Minutes of General Meeting
May
18, 2005
Parksville
Community Centre
7:30
A.M.
In Attendance: Bruce Cownden,
Chair
Manley LaFoy
Egon Kuhn
Zweitse deWit
Helen
Sims
Brandon Miller
Joanna Smith Tait
Bob Dean
Art Cowie
Bob Taylor
Rob Hill
Guest:
Councillor
Scott Tanner, Town of Qualicum Beach
Marilyn Hayden, Recording Secretary
Guest Speaker: Caroline
Grover, City of Parksville Economic Development Officer
Bruce Cownden called the meeting
to order at 7:40 A.M. and introduced Caroline Grover.
Introductions were made around the table. Bruce turned the meeting over to Caroline Grover
·
Previous position as Economic
Development Officer for Salmon Arm.
·
Worked with Kamloops land
developers
·
Member of Kamloops Homebuilders
Assoc.
·
Keen interest in construction.
Caroline presented the Shuswap
Construction Industry Professionals Directory 2005 for ODCA to review.
Such a directory would be advantageous for trades in Oceanside area to
identify and assist businesses and homeowners in acquiring local quotes.
(Referred to Executive Committee).
·
The SCIP in Salmon Arm has a
full time director.
·
The SCIP in Salmon Arm work with
youth under 30 years to assist with soft skills and hands on employment.
2004 marked the beginning of the “Residential Construction Program”
forming a partnership with Okanagan University College and School District #83
to provide 1st year carpentry training to 17 students.
At the present time they are building a house.
·
The priority in Parksville is
the waterfront and downtown.
·
Vision for Parksville:
o
More development and more
manufacturing
o
More senior projects
o
More affordable housing – the
area needs families as well as retirement community to sustain the city.
·
Parksville at the present time
has a lack of rental accommodations. Would
like to put a group together to address this issue.
·
Economic Development Officer
role:
o
Working with the City of
Parksville on contract, not an employee
o
Bring on interpretive discussion
o
Proactive selling planning to
the municipality
o
Report to Fred Manson, Chief
Administrative Officer
o
Have direct access to City
Council
Discussion around the table:
·
There are challenges obtaining
land to develop a mental health rental project.
·
The City of Vancouver allows
vertical suites in homes providing a second income for owners as well as
affordable rental housing. Would
like to see the project developed by private enterprise rather than government
developed.
·
Landlords get so many
applications for rental units that respective tenants are now being turned
down.
·
Workshop in Cumberland “Saving
Small Towns”.
·
Qualicum Beach has approved
tenant quarters above detached garages in a new development on Memorial Ave.
·
There is a need for some type of
primary healthcare in Oceanside.
·
Caroline stated that she will
pursue these issues.
Caroline will be making
recommendations to City Council for an Economic Development Advisory Committee
in the fall with sector representation and would welcome a representative from
the ODCA.
- Hopes to assist in changing
the climate between developers and the municipality.
- Would like to meet further
with the ODCA for recommendations on process.
Bruce Cownden thanked Caroline
for attending the meeting and speaking with the members.
Next Executive Meeting:
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 12
noon Economic
Development Office,
Parksville
Next
General Meeting:
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:30
A.M.
Parksville Community Centre