BRANTFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Tim Horton Room, Visitor & Tourism Centre Thursday, 11:45am 1. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Michael St. Amant, Councillor John Bradford (12:30), James Chowhan, Kevin Magee, Stan Gorecki, Keri Korfmann, John Utley, Doug Summerhayes, Andy Molenaar, Laura Lewis, Keith Lancaster REGRETS: Mayor Hancock, Paul Armstrong STAFF: GUESTS: John Frabotta, Trudy Belanco, Kim Petitti George Schrijver, WCM Consulting Inc. Michael St. Amant welcomed and introduced George Schrijver who will be speaking to item 6.1. 2. DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No declarations of conflict of interest. 3. DELEGATIONS George Schrijver, WCM Consulting Inc, Re: Item 6.1 4. MINUTES 4.1 Adoption of September 17, 2009 Moved by: Andy Molenaar Seconded by: John Utley CARRIED John F. advised with the September Committee meeting minutes being approved, the resolution regarding Oak Park Road Industrial Lands Power of Sale passed at the meeting would need to be forwarded in a report to Council. Michael St. Amant, Keith Lancaster, James Chowhan, Stan Gorecki, volunteered to prepare a report and presentation for Council regarding the resolution. 5. CONSENT ITEMS 5.1 Mayor of Brantford Update
No update given. 5.2 County of Brant Update No update given. John F. reported that the City of Brantford s Clerks department received notice from the County of Brant Clerk s Department regarding representatives on the City s Economic Development Board and advised that County Council approved the following resolution at their meeting held on September 15, 2009. That in order to facilitate the efficient sharing of information, the minutes from the City of Brantford Economic Development Board and the City of Brantford Tourism Advisory Board be copied to members of Council directly, and that county staff attend meetings of the City of Brantford Economic Development Board and Tourism Advisory Board on an as-needed basis. Eric Rowen, Manager of Economic Development for the County of Brant will ensure that the minutes are forwarded for circulation to the Council members as required. 5.3 Exporting to the United States - U.S. Customs Documentation Seminar October 6, 2009 Information item. 5.4 Sensitivity to Disability Training for Board and Advisory Committees Information item. The Chair noted that he would contact the other committee s such as Sanderson and TAC to inquire if it s possible to hold a collective meeting to receive the sensitivity to disability training. 5.5 Tourism Advisory Committee June 23, 2009 Moved by: Kevin Magee Seconded by: Doug Summerhayes THAT the Consent Items BE RECEIVED CARRIED John F. reported that staff received notification from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) that they will not be approving any additional funding for Ontario Labour Market Partnership (OLMP) applications this year due to the large volume of applications for the Second Career Program. The economic development department submitted an OLMP application for funding to hire a workforce development 2
officer on a 12-month contract as recommended in the Workforce Developers Strategy Report. The application will now be put on hold until April. 6. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 6.1 Brantford Economic Development Strategy George Schrijver provided an outline of the Economic Development Strategy Stakeholders Workshop presentation that is being held at the Brantford Civic Centre and noted the purpose and objective of tonight s workshop is to brainstorm and generate ideas, identify issues and to create champions for the Socioeconomic Development Mission. Invited to the workshop are a cross section of participants including manufacturing, tourism, developers, realtors, retailers, technology etc. to identify both the opportunities and the issues in developing the economy of Brantford. There will be staff and facilitators on hand to assist with the attendee s questions and concerns and George noted that he would like to speak to all the City Councillors to get their feedback on the strategy to date. George then presented background information to the Economic Development Strategy, the need to recognize this change in our economy is a fundamental change, not a cyclical one and that Economic drivers and re-distributors are critical for the successful development of the local economy. These drivers are two fold, external sources of investment coming into a local economy through the supply of goods and services to those outside the economy and through the redistribution of this investment within a local economy (through retail, local services and construction activities). There have been several strategies in other communities that have failed in their execution and its imperative that the City of Brantford convert inertia into momentum by using taxpayers dollars for the benefit of the community. George outlined the Current Status of the Project: Community Workshop to establish values, goals and boundaries hosted in June; Initial Economic Investment Case (EIAC) documentation in underway; Draft mission and Strategies Report is underway; Initial Recruitment of potential private-sector and not-for-profit sector Champions to further these initiatives in conjunction with City Economic Development Department is underway; Review with Council on Strategic direction before investing Champions time to develop EIACs (delegation at Committee of the Whole Meeting November 23 rd ); Create Action Lists with timeline in conjunction with Champions and EDO to further these EIACs (early to late February); Finalize the Socioeconomic Development Mission and Strategies Report The three critical factors that cannot be put on paper are: - Community buy in to the strategy 3
- Private sector champions to assist with the strategy - Enthusiasm George then opened the discussion for member comments and/or questions. Michael St. A. asked what the general trend and message is that George is hearing from groups and individuals that he has had communication with. George replied people want to see action and that City Council should be committed to doing the work that is being outlined in the strategy. Doug S. noted that most people don t look at not for profit companies as economic generators. Could you tell us how you see the not-for-profit sector becoming champions. George replied that shareholders in not-for-profit companies are not allowed to take out profits but they can generate more employment in the community. They have to be centres of enthusiasm and dedicated with the goal in mind, act like education centres, provide a service and create services and spin offs in the community. Doug S. asked if Tourism destinations such as the Glenhurst Art Gallery are developed to be a stimulus. George replied that anything that will attract interest from outside the community can be positive but you have to show the taxpayer that the outcome will pay off with the initial investment and there has to be a payback in the end to the taxpayer s money. Festivals draw people in to the community and are proven to have positive financial impact. Surplus discretionary money is needed to attract people to stay in the community. Councillor Bradford noted that he met with Bruce Archibald of Mohawk College this morning and reported that $200 million will be invested in South Western Ontario Second Career Program funding. Further to the strategy, the City has to engage enthusiasm in the community to encourage and find the champions to drive this strategy forward and the City needs to put in context growth in economic development to encourage people to come back to the community again. Another layer to this strategy is the City is looking at eliminating business units that don t make any money and financially impact the taxpayer. The City is making significant changes next year and this committee needs to come in with a business plan that will grow at an expediential rate. Michael asked how you get into a strategy such as this one that will enhance and control growth to enable Brantford to present itself as a fast tracking community with the municipalities that Brantford competes with for growth. George replied you have to do the work that you set out to, fast track, make the decision and move forward. 4
Keith L. asked why City Hall development applications could not be fast tracked for small developing companies as it has for some larger companies in the past, the net return is the same whether it s from a small or large company. The municipality s income is based on the taxpayer s, so therefore, the focus should be on getting buildings up faster to create a tax base. Andy M. noted the growth of educational sector in the downtown has increased greatly and the City of North Bay has developed a report on how education has value in the community and Nippissing University has asked Brantford to complete a similar report as well. George replied that expansion of education facilities provides positive generation for the City, however, the City of Brantford doesn t create the spin-off jobs for the graduates of the university programs to stay in the community. Michael St. A. asked about demographics and age issue, if the city supports education facilities, there is still many ancillary services built up around them, and students don t necessarily leave town after their education. Keri K. noted that the City should look into creating opportunities to keep the graduates here after their education is completed. Michael noted that Brantford lacks professional people here and suggested that the City give away land to attract the companies to re-locate here from area s such as Toronto. John U. noted that Mohawk College is taking out the graphic and packaging design programs as well as the apprenticeship program from Brantford. These programs will be re-located to the Mohawk s Stoney Creek Campus. Andy M. asked George about current success stories from community champions. George replied that the City of Brockville is a couple months ahead of Brantford and have completed the second draft of their strategy report but have had no presentations to their City Council. The project team will be presenting to Brantford City Council to update them of the project status and confirm that of the 20 companies that have been approached to date, 12 have agreed to champion the strategy. Stan G. asked about speaking to the County of Brant and Six Nations to have a representative to receive information as to what is happening along the watershed. Trudy B. replied the strategy will bring out different initiatives that will be implemented and researched at the time and the consultants will also be looking at what other municipalities could add as best practices/input with the strategy. John U. noted that champions play a key role in this process and how is it decided what champions will be selected. You need people with the same attitude and have the same goal in mind with the right skills. 5
George replied that the consultant s don t select them but approach people that have a common interest that want to work together collectively for the benefit of the community. Trudy B. noted that if anyone on the committee can suggest a champion for the strategy and to pass on the information by email to Trudy or George at ourbrantford@brantford.ca. Moved by: James Chowhan Seconded by: Laura Lewis THAT the presentation by George Schrijver, WCM Consulting Inc. and Bernie Hermsen, MHBC Planning regarding the Brantford Economic Development Strategy project BE RECEIVED. CARRIED 7. NOTICES OF MOTION 8. NEXT MEETING 8.1 Thursday, November 19, 2009 9. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 1:50 pm. 6