Thursday Oct 21st, 2021
9am to 10am
Conference Call:
Attendance: Eshe Despres, Jamie McHardy, Brandon Eyre, Joanna Milner, James Knott
Also in attendance: Jim Foreman (CAP), Diane Hines (Made You Look) , David Andrews (Mortgage Teacher), Sarah Matacic (White Rabbit), Carly Bedford (HPL)
Regrets: Julie Noble (community rep)
Absent: Esther Pauls, Darryl Howe (Stage Diner)
Welcome & Introductory Remarks – Chair, Eshe Despres
Review & Approval of the Agenda Joanna/James
Review & Approval of Sept 2021 Meeting Minutes Brandon/Joanna
Board Business:
AGM - Thursday Nov 18th (6-8pm via Zoom)
COVID updates (including rapid testing kits through Hamilton Chamber of Commerce), hand sanitizer and masks still available through BIA office)
Treasurer Report – Brandon Eyre
elaborated on 4 main categories (Operations, Marketing, Events, and Beautification) and balance sheet to date looks in order (no out of the ordinary expenditures). Still expecting some additional expenses to come out of BIA balance before year end.
Chair of the Beautification Committee – presented by Cristina Geissler
Summer flowers (hanging baskets removed), sidewalk planters scheduled to be removed by the City in the coming week(s)
Banner swaps - from summer to winter - scheduled for early November
New aboriginal mural under way at 576 Concession - tentative completion Nov 2021
New mural at Opies now installed (with anti-graffiti coating) - and the 1955 Concession Street mural reloacated to 588 Concession. Awaiting confirmation if additional lighting is needed at 588 (as with other mural installations)
Winter inserts being organized ordered through Harpers Garden Center (procurement process identified them as the most cost effective third party supplier $55 vs $75 and $95/each )
On street patios until Oct 31st, 2021 (sidewalk and private property patios permitted beyond the Oct 31st deadline for onstreet patios)
Chair of the Concession Marketing Committee – presented Cristina Geissler
Chair of Concession Events Committee – Chair TBC - Presented by Cristina Geissler
Chair of Safety Committee – Chair: Jim Foreman
Night Audit - Fall 2021 scheduled for Thursday Oct 28th at 7pm. Meet at the BIA office. Please advise Jim (or Cristina) if interested - to control numbers of participants
Proposed having the Spring/Summer Audit during daylight hours and the Fall/Winter Audit during nighttime/darkness moving forward.
2 additional lights coming to west parking lot of 555 Concession - and the flood lights in the east parking lot of 555 Concession will also be repaired. Work should be completed within a month.
Executive Director Updates – Cristina Geissler
Working to introduce a monthly/year round Book Crawl to Concession in the coming month(s). More details to come shortly.
New businesses:
BIA Members and Community
The Zoetic: now up to full capacity. More programming now scheduled (comedians, musicians, cultural events, movies). Visit their website for more details and advance ticket purchases.
HPL Concession Branch: due to ongoing capacity, staffing and reduced hours, no community programming until further notice. Currently operating with reduced staff and reduced hours until at least Spring 2022.
CAP: Nov 18th Annual Cap Gala - again virtually this year.
Made You Look Optical: Diane also runs a hospice for rescued animals "Lazy Dazy Animal Haven". Currently accepting uncarved pumpkins to help feed the pigs. Any overflow pumpkins will be donated to another two animal shelters. Accepting until Nov 15th, 2021. In exchange get a $50 gift certificate and enter to win a pair of sunglasses. Sheldon the Pig will also be out (weather permitting) as Sheldon the Piggy Bank on Halloween. Diane will be handing out candy as well.
Cristina: BIA will not be organizing a formal Halloween costume parade or handing out candy (because of COVID concerns). That does not stop any business from doing their own thing. The BIA will promote any Halloween activities on their behalf. Be sure to let the BIA office know.
Adjourn: 9:45am Joanna/Brandon
9am to 10am
Conference Call:
Attendance: Eshe Despres, Jamie McHardy, Brandon Eyre, Joanna Milner, James Knott
Also in attendance: Jim Foreman (CAP), Diane Hines (Made You Look) , David Andrews (Mortgage Teacher), Sarah Matacic (White Rabbit), Carly Bedford (HPL)
Regrets: Julie Noble (community rep)
Absent: Esther Pauls, Darryl Howe (Stage Diner)
Welcome & Introductory Remarks – Chair, Eshe Despres
Review & Approval of the Agenda Joanna/James
Review & Approval of Sept 2021 Meeting Minutes Brandon/Joanna
Board Business:
AGM - Thursday Nov 18th (6-8pm via Zoom)
COVID updates (including rapid testing kits through Hamilton Chamber of Commerce), hand sanitizer and masks still available through BIA office)
Treasurer Report – Brandon Eyre
elaborated on 4 main categories (Operations, Marketing, Events, and Beautification) and balance sheet to date looks in order (no out of the ordinary expenditures). Still expecting some additional expenses to come out of BIA balance before year end.
Chair of the Beautification Committee – presented by Cristina Geissler
Summer flowers (hanging baskets removed), sidewalk planters scheduled to be removed by the City in the coming week(s)
Banner swaps - from summer to winter - scheduled for early November
New aboriginal mural under way at 576 Concession - tentative completion Nov 2021
New mural at Opies now installed (with anti-graffiti coating) - and the 1955 Concession Street mural reloacated to 588 Concession. Awaiting confirmation if additional lighting is needed at 588 (as with other mural installations)
Winter inserts being organized ordered through Harpers Garden Center (procurement process identified them as the most cost effective third party supplier $55 vs $75 and $95/each )
On street patios until Oct 31st, 2021 (sidewalk and private property patios permitted beyond the Oct 31st deadline for onstreet patios)
Chair of the Concession Marketing Committee – presented Cristina Geissler
- The Generator filming for Holiday Shopping season completed (schedule confirmed to be uploaded to our social media pages). Anyone wanting their footage/images, please contact BIA office directly
- Refreshed BIA billboard now up at 638 Concession
- Hamilton Day (month of Nov culminating on Saturday Nov 20th, 2021): Theme "support local businesses". Cristina will be connecting with members to purchase gift certificates directly from them (if they have their own) and Concession Bucks to makes sure this money can come back to all BIA members.
- Mountain News: new business spotlights to continue
Chair of Concession Events Committee – Chair TBC - Presented by Cristina Geissler
- Fall for Concession a great success. Model to be replicated for Holiday Shopping promotion.
- Winterfest planning in progress. More details to come.
- Black History Audio live
- Cobalt Connects Music Pods (10 units) - to be picked up Oct 22/21
- Grant applications open for 2022 - deadline to apply Nov 1/21
- The Concession BIA will not be organizing a formal Halloween costume parade or handing out candy (because of COVID concerns). That does not stop any business from doing their own thing. The BIA will promote any Halloween activities on their behalf. Be sure to let the BIA office know.
Chair of Safety Committee – Chair: Jim Foreman
Night Audit - Fall 2021 scheduled for Thursday Oct 28th at 7pm. Meet at the BIA office. Please advise Jim (or Cristina) if interested - to control numbers of participants
Proposed having the Spring/Summer Audit during daylight hours and the Fall/Winter Audit during nighttime/darkness moving forward.
2 additional lights coming to west parking lot of 555 Concession - and the flood lights in the east parking lot of 555 Concession will also be repaired. Work should be completed within a month.
Executive Director Updates – Cristina Geissler
Working to introduce a monthly/year round Book Crawl to Concession in the coming month(s). More details to come shortly.
New businesses:
- Canine Clips now open at 48 Summit
- Alice Nutrition now open at shared location (544 Concession)
- Crumbuns opening this Saturday Oct 23rd at 566 Concession
- Restorative Mobility & Massage opening soon at 555 Concession (2nd floor)
- Good Friends Sandwich Co to open early Dec 2021 at 522 Concession
- The Parlour to open in the coming weeks at the corner of 581 Concession
BIA Members and Community
The Zoetic: now up to full capacity. More programming now scheduled (comedians, musicians, cultural events, movies). Visit their website for more details and advance ticket purchases.
HPL Concession Branch: due to ongoing capacity, staffing and reduced hours, no community programming until further notice. Currently operating with reduced staff and reduced hours until at least Spring 2022.
CAP: Nov 18th Annual Cap Gala - again virtually this year.
Made You Look Optical: Diane also runs a hospice for rescued animals "Lazy Dazy Animal Haven". Currently accepting uncarved pumpkins to help feed the pigs. Any overflow pumpkins will be donated to another two animal shelters. Accepting until Nov 15th, 2021. In exchange get a $50 gift certificate and enter to win a pair of sunglasses. Sheldon the Pig will also be out (weather permitting) as Sheldon the Piggy Bank on Halloween. Diane will be handing out candy as well.
Cristina: BIA will not be organizing a formal Halloween costume parade or handing out candy (because of COVID concerns). That does not stop any business from doing their own thing. The BIA will promote any Halloween activities on their behalf. Be sure to let the BIA office know.
Adjourn: 9:45am Joanna/Brandon