A bi-monthly publication covering events, news and committee reviews - A Member Benefit!

NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER, 2000

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 -

What you can do to support YOUR Chamber

YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER IS IMPORTANT RENEW your membership today! Chamber renewal forms are available at the office in Trail Bay Mall or e-mail below. ENCOURAGE non-member businesses to join! SHARE your ideas! COMMIT TO VOLUNTEER for a committee or project in the Year 2001 and give us an indication of your skills & interests! YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR COMMUNITY... JUST PARTICIPATE!!! email: secheltchamber@dccnet.com or Call the Chamber Today - 885-0662

Plans are underway to restore the Davis Bay Wharf. The original wharf was built in the mid-1920’s and served the seaside community well until the early 1980’s when it was rebuilt by Chevron. It then served the community in a different capacity. A few years ago the ownership reverted to The District of Sechelt.

The Davis Bay Wharf Restoration Project (DBWRP) is a community effort to restore the Davis Bay wharf as a community and tourist attraction. As you can see from the artist’s rendering a gazebo, and other covered building could provide ample room for fishing and avoid exposure to the elements.

This project will be one of the first community based projects to be presented to the newly created Sechelt Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) for evaluation and support.

Building on the recent success of the Sechelt Downtown Business Association in receiving a CEAI funding grant of $250,000 towards the construction of the Sechelt Pier and Marine Gateway Park, these community initiatives supported by our Chamber of Commerce, to provide long term economic benefits to our local business communities.

For more information on this and other projects supported by your Chamber, contact the Chamber Manager, Melinda Konings at 885-0662.

Warren Allen, Vice President

You should see four 10 ft x 60 ft and six 10 ft. x 35 ft. concrete sections showing up at our pier site next week. The following week we will have a deck set in place 10 ft. wide by 270 ft. long which includes an "L" shape at the end 30 ft x 70 ft.

Community Spirit is mounting for our project. Construction Aggregates welders are volunteering their time to pre fabricate the handrails and weld them into place. This is a huge donation of time by these men. When you see them out there working please go by and give them a wave of appreciation. They will be putting in some pretty long hours in their shop to have the steel handrails complete and ready to install about mid November. A temporary chain link fence will be installed to keep the site safe until the handrails are ready to install.

There has been a number of future options built into the pier design. For example, there is room for a decorative cap up to 3" deep that will allow for stamped concrete or other unique artistic designs to be incorporated into the pier deck. Got any ideas? In addition the modular construction leaves many options available for future planning.

It appears Petro Canada has taken some soil samples and will be coming back to us with their results in a month. After their legal responsibility for site clean up has been fulfilled we will be pursuing further discussions with regards to the future of the property.

We are in the process of working through uses for the site, one possibility is the Chamber and Visitor Info relocating there. Special events regattas and artisans will be encouraged commercialized activities will be discouraged. We are open to proposals or suggestions from individuals or organizations. If there are any good ideas out there it is important to get them in to us whicle we are in the planning stages.

So much of what we will be able to do on the site will depend on the road being realigned, moving it from the front of lot 17 at the pier entrance to the back of the property immediately adjacent to the Petro-Canada property . We are still working with the District on this as it takes a lot of planning.

Participating merchants will be advertised in the following:
Reporter - full page and 1/2 page
Advertiser - full page
Bag stuffers-participatingn merchants insert in sales bags
posters throughout the Village

Shop and Win
The annual Christmas Shop and Win contest (November 20 - December 17) features a grand prize of $1000 and a second prize of $500. Participating merchants collect tickets (receipts or paper with name/telphone) from cutomers throughout the promotion. This ever-popular contes attracts thousands of entries.

Treasure Hunt
Customers will receive a map with riddles to solve. Clues will be placed in participating merchants stores for customers to find. Once the clues are collected the map can be completed and entered in a draw to win prizes.

Red Christmas Bows
Help create an over all festive tone, tie up the Village in Large Red Velvet Bows.

Caroling Hay Ride
Dec 15th, 7 - 9 we have a flatbed truck loaded with hay and lights ready to roll. Reg Dickson will lead us in Christmas Carols.

Decorated Store Front Contest
Show off your creativity and watch as shoppers delight in your store front. Throughout Dec 11-13 our celebrity panel of judges will visit downtown shops and cast their votes for the best decorated store front.

Call Deb Hodgkin at the SDBA 885-9611 for more info

 

BC FERRY CORPORATION - TARIFF REVIEW

The philosophy of this review is very positive, because it intends to establish and adhere to basic principles to finally bring structure, fairness, equity and transparency into the entire fare structure of BCFC. (p.4 ...distance was identified as the most acceptable criterion on which to develop an equitable fare structure; p.6. It is important to establish a tariff structure that will withstand this scrutiny and gain public support; p.7. BC Ferries has now adopted a more customer-oriented concept of equity. For customers, an equitable tariff is one that treats all travelers equally on all routes.p. 8. It is reasonable to expect discount rates for pre paid tickets to be the same on all routes where they are offered).

However, in the application of these principles to realities the existing discrimination against the Sunshine Coast (S.C.) routes will be perpetuated, at least until year 5. (S.C. routes are: R. 3 Langdale - Horseshoe Bay - Langdale; R. 7 Earls Cove - Saltery Bay; R. 13 Langdale - Keats - Gambier; R. 17. Powell River - Comox)

The following facts are listed below in support of the above statement:

Option 1 is utterly and completely unacceptable, because it perpetuates the existing status quo for us, whereby we pay far too much for ferry travel and commercial rates.

Option 2. Rates - at first sight it will result in a small reduction of $ -.25 for passengers, and in equity in year 3, or more likely in year 5. However, we need full relief now!

Pre Paid Ticket Discounts - utterly and completely unacceptable. It would reduce our present discounts (make us pay more!) from presently passenger (p) 28.4 % and vehicles (v) 17.8 % to a measly p. 25 % and v 15 %. For routes 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 the discounts would be substantially increased to p 46 % and v 41 %! We have to pay more, they pay less!

Therefore, option 2 is utterly and completely unacceptable.
Option 3. This seems to be more acceptable, because ultimately in year 5 it would bring some equity to the whole system. It has, however, major flaws in the foreseeable future!

Rates: It stipulates that “no downward equity adjustments are applied”. Because BCFC charges us each year (and for several years past) $ 2.80 million more than the equity rate allows them to do, this proviso is unacceptable. We need an immediate/year 1 reduction to equity rates now!

Pre Paid Ticket Discounts: A ceiling for all routes of p 45 % and v 40 % will be enforced. However, our measly discounts will not be adjusted upwards. (This flies in the face of the “principle” p. 8).

Commercial Rates: Accepting the same principle as for p/v fares of “liftoff plus distance” our fares are far too high compared with the major routes 1/2/30 (Vancouver to Vancouver Island). Instead of the proposed S.C. rate (p. 46) of $ 3.40 CPI adjusted per foot, it should be a mere $ 2.80 per foot!

Unlike “fares/discounts” where an individual has a choice whether to travel or not, commercial rates affect every person on our S.C. Everything that comes to our coast or leaves our coast has an element of “freight costs” in it. It will increase the selling price for local consumers and reduces the earnings for goods from our cost if sold offcoast. BCFC does not publish figures related to commercial traffic, so it is difficult to accurately assess the extent of financial losses suffered by the public on our S.C. Suffice it to say that they might run into millions, because of what we are paying to BCFC is over 20 % more than what we should. Practically every morning we hear on the radio about “One sailing wait for overhead vehicles from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale”. If we watch at the terminals the long queues of commercial vehicles, we get confirmation of the huge volume of goods that are rated at unfair, inflated commercial rates. (vide my letter to Bob Lingwoods dated 9th September 2000).

Summing Up - Now is the time for all leaders in our communities, Local Governments, Boards, Trade Associations, Seniors, Community Associations etc. to voice their objections to the discriminatory treatment that has been meted out by BCFC to our residents/tourists. Option 3 is the preferred one, but our “comments” should point out that we need immediate relief now as to rates, we need higher discounts in line with other “ferry dependent communities” and that our commercial rates must be brought down to “equity levels”.

Jakob Knaus - Transportation and Education Committee

Some of the initiatives that we are currently working on:

Youth Entrepreneurship Program - working with the School District and the local high schools to offer, as part of their curriculum, courses on how to become trepreneurs (either self-employed or as independent contractors). Secondly, potential Youth Forum on the Sunshine Coast focused on youth issues.

Value Added Assessment and Action Planning Program - helping existing value added forestry firms address the issues limiting their growth or endangering their survival.

Sunshine Coast Tourism Partnership - cooperative off-coast marketing from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound.

Gibsons, Pender Harbour & Sechelt Economic Development Partnerships — continuing our role in listening to what the respective groups want for their individual communities, assisting in procuring funds by means of helping prepare proposals, and once funding is in place, facilitate in helping make the project happen.

Coastwide Economic Development Partnership (currently in development) - working with the existing partnerships of Gibsons, Sechelt & Pender Harbour to develop an overall Sunshine Coast economic development strategy.

Community Economic Adjustment Initiative Fund — a federal program established to mitigate the impact of fisheries downturns on coastal communities. Currently, there is $8 million remaining in this fund until March 31, 2001.

To find out if your project may qualify for support or if you would like more information on the other services we offer, please contact Judy Moore at Community Futures at 885-1959 or by email judy.moore@communityfutures.org.