MAYOR OFFERS VISION
FOR SECHELT
BUSINESS COMMUNITY
photo- Denise Olaguer
On October 13th a packed house of 85 business people
met at the Blue Heron Restaurant to hear Mayor Bruce
Milne present a refined vision of Sechelt’s
future. Even he admits the vision is quite different
than that presented to the Chamber of Commerce only
a few short years ago.
“Sechelt is Open for Business”
was the recurring theme throughout his hi-tech presentation.
Using a 13 slide PowerPoint show (available on the
Internet through the Sechelt Chamber’s Web
site www.secheltchamber.bc.ca) the Mayor spoke to
the issues facing the business community and how
council has been working as a team to address their
concerns.
Following a brief introduction of
the new Sechelt Economic Development Partnership
by chairperson, Chris McNaughton, there was an informative
presentation by the architects and landscape architects
for the new Canadian Tire store scheduled to open
this spring in Wilson Creek.
Then, after a brief introduction from
Chamber President Claude Boisvert, an easy going,
sometimes comical Bruce Milne, filled in time and
quipped with the hungry crowd as the digital projector
set-up took a little longer than expected.
The Mayor spoke clearly without the aid of a microphone,
sometimes moving out towards the crowd with gestures
of inclusion. As he went through each of the slides,
the crowd was reminded repeatedly that Sechelt now
had a mayor, council and administration that was
moving forward into an age of growing prosperity.
The following section is a paraphrased
version of the Mayor’s presentation as it pertained
to the slides. Downloading and launching the PowerPoint
Show may assist the reader but is not necessary.
1 - District of Sechelt - Developing
Our Community
The title of the presentation alone foreshadowed
the shift taken by this Council in this, the first
of its three-year term. A photograph of the Davis
Bay seawall as a background to Mayor Milne’s
introduction brought the familiar landmark to mind
as an identifiable accomplishment.
2 - What we accomplished The 1998
- 2000 Economic Plan
Mayor Milne stressed that his administration was
providing good government and pointed out the major
accomplishments of the past year. Transportation
issues surfaced in the form of the Sechelt Airport.
He showed the importance of modifying the way this
community asset is being run by referencing a recently
completed report, “The Langley Airport Manager
recommended changes, they are being done”
“Downtown Revitalization improvements
are being installed.” A resident of Sechelt
could not help but notice the improvements to Cowrie
Street and other areas of the downtown core. The
Mayor was quick to serve praise to the Sechelt Downtown
Business Association for the instigation of many
of these changes and spoke of the continuing cooperative
attitude between local government and business associations.
“Industrial Land Study: this
report was presented to property owners to help
them market their land.” and this work continues
with council taking an active role to make information
available to the real-estate industry and property
owners.
The Mayor recognized a need to change
the local government’s attitude towards serving
applications for building and renovation permits
as well as providing easy access to staff for addressing
other municipal development concerns. For example
“the average processing time for a building
permit is four days,” which is - a vast improvement.
Gone are the days of providing metropolitan
city standards of lighting, underground wiring and
wide sidewalks to rural areas. “Bylaw 30 has
been rewritten” to more accurately reflect
in keeping with the “country lifestyle”
aspect of the areas outside Sechelt’s downtown
core.
After citing these accomplishments
the mayor repeated for emphasis the need for business
to take the lead and provide more positive success
models leaving the District free to provide “good
government.”
3 - The Community Plan Vision for
Sechelt
As this slide came on the screen Mayor Milne introduced
what has been the vision statement of the “Official
Community Plan.” He purposefully tripped over
this clumsily worded document making it obvious
that simplification and clarity would be needed.
“The Overall Goal is to create a diversified
and ecologically sound community. Attractive, Prosperous,
Healthy and Safe which is culturally and socially
fulfilling.”
4 - Refining the Vision
“A prosperous, complete and sustainable community”
is the new moniker for a Sechelt with a vision.
This simplified and yet more encompassing statement
brings our strengths together to build a brighter
future.
5 - Complete Community
We all understand what a Prosperous community is,
but what is a Complete community? The mayor has
defined the complete community as a community with
a Distinct Identity encompassing Culture, Arts and
Jobs.
6 - Sustainable Community
And in order to sustain a prosperous and complete
community we need to develop a diverse and stable
economy as part of the regional role that Sechelt
plays on the Sunshine Coast. The “Central Coast”
as Mayor Milne often refers to Sechelt, is the centre
for government services. With plans for the new
RCMP station and courthouse underway, and the knowledge
the SCRD will need to move out of their antiquated
facilities at the Royal Terraces, the latest plans
for Block 7 could also include more public sector
facilities.
7- Federation of Independent Business
Recommendations for Local Government
Mayor Milne then presented the following recommendations
as a part of the District’s plan to communicate
with businesses and residents alike.
• Demonstrate how services are
being provided in the most cost effective way
• Fair administration of regulations, services
and taxation
• Focus on the whole business community, rather
than individual firms
• Remove barriers, rather than providing assistance
• Treat local businesses as citizens
The municipal act is very clear. Providing assistance
to an individual business is unfair to it’s
competitors and therefore, where possible, the goal
is to remove barriers for all businesses.
8 - Guide for Local Government
The Mayor explained that the Real Estate Foundation,
Ministry for Small Business and others have developed
an agenda for action. The subsequent definition
of leadership has been adopted.
“In today’s complex world not only are
the solutions unclear, but the problems themselves
are often hard to define. Leadership in the modern
context means encouraging others to join in a common
venture, supporting the group as it works to reach
a solution together.”
Agenda for Action
1. Achieving consensus about how business fits into
the community
2. Continual review of District operations
3. Supporting local businesses
4. Taking a leadership role
9 - Consensus about the role of
business
How does business fit in the community
fabric?
Mayor Milne explained that this question would be
a major subject for the Mayor, Council and administration
now and in the near future. What are the components
that residents and businesses want developed in
order to achieve the prosperity and jobs spoken
of earlier?
The District of Sechelt has already
started with New Community Pride initiatives, building
community culture and instituting the “Gifts
to Community” program.
Mayor and Council, in conjunction
with the entire community, will add a Business Section
to the Official Community Plan. This is intended
to reconcile the business and community groups who
are looking for ways of providing public and private
services to meet the community’s needs.
Through the Sechelt Economic Development
Partnership, the Mayor and Council will continue
promoting the community partnership model for economic
development and support Community Futures to attract
and empower small enterprise.
10 - Continual Review of District
Operations
Mayor Milne explained how there will be a strategic
plan for the airport’s future use, how bylaws
would be reviewed to revise road and utility service
standards, and how there will be a review of Development
Cost Charges (DCCs) and property taxes. Council
will continue a freeze on commercial tax rates and
the district will not compete with private business
by reserving Block 7 for public use.
11- Support Local Businesses
In recognition of the services rendered, The District
of Sechelt will continue to support the Chamber
of Commerce’s Visitor Information Centre by
providing an annual grant-in-aid.
The Downtown Business Association is working to
renew the Improvement Area Legislation and is coordinating
the “Gifts to Community” project; a program
which allows citizens and businesses to make meaningful
contributions in the name of loved ones.
Mayor Milne explained how the District
is preparing information packages to give to potential
businesses and investors. It will convey the message
that Sechelt is open for business and can provide
the infrastructure to accommodate value added, hi-tech
and other low impact industries. The District’s
“Database 2000”, a demographic study of
the region, has been available since the beginning
of the year.
In conjunction with the Sechelt Chamber and the
Sechelt Economic Development Partnership, opportunities
for new businesses are being identified. When this
study is complete the district will advertise business
start up opportunities to encourage planned economic
development.
12 - Sechelt Marketing Plan
By participating and initiating through the Chamber
of Commerce, the Sechelt Economic Development Partnership,
staff and council have begun to prepare a marketing
plan. The main message of the plan is simply identifying,
“Sechelt as a good place to be.”
In addition the plan will promote
‘New Economy’ education, opportunities
and infrastructure. It will provide information
to help commercial and industrial property owners
attract new businesses to their properties.
The main message brought by the Mayor
was the need to develop depth in our economy. Re-defining
the Sechelt of the near future as “A prosperous,
complete and sustainable community” speaks
volumes to a vision of leadership and optimism.
It is a clear mandate for success in the business
climate of Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast.
- fin -
