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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKitchener BIA - 2011-12-13Kitchener BIA Downtown Kitchener BIA Board o~ Directors Meeting ~~nutes Location: BIA Office 29 King St East Kitchener, ON In attendance: ,lohn Vickery, Le-anne Pilecki, Michael VonTeichman, Kevin Ballantyne, Colin Leis, CoK -Frank Etherngton, Cory Bluhm, Darryl Moore, Adrian Conrad, Darryl Moore, Mark Graham, Christine Michaud, Liz Howie, GoK Dan Glenn-Graham BIA Staff: Mark Garner, Breanna Scott, Erin Yaung, Trudy Sohl Regrets: Margarida Anao, Mayor Carl Zehr, WRPS Adrian Darmon Absent: none Guests: none Agenda: Welcome -Vice-Chair, Colin Leis Cali to order at 9;00 am -are there any conflicts of interest to be declared - none declared Agenda: Introductions -Colin Leis • Welcome to Board - no guests Agenda Item: Approval of Agenda + Cary Bluhm from City of Kitchener asked to include under New Business an item of Budgetary Cuts from the City Of Kitchener -item added. December 13, 2011 9:OOam -11:OOam The information contained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and 'h,++lanagement of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BlA is prohibited Motion; To approve the agenda as submitted. MotionlMoved by; Mark Graham and seconded by: 1-e-Anne Pilecki Ali in favour unanimous, motion passed. Agenda Item: 2411 BIA Year End Review -Erin Young Vacancy Update: • Vacancy Rate - 15.6% O The fiodlowing new vacancies exist x Cash 2 You - 342 King St. E x HS13C - 277-281 King St. W ~ ConveniencelGaming & Accessories - 328 King St. W • Of the vacancies an our list 3 will be leased as of 2x12 and we will see businesses open bringing the rate to 13.8% Recruitment: + Outreach to 16 Prospects from our initial list O 6 resulting in interest andlor contact to brokers/Landlords O 2 nv response to multiple outreach attempts O 7 not interested in coming © 1 still in initial talks hope to start looking at space soon • Continued relationship building with potential new businesses using comp. tickets, visits to DT Kitchener Recruitment: • ]ncoming Calls - either to our website, the City of Kitchener's website ar called/visited our offices directly * 47 inquiries of varying stages of business readiness • 21 were connected to brokers or landlords • 9 opened in locations outside of Downtown Kitchener 11 found locations or are still looking Downtown Kitchener Marketing: • Advertising in SNAP for akl new businesses as well as available space • New Website ~- Assisted with obtaining quotes, selecting final designer, content • Distribution of Glass article for Retail Recruitment and other testimonials New Businesses: • Canada. Post -Market Square • Taya • Misty Mountain Coffee Shop • White Tiger Vintage Shop • Duke St Dollar Store • The Bead Boutique • Marisal • African Lovenest Restaurant The information captained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and Management of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the writtep consent of the Downtown Kifchener BIA is prohibited Retention: • Assisting members find new space - 6 members • High Impact Retail Seminar fl Education for members O Networking opportunity O The challenge to take information back to their businesses and make a difference • Pairing struggling businesses with professional assistance CJ Improvement grant program d Social media training O Interior decorators O Business and Financial experts O Leasing support • Support for Restaurants with Employee Appreciation Day Education: • Completion of 4th and final Training Module from MJB Consulting • Continue to stay informed of the Retail Landscape in Waterloo Region via. Road trips, blogs, local experts • Speaking Engagements at OBIAA (Ontario BIA Association} and IDA (International Downtown Association) on Retail Recruitment Strategies • Attendance and Membership at ICSG (International Council of Shopping Centers) ACTION ITEM: Mark Garner to laok into the possibility of re-routing parcel delivery from Pharma Pfus on Frederick Street to Canada Past downtown. A ends Item: 2011 BIA Year Ertd Review ~ Breanna Scott Year in Review: • Grew and expanded events portfolio • Participated in over 40 events new and existing • Helped to develop 7 new events • Developed Marketing Committee • Signed up over 3r}00 new Downtown Incentive Cards holders Chinese New Year: • Small events at City Hall leading up to main Celebration at Kitchener Market • Over 100Q attendees throughout the day • Kitchener Market vendors saw mayor increase in sales • Obtained sponsorship from Kitchener Market • Created an ongoing relationship with Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre The information contained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and 'Management of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BlA is prohibited • Membership engagement was made possible through "scratch and win" tickets, store specials, advertising, culinary and store windows • Adverted using print, radio and social media • Secured sponsorship for 2012 St. Patricks Day: • 131A helped to sponsored events at Ciity Hall • Established ongoing partnership with CMG Entertainment and Kiwanis Club of Elmira • Member participation through store windows, culinary, advertising and store specials • Provided decorations for stores and restaurants free of charge • Advertised events and sales through print and social media • Created activities and contests that included Funny Photo Frames • Secured sponsorship for 2012 Ginco De Mayo: • Partnered with the Kitchener Market and City of Kitchener • Created new partnership with Neruda Productions linking to the Latin community • Events at City Hall leading up to main event at Kitchener Market • Member participated with advertising, store specials and culinary offerings • Provided decorations for stores and restaurants free of charge • Advertised events and promotions through print media and social media Crusing on King; • Partnered with the Kitchener Market • Continued to program the east end and build awareness to the Market • Licenced piazza • Programmed all day entertainment • Increased events programming • Adverted using radio, print and social media • Member participation through sales, promotions and extended hours • Secured sponsorship with the Kitchener Market for 2012 • Provided decorations and music to participating members Employee Appreciation Day: • Partnered with Manulife, United Way and City of Kitchener • Over 15 restaurants participated • Live music • Helped to create in store specials with retailers • Raised money and awareness for United Way • Qver 700 new Downtown Incentive Card sign-ups • Created awareness around our retail, restaurants and services Oktoberfest: • Closed King St. from Benton to Young and utilized City lots for additional rides • Increased ©ktoberfest programming The information contained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and "Management of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BIA is prohibited • Partnered with Qktoberfest idol, Miss Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Strongman, Kiddie Keg Tapping Car Show, Pancake Breakfast, Rock and Rumble and GTA Midways • Increased advertising through print, radio and social media • Created member participation #hrough window displays, promotions and advertising • Partnered with the City of Kitchener on Marketing to increase awareness and decrease cast Sugar Plum Gala: • Closed King St. from Benton to Young' and utilized City lots far additional rides • Increased Qktoberfest programming • Partnered with Qktoberfest Idol, Miss Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Strongman, Kiddie Keg Tapping Car Show, Pancake Breakfast, Rock and Rumble and GTA Midways • Increased advertising through print, radio and social media • Created member participation through window displays, promotions and advertising • Partnered with the City of Kitchener on Marketing to increase awareness and decrease cost Agenda Item: 24't'I BIA Year End Review -Trudy Sohi New Businesses: • Introduces new business to BIA • Uses a data collection worksheet with new businesses downtown • All info is gathered and entered onto data sheet and updated right away on BIA website • Daes email blasts to members constantly • Warks an patios for downtown businesses and planters for downtown • Assists in storage of planters • Looking at patios for next year • Deals with garbage issues downtown • Halls Lane construction -keeps members upda#ed Worked with Arts Community this year • Engaged members in Employee Appreciated Day + '!6 new businesses this year (which includes offices) • New welcome packages and interviews done with all new businesses • Keeps members fully informed of what is happening downtown • Delivers posters for BIA events • Distributed mare than 3000 downtown cards • Connected with HR people in downtown office buildings and give the card to new office employees ~"he information contained in this document ds intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and 'Management of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andbr privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BIA is prohibited • Assist with businesses in proper disposal of garbage • Worked with City in surveying downtown members /citizens on how to better the downtown. Excellent presentation by all BIA Staff Members -Thank you and well done! Agenda Item: Budgetary CutslG'rty 4# Kitchener- Gory Bluhm • Cory gave overview of City Finances for 2012 • Gave a list of potential cuts - 3 of which have to do with the BIA • Council will discuss in January • The three items are... • Downtown Ambassador program -City provides $10,500 they want to reduce this by $3000- • Holiday Parking subsidy -late Nov to Jan there is free Saturday parking downtown -- costs about $5500 for 7 weeks -proposed 2013 to reduce 6t to 3 weeks instead of 7 weeks -balance of other 4 weeks of approx almost $2304D savings. BlA can decide which 3 weeks we want or BIA covers the $23000- shortfiall and have the 7 weeks of free parking • Special Events -possibility to cut a special event. Six events were listed as possibilities -Cruising on King which costs $25000, KidsPark, Word on the Street, New Years Eve, Toonie Tuesdays, Downtown Live. Most likely will keep Cruising an King and Downtown Live. Costs of the other four events range from 10m - 25m. • Kidsl'ark -costs 25m -get about 15m people -mostly families and young kids -cost to get in 1.67 per attendee Word on the Street -costs 25m -get 6m people -costs 4.17 per attendee • New Years Eve -- costs 10m -get about 5m people -cost 2.00 per attendee • Toonie Tuesdays -costs 10m - 4 Tuesdays in July -get about 2m people total or 500 per show -costs about 5.00 per attendee -mostly young kids and parents. ACTION ITEM -Mark Garner to get some additional information from Gory Bluhm on each of these specific events -and will send an email blast to Members seeking comment and let them know the day of the public consultation and then they can come out and voice their concerns -staff will review what the impacts are and pass that back to the Board to say what this is and what we think and then maybe the Board can make a decisions. The information contained in this document is intended far internai use by the Board of Directors and 'Management of the Downtown Kitchener BdA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BIA is prohibited Agenda Item: Financials -Kevin Ballantyne • November 2011 S#atements The board of directors review in detail the October financial statements as presented by the board treasurer. Motion: To approve the November 201'1 Financials as submitted. MotionlMoved by: Kevin Ballantyne and Seconded by: Michael Von Teichman, All in favour, unanimous, motion passed. Agenda Item: Approval of Past Minutes - Golin Leis The Board of Directors reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting (November 2011) MotionlMoved by: to approve the minutes as presented Mark Graham and Seconded by: Michael VonTechman, all in favour unanimous, motion passed. Agenda Item: WRPS Update -Supt, Adrian Qarmon • No opdate this week. Update will be at next months meeting. Agenda Item: Discussion of Boundary Ghanges and Strategy - .Mark Garner • The Board had given Mark Garner and staff the Action - With the boundary changes what would we see adding to our portfolio and get an idea of opportunities we have to create that vitality to the Downtown • Discussed some of the events that BIA does • New Years event is approx 10m per event • Extend Luner event New Year potentially add a parade to the East End • Ginco De Mayo -see growing this event as well • Music in Streets -see this as an event that we can grow • Expansion of Kitchener Aud -may look at painting downtown Blue and expanding on this opportunity • Culinary is a major focus far the B1A which we are growing the culinary diversity Downtown -have spent 20m at the Market and want to grow. • We would like to look at a Winter program for Downtown as we don't have one at the moment • Arts Market idea has been suggested in the past and may be a great idea to have as a community engagement event The information contained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and `Management ofi the Downtown Kitchener BiA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BIA is prohibited • Canada Day celebration Downtown -currently there is no event Downtown -this would be a significant project Downtown which we may look at -some outreach has been done already by Mark Garner. ACTION ITEM -Mark Garner and staff to take this previous Action Item to the next step and that is start peeling back on the Board expansion and where would we expand and the dollar amounts involved with that expansion. Agenda Item: New Business - Golin Leis • See above -Cory Bluhm presentation Agenda Item: Board Meeting ReviewlAction items - Gofin Leis ACTION ITEM: Mark Garner to look into the possibility of re-routing parcel delivery from Pharma Plus on Frederick Street to Canada Post downtown. • ACTION ITEM -Mark Garner to get some additional information from Cory Bluhm on each of these specific events -and wilt send an email blast to Members seeking comment and let them know the day of the public consultation and then they can come out and voice their concerns -staff will review what the impacts are and pass that back to the Board to say what. this is and what we think and then maybe the Board can make a decisions. • ACTION ITEM -Mark Garner and staff to take this previous Action Item to the next step and that is start peeling back on the Board expansion and where would we expand and the dollar amounts involved with that expansion. Agenda Item Adjournment -Colin Leis MotionlMoved by; Liz Howie, Seconded; Le-Anne Pilecki, all in favour. Motion Passed. Next Meeting -January 17, 2012, New BIA office 29 King Street East, Unit B at 9:OOam to 11:OOam. The information contained in this document is intended for internal use by the Board of Directors and Management of the Downtown Kitchener BIA and may contain confidential andlor privileged material, any duplication, distribution, re-transmission or dissemination without the written consent of the Downtown Kitchener BIA is prohibited