May 31st, 2001 - Agenda of the BIA's annual meeting, held at the Rendez-Vous restaurant on May 2nd, 2001 at 6:30 P.M..

Were present : Roger Tremblay (President), Estelle Mignault, Fanny Benoît, Lorraine Charlebois, André Plourde, Hélène Vachon, Roseanne Gratton, Francine Lecours, Émilien Lebel, Mike Wilson, Adrien Veiilleux, Line Veilleux, Joanne Fortier, Gérald Gaudreault, King Won, Omer Cantin, Conrad Morin, Jean Vachon, Nancy Vachon, Gerry Larose, Diane Larose, Yvette Gaudreault, Lucienne Lacroix, Stéphanie Martel (reception), Jean-Serge Bordeleau (stagiaire), Louis Corbeil (secretary), François Albert (journalist, CINN-FM radio).

Subjects discussed :

- After dinner, the president welcomes everybody and acknowledges the guests.

Moved by : Émilien Lebel
Sec'd by : Francine Lecours

That the agenda, as modified by adding the Hwy 11 signage subject, be approved.
CARRIED.

The president summarizes the minutes of the 2000 annual meeting, which was held on April 26th, 2000.

Moved by : Hélène Vachon
Sec'd by : Fanny Benoît

That the BIA's 2000 annual meeting report be approved as presented.
CARRIED. 

- Subject 4 is asked to be clarified as to parking issues. The president explains that despite the board's continued efforts, the Town does not seem to be ready to abandon parking meters in the Downtown.

- The president presents a written report of the BIA's main activities during the 2000 year. The president also unveils the results of a survey handed out to members last September, whose results the board based themselves on to determine the dates of the Summer Festival 2001, which will be held on July 12th, 13th and 14th.

As for the august SideWalk Sale, a member suggests organizing a Motorcycle Festival instead, as there are many Harley-Davidson owners in the area.

Mr. Mike Wilson also mentions that the Canuck circus would be willing to come to Hearst at the beginning of September.

Members also have several other suggestions :

• That the Christmas Party for members and staff of members' businesses be held at the Northern Seasons, and be kept simple without a dinner;
• That the BIA advertise daily and weekly during December to promote the free parking, as many customers were not even aware that they didn't have to pay during this Christmas Season;
• Also, that some fabric bags be made to cover the parking meters during those free parking days;
• That a choir be hired for the Customer Appreciation (Midnight Madness) days, and/or to involve the kids and teens in the community;
• That the BIA should present a formal request to the Town asking the By-Law Officers to patrol the street less intensively on Friday nights;
• (From Roseanne Gratton) - That ash trays be installed outside, near the lampposts or trash bins.

- The secretary explains that the Town is about to review its zoning regulation. He mentions that it would be important for the BIA to determine its priorities as to development in the Downtown. After discussion, the following comments stood out concerning zoning in the downtown :

• Mrs. Gaudreault explains that the BIA must keep its commercial flavor;
• M. Gerry Larose mentions that unless something is done soon, the resellers of the BIA should consider buying a shopping mall outside the boundaries of the BIA and let the current BIA sector become residential;
• M. Lebel notes that there cannot be any development in his building due to lack of parking, and also advises the BIA to look into converting George street into a one-way street, which would contribute to increased parking;
• Mrs. Gaudreault states it would be important for the BIA to have a development plan for the downtown area. She also mentions that increasing the number of appartments in the downtown would greatly reduce storage space;
• It is also mentioned that the downtown should have more restaurants, and at least one of them being a fast food.

- The secretary explains that branding is the new buzz word in marketing according to the workshops presented at the annual reunion of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.

Jean Vachon states that branding means identification and that shortcomings in this regard are numerous in the Downtown. First, there is no signage to indicate the Downtown on Hwy 11 to tourists, but signage is also lacking in respect to the Recreation Center, the Community Centre, the University/College, etc.;

To which the president replies that the BIA has undertaken branding/identification efforts. First, the construction of a web site along with the design of a new logo, which will be featured on vinyl banners to be displayed in the downtown, on the lampposts. Shopping bags featuring the logo will also be sold shortly.

- Jean-Serge Bordeleau presents the web site via a projection screen.

Some members question the relevance of a web site for the Downtown, given all the other priorities stated previously. They question if this was money well spent.

The president answers that the BIA built its web site with government grants from FedNor, among others, which amounted to 90% of the costs of the web site being covered.

Mr. Yves Gingras, professor at the Université de Hearst, presents a short workshop he had prepared, proving that the internet will become paramount for business. The total amount of money being sent on internet grows tremendously, but the internet in general only occupies about 2% of the market presently. Mr. Gingras also states that the companies who only had an online presence were not generally successful, and that the solution often lies in the bridging of the internet and "bricks-and-mortar" aspects, that is, both physical and online presences.

- The president draws the winning ticket, whose wholder shall win 200 dollars in Downtown vouchers. The winner is Mrs. Nancy Vachon.

- The president explains that there are currently two vacancies in the board, and that he himself cannot quite commit for another term as president. He also mentions it would be for the better if members from the services sector were present on the board. The subject will be further discussed at the next BIA board meeting.

- The secretary briefly presents the financial report for the year 2000.

- The president presents a list of capital projects which will hopefully be completed in the 2001 year. Mrs. Line Veilleux mentions that the lamppost at the corner of 8th and George St. must be repared, and Mrs. Benoît ask that the BIA meet with the Town to ask if the By-Law Officers could carry some sort of a scoop along their loop in the Downtown to pick up organic waste.

A member questions if the BIA should actually pay accounting fees since the law dictating BIAs indicates the BIA's accountant should be the same as the Town's.

Another member mentions it would be good to ask the Town to buy some kind of motorized vacuum apparatus to help clean the Downtown streets.

Moved by : Lauraine Charlebois.
Sec'd by : Roseanne Gratton.

That the BIA's annual reunion, held on May 2nd, 2001, be adjourned at 9:50 P.M..

CARRIED.