By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: June 8, 2012
The previous council can claim many a winning idea: Hiring Kevin Ramsay, Squamish Service Initiative, Oceanfront Sub-area plan.
And in these instances, they would be right.
But where they decidedly flunked the voter confidence test was on the most crucial issue facing Squamish.
Economic Development.
Former councilor Paul Lalli’s appointment as the chair of the economic development committee was an ill-advised move.
And the Outline for Economic Development plan seemed to have come out of political compulsion and public pressure, the product of frustration, not deliberation.
The plan is like a hurriedly-cooked stew by an inexperienced chef who ignored for years the hungry crowds milling outside.
Too bad Dan McRae is stuck with serving the same old chicken soup.
But the morning of June 5th, new aprons and toques were being fitted on to new chefs.
A fresh scent wafted in the air, as the first meeting of the economic development committee took place at early morning.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman is the chair, and Coun. Susan Chapelle and Coun. Ted Prior are the members of this committee.
There were 15 other community members who attended: Kerry Brown, Donna Wall, Tom Bruusgaard, Peter Legere, Scott McQuade, Elliott Moses, John Jervis, Eric Andersen, Chris Pettingil, and Auli Parviainen were among those present in the meeting.
The conversation veered sometimes towards often-heard platitudes, but a bold idea stood out.
Creating tax exemption zones in places like downtown Squamish as an incentive for revitalization.
The idea was borrowed by Dan McRae from Maple Ridge, a municipality that provides for a range of incentives that they hope to replicate in Squamish.
These include giving building permits at half the price, giving tax breaks on improvements or renovations, and giving cash up front.
The idea met with support from those present, although some raised concern about the location and the nature of these incentives.
Former mayoral candidate and local business woman Auli Parviainen questioned how the tax break would be effective if the Development Cost Charges (DCCs) remain high.
Eric Andersen said the tax breaks should also be considered for areas like BCR properties, where DCCs and land could be used a leverage to attract industry.
Kerry Brown was of the view that downtown revitalization shouldn’t happen at the cost of the other areas in town.
Later, in an interview with the Reporter, Heintzman said downtown revitalization zone could incorporate a variety of incentives including possible tax exemption for commercial and residential infill development, and aesthetic and green renovation, and reduced DCCs.
The committee suggested implementing some of these ideas by 2013. To this end, the council has suggested a committee of the whole workshop to explore the possibilities and move the project forward.
Heintzman said she was really hopeful that Squamish can generate some excitement and results thorough this type of strategic incentive program.
Squamish will also invite RFPs for a filmmaker who could create an enticing video about Squamish, and what it has to offer to the world.
The committee is also working towards celebrating the town’s 50th anniversary. Economic development lectures series are also planned.
There are indeed some new and fresh ingredients being mixed in the potpurri ?
Will it be finger-lickin good or will it leave a bad taste ?
Stay tuned.
ted prior says
With her two infamous side kicks no problem . Fasten your seat belts .
Anonymous says
It is amazing that some of these initiatives were not taken into consideration 2 years ago. John Jervis mentioned these Maple Ridge incentives many times at The SCOC . I guess they fell on deaf ears or the leaders of the day were the smartest people in town , I know what it was the DOS appointed who they wanted from The SCOC to there EC DEV committee. What under the bridge now! Great to see some of these people continuing on a determined path for a better future for our communities. Thank you to the people who are participating. Some developers have been receiving these incentives for years, now time for everyone to have the same opportunity! Game On!
Anonymous says
The above post is not anonymous, it was posted by Moe Freitag for the record.
Not sure why my name does not appear
Andy says
Paul Lalli served this community for years, and he did a great job. Let’s not forget all the commercial development during his years in office, let’s not forget the university and most importantly let’s not forget his long support for industry in our community which employed so many people. Just ask people who have tried to invest in this town. I think this reporter doesn’t like Lalli
Tanner says
I don’t know where the reporter comes off by saying Lalli did nothing for economic development. He has personally helped me during his time on conuncil with advice and support. I have lived here for 20 years. Not Fair!
Don Patrick says
This all appears to be grandstanding. Look into the reasons industry and good paying jobs were part of the Squamish infrastructure of the past… now look into what is available… nothing, if you gave Squamish away there are very few would intertain the offer… folks give your head a shake, it is not the old and former against the present, it is a condition around the Western world. You cannot just keep taking without giving something. Look at all these small businesses that are now operating in the region…. would like to see the accumulated income tax from this era verses the past… one may be surprised at the results, we are a welfare community, both small business and everyone else on the dole. If the average business spent more time on methods of increasing profit than filtering the books we may be able to relax and smell the coffee. Cannot accept this crap in any manner, the country is going down the sewer.
p says
Reading D is great, better than the original story. But hey, here is an idea that could benefit downtown – how about dispensing with the requirement for building and health permits for business expansion.
Eyes Wide Open says
Have you seen Maple Ridge lately???????????????smelled it??????
The visionaries here need to get out of this valley more often and find some more sample towns to look at. Please …….
Jasdeep says
I run a small business that is not based in downtown. And I am aware that tax exemptions to downtown businesses may mean marginally higher taxes for rest of Squamish residents and businesses. Still I whole heartedly support the idea. Squamish downtown deserves some incentives. More ideas to spur economic development are need of the hour. Is is not important which council member brings idea to the table. All ideas deserves thorough discussions. Council has to be proactive in attracting investments. Squamish is beautiful, we need to market it to the world!!
Patricia Heintzman says
Firstly, thanks Paul Lalli for your many years of service and commitment to Squamish. I don’t particularly find value in comparing past initiatives with current ones…everything builds on what has happened in the past…let’s live in the present and look to the future. Also, yes, the idea of a revitalization zone has been discussed for a number of years; Maple Ridge is just one example of a community that has taken advantage of this provision in the community charter. There are many other examples: Salmon Arm, Chilliwack, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Sooke, Rossland, Elkford etc. And there are many many aspects to this type of initiative that have to be explored by council before a bylaw is even considered let alone adopted including: permitting costs, incentives for retrofits and aesthetic renovation, and tax incentives for infill and strategic new developments. The DCC bylaw is part of an overall strategy too and that bylaw is currently under review. To clarify, the way Maple Ridge and many other communities do this is that the exemptions would be on improvements not on existing taxes. So for example, if you have a property assessed at $1million and you build a $2million building on it, you would be exempt only on the improvements to the land ie you would be exempt on the $2million building but would continue to pay taxes on the $1million land valuation. So no net tax revenue loss to the District. And this would be for a set amount of time ie 3-6 years as is the case in Maple Ridge. The bylaw would outline the parameters. The Community Charter is quite restrictive on how revitalization tax exemptions can be implemented. Here’s a link with more info if anyone is interested. http://www.brownfieldrenewal.gov.bc.ca/docs/community_charter_revital_tax_exemptions.pdf
Craig Davidiuk says
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
To borrow from my favorite magazine WIRED.
Tired: Tax free zones
Wired: Free wifi provided by DOS throughout the district in cost sharing model with Squamish Nation. Every biz owner saves $50/month and it further supports the tourism, retail, marine and industrial economies. Charge it back to us just like a utility.
Tired: small groups of invite only/squeakiest wheels biz owners to discuss economic development with the District on a committee
Wired: Advertised, collaborative, open, “group-think” meetings with more than 5 people during times when biz owners can actually attend and participate. Note: its ok to ask biz owners as a whole for their ideas and opinions more than once every three years with facebook and online survey tools and use that as a framework for a committee’s ongoing activities. We have a whole bunch of biz owners who own large, multi-national companies that are famous throughout the world and know what happens OUTSIDE of Squamish (what a concept). Why don’t we have an ArcTeryx at the table? A Quest University? Howe Sound Brewing? Squamish Nation? Fraserwood (ya know..companies who hire more than 2 ppl) This committee is made of people,who for the most part have not inked a million+ biz deal in their lives nor do they create a lot of jobs as SOHOS or small biz owners. They are the backbone of our economy and kudo’s for participating and I think they are amazing ppl but… for the most part we have the 1-2 person business figured out here (54% of local biz). Without First Nations participation, this group also rings hollow for me.
Tired: DOS logo, branding and identity. You want to develop an economy, start with branding folks. Because right now our brand is “backwards, power struggle capitol of Canada with a side of pastel swooshy things”. We have three different logos: crappy cartoon of downtown and swooshy 90’s logo and industrial area on our entrance signs and no indication that our chamber of commerce is in the Adventure Center or where to find economic development info. The simple things are not being done well.
Wired:Inside Edge branding meet up in May that re-branded three projects in Squamish, for free in two hours. These ideas are ready to roll and very good. http://www.squamish.fm/featured/squamish-branded-by-inside-edge-group/
Tired: Economic Development committees that go nowhere and are easily influenced by politicians. (refer to opening quote about insanity)
Wired: Well funded DOS Economic Development Department that has at the very least and EDO, Destination Marketing Expert and an Event Planner who doubles as a film industry liaison. EDO would attend Vancouver and Provincial networking events to meet key players in the high tech, manufacturing, education, marine and tourism economies. (note: last film in town blocked customers from biz at end of 2nd for two days and DOS was nowhere to be found to enforce violation of permit. And a local massage therapist lost two days wages b/c clients were not being permitted to enter her street.) Lesson: best intentions gone wrong because of lack of infrastructure.
Tired: Electric/Hydrogen highway going straight to Whistler with substantial lobbying by Whistler Mayor.
Wired: Electric/Hydrogen engines for cars and boats being made in Squamish and exported to China through our deep sea port. Made possible with tax incentives from Feds, Province and District with substantial lobbying by Squamish Mayor. A spin off industry for retrofits evolves and changes reputation of Squamish overnight
Without meaningful investment in Economic Development infrastructure and more than one expert running the show, this is an exercise in futility. I’m sorry, a committee of volunteers cannot solve the problems this town has created for itself over the past decade. Without a vehicle to actually implement this project is doomed. We only have one Dan McRae to implement. That falls incredibly short in my opinion.
Patricia Heintzman says
Good points Craig…perhaps you can share them on an online ec dev forum: http://ecdevsquamish.yuku.com/ and emil them to council directly too.
A few comments for further discussion: The current committee is a Mayor’s Standing Committee and you are right, it is small, made up of only 3 members of council. But the meeting was open to the public, and an open invitation was extended directly through a number of organizations and for everyone to participate and the dialogue was very much a collaborative, open, “group-think” meeting that covered a variety of topics including several items not covered in the article on this website.
There was quite a bit of discussion on how to set up a proper economic development function in the future including pros and cons of arms length from council or inhouse department, proper funding to achieve goals etc. I agree, we need to approach Ec Dev differently in the future and fund it properly so we can actually achieve results. Dan McRae is overloaded and he is hiring an ec dev assistant to help move economic development issues forward more progressively. There was also some discussion in today’s committee of the whole meeting about the possible need for an event coordinator in the future. Obviously that has to be vetted through future budgets.
The Standing Committees were formed by the mayor [Standing committees are not a function that council appoints…they are one of the powers [actually the only real executive power] that the mayor has outside of council] a week prior to last week’s meeting, so I called a meeting as soon as possible to get things going asap. I did what I could to get the word out but in future I’ll be sure to do a better job.
There was a suggestion at the meeting to be able to continue the conversation on an online forum so I set one up: http://ecdevsquamish.yuku.com/ for anyone who is interested.
There was also discussion about when these ec dev standing committee meetings should occur and it was quite divided between many of the 15+ citizens involved in the meeting last week…most wanted day meetings and a few preferred evening meetings. Council is planning a number of inclusive roundtable shirtsleeve economic development workshops with the community that will occur at night in the near future.
Branding and the Squamish narrative was also talked about at the meeting and is continuing on the online forum. The InsideEdge branding exercise was referenced and will provide a great base.
Free Wireless zones are being worked on and could be part of a town centre revitalization initiative or a separate program. And I have to disagree…many communities have had incredible success at stimulating community economic development and investment by taking advantage of this provision in the community charter and strategically marketing incentives for renovation, retrofit and infill development in revitalization zones.
I appreciate people’s skepticism…and to a certain degree I share it…but I’m trying to stay positive and let some of this renewed enthusiasm and optimism that I’ve been hearing in the community to take flight. And certainly the District needs to be one of many key partners and a leader in the process. I know all of council is very open to suggestions on how to get this done so thanks for sharing your thoughts. I encourage you to send your comments to council directly too because we don’t always get to read all the comments on online newspapers or facebook or on other forums etc. Thanks again Craig.