The Corporation of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills

Community & Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting

MINUTES

-
Council Chambers, Municipal Office
3131 Old Perth Road
Committee Present:
  • Councillor Guerard
  • Councillor Ferguson
  • Tiffany MacLaren, Community and Culture Coordinator
  • Scott McLellan
  • Mary Rozenberg
  • Ron MacMeekin
  • Greg Smith
  • Dawn McGeachy
  • Noreen Young
Committee Absent:
  • Deputy Mayor Minnille
Staff Present:
  • Dawn McDonald
  • Bonnie Ostrom

A.
CALL TO ORDER
 

B.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF
 

C.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 

                                                                                                     

  • Resolution No
    Moved byCouncillor Ferguson
    Seconded byRon MacMeekin

    THAT the November 17, 2020 C&EDC agenda be accepted as presented.

    CARRIED

D.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
This item has attachments. 

1.CEDC Minutes 20 January 21.pdf
2.CEDC Minutes 20 February 25.pdf
  • Resolution No
    Moved byCouncillor Guerard
    Seconded byRon MacMeekin

    That the Committee approves the minutes dated January 20, 2020 and February 25, 2020.

    CARRIED

E.
DELEGATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
 

F.
REPORTS
 

F.1
Resignation & Appointments
This item has attachments. 

1.Resignations and Appointments Report.pdf

The committee thanked Sanjeev Sivarulrasa, Helen Antebi and Vic Bode for all their contributions to the Community & Economic Development Committee. New members Noreen Young and Dawn McGeachy were introduced to the committee. Council appointed Councillor Ferguson as a committee member until a Pakenham representative is found.

F.2
Filming in Mississippi Mills
 

A working group started research on the film policy and formulated a survey. Committee members and staff will continue working on the policy and have a draft by next meeting. All committee members were asked to submit any comments in the next week.

More movies have been filmed in town in resent months with no road closures. The film companies have very strict Covid-19 guidelines and are providing a list of attendees and insurance documents. 

F.3
Christmas 2020
 

Due to Covid-19 pandemic Light Up the Night and the Santa Claus parades have been cancelled for 2020. Christmas is Mississippi Mills will take on a new look for this season. Check out the various activities the municipality has planned: Christmas decorating contest, Santa Clause Coming to Town, Community Videos from the Heart, Reaching out to the Community, Put you money where your Heart is this season, How to support local charities this season.

The last movie crew left a bunch of Christmas trees at the old Ultramar lot. The Light Up the Night committee decided to set them up and decorated them with a reminder to join them for Light up the Night 2021!

F.4
Strategic Plan
 

Council has been working on the Municipal Strategic Plan. The plan is available on the website. There will be some action items for this committee  with regards to economic development. An economic development and branding plan was proposed in the Strategic Plan. Due to financial implications Council will be making a decision during the 2021 budget deliberations to proceed with the ED Plan in 2021 or defer to 2022.

G.
BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF MINUTES
 

G.1
Riverwalk Update
 

Work has been moving forward on the new Riverwalk staircase. Due to Covid-19 there have been some delays, but the installation will be completed this fall. A grand opening will take place sometime in the spring. New benches have been purchase and will be installed in the spring. 

H.
ROUND TABLE
 

The Community, Economic & Cultural Coordinator instructed the committee members on how to access the council calendar and videos on the website. A review was conducted on how to navigate the new website, identifying: the new tourism section (visitor guide), community profile, build and invest information, subscribe to the news letter etc. Committee members were encouraged to give feedback on the website content. 

Councilor Ferguson suggested committee members review the Council agenda for tonight with regards to the OPA22 growth for Almonte. It was noted that February will be the rural growth review. 

Lanark County Food Bank has an Adult Christmas Stocking Project. Donations can be dropped off at Textile Traditions on Mill St before December 10th.

Owner Kelly Church at Textile Traditions is organizing letters to military members who are not able to come home for Christmas. Cards and letters are to be dropped off before November 30th.

A new AED has been installed at the Heritage Court (outside Acanthus).

Valley Heritage Radio has donated $20,000.00 towards the Renfrew/Lanark County food banks this holiday season.

Volunteer, Laurel Cook has completed a mural at the Clayton Community Centre.

The revitalization of the murals project will be reviewed in the new year.

Discussion on 2021 Visitor Guide to be discussed at the next meeting. 

I.
INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
 

J.
OTHER / NEW BUSINESS
 

J.1
Business Outreach
 

Due to Covid-19 we have not been able to host our quarterly Business breakfasts and would like to consider virtual networking and educations opportunities. Committee members are to think about options/ideas to bring to the next meeting. Networking and supporting businesses remain a  priority, we need to find other ways to communicate. Staff initiated a newsletter in April 2020 to share information on Covid-19 regulations and government assistance programs with our business community. Newsletters will continue as regulations change and programs develop.

 

K.
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS
 

Next meeting December 15 at 8:00am Council Chambers

L.
ADJOURNMENT
 

  • Resolution No
    Moved byCouncillor Guerard
    Seconded byCouncillor Ferguson
    THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
    CARRIED
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