HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDC 2021-06-03 minutes.pdfCity of Maple Ridge
Economic Development Committee
MEETING MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Economic Development Committee (EDC)
held via Zoom teleconference on June 3, 2021 at 4:00 pm.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Councillor Ahmed Yousef Council Liaison
Al Hogarth Chamber of Commerce Representative
Camilla Brown Member at Large
Chrislana Gregory Member at Large
Dominic Kotarski Member at Large
Tom Meier Business Improvement Association Representative
Mehdi Vezvaei Member at Large
STAFF PRESENT
Wendy Dupley Director of Economic Development
Bruce Livingstone Business Retention and Expansion Officer
Sabina Chand Committee Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2021-012
It was moved and seconded
That the June 3, 2021 Economic Development Committee meeting agenda be approved as
circulated.
CARRIED
3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2021-013
It was moved and seconded
That the minutes of the Maple Ridge Economic Development Committee meeting dated April
8, 2021 be adopted.
CARRIED
Note: Al Hogarth and Camilla Brown joined at 4:05 pm
4. DELEGATIONS
4.1 Economic Development Strategy – Chris Fields, Principal, Rynic
Chris Fields, Consultant for the Maple Ridge Economic Development Strategy project, provided
a detailed update on what will be happening with the Strategy in the next few weeks:
• EDC Committee and community engagement - plenty of time to provide input
• Goal: actively implement a plan that pursues ambitious directional strategy to help
elevate Maple Ridge
• Discovery now through July: public surveys, leadership forum and data analysis
• Timeline: implement in October 2021
maple ridge.ca
Economic Committee Minutes
June 3, 2021
Page 2 of 3
The Committee engaged in discussion about public engagement and how the consultant will
reach out to the community. C. Fields advised that community engagement will be promoted
from all channels available from the City’s Communication department.
The Staff Liaison noted that C. Fields will be looking for further input from members on June
16, 2021 to help develop a brand new strategy for the community which has not been
developed since 2004.
Note: Chris Fields left at 5:03 pm
5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS – NIL
6. LIAISON UPDATES
6.1 Staff Liaison
The Staff Liaison provided updates on the following items:
• Business Friendly Task Force report has been forwarded to the consultant for
information purposes;
• GIS site selector tool scheduled to go live July 2021;
• Upcoming engagement opportunities for the Economic Development Strategy: focus
group meetings, surveys, Leadership Forum on June 17, 2021 and one on one
conversations with the consultant;
• Innovation challenge Maple Ridge: Innovation Challenge Maple Ridge;
• Update on 30 patio operations in Maple Ridge;
• Update on current investment inquiries in Maple Ridge.
Members discussed the Business Friendly Task Force report from the previous meeting and
inquired to the recommendation of a closed meeting with Council. The Staff Liaison advised
that the request was circulated to the Corporate Management Team and it was decided that
the report will be forward to the Consultant for information purposes. The Staff Liaison thanked
the members for their valuable feedback on the project and clarified their advisory role on the
committee and advised that reports reviewed at a public meeting are not considered
confidential. The Chair noted that the Committee’s work is constructed within the guidance
and focus of the City’s Strategic Plan and objectives should align with the Terms of Reference.
6.2 Council Liaison - NIL
7. QUESTION PERIOD - NIL
8. ROUNDTABLE
Discussion engaged around feedback from the Committee in regards to the Economic
Development Strategy and the Strategic Transportation Plan project survey.
R/2021-014
It was moved and seconded
That the Economic Development Committee hold a special meeting in July 2021 to debrief on
the Economic Development Strategy Discovery Workshop and to discuss the Strategic
Transportation Plan community survey.
CARRIED
Economic Committee Minutes
June 3, 2021
Page 3 of 3
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:48 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Economic Development Committee will be held on
Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm.
Coucillor A. Yousef, Chair
/sc