Update on Economic Development Plan Implementation and Local Economic Recovery Stephen Mikicich, Manager of Economic Development June 8, 2020
Presentation Outline 1. Economic Development Plan 2. Refinements to Economic Development role 3. COVID-19 Response, Restart & Recovery 4. Recommendations Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery 2
1 Economic Development Plan Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Plan Implementation • Progress shown in Appendix ‘B’ • Focus on Visitor Strategy and positioning of West Vancouver as a visitor destination in Metro Vancouver and Sea-to-Sky • Supported by: • Destination BC • Sea-to-Sky Development Council • VCM industry forums • VNSTA, Tourism Vancouver Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Destination Branding • Unique identity for West Vancouver in visitor market • What makes us special? • Our promise to visitors? • Road map for District investment in content development and tourism promotion • Completion is key for ensuring market readiness Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Destination Branding Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Community Wayfinding Plan Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Community Wayfinding Plan Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Accommodations – Boutique Hotel • Viability of a mixed hotel-office development in West Vancouver; and directions land use policy • Incentivizing hotel and office uses will require a significant increase in density over existing zoning, and a reduction or waiving of CACs • Town Centre needs expanded housing diversity, local population growth, and a stronger employment base Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Accommodations – Short-Term Rentals • Research on short-term vacation rentals planned for 2020: • # of existing units • Associated issues • Potential impacts on rental housing supply • Opportunities for legitimizing visitor accommodations in absence of hotels Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
2 Refinements to Economic Development Role Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Integration with other DWV Operations • Manager continues to work cross-Divisionally • Council’s strategic priorities for the local economy have supported better integration of economic development with other District operations • Examples: OCP, Arts & Culture Strategy, Destination Branding, Community Wayfinding, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Local Organizations • FOIPPA information sharing agreements • Alignment of Strategic Plans • West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce • New 5-Year Service Agreement (2020) • Ambleside-Dundarave BIA • BIA Service Bylaw (2016) • Horseshoe Bay Business Association • Destination Branding (Cap U Project, 2020) Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
External Agencies • Metro Vancouver – Regional Prosperity Service • Economic Partnership North Shore • Destination BC • Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association • Sea-to-Sky Destination Development Council • Tourism Vancouver Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Funding • 1 FTE • Annual student intern (2020 onward) • Plan implementation supported by staff from other Divisions • Leveraging working partnerships with local community and external agencies • Project funding – one time initiatives • Operational funding for Economic Development should be considered during next budget process – to support District objectives for local economic recovery and resilience-building Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Advisory Body • Acute shock of COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated West Vancouver’s chronic stresses to highlight the community’s vulnerabilities, and ongoing need for resilience-building • 18 months before the true economic impacts of the pandemic are understood • Economic Recovery Task Force will be an advisory body to staff over the short term (Appendix ‘A’) • Will also provide input into the mandate, strategic priorities, and terms of reference for a future Economic Development Advisory Committee Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
3 COVID-19 Response Restart & Recovery Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
COVID-19 Time Line DATE ACTIONS 1 st presumptive case in BC January 8 Outbreak declared at Lynn Valley Care Centre March 7 W.H.O. declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic March 11 British Columbia Pandemic Provincial Co-ordination Plan is put in motion, and focused on containing the coronavirus by breaking up transmission chains Physical distancing measures ramp up March 16 Any businesses that cannot avoid large groups of people, like restaurants, bars and casinos, are ordered to shut down. Many restaurants move to take-out service only. BC declares Provincial State of Emergency March 17 Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
COVID-19 Time Line DATE ACTIONS Federal government announces $82 billion COVID-19 Economic March 18 Response Plan – details unfold over following weeks The B.C. Ministry of Health orders personal service businesses, March 21 such as barber shops, hair salons, nail parlours and tattoo shops, to shut down immediately Canada-US border is shut down to non-essential travellers B.C. government announces it will spend $5 billion to help March 23 families and businesses struggling financially through the pandemic, as unprecedented job losses and company shutdowns rattle the province’s economy Roughly half of the money is allocated for economic recovery after the outbreak ends Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Support to West Vancouver Businesses • Identifying local business needs, sharing information, and providing links to senior government support programs for small business • https://westvancouver.ca/economy/covid-19-information- and-resources-businesses • Collaboration with VCH, NSEM, local business organizations, and North Shore municipalities in Local Resilient Economy Task Force • Weekly conference calls with Destination BC, and various senior government agencies • Support to Chamber and ADBIA in member outreach Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
COVID-19 Time Line DATE ACTIONS BC extends state of emergency to April 28 April 15 More event cancellations announced including: major events April 20 like the PNE, Pride Parade, and Celebration of Light BC’s 100th COVID -19 death announced April 25 Premier Horgan announces BC’s four phase “Restart Plan” May 4 BC’s Restart Plan enters Phase II May 19 WorkSafeBC website updated with Safety Plan templates and May 21 new guidelines Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issues policy directive: May 22 Temporary Expanded Service Area Authorization Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Support to West Vancouver Businesses Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Support to West Vancouver Businesses Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Longer Term Considerations • Context for local economic development has changed • No one knows what the “new normal” will look like once the pandemic is over • Over the next 18 months, staff will work with the Economic Recovery Task Force to examine short-term impacts and longer-term scenarios for various business types, to understand their longer-term viability and identify economic opportunities • This work will support ongoing implementation of the Economic Development Plan, and identify priorities for a Plan update. Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
4 Recommendations Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Staff Recommendations THAT 1. The report dated May 25, 2020 providing an update on Economic Development Plan implementation and local economic recovery be received for information; 2. A Council representative be appointed to the Economic Recovery Task Force, as described in Appendix ‘A’ to this report; Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Additional Recommendations (on table) Council endorsement of temporary patio program Temporarily suspend: enforcement of on-site parking requirements to facilitate temporary patios on private property; and requirement to obtain development permit or other permits in connection with private patios Waive any fees that would apply in relation to temporary patios Supporting bylaws: (1) Delegation of permit issuance; (2) Fees and Charges Bylaw Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
Thank You! Questions? Economic Development Plan Implementation & Local Economic Recovery
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