Any items to be debated or voted against must be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.

Transcription

1 Item Item of Business and Page Number Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Agenda July 6, 2016; 10:30 AM District of Lillooet Council Chambers 615 Main Street, Lillooet, BC Page 1. Call to Order We would like to recognize that this meeting is being held on the Traditional Territory of the St át imc Nation. 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Closed Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Meeting THAT the Board close the meeting to the public under the authority of Section 90(1)( ) of the Community Charter. 4. Rise & Report 5. Consent Agenda (Voting rule on each item may vary; unanimous vote required) Items appearing on the consent agenda which present a conflict of interest for Committee Members must be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. Any items to be debated or voted against must be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. THAT the resolutions set out in the Consent Agenda be approved, and those Consent Agenda items which do not have resolutions related thereto be received Confirmation and Receipt of Minutes Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draft Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2016 THAT the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2016 be approved as circulated Correspondence for Information Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Appointment - Resolution from District of Lillooet Page 1 of 30

2 Item Item of Business and Page Number Page 6. Business Arising from the Minutes 7. New Business 7.1 CAO Verbal Update 7.2 Request for Decision - Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) - Next Steps THAT it be recommended to the Regional Board: Director's Reports 9. Decision on Late Business (2/3 majority vote) 1. THAT the draft Community & Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee (Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Territory) Terms of Reference be approved; and 2. THAT staff be directed to work with EcoPlan International to initiate the formation of the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee (Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Territory) and organize the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2016, subject to the budget approved by the SLRD Board on February 17, THAT the late business items be considered at this meeting. 10. Late Business 11. Director's Notice of Motion 12. Adjournment THAT the meeting be adjourned. Page 2 of 30

3 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draf... In Attendance: Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Minutes May 2, 2016; 10:30 AM District of Lillooet Council Chambers 615 Main Street, Lillooet, BC Committee: D. Demare, Chair (Area A); M. Lampman, Vice-Chair (Lillooet); M. Macri (Area B) Absent: J. Courschesne (Lillooet) Staff: L. Flynn, CAO and Deputy/Recording Secretary (SLRD - via teleconference); M. Roy, CAO (Lillooet); J. Nadon, Communications & Grants Coordinator (SLRD); M. Hohner, Communications and Grants Writing Consultant (Lillooet) 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 10:30 AM by the Deputy Secretary. The Deputy Secretary recognized that this meeting is being held on the Traditional Territory of the St át imc Nation Election of 2016 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Chair The Deputy Secretary called for nominations for the 2016 Chair of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. Director Demare was nominated for Chair and accepted the nomination. The Deputy Secretary called a second and third time for nominations for the 2016 Chair of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. There being none, Director Demare was acclaimed Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Chair for Director Demare assumed the Chair and presided over the balance of the meeting Election of 2016 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Vice-Chair The Chair called for nominations for the 2016 Vice-Chair of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. Director Lampman was nominated for Vice-Chair and accepted the nomination. The Chair called a second and third time for nominations for the 2016 Vice-Chair of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. There being none, Director Lampman was acclaimed Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Vice-Chair for Page 3 of 30

4 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draf... Page 2 of 4 of the minutes of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee meeting, held on Monday, May 02, 2016 in the District of Lillooet Council Chambers 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC. 2. Approval of Agenda It was moved and seconded: THAT the agenda be approved as circulated. CARRIED 3. Closed Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Meeting None 4. Rise & Report N/A 5. Consent Agenda (Voting rule on each item may vary; unanimous vote required) It was moved and seconded: THAT the resolutions set out in the Consent Agenda be approved, and those Consent Agenda items which do not have resolutions related thereto be received. Confirmation and Receipt of Minutes 6. Business Arising from the Minutes None 7. New Business 7.1. CAO Verbal Update None Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draft Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2015 THAT the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2015 be approved as circulated Direction Request Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps It was moved and seconded: THAT it be Recommended to the Regional Board: THAT staff be directed to engage in discussions with: CARRIED District of Lillooet staff Lillooet Tribal Council staff Page 4 of 30

5 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draf... Page 3 of 4 of the minutes of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee meeting, held on Monday, May 02, 2016 in the District of Lillooet Council Chambers 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC. Northern SLRD First Nation Communities District of Lillooet and Seton Chambers of Commerce The Bridge River Valley Community Association Local and Regional Economic Development Organizations 8. Director's Reports None to discuss the organization of a Community Economic Development Forum such that the Community Economic Development Forum and First Nations relationship building activities occur in a parallel process, and THAT the agenda for the Community Economic Development Forum include a targeted list of key topics previously identified through all of the previous studies, reports and workshop; and THAT the Community Economic Development Forum focus on developing action plans and identifying potential partnerships for the Topics List discussed above; and THAT this recommendation is the next step for the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee in its strategy. 9. Decision on Late Business (2/3 majority vote) It was moved and seconded: CARRIED THAT the Director's Report - Discussion on Committee Membership (Director Macri) be added to the agenda and heard next. CARRIED 10. Late Business Director's Report - Discussion on Committee Membership (Director Macri) It was moved and seconded: THAT a resolution be sent to the District of Lillooet asking them to re-nominate a 4 th member of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. 11. Director's Notice of Motion None 12. Adjournment It was moved and seconded: CARRIED Page 5 of 30

6 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Draf... Page 4 of 4 of the minutes of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee meeting, held on Monday, May 02, 2016 in the District of Lillooet Council Chambers 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC. THAT the meeting be adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 11:37 AM. CARRIED D. Demare, Chair L. Flynn, Deputy Secretary Page 6 of 30

7 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Appo... LeLLOOET GUAR AN TEE D RUGGED The District of Lillooet 618 Main Street, PO Box 610, Lillooet, BC VOK Tel: (250) Fax: (250) cityhanglfflooetbe.ca June 23, 2016 SENT VIA ONLY Kristen Clark, Director of Legislative and Corporate Services Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Box 219, 1350 Aster Street Pemberton, BC VON 2L0 <I<clarkAslrd.bc.ca> Dear Ms. Clark: RE: Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee At the Regular Meeting of Council held on June 20, 2016, Council reviewed your communication dated June 13, 2016 regarding "Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee." For your information, the following Council resolution was passed: THAT Councillor Wiebe be re-nominated as a 4th member to the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. Should you have any questions, please contact me at or deputyco@lillooetbc.ca. Sincerely, Paula Skrzeta, Deputy Corporate Officer c M. Roy, CAO B. Wiebe, Councillor Page 7 of 30 LillooetBC.ca

8 Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee Appo... Box 219, 1350 Aster Street Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 P TF F BY ONLY June 13, 2016 District of Lillooet 615 Main Street PO Box 610 Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0 Attention: Paula Skrzeta, Deputy Clerk Dear Paula: Re: Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee At the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee (NEDIC) meeting on May 2, 2016, NEDIC resolved that the District of Lillooet be asked to re-nominate a 4 th member of the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee. Yours truly, Kristen Clark Director of Legislative and Corporate Services kclark@slrd.bc.ca ext. 230 Members : Di strict of Squami sh, Res ort Municipality o f Whistler, Vi lla g e of P emb ert on, District of Li llo o et, Electora l Ar eas A, B, C, and D Page 8 of 30

9 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps Date of Meeting: Northern Economic Development & Initiatives (NEDI) July 6, 2016 Recommendations: THAT it be recommended to the Regional Board: 1. THAT the draft Community & Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee (Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Territory) Terms of Reference be approved; and 2. THAT staff be directed to work with EcoPlan International to initiate the formation of the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee (Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Territory) and organize the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2016, subject to the budget approved by the SLRD Board on February 17, Attachments: 1. Draft Terms of Reference: Community & Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee (Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Territory) 2. Draft Agenda 3. Starter List of Topics Background / Context: At its meeting on February 17, 2016, the SLRD passed the following resolution: THAT the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Board commit to a continued dialogue with the Lillooet Tribal Council, northern St át imc communities and District of Lillooet to strengthen relationships, share learning, explore opportunities to improve communication and work more collaboratively and determine next steps by: Supporting the continuation of the existing staff-level project planning group and allocating the resources of the Communications & Grants Coordinator needed to continue participating through 2016, with secretariat and facilitation support provided by EcoPlan International; Page 9 of 30

10 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps Reallocating the $12,750 of funds previously budgeted from Cost Centre #1601 Outreach for the Learning Initiatives and Rural and Northern (LIRN) BC workshop as per the attached work plan and budget; Fund from Cost Centre #1601 Outreach, to a maximum of $500, transportation for up to 4 people from the Seton Portage-Shalalth District Chamber of Commerce and up to 4 people from the Bridge River Valley Community Association to attend the LIRN BC Workshop, at $.54 per kilometre; Directing staff to send letters to the Lillooet Tribal Council and District of Lillooet requesting that they allocate staff resources to support the continuation of the staff-level project planning group through 2016; Consulting with EcoPlan and the project planning group as required to inform the development of an action plan focused on improving St át imc non-st át imc engagement and cooperation based on next steps arising from the January C2C Forum; and THAT the Chair and / or the CAO be authorized to execute any agreements that may arise from the work of the staff-level project planning group, per the attached work plan and budget. Further to this, the District of Lillooet (DOL) and Lillooet Tribal Council (LTC) both agreed to continue allocating staff resources to the staff-level project planning group. Additionally, the SLRD Board passed the following resolutions at its meeting on May 25, 2016: THAT staff be directed to engage in discussions with: District of Lillooet staff Lillooet Tribal Council staff Northern SLRD First Nation Communities District of Lillooet and Seton Chambers of Commerce The Bridge River Valley Community Association Local and regional economic development organizations to discuss the organization of a Community Economic Development Forum such that the Community Economic Development Forum and First Nations' relationship building activities occur in a parallel process; and Page 10 of 30

11 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps THAT the agenda for the Community Economic Development Forum include a targeted list of key topics previously identified through all of the previous studies, reports and workshops; and THAT the Community Economic Development Forum focus on developing action plans and identifying potential partnerships for the Topics List discussed above; and THAT this recommendation is the next step for the Northern Economic Development and Initiatives Committee in its strategy. In light of these directives, the staff-level planning group (Jeannette Nadon, SLRD; Margaret Hohner, DOL; Jim MacArthur, LTC; Toby Mueller, Lillooet Library) met on May 25, 2016 to discuss how best to move forward on both the Community Economic Development (CED) and St át imc relationship-building activities in a parallel process. The group determined that given the inter-governmental nature of the relationshipbuilding initiative and the community-based nature of the CED initiative, two separate working groups would be required. The planning group directed EcoPlan to draft two Terms of Reference (TOR) documents for the group s review and a follow-up meeting was scheduled for June 7, At the June 7 meeting, the planning group began by reviewing the draft TOR for the Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Inter-Governmental Relationship Working Group, and substantial progress was made on the draft. Because the scope of the Intergovernmental Relationship Working Group is broader than economic development, the TOR will be going to the SLRD Board for its consideration on July 27, The TOR expands membership of the working group beyond the scope of the SLRD Board s February 17, 2016 resolution (which was to continue the existing working group composed of SLRD, DoL and LTC representatives) to invite the six St át imc communities as well. A revised work plan and budget with more details regarding both the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum and the Northern SLRD / Northern St át imc Inter-Governmental Relationship initiatives (multi-party Protocol Agreement, communications and engagement process development, organization of a leadership meeting to follow up the January C2C event) will also be submitted for the Board s consideration. (The TOR will also be sent to the District of Lillooet and the Lillooet Tribal Council for their consideration.) Page 11 of 30

12 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps Unfortunately, there was not enough time remaining in the meeting on June 7 for the group to discuss the draft TOR for the CED Working Group in detail. However, from the initial discussion, it became clear that there were still a lot of questions regarding the governance, membership and structure of the working group. EcoPlan suggested that it might be better to include the concept of the CED Working Group as one of the topics for discussion at the Community and Regional Economic Development (CRED) Forum being planned for the fall. This way, a more diverse range of people from across the region (St át imc, non-st át imc, government, business, and community representatives) could have an opportunity to share their perspectives and be involved in the foundational development of the Working Group, which would likely lead to increased support for the concept. The group agreed, and decided to focus on drafting a TOR for a workshop organizing committee which would be tasked with developing the agenda and organizing the CRED event. The planning group met again on June 27 to finalize the draft TOR and Thursday, October 20, 2016 was put forward as the tentative date for the meeting. The draft TOR is attached for NEDI s review and consideration, along with a preliminary draft agenda and starter list of topics. These documents will also be forwarded to the LTC for its review and consideration. However, it s important to note that the LTC has not confirmed whether it supports the plan to move forward on both CRED and relationship-building activities in a parallel process. It should also be noted that the District of Lillooet s ad hoc Tourism Advisory Group is currently in the process of exploring options to formalize its governance structure. This grassroots advisory/working group was established in 2014 and has been quite successful in delivering various tourism projects in the area. At a meeting held on June 14, the group discussed two potential governance options: 1. Becoming a sub-committee of the Lillooet Chamber of Commerce; or 2. Establishing a not-for-profit Lillooet and Area Destination Marketing Association, which was a recommendation from the recently completed Lillooet Community Tourism Foundations Plan 1. At the meeting, SLRD staff advised the Tourism Advisory Group that work to draft a Terms of Reference for a Community and Regional Economic Development Working 1 Plan-Final aspx, Destination BC, p Page 12 of 30

13 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps Group was underway and that there were also plans to hold a community forum at some point in the fall. The people present at the meeting seemed receptive to these initiatives, and requested that the SLRD bring forward more information to the Tourism Advisory Committee as soon as possible. Staff recommend that a presentation to the Tourism Advisory Committee be scheduled as soon as possible in an effort to align these initiatives, and possibly combine them in order to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Alternatively, NEDI could extend an invitation to ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee members to attend a NEDI meeting to discuss the initiatives in more detail. Additionally, members of the Tourism Advisory Committee should be invited to join the Organizing Committee for the CRED Forum. Options: 1. Approve the recommendations as drafted; 2. Amend the recommendations and approve as amended; 3. Do not approve the recommendations, send it back to staff for further refinements, and ask that the recommendations be brought back for consideration at a later date; 4. Do not approve the recommendations and direct staff to take no further action at this time. Preferred Option: ONE NEDI s resolution from May 2 directed staff to engage in discussions with: District of Lillooet staff, Lillooet Tribal Council staff, Northern SLRD First Nation Communities, District of Lillooet and Seton Chambers of Commerce, the Bridge River Valley Community Association (BRVCA) and local and regional economic development organizations to discuss the organization of a Community Economic Development Forum. Unfortunately, there has been considerable delay in moving forward on this resolution and thus far, discussions have not yet been initiated with the six northern St át imc communities, Chambers of Commerce, BRVCA or other local and regional economic development organizations. The delay was primarily due to scheduling conflicts with the initial staff-level planning group and the subsequent delay in finalizing the TOR for the working group. However, the Organizing Committee Terms of Reference attached has been developed collaboratively and sets out a framework for moving forward in an inclusive Page 13 of 30

14 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps and coordinated way. Further, the Terms of Reference clarifies that the meeting is intended to build on the important planning work that s already been done and it establishes desired outcomes for the forum, which are aligned with the Board s May 25, 2016 resolution. Policy Considerations: Organizing a Community and Regional Economic Development Forum is aligned with current SLRD strategic priorities and plans, as noted below SLRD Strategic Priorities Enhancing relationships with aboriginal communities and First Nations (Goal: establishing collaborative, respectful relationships with aboriginal communities and First Nations)* Identifying and implementing mutually beneficial regional projects (i.e. Regional Touring Routes project, which can be introduced and discussed at the CRED Forum) * It should be noted that while the LTC has committed to the relationshipbuilding process, it has not yet endorsed the Board s plan to move forward on the CED and relationship-building activities in a parallel process. Every effort should be taken to invite St át imc participation and to be respectful of their timelines, priorities, processes and values. 2. SLRD Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Goal #4 Achieve a Sustainable Economy o Supports building cooperation among stakeholders and pursuing collaborative regional economic development solutions o Supports engaging the business community to provide leadership and support for sustainable economic development initiatives, including partnering with First Nations Goal #8 Enhance Relations with Aboriginal Communities o Supports expanding dialogue and cooperation with First Nations o Supports establishing MOU s between aboriginal communities and local governments that address issues of mutual concern Goal #9 Improve collaboration among Jurisdictions 3. SLRD Integrated Sustainability Plan (ISP) Page 14 of 30

15 2.3.2 Economic By 2030: REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps o The SLRD, its electoral areas, member municipalities, First Nations and other government partners, work cooperatively together to promote and integrate a shared vision of success and sustainability for the region; o A Broad partnership of institutions, businesses, community organizations, individuals, First Nations and all other levels of government work together and share information; o Joint planning exercises with First Nations and other regional partners are seen as opportunities to grow together while respecting the responsibilities and jurisdictions of other governments; o The region s economy is vibrant and resilient, having diversified into compatible industries, such as responsible tourism, primary and value-added resource industries and agriculture, and many other value-added products and services; o Regional partnerships and strategies support working together on common economic development issues and share a common vision for the region s success and sustainability. 4. Northern Area Economic Development Assessment, Strategy and Action Plan Goal 5.1. Improve and Strengthen Communication and Planning o Increase community involvement and communication o Enhance economic development communication o Create community unity o Increase community dialogue Goal 5.2. Enhance Economic Development Services o Establish economic development and tourism advisory committee o Develop economic development shared services agreement Goal 5.4. Support the growth of the agriculture industry Goal 5.5. Support and expand tourism Page 15 of 30

16 Goal 5.7. Strengthen and expand partnerships Organizational Considerations: REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps o Organize joint meetings with First Nations (Economic Development Corporations) o Build a stronger working relationship between Lillooet economic development and BRVEDS (now BRVCA) The SLRD and DOL Communications and Grants Coordinators both currently sit on the staff-level planning group, and it s expected that both will continue to sit on the CRED Organizing Committee. The SLRD Communications and Grants Coordinator will also be sitting on the multi-party Inter-governmental Relations Working Group. It is not yet known who the DOL representative will be on the Inter-Governmental Relations Working Group. While EcoPlan will be supporting the efforts of the Organizing Committee and acting as the primary meeting planner, significant staff time will be still be required. With the Forum tentatively scheduled for October 20, 2016, there is less than four months remaining to organize the event. As well, per the February 17, 2016 Board report (RFD C2C Forum Update / Relationship Building) a relationship-building leadership forum is also being recommended for the fall to follow up the January C2C event (a report will be going the SLRD Board on July 27, 2016 with more details). Significant staff time will be required to prepare the materials and organize that event as well. The leadership forum will be focused on government-to-government relationships and the CRED forum will be a broad-based community event focused on community and regional economic development. Therefore, it would not be feasible to combine the two events. The SLRD Communications and Grants Coordinator has been authorized to spend 30% of her time on relationship-building and CED activities. Given the timelines, to achieve the Board s objectives, it s estimated that the Communications and Grants Coordinator will likely need to spend 40-50% of her time on these initiatives for the next four months. Financial Considerations: The SLRD Board has allocated a budget of $47,400 to advance both the relationshipbuilding and CED initiatives. Of this, $22,900 was initially allocated to Economic Page 16 of 30

17 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps Development events and tool development. EcoPlan and SLRD staff are currently working to develop a more accurate budget and work plan to deliver the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum. However, the budget will not exceed the amount previously allocated. Regional Impacts Analysis: Establishing a small but diverse committee composed of St át imc, government, and non-government representatives to organize a Community and Regional Economic Development Forum for the northern SLRD / northern St át imc Territory demonstrates the Board s commitment to creating an inclusive, community-led economic development initiative. Provided that efforts are made to involve the St át imc, keep communication channels open, and respect their processes, priorities, values and timelines, this initiative should help to build the foundation needed for Electoral Areas A, B and the District of Lillooet to work with the St át imc to establish a shared governance model for economic development. As well, the CRED Forum will be designed to build networks, share information, inspire cooperation and mobilize collective action. There are a number of tourism and economic development-related initiatives either planned or currently underway in the northern part of the region that should benefit from increased coordination (e.g. Regional Touring Routes project, Gateway revitalization, BRVCA trails strategy, implementation of the Agricultural Plan, Regional Growth Strategy update, etc.). Of note, organizing and holding the CRED event should help to improve communication with members of the ad hoc Tourism Advisory Group who are advocating for the formation of an industry-led, not-for-profit Lillooet & Area Tourism Association. Once the rationale and objectives for both the Community and Regional Economic Development Working Group and the Tourism Association are better understood by all parties, the two initiatives might be combined, or at the very least aligned, in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Follow Up Actions: 1. Send the Draft TOR, agenda and starter list of topics to the Lillooet Tribal Council for its review and consideration. 2. Initiate invitations per Part 5 of the TOR, subject to any additional suggestions from the NEDI Committee. Page 17 of 30

18 REQUEST FOR DECISION Sub-Regional Economic Development (Northern SLRD) Next Steps 3. Schedule a meeting of the CRED Organizing Committee as soon as possible to begin the planning process, including confirming the date, reviewing and finalizing the draft agenda (including key themes), developing a communications and engagement plan, and organizing event logistics. 4. Meet with EcoPlan to review and confirm the event budget, subject to the work plan and budget previously agreed to by the SLRD Board. 5. Staff to either (a) prepare and deliver a presentation to the ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee as soon as possible or (b) invite members of the ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee to attend a NEDI meeting to share information concerning the SLRD s objective of forming an inclusive Community and Regional Economic Development Working Group. Submitted by: Jeannette Nadon, Communications and Grants Coordinator Approved by: Lynda Flynn, CAO Page 18 of 30

19 TERMS OF REFERENCE Northern St át imc / Northern Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Community & Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee 1. Background In recent years, many public events, participatory processes and expert reports have identified several gaps and challenges regarding the delivery of economic development services in the northern Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) / northern St át imc Territory, including: Neither the District of Lillooet (DoL) nor SLRD Area B has a formal economic development service. There is an economic development contribution service in SLRD Area A (SLRD provides some funding to the Bridge River Valley Community Association via a tax requisition) which oversees local economic development. Some of the northern St át imc communities have Development Corporations to oversee local economic development for their respective communities. All of the government organizations face internal capacity challenges, particularly related to human resources and funding, which make it difficult to commit to economic development planning and implementation. No formalized regional economic development model exists and historically there has been limited economic development cooperation and coordination among and between the various governments and non-governmental organizations (though this does appear to be changing). No structured forum exists for sharing of information among service providers. There is an informal sharing of information. However, this can result in a lack of understanding of each service provider s goals, activities and future developments. This can result in duplication of services or product development. No structured forum exists for sharing information among business owners, community groups or residents. This results in a lack of understanding of what economic development does for the community or region. There is a lack of mentoring and support for new and existing businesses. There is a strong culture of volunteerism in the area. However, community groups are stretched thin and do not always have the volunteer capacity to effectively implement new projects or initiatives. Page 19 of 30

20 To address these challenges, the SLRD commissioned a Governance Model Feasibility Study in The study recommended that an inclusive, multi-party committee / working group be formed to guide the development and direction of a shared economic development service for the northern SLRD / northern St át imc Territory. The study recommended that during the initial development phase, the creation of the committee / working group and implementation of the service be facilitated by a third party. The study went on to recommend that once the committee / working group membership and service have been established, the committee / working group may look to form a new non-profit economic development organization, join an existing non-profit society and hire a staff person to carry out the work, or continue to use a third party to provide secretariat support to the committee / working group. The ongoing work would continue to be guided by the committee / working group. The SLRD hired EcoPlan International in 2015 to assist in the creation of the committee / working group. After conducting initial interviews with regional economic development stakeholders, EcoPlan presented the concept for a multiparty economic development committee / working group to the Lillooet Tribal Council (LTC). The LTC, which is composed of the elected Chiefs of the six northern St át imc communities, confirmed that they were interested in exploring opportunities for regional collaboration. However, the St át imc leadership advised that before committing to a formal collaborative economic development process, they requested that elected leadership be brought together to discuss key foundational issues, including historical context, St át imc Title and jurisdiction, and what economic development means to the St át imc. A Community to Community (C2C) Forum was held in January 2016, with elected officials and members of staff of the SLRD, DoL, LTC and the six northern St át imc communities (Sekw el was, T it q et, Tsal alh, Ts kw aylaxw, Xaxli p and Xwísten) in attendance. While the parties have not yet formally committed to a shared economic development process, there appears to be consensus that stronger St át imc / non-st át imc relationships will lead to a stronger region. With this, there was agreement about the need to continue improving communication, building trust, working more collaboratively and finding ways to involve the broader community. A second community-based event focused on building respectful and effective Aboriginal / non-aboriginal relationships was held in March 2016 with support from Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern (LIRN) BC. The LIRN event brought together about fifty people from around the northern SLRD / northern Page 20 of 30

21 St át imc Territory, including representatives from the SLRD, DoL and northern St át imc governments as well as business and community groups. Participants at the LIRN BC event identified several key priorities including: improving communication and information sharing, building awareness of our shared history, celebrating culture, preserving language, providing opportunities for cross-generational learning, building trust, and expanding the discussion to involve the greater community. Work to improve communication, build trust and strengthen relationships between the SLRD, DoL, LTC and the six northern St át imc communities remains a priority and is ongoing. During this time, the DoL initiated a separate but related process to bring local tourism stakeholders together to act in an advisory capacity as well as to implement various tourism initiatives in and around Lillooet. The DoL s ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee has been very successful in delivering tourism projects for the region and has become a great example of what can be accomplished when people and organizations get together and focus their energy to get things done. In light of its success, and with a view to creating a more sustainable and effective structure, the ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee would like to develop a more formalized governance model to guide tourism development and promote the Lillooet area to visitors. Tourism development is emerging as an important economic catalyst in the region, and there is a need to ensure this tourism initiative and the community and regional economic development initiative are aligned to ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness. 2. Purpose In the interest of moving forward on plans to establish an inclusive, multi-party committee / working group to guide and coordinate economic development in the northern SLRD / northern St át imc Territory, the SLRD, DoL and LTC would like to convene a one-day community economic development forum to be held in the fall of The meeting will bring local and St át imc governments, business and community organizations, and other community economic development stakeholders together to build networks, share information, inspire cooperation and enable collective action. The meeting will build upon the important planning work that s already been done; the agenda for the forum will include a targeted list of key topics previously identified through all the past studies, reports, workshops and community engagement initiatives. Some desired outcomes for the Forum include: Page 21 of 30

22 1. Prioritization of regional projects, development of action plans and identification of potential partnerships to undertake priority projects previously identified; 2. Development of a Terms of Reference to act as the framework for forming a community and regional economic development working group; 3. Identification of potential funding options to see the working group through the initial development phase. Like the working group we are trying to establish, the convening must be designed to be inclusive, respectful and aligned with the values, rights and needs of all of the people living in the northern St át imc Territory / northern SLRD. To that end, the SLRD, DoL and LTC would like to form a small, diverse planning committee to create the agenda together and organize the meeting - the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum Organizing Committee. 3. Roles and Responsibilities The intent of the Community and Regional Economic Development Organizing Committee is to work with EcoPlan International to design the event agenda (content) and format of the meeting (process). EcoPlan International will act as the primary event organizer (meeting planner) and will be responsible for coordinating all meeting logistics as well as all communications and engagement activities related to the event, including the drafting of a final event report. The organizing committee will provide guidance to EcoPlan and assistance where possible. Members of the organizing committee should be committed to creating and upholding a regionally-based and community-driven shared economic development function. They must agree to regularly attend meetings, take part in the Forum, and read all materials sent out in advance of the meetings in order to provide informed feedback. Meeting coordination, facilitation and recording will be provided by EcoPlan. 4. Term This Terms of Reference is effective from July 6, 2016 and will be ongoing until the final event report for the meeting has been finalized. Page 22 of 30

23 5. Structure and Membership The Organizing Committee will invite participation from the following government partners and community stakeholders: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District District of Lillooet Lillooet Tribal Council Sekw el was and / or Cayoose Creek Development Corporation T it q et and / or P egp ig lha Council and / or T it q et Economic Development Authority Xwísten Tsal alh and / or Tsal alh Development Corporation Xaxli p Ts kw aylaxw District of Lillooet Chamber of Commerce Seton Portage & District Chamber of Commerce Bridge River Valley Community Association School District #74 Additionally, members of the DoL ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee who expressed an interest in working on shared governance shall be invited to join the Organizing Committee: Curtis Cook, Lillooet Agriculture and Food Society/EcoTactix Jacquie Rasmussen, Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society Neil Curtis, Green Earth Strategies Toby Mueller, Lillooet and Area Library Association EcoPlan will make invitations informally. 6. Process The Working Group will meet regularly and on an as-need basis in person or by teleconference. Members will be given appropriate notice of scheduled meetings and will receive an agenda and other necessary materials electronically prior to the meetings. Meeting notes will be kept by EcoPlan and circulated to all members. It is the responsibility of each organization s representative to keep his or her leadership apprised as to the work of the organizing committee and to obtain the Page 23 of 30

24 necessary approvals if required (e.g. in the case of additional funding requested for a specific project). 7. Communications Meetings will be designed to promote candid, open and respectful dialogue. No social media or public communications will take place based on the meetings. EcoPlan will work with the Organizing Committee to develop a communications and engagement plan related to the Forum. 8. Funding Funding to produce the Community and Regional Economic Development Forum, including meeting planning and facilitation fees to hire EcoPlan, is being provided by the SLRD and is subject to the budget previously agreed upon by the SLRD Board. Each participating member of the Organizing Committee is responsible for covering all Organizing Committee meeting-related expenses, including staff time and travel expenses (if any), for their respective Committee representatives. Page 24 of 30

25 September or October, :00-4:00pm LOCATION?? We would like to recognize that this meeting is being held on St at imc Territory. We thank the community of for welcoming us. How can St at imc and non-st at imc citizens, businesses, local governments and industry experts of the Northern St at imc Territory/ Squamish Lillooet Regional District come together to move from ideas to action in community and regional economic development? usinesses, citizens, local and provincial government, non-profits, industry experts Sponsors/Funding? Page 25 of 30

26 Time Activity Notes 9:00-9:30 Check-in or Registration For Registration registration sheets will be available for participants to fill in to avoid line-up Music or Video background? EPI to run check in desk 9:30-9:40 Welcome and opening remarks / St at imc prayer? Will begin at 9:30sharp. Who shall open? St at imc? Mayor? SLRD Chair? Citizen? 9:40-10:00 The state of Northern St at imc/slrd 10:00- Prioritization of themes for 10:45 action planning 10:45-11:00 11:00-11:45 BREAK Action Planning Breakout Session #1 (overview, thank sponsors, introduce William Trousdale) Possible guest speaker? Trends? Background? William Trousdale Review of themes / Interactive voting Themes to come from previous documents and SC input 5 to 10 facilitated tables Depending on number of participants. Average of 7 per table Self Selected by Participants Who will facilitate? Facilitators will be assigned to each table They will work with a simple Action Matrix: What task?; Description; When?; Who leads?; Who supports? Resources required? William Trousdale (roaming facilitator) 11:45-1:15 LUNCH 12:30-1:15 KEY NOTE ADDRESS? DO WE WANT A KEY NOTE SPEAKER FOR LUNCH? 1:15-2:00 Action Planning Breakout Participants rotate to second choice Session #2 2:00-2:45 Action Planning Breakout Participants rotate to third choice Session #3 2:45-3:00 BREAK 3:00-3:45 Plenary: Breakout Group Summary Table Facilitators Provide 5 min summary of results Facilitated: William Trousdale 3:45-4:00 (sharp) Next steps and closing Page 26 of 30

27 Northern St át imc Territory / Northern Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) Community and Regional Economic Development Forum 2016 Starter List of Topics for Action Planning The priorities and action areas listed below have been compiled from the following sources: January 21 & 22, 2016 Community to Community Forum Event Report March 12, 2016, Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern (LIRN) BC Event Summary Report Community Economic Development Projects Report (Fraser Basin Council, 2014) Economic Development Assessment, Strategy and Action Plan (EDCD Consulting, 2012) Economic Opportunity Assessment (EcoPlan International, 2008) Additionally, literature reviews were conducted to inform the 2008, 2012 and 2014 reports, meaning that recommendations from many other studies and processes conducted over the years have also been considered in the creation of this list. The list of Action Areas is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it meant to imply that the SLRD will take responsibility for initiating / leading the actions. Rather, it is intended to encourage a broader community / regional dialogue that will lead to a prioritized list of projects, development of action plans and identification of potential partnerships to undertake priority projects. PRIORITY Continue to build relationships between St át imc and non-st át imc governments and residents (Improve collaboration, cooperation and trust). Improve and strengthen communication and planning (between governments, and also between governments and community). ACTION AREAS Continue regular C2C forums. Demonstrate trustworthiness. Extend invitations and participate in cross-cultural events. Organize a community event to acknowledge the history of the St át imc communities, to bring the communities together to heal and to focus on moving forward together. Provide opportunities for continued learning, particularly about St át imc culture, traditions, language and ways of working. Implement cultural awareness training. Formally recognize St át imc Territory at all events and meetings. Find a project that we can work on together. Develop a framework for cooperation. Establish a cross-region working group. Informal meetings Increase community involvement (mobilize the knowledge, talents and perspectives of every segment of the community). Develop processes/ framework to improve communication, including policy mechanisms and tools. Share community plans Staff-level training and information sharing Enhance economic development communication. Improve local knowledge of existing businesses and services. Page 27 of 30

28 Strengthen and expand partnerships. Establish a Community and Regional Economic Development Working Group / Regional Economic Development Shared Service Create community unity (Co-create a vision for the northern SLRD / northern St át imc Territory). Support the growth of the Agriculture Sector. Support and Expand Tourism. Find ways to bring the business community / community at large into the conversation. Organize regular joint meetings with St át imc (Leadership C2C; Operational economic development, planning, etc.) Establish community accords (e.g. Protocol Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding) with St át imc Build a stronger working relationship between DOL Economic Development and the BRVCA Engage big industry players Identify common interests and needs in terms of community / economic development Ensure alignment between economic development and tourism objectives (i.e. DOL ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee would like to formalize its governance structure. It is unlikely that more than one tourism / economic development working group would be sustainable.) Develop a joint economic development strategy for the northern SLRD / northern St át imc Territory. (NOTE: 2014 Fraser Basin Council report noted that developing a shared vision was not yet achievable due to a lack of history of working together.) How can we coordinate the two processes that are currently underway (Lillooet Agriculture & Food Society, T it q et Food Security Project) Develop an agricultural awareness program (e.g. website, farm tours, collateral, etc.) Support implementation of the SLRD / Lillooet / St át imc Agricultural Plan (NOTE: Lillooet Agriculture and Food Society was formed to do this.) Support St át imc agricultural business opportunities. Grow and diversify regional agriculture explore potential for emerging crops and mobile abattoir. How can we align the ad hoc Tourism Advisory Committee s desire to formalize its governance structure with the initiative to form a Community and Regional Economic Development Working Group? Develop and Implement Tourism Marketing Strategy. (NOTE: Area A plan is complete, Area B/Lillooet plan is complete, St át imc not directly involved with either plan) Learn about St át imc tourism development strategies, intentions, concerns. (NOTE: Do the St át imc have a Tourism Plan? If so, can it be shared?) Create a community inventory of tourism product. (done, but not distributed too far as yet) Support St át imc cultural tours and Aboriginal tourism. Create a standalone tourism website. Page 28 of 30

29 Enhance economic development services. Develop an environment to encourage and maintain business growth and expansion. Create an entrepreneurial environment. Create marketing partnerships with other organizations to leverage resources (e.g. Destination BC, Whistler, Pemberton, Gold Country, Kamloops, Cariboo-Chilcotin/Coast Tourism, etc.). Continue to move forward on Regional Touring Routes project. Pursue location for a more prominent Visitor Information Centre. Improve first impressions o Continue to invest in beautification efforts. o Develop a First Impressions program. Enhance / improve wayfinding signage. o Should incorporate St át imcets language Continue cultural signage (similar to what s been done on Highway 99 between Vancouver and Whistler, but using St át imcets language). Support/expand festivals. o Invest in the development of signature festivals to scope and scale that overnight travelers are attracted. o Secure funds to develop programming. o Build a coordinated calendar of events. Support/expand Arts, Culture and Heritage sector o Establish a regional Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee. Invest in service training; conduct retail / business education (customer service) workshops. Strengthen relationships with major tourism suppliers. Develop and implement a communications plan for economic development. Facilitate economic development training. Create a stand-alone investment/business/resident/visitor attraction website. Develop supportive policies and regulations. Develop information and promotional material (e.g. community and sector profiles, regional investment guide). Launch external regional awareness program (e.g. resident, business, investment and visitor attraction). Undertake an Investment Readiness Assessment. Implement a business retention and expansion program. Establish a redevelopment zone. Investigate feasibility of downtown Wi-Fi. Develop a Welcome Home program. Explore feasibility of bio-energy sector (e.g. pellet project. Develop a shop local program (in progress Love Lillooet). Host small business workshops in partnership with St át imc. Develop a mentorship program. Develop a welcoming approach for new business. Page 29 of 30