ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
MINUTES |
| October 1, 2018 |
The meeting of Economic Development Advisory Committee of the Town of Fort Frances was held in the Committee Room, Civic Centre on October 1, 2018 from 11:39 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. |
PRESENT: | G. Rogozinski, Chair, C. Mallory, J. McTaggart, K. Perry, K. McCaig, J. Cumming, R. Avis. |
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ALSO PRESENT: | D. Brown, CAO, T. Drysdale, Consultant, Gurvinder Grewal, Intern (RRFDC) and K. Lawson, Secretary |
REGRETS: | D. Fortes, M. Caron, G. McBride, J. Gillon, G. Gillon (RRFDC), L. Mose (MNDM) |
1. | Call to Order |
2. | Non-agenda Committee items which because of urgency cannot be deferred to a subsequent meeting, identified to be considered later in the meeting. |
2.1 | T. Drysdale - Marijuana sales opportunities.
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3. | Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof - none |
4. | Approval of Previous Advisory Committee Minutes |
4.1 | September 10, 2018.
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| McCaig-Cumming: THAT the minutes from the September 10, 2018 regular meeting be approved as distributed. CARRIED |
5. | Items Referred from Council - none |
6. | New Business |
6.1 | Introduction of newest RRFDC Intern. - Gurvinder Grewal was introduced to the committee as RRFDC's newest intern. He provided members with a short background on himself and looks forward to working and living in Fort Frances.
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6.2 | Municipal Accommodation Tax Levy - Decision of Council. - Tannis advised that she had contacted all businesses. She indicated reaction of hotel owners expressed mixed emotions about the MAT. She indicated that the only item businesses wished to have considered was the grandfathering of existing reservations made between October 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019. The monies received from this tax will be used for tourism, economic development, marketing and promotion. She will be meeting with the owners again prior to a draft by-law being reviewed.
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6.3 | Indigenous Partnership. - Tannis advised that RRFDC has applied to FedNor and been approved at Stage Two in their development of real business partnerships and partnership mentoring with the Regional First Nations Economic Development Board. RRFDC has offered to share a staff member.
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6.4 | Funding Applications for feasibility study for the Shevlin Woodyard and former Nurses Station (450 Mowat Avenue). - RRFDC has prepared and submitted two funding applications, for the town, for the completion of a Land Use/Economic Development Feasibility study of properties recently transferred to the Town from Resolute Forest Products. The two properties are the Shevlin Wood Yard and the property at 420 Mowat Avenue, formerly known as the Mill Nursing Station building. Applications were submitted under the Provincial Government's Rural Economic Development (RED) program and under the Federal Government's FedNor Program. The town estimates the cost to complete the feasibility study at $150,000.00, with the requested funding applications totalling $135,000.00. The Town's estimated contribution will be $15,000.00 plus the cost to prepare a RFP package to retain a Land Use/Economic Development Consult ant to complete the study.
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6.5 | Rainy Lake Square Planning - Year 2. - Tannis advised that RRFDC is now involved in the planning for the second year of the market. This includes a number of grant applications, outreach and hopeful growth in market vendors as well as square users.
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6.6 | Rainy Lake Market - Year 2. -this has been a good year for vendors at the Square. It would appear that the vendors staying after 2:00 p.m. on Saturday was not viable as they were out of product by that time. Their was discussion of using the area of the former mill nursing station property for vendor parking. Tannis advised they would look into having a Facebook contest to look for options/ideas for use.
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6.7 | Forest Tenure. - The planning for forest tenure changes continues to be moving forward well. Mike Willick reports positive progress at the table. He will be invited to an upcoming meeting of the Committee.
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6.8 | Councillor Perry - items brought forward on behalf of the Town at both NOMA and RRDMA Meetings. - Councillor Perry provided an update of the information items he brought forward for discussion at both meetings. He identified the need for reviewing tax exempt properties and resource tax for roads.
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7. | Non-agenda Items |
7.1 | T. Drysdale re: Marijuana Sales Opportunities. - Tannis will provide a report for an upcoming meeting with respect to the marketing and revenue opportunities surrounding the sale of marijuana.
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8. | Adjourn - 12:55 p.m. / Next Meeting Date - November 5th, 2018 |