Township passes on consultant in revitalization
By Sue Tiffin
Minden
Hills council has opted to turn back to the community rather than hire a
consultant to get input into a main street revitalization project.
Hills council has opted to turn back to the community rather than hire a
consultant to get input into a main street revitalization project.
Emily
Stonehouse, economic development, destination and marketing officer,
returned to council on July 25 with research into three different
consulting firms, which she conducted under council’s direction from a
June 27 council meeting.
Stonehouse, economic development, destination and marketing officer,
returned to council on July 25 with research into three different
consulting firms, which she conducted under council’s direction from a
June 27 council meeting.
Stonehouse
noted it was a general inquiry she was presenting, to determine if
council wanted to use a consultant to help plan use of main street
revitalization initiative funding to properly implement the newly
adopted community improvement plan.
noted it was a general inquiry she was presenting, to determine if
council wanted to use a consultant to help plan use of main street
revitalization initiative funding to properly implement the newly
adopted community improvement plan.
A
total of $43,031 was allocated to Minden Hills through the province’s
Main Street Revitalization Initiative, for projects aimed at supporting
and benefiting small businesses. A meeting held among stakeholders in
April 2018 brought forward suggestions including public washrooms; a
park for children to play; and beautification efforts.
total of $43,031 was allocated to Minden Hills through the province’s
Main Street Revitalization Initiative, for projects aimed at supporting
and benefiting small businesses. A meeting held among stakeholders in
April 2018 brought forward suggestions including public washrooms; a
park for children to play; and beautification efforts.
So
far, $6,000 has been used for downtown murals, $7,000 will be used for
decorative lighting in August 2019 and $30,031 is the remaining amount
available for community improvement plan consultation and
implementation. Any funds remaining after that would be used for the
original projects proposed, according to Stonehouse’s report. She has in
the past presented a list of items on which that money could be spent
that included the aforementioned projects as well as $5,000 for waste
receptacles in downtown Minden; $5,000 for benches; $1,500 for custom
planter boxes; $10,000 for additional planters; $1,500 for hanging
baskets; $1,000 for event signage; $5,000 to beautify the bus stop area
at Minden Mercantile and Feed Co., and $1,000 to upgrade shrub beds.
far, $6,000 has been used for downtown murals, $7,000 will be used for
decorative lighting in August 2019 and $30,031 is the remaining amount
available for community improvement plan consultation and
implementation. Any funds remaining after that would be used for the
original projects proposed, according to Stonehouse’s report. She has in
the past presented a list of items on which that money could be spent
that included the aforementioned projects as well as $5,000 for waste
receptacles in downtown Minden; $5,000 for benches; $1,500 for custom
planter boxes; $10,000 for additional planters; $1,500 for hanging
baskets; $1,000 for event signage; $5,000 to beautify the bus stop area
at Minden Mercantile and Feed Co., and $1,000 to upgrade shrub beds.
Stantec,
which presented a community improvement plan to the township in June,
declined working on the project. Stonehouse found Stempski Kelly
Associations was able to conduct the project for approximately $20,000
while MBTW/WAI could do so for $30,000. Staff recommended Stempski Kelly
Associations for being more community-minded.
Councillor Jean
Neville said she still had an objection to using the money for
consultants, noting she thought the committee of shareholders who had
previously engaged on the topic should be involved.
which presented a community improvement plan to the township in June,
declined working on the project. Stonehouse found Stempski Kelly
Associations was able to conduct the project for approximately $20,000
while MBTW/WAI could do so for $30,000. Staff recommended Stempski Kelly
Associations for being more community-minded.
Councillor Jean
Neville said she still had an objection to using the money for
consultants, noting she thought the committee of shareholders who had
previously engaged on the topic should be involved.
“I
think that’s really important that we’re thinking of spending this
money on a consultant instead of for positive changes on the main
street, because I think between staff and some business owners that have
done an excellent job, some of them, so far, that this could be done
internally with this group and not have to spend that money on a
consultant,” she said. “I mean, $20,000 or $30,000 could do a lot to
revitalize the main street, and that’s what it was intended for. I just
don’t like spending money on consultants or something that I think is
possible to be done by people living here.”
think that’s really important that we’re thinking of spending this
money on a consultant instead of for positive changes on the main
street, because I think between staff and some business owners that have
done an excellent job, some of them, so far, that this could be done
internally with this group and not have to spend that money on a
consultant,” she said. “I mean, $20,000 or $30,000 could do a lot to
revitalize the main street, and that’s what it was intended for. I just
don’t like spending money on consultants or something that I think is
possible to be done by people living here.”
Stonehouse
said she had talked to some businesses and said “it kind of goes right
down the middle with what people want, to be totally honest.” She noted
it was beneficial for her to hear what councillors thought was the best
option for the community.
said she had talked to some businesses and said “it kind of goes right
down the middle with what people want, to be totally honest.” She noted
it was beneficial for her to hear what councillors thought was the best
option for the community.
Councillor
Bob Carter said he agreed with Neville, and said he “could not be more
against us going out and getting another consultant.” He said that since
he first ran in last year’s election, he’s had people come to him to
tell him about the committees they had been on in the past, and the
reports they had developed regarding projects like the Riverwalk.
Bob Carter said he agreed with Neville, and said he “could not be more
against us going out and getting another consultant.” He said that since
he first ran in last year’s election, he’s had people come to him to
tell him about the committees they had been on in the past, and the
reports they had developed regarding projects like the Riverwalk.
“I’m
sure we probably have a number of reports that are sitting on the shelf
that tell us pretty much what we should be doing in the downtown area,”
he said. “…we have real things that need to be done, whether it’s
garbage cans or flowers, or park benches or whatever. I’m sure that this
committee is capable of doing or deciding what needs to be done. I
don’t want to pay for a consultant who’s probably going to just rebrand
one of those names on there, and change the name of the town and give us
the same report they’ve been giving everybody else, and we pay $20,000
to get a colour palette or something like that. I understand there’s
more to it, but boy, I would really like that we spend money on actually
doing something as opposed to a consultant.”
sure we probably have a number of reports that are sitting on the shelf
that tell us pretty much what we should be doing in the downtown area,”
he said. “…we have real things that need to be done, whether it’s
garbage cans or flowers, or park benches or whatever. I’m sure that this
committee is capable of doing or deciding what needs to be done. I
don’t want to pay for a consultant who’s probably going to just rebrand
one of those names on there, and change the name of the town and give us
the same report they’ve been giving everybody else, and we pay $20,000
to get a colour palette or something like that. I understand there’s
more to it, but boy, I would really like that we spend money on actually
doing something as opposed to a consultant.”
Mayor
Brent Devolin said that in his four-and-a-half years on council, “we
can’t even get the business community to create a BIA,” despite multiple
opportunities.
Brent Devolin said that in his four-and-a-half years on council, “we
can’t even get the business community to create a BIA,” despite multiple
opportunities.
Deputy
Mayor Lisa Schell said she agreed with Neville and Carter, and that if
there was more funding, she could understand hiring a consultant, but
with the money available, it could buy a lot of “tangible things” that
the community would see.
Mayor Lisa Schell said she agreed with Neville and Carter, and that if
there was more funding, she could understand hiring a consultant, but
with the money available, it could buy a lot of “tangible things” that
the community would see.
“And
I think there’s enough experience and whatever you want to call it,
good taste, within the community services and the economic development
department, that I think between Emily and Mark [Coleman, community
services director] they could make some decisions that would benefit
everybody and we’d have something we can touch,” she said.
I think there’s enough experience and whatever you want to call it,
good taste, within the community services and the economic development
department, that I think between Emily and Mark [Coleman, community
services director] they could make some decisions that would benefit
everybody and we’d have something we can touch,” she said.
Councillor
Jennifer Hughey said that she admitted she had suggested to Stonehouse
to look into Stantec to use as a consultant, but after seeing the
amounts of money the township had spent on consulting previously, had
reconsidered.
Jennifer Hughey said that she admitted she had suggested to Stonehouse
to look into Stantec to use as a consultant, but after seeing the
amounts of money the township had spent on consulting previously, had
reconsidered.
“And I think we all trust Emily to make the best decision,” she said.
Neville
again said the downtown business shareholders meetings had been
productive and she expected the group would be happy to have a consensus
on what the downtown area looked like. She said she anticipated that
the committee would make decisions that “would be better than good.”
again said the downtown business shareholders meetings had been
productive and she expected the group would be happy to have a consensus
on what the downtown area looked like. She said she anticipated that
the committee would make decisions that “would be better than good.”
“…and
you’d have Made in Minden, and that’s what it should be, and it would
be Made in Minden by the people involved and they would be much more
supportive and proud of it if they did it themselves, along with Emily
and Mark, of course,” she said.
you’d have Made in Minden, and that’s what it should be, and it would
be Made in Minden by the people involved and they would be much more
supportive and proud of it if they did it themselves, along with Emily
and Mark, of course,” she said.
Sayne said she had recently returned to her hometown and had taken note of their spending toward accessibility.
“It
was just amazing to see this little town where I grew up which is like
Minden in so many ways, and what they’ve incorporated,” she said. “I
think that we can do that as a municipality and we have the ability to
do that, and that’s where our designing and consulting money should go. I
think that we do have the artistic ability, we have the motivation of
people downtown that want to work together. The BIA, yes, that has been a
quagmire for a very long time, and I don’t think that’s the best model,
so why don’t we just say that’s not the best model, and see what comes
up in a more rounded way.”
was just amazing to see this little town where I grew up which is like
Minden in so many ways, and what they’ve incorporated,” she said. “I
think that we can do that as a municipality and we have the ability to
do that, and that’s where our designing and consulting money should go. I
think that we do have the artistic ability, we have the motivation of
people downtown that want to work together. The BIA, yes, that has been a
quagmire for a very long time, and I don’t think that’s the best model,
so why don’t we just say that’s not the best model, and see what comes
up in a more rounded way.”
Township
CAO and treasurer Lorrie Blanchard said she thought there needed to be
clearer direction in order to spend the downtown revitalization money
and also move forward and implement the community improvement plan. She
asked if council still wanted a plan, or no plan at all.
CAO and treasurer Lorrie Blanchard said she thought there needed to be
clearer direction in order to spend the downtown revitalization money
and also move forward and implement the community improvement plan. She
asked if council still wanted a plan, or no plan at all.
“This is a 180-turn direction, just so you know today,” said Devolin.
Carter
responded that he wasn’t dizzy, and so was “good with that.” He
suggested having a list of extras, like what has been done for the arena
project. He said it wouldn’t please everybody but would offer a way to
prioritize.
responded that he wasn’t dizzy, and so was “good with that.” He
suggested having a list of extras, like what has been done for the arena
project. He said it wouldn’t please everybody but would offer a way to
prioritize.
Stonehouse
said she would be happy to strike a committee, but raised concerns
about the upcoming deadline for spending the funds, which is March 31,
2020.
said she would be happy to strike a committee, but raised concerns
about the upcoming deadline for spending the funds, which is March 31,
2020.
Sayne
said she too liked the idea of a community committee, but said that at
this busy time in the summer season, it might be difficult to pull
people together.
said she too liked the idea of a community committee, but said that at
this busy time in the summer season, it might be difficult to pull
people together.
“I
know there’s lots of great ideas out there, I hear them just walking
down the street,” she said. “You could be doing this, why aren’t you
doing that? I can’t go from one end of the street to the other without
hearing some really good practical ideas … I like that idea of a
committee.”
know there’s lots of great ideas out there, I hear them just walking
down the street,” she said. “You could be doing this, why aren’t you
doing that? I can’t go from one end of the street to the other without
hearing some really good practical ideas … I like that idea of a
committee.”
Stonehouse
said there had been a committee prior to her start with the township,
who had narrowed down what the funding should be spent on.
said there had been a committee prior to her start with the township,
who had narrowed down what the funding should be spent on.
Carter
said if a list already exists, he was “pretty certain there are going
to be some things on that list that are pretty obvious,” and said
Stonehouse and Coleman together with a new committee or the committee of
the past could spend money to fund those things.
“I’d think you go with the list,” he said. “We’ve been creating lists forever, let’s start working on what’s on the list.”
said if a list already exists, he was “pretty certain there are going
to be some things on that list that are pretty obvious,” and said
Stonehouse and Coleman together with a new committee or the committee of
the past could spend money to fund those things.
“I’d think you go with the list,” he said. “We’ve been creating lists forever, let’s start working on what’s on the list.”
Blanchard
said there is a need for a colour palette and streetscape design, and
said that hopefully by the end of September, Stonehouse could gather
“enough folks” to help with those kinds of decisions.
said there is a need for a colour palette and streetscape design, and
said that hopefully by the end of September, Stonehouse could gather
“enough folks” to help with those kinds of decisions.
“Some
of the money was going toward flowers, in my opinion that’s a one-shot
deal,” she said. “Flowers die, next year you no longer have that money,
so it would be nice to order things that are a little more permanent
with those funds.” She said the committee would help move forward toward
a formalized plan that could be used to implement the CIP.
