Notes from the Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Association

Long Term Planning/Property Standards Committee

Held December 16, 2009

Barrie City Hall:  Sir Robert Barrie Room

Meeting commenced at 7:00 p.m

·        Member introductions were made.

·        Following is an update of the Steering Committee’s meeting with the BIA on Dec., 02, 2009:    

·        Representing the BIA were Craig Stevens and Janet Kemp.

·        A discussion was had on the relationship between the BIA and BDNA. As it was a long discussion, the details will be omitted here, but it was resolved that the BDNA is an independent organization.  We will however exchange ideas and information on a continuing basis.

·        Questions were asked, most unanswered, with regards to the Historic Neighbourhood Strategy and its relationship to our Long Term Planning Committee and a possible overlap of interests.  Also brought up were amounts, methods and sources of funding.  More research needs to be done. Also is this a finite organization terminating next year?  Is the membership closed to new members, if so, why?

·        A long discussion was had about what can and can’t be done about a deteriorating property on Mary Street.  The final decision was to try to have the Barrie Property Standards department deal with the problem.

·        We need to encourage landlords in the downtown area to join the BDNA, as this is an all inclusive organization, whose actions they could benefit from.

·        It was suggested that we should find ways to improve the five corners; however, apparently the city is evolving plans to deal with this in the spring.

·        We have run into obstacles about returning benches to the downtown area. Various ways of providing benches at a minimal cost to the city were suggested, including plaques and advertisements on the back of these benches. Apparently there are merchants along Dunlop Street who object to them.

·        We still need a mission statement that covers the roll and purpose of the Long Term Planning and Property Standards Committee.

·        The following are a list of meetings scheduled for January 2010:-

The Downtown Barrie Busines Assoc.  ( The BIA)

·        Hospitality         -            January 19/10 at 2p.m

·        Social Actions   -           January 20/10 at 2p.m

·        BIA Board Management    -                   January 26/10 at 6p.m

The Historic Neighbourhoods Strategy

·        Historic Neighbourhoods Strategy -  January 27/10 from 6-9p.m


The Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Asoc.

   The Crime Prevention & Safety Committee - Wednesday, January 13, 2010. *

                   Steering Committee   -                           Not yet scheduled.

·        The next meeting for the Long Term Planning/Property Standards Committee will be on Wednesday February 3^rd, 2010 from 7p.m to 9p.m. in the Sir Robert Barrie room at city hall.

·         The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m