TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES BRANTFORD VISITOR & TOURISM CENTRE, TIM HORTONS COMMUNITY ROOM Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL PRESENT: REGRETS: STAFF: GUESTS: Councillor John Bradford, Arthur Horney, Beverly Scott, Vic Prendergast, Kirby Brown, Wendy Prowse, Keri Korfmann, Carol Ann Wilson, Natalie Michalchuk and Jack Jackowetz Mayor Mike Hancock, Vincent Geerdinck, Bill Harding, Eydie Styres and John Frabotta Susan Sager, Astero Kalogeropolous, and Kim Petitti Frank and Nancy DiFelice; David Masters and Jordan Corrie; and Brandon Gedney and Lana Ferguson 1.1 Chair s Comments Chair Arthur Horney called the meeting to order at 11:50 a.m. Susan Sager noted that there was two awards recipients that were not able to attend the Shining Stars Tourism Awards event on May 6, 2010. The following individuals were invited to the May Tourism Advisory Committee meeting in order to receive their awards: The Environmental Sustainability Award was presented to David Masters of The LUNA Project (Learning Unique Natural Alternatives) and the winner for The People s Choice Best Fine Dining Restaurant presented by The Expositor is Ged s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge owned by Brandon Gedney. The Chair of the Tourism Advisory Committee Arthur Horney expressed congratulations to both award winners. David Masters and Jordan Corrie; and Brandon Gedney and Lana Ferguson left the meeting at 12:05 p.m. 2. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT No declaration of conflict. 3. DELEGATIONS 3.1 Brantford International Jazz Festival 2010 Update - Frank and Nancy DiFelice Item: 5.1 3.2 Presentation of the new Tourism Brantford web site - www.discoverbrantford.com - Melissa Stephens, Tourism Information Coordinator Item: 5.2 - Deferred
4. MINUTES 4.1 Approval of the Tourism Advisory Committee minutes - April 27, 2010 Moved by: Carol Ann Wilson Seconded by: Natalie Michalchuk THAT the April 27, 2010 Tourism Advisory Committee minutes BE APPROVED. 5. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 5.1 Brantford International Jazz Festival 2010 Update Frank DiFelice provided an overview of how the Brantford International Jazz Festival was founded. He advised the committee members that the 2010 festival will take place September 18 and 19, 2010, downtown Brantford at Harmony Square and the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts. He noted that after building on the last two successful years of the festival, he and his committee are working hard to deliver an even better performance line-up than last year. Frank noted that through the generous corporate support of the local business community, coupled with the funding received from senior levels of government the festival is well positioned to surpass last year s activities. Through strategic planning and expanded marketing, he stated that the event would be able to draw an audience, not only from the Southern Ontario region, but also, from Buffalo and Detroit (US market). He anticipates that if the festival achieves the goal of 30,000+ people in attendance the surrounding local business community will benefit by a minimum of $1.5 million of economic impact. Nancy DiFelice joined the meeting at 12:10 p.m. Frank and Nancy both expressed their concerns with the South Side of Colborne Street and the demolition that is scheduled for this year. They went on to say that if the demolition continues into the month of September they anticipate that there will be parking and traffic issues that will create problems for people attending the festival to park and get around the downtown area. They also stated that if the demolition does not proceed and the area continues to be fenced as a construction site that this will also be a negative impact to the image of the city and this will also reflect poorly on the festival. Vic Prendergast left the meeting at 12:15 p.m. Councillor John Bradford replied that the jazz festival unquestionably brings a significant investment to the community and it is a prestigious event for Brantford as a whole and more specifically for the arts and culture sector in the area. He went onto say that the 2
municipality is going to work at addressing these issues, however, the confirmation of the exact timing of the demolition project is still pending. Beverly Scott expressed gratitude to Frank and Nancy for their hard work and efforts they put into the festival and noted that it is a positive event for the community. Susan Sager encouraged the organizers of the event to outreach to Tourism Brantford staff if further assistance is required for the festival. Arthur Horney thanked Frank and Nancy for their presentation and wished them continued success with the Brantford International Jazz Festival for 2010. Moved by: Kirby Brown Seconded by: Jack Jackowetz THAT the Brantford International Jazz Festival Update, as presented by Frank and Nancy DiFelice to the Tourism Advisory Committee on, BE RECEIVED. Frank and Nancy DiFelice left the meeting at 12:25 p.m. 5.2 Presentation of the new Tourism Brantford web site - www.discoverbrantford.com This item will be deferred to the next Tourism Advisory Committee meeting on June 22, 2010 due to staff illness. 5.3 Brantford, County of Brant, Six Nations/New Credit Discovery Guide 2010/11 Susan Sager reported that the 2010/11 Discovery Guide project summary is included in the agenda package. She went on to note that the Guide is produced with advertising dollars and no City of Brantford municipal dollars are contributed to the project, however, staff time is required to coordinate the effort and to ensure the distribution program is implemented in a timely manner. For this year s publication 100,000 guides were printed and over 47,000 were distributed door-to-door locally through The Brant News on May 20, 2010. Susan also advised the committee members that the on-line version of the Guide is also available on the newly re-developed www.discoverbrantford.com web site, which was launched, on May 20 as well, prior to the Victoria Day weekend. Keri Korfmann asked how the outsourcing for the Guide is implemented. Susan replied that the County of Brant and Six Nations/New Credit Marketing Collective and Six Nations Tourism all provide input to the project s specifications, project critical path and development. This input is then provided to the City of Brantford s Purchasing Department who created a request for proposal process in 2009 for the Guide project. The successful vendor was awarded the project, in January 2009 with an option to renew annually for the next three consecutive years. 3
Moved by: Carol Ann Wilson Seconded by: Beverly Scott THAT the staff report dated, regarding the Brantford, County of Brant, Six Nations/New Credit Discovery Guide 2010/11, BE RECEIVED. 6. CONSENT ITEMS 6.1 Tourism Talks spring/summer 2010 newsletter Information Item. 6.2 Museum Mania Passport 2010 Information item. The project is completed with the support of the Brant Museum and Galleries Association. 6.3 Journey the Grand 2010 Brochure Information item. This is the annual publication that is coordinated by the Grand River Country Marketing Alliance. Moved by: Jack Jackowetz Seconded by: Councillor John Bradford THAT the Consent Items information updates BE RECEIVED. 7. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1 Economic Development Strategy Update Susan Sager noted that the target date for the strategy to be presented to Committee of the Whole - Community Development has been postponed until the Project Steering Committee and staff members are both comfortable with advancing it to the Senior Management Team. Potential dates that the report and strategy will be presented are June 14 or August 3, 2010. Susan advised that as soon as the date has been confirmed she would send out a notice to confirm with the members of the committee. She then thanked those Tourism Advisory Committee members who provided their comments regarding the draft strategy report. She advised that their suggestions have 4
been forwarded to the consultant who is preparing the final draft of the strategy document. 7.2 Tourism Advisory Committee Communications Working Group Update Chair of the Communications Working Group, Beverly Scott advised that the group met on May 18 and had the opportunity to walk through the new website www.discoverbrantford.com in order to provide comments to staff prior to the launch of the site on May 20. She also noted that the Mother s Day Tour program was promoted through The Expositor/ Your Brant Connection on May 6, 2010 involving 18 different tourism partners. The next meeting of the Working Group will be June 16, 2010 4:00 p.m. at the Brantford Visitor & Tourism Centre. 7.3 Tourism Advisory Committee Signage Task Force Update Jack Jackowetz noted the Task Force is reviewing the policy that was approved in 1996 for the way-finding tourism directional signs in Brantford. They are also is looking at all the current way-finding signage in the city to see if the signs are in need of repair or should be changed or updated to make it more clear for people travelling to tourism related destinations in Brantford. He then asked the committee members to advise staff or the Task Force if they notice any signs that are out of date or in need of repair. Councillor John Bradford noted he is hoping that the Task Force can address the signs that need to be removed in order to hopefully consolidate and reduce sign clutter particularly at key intersections and gateways into the city. Keri Korfmann noted there is a bylaw for the downtown district regarding what signage can be placed on storefronts and asked that the Task Force review this issue as well. Susan Sager advised the issue of perpendicular signage on buildings in the downtown has been identified as an issue through the Downtown Action Committee (DAC) Signage Working Group that she is assisting with in the development of some key recommendations regarding signage to and from the downtown. This matter will be raised at DAC at an upcoming meeting either in June or July this year. 7.4 War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration Sub-Committee Update Susan Sager and Beverly Scott advised that the War of 1812 Bicentennial Steering Committee provided an update presentation and accompanying staff information report to both City (May 17) and County (May 18) Councils on the War of 1812 inititave todate. Several activities were highlighted including: The establishment of overall mandate, goals and strategic actions Capital projects concepts such as the War of 1812 Peace Garden and Public Art Sculpture Operating projects examples like the County of Brant/Paris Public Library - archival digitization project and the Rural Raids & Divided Loyalties multi-media project Outreach and promotions projects - community engagement video and the creation of the www.grandriver1812.ca web site 5
Participation and advocacy for the establishment of Region 7, which includes the City of Brantford, that is part of the provincial War of 1812 strategy 7.5 Waterfront Master Plan Update Susan Sager noted that the Waterfront Master Plan and staff report would be going forward for Council s consideration on June 14 to the Committee of the Whole - Community Development meeting. She thanked those committee members who have participated in the development of the plan through attendance and involvement in several public meeting forums. 7.6 Regional Tourism Organization (RTO) # 3 Update Kirby Brown gave an update and noted there have been three meetings that have taken place over the course of April and May and further that the RTO # 3 Transition Board is currently reviewing it s Terms of Reference and also is establishing priority-marketing projects that would be implemented from June/July 2010 until March 31, 2011. It is the goal of the Transition Board to submit an application for funding from the Ministry of Tourism to initiate the formalization of the organization, as well as, a few key marketing projects by early June. Susan Sager advised that a formal announcement of the exact amount of funding allocated to RTO # 3 will be circulated in conjunction with Tourism Awareness Week June 7-14, 2010. This information will be posted on the Tourism Brantford web site as soon as it becomes available. She also noted that the marketing projects will be an enhancement of Tourism Brantford s existing program and in no way will be a duplication of effort. Kirby advised that the next meeting of the RTO # 3 would be on. 7.7 Liaison Activity Updates Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Advisory Committee Wendy Prowse noted that there is a Healthy Eating Initiative taking place in the community and the Parks and Recreation Department is looking at implementing healthier choices in snack vending machines at municipal arenas. The plan is for the machines to be stocked with at least 25% food choices that comply with the Eat Smart nutrition criteria. Parks and Recreation will continue to re-cycle in the parks where necessary and new recycle bins are being place in heavy traffic areas. The Bell Homestead National Historic Site is preparing for their 100 th anniversary celebrations in July and The Bell Homestead Barn Sale fund-raising event will be held on May 29, 2010. Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area Keri Korfmann noted that the Annual Golden Broom award was presented at the Shining Stars Tourism Awards event on May 6, 2010 and Brant Stereo won the award. 6
Susan Sager suggested that a presentation on the Downtown Market Analysis at an upcoming Tourism Advisory Committee meeting be coordinated. All were in agreement. Jack Jackowetz noted that the Find Your Spirit event which takes place in conjunction with the provincially designated Celebrate the Artist inititave the first weekend in June has been moved to August 20 and 21, 2010 due to conflicts that have arisen with the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament and Hockeyfest concert event. Councillor John Bradford advised that staff is working with the Arts Block to assist and support the change to the August timeframe for this event. Council Update Councillor John Bradford reported that the Value for Money Audit Report that was compiled by Millard Rouse & Rosebrugh, LLP, which focused on the following municipal functions; Communications, Advertising, Marketing, and Promotions (CAMP), was received by the Finance Committee May 19, 2010. He noted that one of the key issues identified in the report was the fragmented approach to CAMP functions throughout the corporation. He also noted that if enhanced collaboration was created greater budget efficiencies could also be potentially realized through bulk purchasing opportunities. Carol Ann Wilson left the meeting at 1:15 p.m. Susan Sager stated that the Tourism Brantford staff are looking forward to working through the recommendations of the report and will provide support and co-operation to this process as it applies intrinsically to the overall functions of the Division. Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts Arthur Horney noted that the Board of Management of the Sanderson Centre recently had their annual election with Derek Bond continuing as the Chair for another year. The launch of the new 2010/11season will be on June 5, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. at the theatre and he encouraged all Tourism Advisory Committee members to attend. Moved by: Beverly Scott Seconded by: Natalie Michalchuk THAT the Sub-Committee and Liaison information updates BE RECEIVED. 8. NOTICES OF MOTION 7
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING 9.1 Tuesday June 22, 2010 10. ADJOURNMENT Jack Jackowetz moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:30 p.m. 8