1. INTENT TO DESIGNATE BELLS CORNERS BIA

INTENTION D’ÉTABLIR LA ZAC DE BELLS CORNERS

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1. Approve the area described in Document 1 to be designated as a Business Improvement Area (BIA), under Section 204 of the Municipal Act, 2001;

2. Authorize and direct the City Clerk and Solicitor to send out a notice of Council’s intention to pass a by-law designating the area, as defined in Document 1, as a Business Improvement Area, in accordance with Section 210 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

3. Authorize and direct the City Clerk and Solicitor:

a. to prepare a by-law to designate the area as a Business Improvement Area, as described in Document 1, to be named the “Bells Corners Business Improvement Area;”

b. to prepare a by-law to establish the Board of Management of the Business Improvement Area, to be named the “Bells Corners Business Improvement Area Board of Management;” and

4. Enact the two aforementioned by-laws in accordance with Section 204 of the Municipal Act, 2001, and subject to the City Clerk and Solicitor reporting favourably on the results of the intention to pass a by-law designating the area referred to in Recommendation 2.

RecommandationS du Comité

Que le Conseil:

1. approuve que le secteur décrit dans le document 1 ci-joint soit désigné « zone d’amélioration commerciale » (ZAC) en vertu de l’article 204 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités;

2. permette et donne instruction au greffier municipal et chef du contentieux de la Ville de publier un avis signifiant l’intention du Conseil d’adopter un règlement municipal désignant le secteur défini dans le document 1 ci-joint comme une « zone d’amélioration commerciale », conformément à l’article 210 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités;

3. permette et donne instruction au greffier municipal et chef du contentieux :

a. de préparer un règlement municipal désignant le secteur défini dans le document 1 ci-joint comme une « zone d’amélioration commerciale » qui portera le nom de « Zone d’amélioration commerciale de Bells Corners »;

b. de préparer un règlement municipal afin d’établir le conseil de gestion de la zone d’amélioration commerciale, qui portera le nom de « Conseil de gestion de la Zone d’amélioration commerciale de Bells Corners »; et

4. adopte les deux règlements municipaux susmentionnés en vertu de l’article 204 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités, et sous réserve d’un rapport favorable de la part du greffier municipal et chef du contentieux de la Ville sur les résultats de l’intention d’adopter un règlement municipal désignant le secteur mentionné à la recommandation 2.

DOCUMENTATION

1. Deputy City Manager of Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability report dated 29 September 2009 (ACS2009-ICS-CSS-0037)

2. Extract of Draft Minutes from 6 October 2009 meeting of CSEDC.

Report to/Rapport au :

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

and Council / et au Conseil

29 September 2009 / le 29 septembre 2009

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers,
Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe,

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability/Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Chris Cope, Acting Manager/Gestionnaire par intérim, Economic Development/Développement économique, Economic and Environmental Sustainability/Direction de la viabilité économique et de la durabilité de l’environnement

(613) 580-2424 x28991, Chris.Cope@Ottawa.ca

College (8)

Ref N°: ACS2009-ICS-CSS-0037

SUBJECT:	INTENT TO DESIGNATE BELLS CORNERS BIA

OBJET :	INTENTION D’ÉTABLIR LA ZAC DE BELLS CORNERS

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

1. Approve the area described in Document 1 to be designated as a Business Improvement Area (BIA), under Section 204 of the Municipal Act, 2001;

2. Authorize and direct the City Clerk and Solicitor to send out a notice of Council's intention to pass a by-law designating the area, as defined in Document 1, as a Business Improvement Area, in accordance with Section 210 of the Municipal Act, 2001;

3. Authorize and direct the City Clerk and Solicitor:

a. to prepare a by-law to designate the area as a Business Improvement Area, as described in Document 1, to be named the "Bells Corners Business Improvement Area;"

b. to prepare a by-law to establish the Board of Management of the Business Improvement Area, to be named the "Bells Corners Business Improvement Area Board of Management;" and

4. Enact the two aforementioned by-laws in accordance with section 204 of the Municipal Act, 2001, and subject to the City Clerk and Solicitor reporting favourably on the results of the intention to pass a by-law designating the area referred to in Recommendation 2.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

1. D’approuver que le secteur décrit dans le document 1 ci-joint soit désigné « zone d’amélioration commerciale » (ZAC) en vertu de l’article 204 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités;

2. De permettre et de donner instruction au greffier municipal et chef du contentieux de la Ville de publier un avis signifiant l’intention du Conseil d’adopter un règlement municipal désignant le secteur défini dans le document 1 ci-joint comme une « zone d’amélioration commerciale », conformément à l’article 210 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités;

3. De permettre et de donner instruction au greffier municipal et chef du contentieux :

4. D’adopter les deux règlements municipaux susmentionnés en vertu de l’article 204 de la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités, et sous réserve d’un rapport favorable de la part du greffier municipal et chef du contentieux de la Ville sur les résultats de l’intention d’adopter un règlement municipal désignant le secteur mentionné à la recommandation 2.

BACKGROUND

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of business people within a specified district who join together, with official approval from the City, in a self-help program aimed at stimulating local business. A BIA Board of Management is an organization set up to provide business promotion and improvement functions.

A BIA allows local business people and property owners to join together and, with the support of the municipality, organize, finance and carry out physical improvement and promote economic development in their district. The local municipality is the body responsible for establishing and approving the budget of the BIA.

The BIA concept has also spread beyond the boundaries of Ontario. The concept has been adopted by more than 1,500 communities across the United States and in most provinces in Canada. A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of businesses within a specified geographic area who join together, with official approval of the City, in a self-help program aimed at stimulating local business. They use their own money in an ongoing effort to draw more prospective customers to their area by improving the attractiveness of the area and promoting it as a good place to shop, visit and do business.

Once a BIA is approved by City Council, every business within its boundaries automatically becomes a member. There are no exceptions, under the principle that all who benefit should be required to bear their fair share of the cost of the program. While a BIA arises from the retail and professional activities of a main street, it has a profound effect on the surrounding area. It serves as an economic and social anchor, helping to stabilize and revitalize the local community.

The City of Ottawa currently has 15 BIAs that represent over 3,000 businesses.

The Economic Development Division has been working with the Bells Corners Steering Committee to establish a BIA within the area illustrated in Document 1. The Steering Committee is comprised of business operators and owners in the described area.

The Bells Corners BIA Steering Committee has completed a survey process within the proposed BIA boundary and has confirmed broad interest in designating a BIA in Bells Corners and is formally requesting that City Council adopt a by-law to establish a BIA pursuant to the Municipal Act Section 210.

The local Councillor for the area, Rick Chiarelli, has been very supportive of the initiatives of the Steering Committee and is a strong advocate for the creation of a BIA for Bells Corners.

The next step in the process is a requirement that Council authorize the City Clerk and Solicitor to send out a Notice of Intention to designate the area as a BIA to all property owners in the affected area.

The property owner must then, within 30 days after the notice is mailed, give a copy of the notice to each tenant of the property to which the notice relates who is required to pay all or part of the taxes on the property.

For the purpose of defeating the by-law, the municipality’s period for receiving sufficient objections is two months from the latest day of mailing of the notice by the municipality.

Council cannot pass a proposed BIA by-law if the municipality receives a petition signed by at least one-third of the persons entitled to notice who are responsible for at least one-third of the tax on property in the proposed BIA.

DISCUSSION

The Bells Corners community has seen little commercial growth over the past several years. The current residential population is approximately 10,000. Bells Corners does contain a strong mix of retail, restaurant, and big box stores, including major national retailers such as Canadian Tire, Winners, Metro, Staples, and Loblaws.

Many business owners are concerned about losing sales to other areas of the city, and these businesses rely heavily on Bells Corners residents for support. The BIA is seen as a tool to help revitalize and maintain a dynamic local neighbourhood, and to promote the area as a business, shopping and hospitality destination. The majority of businesses in Bells Corners would like to see marketing initiatives and especially beautification of the area. There are at least two abandoned buildings on the main street (Robertson Road) of which the existing businesses would like to see major physical improvements. A BIA will also be able to provide critical information and communication resources that will ensure existing businesses grow stronger, and new or potential businesses have all available current knowledge to make educated decisions.

A BIA will provide Bells Corners business and property owners with a direct link to the City of Ottawa. It will facilitate timely information sharing with and among area developers, businesses and property owners, on areas such as access to planning and zoning information, up-to-date statistical information.

The Bells Corners Steering Committee has successfully undertaken a preliminary survey process and distribution of information to businesses within the boundaries shown in Document 1. Some 358 Bells Corners businesses were canvassed in-store. In most cases, a face-to-face interview was conducted. When senior management was unavailable, a survey was provided to the business.

The results of the survey concluded that nearly 80 percent of businesses are overwhelmingly in favour of a Business Improvement Area in Bells Corners and although approximately 15 per cent of businesses surveyed did not provide a response, the results suggest that the business community is well behind the initiative.

The following charts are illustrative of the type of question asked and the high level of support suggested. These samples provide a perspective on both the methodology of the survey and the strong encouragement indicated by businesses that responded.

Question 1: "Do you feel an organized effort would improve your business?"

When asked this question, 78 per cent of the business interviewed said yes

Question 2: “Do you feel coordinated efforts to promote and market Bells Corners would improve your business?”

When asked this question Again, 78 per cent responded with an affirmative answer.

Question 3: “Do you see the benefits of BIA members undertaking joint Bells Corners business development initiatives?”

Some 65 per cent of respondents indicated that they felt a joint business development effort would be beneficial to their business,

CONSULTATION

In an effort to provide information on the BIA proposal to businesses in the Bells Corners community, and to establish their level of support, the Ward Councillor (Chiarelli) has organized and hosted a number of public meetings over the past year. Issues discussed at these meetings included creating a stronger voice for businesses in Bells Corners; enhancing communications with City Hall (e.g. more timely information on zoning applications); more effective marketing of Bells Corners as a retail and hospitality destination; as well as community policing. The local business and property owners in attendance demonstrated considerable support in favour of the creation of a BIA.

The Steering Committee has also designated in-person canvassing of over 200 businesses, and purchased websites that will provide information on the status of the BIA's formation efforts.

Economic Development staff has consulted regularly with representatives from the Bells Corners Steering Committee leading up to their formal request to the City to designate a BIA.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

There are no legal or risk management impediments to approving the recommendations in this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are funded by a special levy to owners and tenants within the designated area based on the annual budget requirement submitted by the BIA's Board of Management, and subsequently approved by Council.

As part of the City's Finance Department, the Financial Support Unit has provided financial support to all BIAs. Since amalgamation, BIAs have grown significantly; with the addition of four BIAs, one BIA revitalization and two BIA expansions. During this growth, total FSU resource levels have declined; while this additional BIA can be accommodated, any further growth may require additional resources.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 Bells Corners BIA Proposed Boundary Map

Document 2 Compilation of Research Upon In-store Canvassing

DISPOSITION

The City Clerk and Solicitor will forward notices as provided for in the Municipal Act, 2001. A further report will be submitted detailing the results of the circulation and next steps to implement this request.

The City Clerk and Solicitor Department will prepare the two by-laws to:

(i) designate the area as a Business Improvement Area, as described in Document 1, to be named the Bells Corners Business Improvement Area;"

(ii) establish the Board of Management of the Business Improvement Area, to be named the "Bells Corners Business Improvement Area Board of Management;" and

(iii) place the two aforementioned by-laws on the Orders of the Day, subject to the responses to the aforementioned notices."

BELLS CORNERS BIA PROPOSED BOUNDARIES DOCUMENT 1

The proposed Bells Corners Business Improvement Area boundaries will include the following addresses:

§ 299 to 435 Moodie Drive

§ 1 to 195 Robertson Rd.

§ 3655 to 3825 Richmond Rd.

§ 18 to 50 Northside Rd.

§ 6 to 20 Bexley Place

§ 1 to 34 Stafford Rd.