Unionville BIA Monthly Meeting - May 27, 2009
Attendance:
Greg - Trading Post; Sharon -
What Girls Want; Tracy - Trading Post; Sylvia Morris - Century 21; Dorothy - Tabi; Eddie - Mariani’s; Paul –
Global Telecom; Councillor Joe Virgilio
Regrets: Sarah
- Cigar Bodega; Tina – Paris Boutique
Staff (UBIA has no staff)
The Meeting of the Unionville BIA was held on May
27, 2009 at 6:00p.m., in Unionville Pizza Co.,
UBIA Chairman G. McCormick presided. Called to
order at 6:16pm. After 7:25pm, T. MacKinnon presided.
1.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST - none declared
2.
MINUTES – approval
Sharon, Tracy
3.
PRESENTATIONS - none
4.
DELEGATIONS / DEPUTATIONS
Chairman noted Bill 130 and that new
rules from the province and town must be followed. Chairman noted that
UBIA has always tried to keep meetings open by encouraging members to attend,
to speak and discuss issues, but now UBIA has been told that meetings must be
more formal. Form provided for deputations, so people present could speak to an
issue, similar to a town Council meeting. Same rules apply as when public is at
the Town Council meetings.
5.
PETITIONS - none
6.
a) REPORT 2009-1.5.27 - Chairman’s Report (May 27,
2009) attached
b) REPORT
2009-2.5.27 – Unionville Festivals, Events & Advertising (May 27, 2009) attached
Reports received and entered as part of minutes.
7.
MOTIONS - None
8.
COMMUNICATIONS – Letter from Town notification of the reduction in flowers on Main
Street, Unionville.
9.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS –
a.
UBIA Summer Concert Series discussion. It
was decided that Sharon, Sylvia, Paul, Eddie, Tracy & Greg meet with
Councillor Virgilio and the Mayor on the following Tuesday to discuss and
resolve.
b.
Varley Art Gallery – Art events on June 7th, art auction raised $80 000.
Discussion about the Art Gallery wanting to open up more with the Main Street,
as it is needed for them. For example, the increase in attendance over the past
number of years has been mainly due to the number of the events that the UBIA
produces and the Gallery was encouraged by the UBIA to “open its doors” to
welcome the many visitors in. UBIA needs to protect its interests and any
future arrangements. Also noted, a
positive move by the Gallery would be to return the UBIA position to the
Gallery Board, after it was removed by the Gallery a couple of years ago.
Eddie Mariani to follow up
with the Gallery Board.
c.
BILL 130 – The
Town is requesting procedure & policy information. Volunteers are needed to
write up the documents requested by the Town.
d.
Travel Lovers – Issue raised about this location to the Town
by another UBIA business. UBIA has offered assistance to this business, but are
awaiting a request from Travel Lovers. Eddie to follow up.
e.
Mayor Scarpitti – good ides to invite him to a meeting with UBIA to update & discuss
issues.
10.
IN-CAMERA ITEMS - None
11.
ADJOURNMENT Moved by Sylvia, seconded by Sharon.
Meeting adjourned at 8:12p.m. That
the meeting do adjourn. CARRIED
Report 2009-1.5.27 – Chairman’s Report (May 27, 2009)
HST – July
2010 affects services – hairs, nails designers, graphics, legal, homes are new
things to be taxed with HST. Councillor Virgilio suggested UBIA form an
opinion. More info will be obtained for UBIA members to familiarize themselves
with this new tax.
Contact Michael Chan, MPP
Markham-Unionville, for info & concerns & to voice your opinion.
Public Washrooms – Town to finally provide the promised signage for Crosby Arena and
will make sure it will be open for festivals.
Greg & Tracy met with Town
staff to redesign signage and ensure minimal, but adequate, signage be on Main
Street, Unionville.
Signs will be at Crosby
entrance pathway, bandstand, and top of stairs. Should be posted
in time for Unionville Festval.
UBIA proposal @ bandstand
been taken over and now residents in favour @ train station
Joe noted the community
choice at train station, and the Mayor proposed the idea of the welcome centre
and washrooms at recycling depot. Now
recycling depot may be moved. UBIA cautioned that this not become a ”Welcome to Markham” location while omitting the Unionville
– identity. Will wait & see, another study – Unionville and now Markham BIA
wants a welcome centre. Unionville offered to forgo
the public washrooms to give them to Markham Main Street. Questions - Who will
run welcome centre? Should definitely be a focus on Unionville.
It was noted that if washrooms on Station Lane then that the residents there don’t
want it there.
It was noted that Unionville is
asymmetrical, Thornhill Main Street may want a subway, but not for Unionville’s
Main Street.
UNIONVILLE
promotion – ads & material, strong brand for historic Unionville. New banners going up for festival.
Speed bumps on Carlton – work stalled for people on road & weather, but
Main Street & Carlton intersection to be returned, along with the street
parking on the SE corner on Carlton Road @ Main Street. This idea was put
forward by the UBIA reps on the community Committee. The URA, UVA, and the UBIA
together, submitted a proposal to the Town to get this corrected, which was
generally accepted and work to commence. A long process after several months of
meetings:
UBIA on Committee and suggested return the
intersections, parking @ Main St
Committee decided yes to strip lines @ intersections,
lines up
UVA, URA, UBIA – proposal for immediate action
Flowers –
cuts without UBIA consultation. UBIA was supposed to be called to a meeting in Fall 2008 to discuss flowers in 2009, but did not happen.
Decision made in February. UBIA called to meeting in March. UBIA opposed
cutbacks at UBIA monthly March meeting and noted this to Town. Flowers will be
on the poles first week of June and then on the street after Unionville Festival.
Flags & Banners
Thanks to John McCallum MP. New banners going up next week. Nice working with Festival Committee
– UBIA will also be putting up banners saluting the 40th
Festival.
Finance –
Budget before Council. RLP present
at Town to state they do not receive notice of meetings – prior to early 2009,
UBIA has not received any complaints about RLP not receiving notice of
meetings. Greg & Tracy to be at Town meeting on Monday
morning to discuss with Council.
Report 2009-2.5.27 – Unionville Festivals, Events and
Advertising Report (May 27, 2009)
1.
Unionville
Village Festival - June 5, 6, 7 – notification of closures done, but will
resend with parking passes.
New Friday
evening street party, more events this year for 40th
– UBIA is a sponsor and has been for years
2.
July 1st
– Canada Day – event similar to last year, first nations, entertainment, shops
& patios open.
July
11th – Celtic Festival – Only evening Ceilidh this year as Crosby
Arena is under construction so Feis not on for 2009.
Unionville
Heritage Promotion – focus on UNIONVILLE all year
Unionville
Summer Concert Series – focus on bringing music to the street
3.
Festival Booths –
set up – notice given to all UBIA members to request space in front of
business. Discussion about tasteful displays in front of UBIA businesses.
General consensus not to see the return of the “flea market” look that was
displayed from some UBIA businesses in past years. Photos of tasteful &
appropriate displays of UBIA businesses were passed around.
4.
Trees – Sharon.
UBIA still wants trees on Main Street and will be working for a solution.
5.
Advertising continues
to be a main undertaking this year, with a focus on negotiating for severely
discounted ads for UBIA.
Toronto
Star - $100 – discount ads spots offered to UBIA members. Notices have gone out
for participation.
Radio
– Jewel $8 spots – discount ads spots offered to UBIA members. Notices have
gone out for participation.