized in the
community through the media to generate community awareness. BIA in full support of the Kincardine
Toolkit as developed by the Tourism Table, Municipal Tourism Staff and the County of Bruce
Planning Department.
• Future developments must capitalize on these identified strengths. Daily and frequent social media
posts.
• Efforts to maintain the above assets must be officially recognized and budgets for maintenance clearly
outlined Events Committee, consisting of Lori Smith, Samantha Lane, Tonya Adams, Gaby Nagy,
Kristina Meisenheimer
D. Organize change to address identified weaknesses in the downtown core.
Strategies
• Address downtown vacancy rate. On going status report and inventory. Currently three vacant
properties. Rick and Jackie in discussions with two new retailers looking for downtown locations.
• Take collective action to adjust seasonal hours to better suit consumer needs and to increase synergy
between hours and downtown events. Ongoing discussion with store owners.
• Advertising should take advantage of empty storefronts contributing to the aesthetic value of downtown
and acting as an information source. “Your Opportunity to be Part of Downtown Kincardine” signage
now in place
• Kincardine BIA to contact building owners with vacant storefronts and organize businesses to advertise
and showcase products and services. Jackie working with Rick on potential new program to be
brought forward in 2014 for consideration.
• Collectively organize as individual downtown business owners to address empty and dirty storefronts and
facades. Ongoing
• Continue efforts to develop a ‘four seasons’ vitality strategy for downtown Kincardine specifically to
address increasing pedestrian traffic during the months of January and February. Rick, Lori and Derek
participating at Tourist Table.
E. Ensure consistent and skilled downtown management via the Kincardine BIA.
Strategies
Investigate and secure part time Kincardine BIA Downtown Development Manager.
COMPLETED
10.
Round Table Reports: Municipal Staff Representative, Steve Murray requested formal
motion from the Board following a discussion on the proposed Patio Bylaw that was
distributed last meeting.
Motion 02-04
“That the BIA approves the draft Patio Bylaw as presented by Municipal staff at
its February 4, 2014 Board Meeting and so inform Municipal Council”
Moved: Rob Rogers Seconded: Gaby Nagy
Carried
Steve also updated the Board on a number of other Tourism activities including the ongoing Municipal budget deliberations, the proposed Marine Heritage Days in August and
the move of the Tourism office to the Centre for the Arts.
BIA Board Chair, Lori Smith, expressed her hope that proper signage indicating the
availability of off-street Municipal parking be part of the 2014 Tourism Department
activities.
Rob Rogers enquired about Events Committee plans for Mothers Day. The Events
Committee will meet next week to plan Easter, Mothers Day and other potential
promotions.
The Board did agree that the existing BIA Events calendar will include:
• Sunday August 3, 2014 Summer Street Party
• Monday August 18, 2014 Monday Market on Queen St.
• Friday November 14, 2014 Hometown Christmas
PLEASE NOTE OUR MARCH MEETING WILL BE ON THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE
MONTH, MARCH 25, AT 4:00 pm!
Next Meeting: Tuesday March 25, 2013

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