190409 Development MIN The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
Economic Development
Advisory Committee
April 9, 2019
7:30 a.m.
Corporate Office, Suite 203
200 Broadway, 2nd Floor MINUTES
Present:
Andrew Burns, Deb Gilvesy, Lisa Gilvesy, Jesse Goossens, Jim Hayes, Kirby Heckford, Mayor Stephen Molnar, Lindsay Morgan-Jacko, Ashton Nembhard, Collette Takacs,
Randy Thornton, Cedric Tomico, Lindsay Tribble, John Veldman
Absent with Regrets:
Jeff Van Rybroeck, Steves Spanjers
Also Present:
Amelia Jaggard, Legislative Services Coordinator
Cephas Panschow, Development Commissioner
Also Absent:
David Calder, Chief Administrative Officer
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m.
2. Adoption of Agenda
Proposed Resolution #1
Moved by: Cedric Tomico
Seconded by: Randy Thornton
THAT the Agenda prepared for the Economic Development Advisory Committee
meeting of April 9, 2019, be adopted, as amended.
Carried
3. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared.
4. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Proposed Resolution #2
Moved by: Lindsay Tribble
Seconded by: John Veldman
THAT the minutes of the Economic Development Advisory Committee dated March 21, 2019, be approved.
Carried
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Date: April 9, 2019
5. Presentations/Deputations
6. Information Items
7. General Business & Reports
7.1. Monthly Project Updates (Attached)
The Development Commissioner and Multi-Service Centre representatives met with the Glendale High School Principal, Head of Guidance and Coop program
to discuss increasing opportunities for experiential learning.
The school is rebuilding and expanding the co-op program, and will consider
expanding experiential learning opportunities like “Take a Kid to Work Day” available to more grades and creating opportunities for week-long work
placements.
The Development Commissioner has committed to helping build a list of local
employers to provide to the TVDSB in order to make finding and creating opportunities for experiential learning easier.
Development Commissioner will look into surrounding school board’s initiatives
(i.e. Grand Erie District School Board).
There is no set date for the media release regarding Van Norman Innovation
Park. The Development Commissioner will provide an update at the next
meeting.
There are no updates on the Wayfinding Signage; this project has been put off due to the amount of projects of higher importance. The Development
Commissioner will provide an update at the next meeting.
7.2. Overview of key Economic Development tools and programs
Development Commissioner provided an overview of key Economic
Development tools and programs.
It was noted that the Livingston Centre which offers job development assistance
has just experienced a cut in government funding towards its programming.
There was discussion surrounding the potential benefits of having a local Centre
of Excellence and the challenges of building such a centre.
The first Accessibility Renovation Grant has been received and approved at the
Council meeting of Monday, April 8, 2019. Applications are available on the Town
of Tillsonburg website on the Community Improvement Plan page.
It was suggested that the committee could develop a strategic plan for the term.
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Date: April 9, 2019
It was noted that in previous terms, goals of this committee has included:
Industrial land development, business retention, and streamlining processes.
The committee noted the following goals:
• Retention of existing businesses;
• Encourage industry diversification;
• Identifying alternative capital options for struggling businesses (i.e.
Community Futures Oxford);
• Review the Community Strategic Plan;
• Review the Economic Development Strategy.
The Development Commissioner will compile goals from the Community
Strategic Plan, Economic Development Strategy and the Committee’s Terms of
Reference to present at the next meeting.
It was suggested to use Google docs to allow committee members to share their
goals.
7.3. Draft Development Charges Study
Based on changes in infrastructure needs, the draft Development Charges Study
is showing decreased Development Charges for residential development and
commercial development.
Currently industrial development is exempt from Development Charges which
has been a long time strategic advantage when promoting the Town of
Tillsonburg. The study identifies Development Charges for industrial
development.
Staff to send out link to the delegation request form for the Regional Government
Review In-Person Consultation being held on April 16, 2019, between 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. at the Oxford County Council Chamber, 21 Reeve St., Woodstock,
ON.
Randy Thornton left at 9:06 a.m.
7.4. Community Strategic Plan
7.4.1. Goals for Committee Term
Discussed under item 7.2. Item to be brought forward at the next meeting for
further discussion.
7.5. Tillsonburg Hydro Inc.
Cedric Tomico made a delegation to Council at the meeting on Monday, April 8,
2019, to raise concerns from the development community in response to the
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Date: April 9, 2019
decision made by the THI Board of Directors to increase the costs included in
the Economic Evaluation Model and to increase the share of these costs paid by the developer.
Jesse Goossens on behalf of the Economic Development Advisory Committee,
made a deputation to Council at the meeting on Monday, April 8, 2019, to
express the committee’s concerns about impacts to competitiveness with respect to the decision made by the THI Board of Directors to increase the costs
included in the Economic Evaluation Model and to increase the share of these
costs paid by the developer.
In response to the committee’s report, Council passed a resolution requesting that the CAO provide an update report for the Council meeting of April 23, 2019,
and that a special meeting of the Shareholder of Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. and the
Board of Directors of Tillsonburg Hrydo Inc. be called on April 23, 2019, to
discuss the Economic Evaluation Model.
The CAO report will be provided to the committee at the next meeting and
circulated to the development community.
7.6. Town Hall Task Force
The RFP was released January 18, 2019, with a response deadline of April 30, 2019. Commercially Confidential Consultations were held April 3, 2019.
Deadline for questions is being extended along with the submission deadline to
sometime in May, 2019.
8. Committee Organization Updates 8.1. Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce
There was not a meeting in March.
Chamber Travel Trip to Spain is almost full.
Registration is still open for the TDCC Golf Tournament on June 20, 2019.
The TDCC welcomed four new Directors in January, 2019.
The TDCC sent another follow up letter to the THI Board of Directors regarding the increased costs included in the Economic Evaluation Model.
8.2. Downtown Business Improvement Association
The BIA Board of Director’s has been working on a Beautification Plan which will be initiated in early May.
The Board has also been working with the Turtlefest Committee, as well as
working towards improving BIA focal point signage and fixing the WIFI.
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Date: April 9, 2019
8.3. Tillsonburg District Real Estate Board Lindsay Morgan-Jacko will send out the stats once they become available, and
will also send out the Board’s Affordable Housing submission to the Province as
information.
8.4. Physician Recruitment No updates.
9. Correspondence
10. Other Business
11. Round table
Lindsay Tribble will be attending the Ontario Chamber of Commerce conference in
May, 2019.
Development Commissioner noted that a currently vacant facility may sell to an end
user shortly.
Kirby Heckford noted that Tillsonburg Developments Inc (Baldwin Place) will be back
in business shortly.
Lisa Gilvesy noted that two new coffee businesses are coming to Broadway
Mayor Stephen Molnar noted that the MP and MPP will be in attendance at next
week’s SCOR meeting.
Tax Ratios will be on County Council Agenda for Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
Information regarding the Regional Government Review can be found on the Town
website.
12. Next Meeting
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 7:30 a.m. at the Corporate Office in Suite 203, 200
Broadway, Tillsonburg, ON.
13. Adjournment
Proposed Resolution #3
Moved by: Lisa Gilvesy
Seconded by: Jim Hayes
THAT the April 9, 2019 Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting be adjourned at 9:23 a.m. Carried