1 2 3 test. 1 2 3 Good morning everybody. Uh, welcome to the business improvement area subcommittee 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. We have Corum present. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Please be reminded that all electronic devices are to be switched to a non-audible function during committee meetings. I will now commence with a roll call. Councelor Tammy Hang here. >> Councelor Esther Paul's. Councelor Moren Wilson >> present. >> Uh Susie Braithweight from International Village sends regrets. Uh Tracy McKinnon Westale and Stony Creek >> present. Jennifer Matter Ancaster Adrien Meckley Hes Village >> here. >> Susan Penny Waterdown. >> I'm here. >> Susan, may I ask that you vice chair for me today? >> That's fine. >> Thank you. Uh Doris Sanchez, concession, Betina Shoreman, Lock Street, David Taylor Dundas. Good morning. Present. Uh >> Emily Walsh from downtown also sends regrets. Stephanie Wiler from Ottawa Street. >> Myself from Barton Village. And Brendan Weton International Village as a standin. I will now read land acknowledgement. City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Eerie neutral Hiron Wendat Hodnon and Missagas. This land is covered by the dish with one spoon wampom belt covenant which was an agreement between the hodnosoni and anishabek to share and care for the resources around the great lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the between the lakes purchase 1792 between the crown and the missagas of the credit first nation. Today the city of Hamilton is home to many indigenous people from across Turtle Island. And we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbors, partners, and caretakers. May I have a mover and a seconder to approve the agenda as presented. Uh moved by councelor Hang, seconded by uh Stephanie. Are there any amendments from committee members to the agenda? Seeing nothing, uh, please indicate your vote now. All in favor? Uh, motion is carried. Are there any declarations of interest? Seeing none, uh, let's move on. May I have a mover and a seconder to adopt the minutes of the April 21st, 2026 meeting as presented? Moved by David, seconded by Tracy. Uh, is there any discussion on those minutes? Seeing nothing, please indicate your vote now. All in favor? Motion is carried. Uh for those providing presentations today, please remember that presentations are limited to 10 minutes. Uh first we'll start with the overview of the 2026 business improvement area shared parking and holiday parking program. I'd like to call upon Joanne Star, manager of parking operations, to please begin your presentation. >> Good morning and thank you. Just one second while I hopefully share working. Okay, great. Um, so this will be a brief presentation. I just wanted to uh present to you the uh BIA revenue share for uh 2026 for this year. So we'll get started. Um so the distribution this year is uh $235,000 uh for the BAS. Um and just um to go over the funding formula again, it's a base amount of 7500 uh for each of the BAS. And then uh on top of that, if there's um any uh revenue, additional revenue from the uh pay machines and parking meters, that meter revenue of 10% additional is added to that base amount. And that's the amount that's allocated to each of the BAS. And um on the next slide, it's going to it's going to be quite busy. It's going to have uh a breakdown for each BIA showing the amount given each year uh or for this year of the revenue share. It's also going to include uh the cost to host the um or opt into the holiday uh free parking program for December. And then um the last column will show the amount that for those of who wish to participate um how much um they'll get this year from the uh revenue share. Um so I'm not going to go into detail and I'm more than happy well I understand that the slides will be shared with the BAS. Um if there's any questions um I'm going to uh remain at the end um to answer any questions. Um but this is a big breakdown um so it's by each BIA. I just want to note that this year um Hess village is the has joined uh the BAS as of just uh near the end of last year. Um so they have been included for this year's calculations. The first column is the revenue share um based on that funding formula of the 7500 plus 10% of the parking revenue. Um the next one, the next column is the uh amount that uh would be paid to participate in the holiday parking program for December. And then the third column is for those who do decide to opt in. Um that would be the uh remaining share that would be distributed to those uh BAS. I also wanted to take a moment to talk a bit about the holiday parking program uh itself. Um uh we did we received feedback from last year's program for those that did participate and I'd like to thank you for to those who participated and also provided feedback. We also uh sent out a a survey asking for input from the BAS. Um, so I'm going to talk a bit about the holiday program itself and then I'll talk about some changes for this year um to try and help uh improve the program, make it more visible for BIA customers and help address some of the concerns that came up uh with this past December's program. Um, so as I mentioned, the participation is optional. It's based on uh fee um and the fees are calculated to participate. Uh the program runs from December 1st to dece to December 31st and it basically offers um uh free parking uh within the BAS 2hour free parking. Um the changes for this year uh in the past for the past oh gosh uh I want to say four or five years now we've been using stickers rather than bags to bag the meters and machines. Um, we're actually going to go back to bagging uh the the meters and the machines um to try and make them more prominent to try and also help with uh issues such as stickers coming off. Uh they're not the bags will hopefully be more visible to people because you'll be able to see it when you're when you're driving up to a parking space. Um so that customers clearly know which zones are part of the free parking program. So we're going to roll that out uh this year. We're going to start that again with the meter bagging. Um the way it'll roll out is parking staff will be responsible for bagging the meters in those BAS that are participating and then we'll provide extra bags uh for uh the BAS in case they go missing, that kind of stuff because it does happen. Um we're also going to uh launch a stronger uh communication campaign. So uh we have in the past done social media posts. Uh we have a poster. Um we want to continue with those again, but we're going to share those uh in advance with the BAS. Um and also um we're going to try to create we're going to create a web page um and we're going to do some mapping. So, uh, we're going to work with our, um, communications IT people to create a map that would actually show, um, where the free parking zones are so that people could actually, our plan is to have on the posters, like a little QR code that people could then just um, take their phone and be able to see where parking is just to make sure that they uh, are in fact parking in a free parking zone. Um and then the third one um is for the Dundas uh lot program. So in Dundas uh the program is in the lots rather than on street. Um we did have some feedback about people not understanding that they had to pre-register with our machines um in order to get the free parking. So uh we'll have more prominent signs. We'll get some signs created for that. And so we'll also share that with the the Dundas BIA. So that um makes it much more clear to customers on on how to how to participate in the program. And I just wanted to um before I close off, I just wanted to talk a bit about next steps. So, I'm I'm going to ask if the BAS that decide to opt in for the holiday program this year if they could let uh parking myself know by October 1st or even uh go through Christina Gesler uh through Christina and then we'll uh we'll make sure that we work on um getting those BAS set up for the holiday program. Um we'll also be working with Christina on uh distributing the the meter revenue. So, we'll be working on on doing that within the next uh I'd say probably few weeks. Um, and that's it. So, any questions? Happy to happy to answer. >> Thank you very much, Joanne. Does anybody have any questions? The first hand I see is David. >> Yeah. Uh, through the chair, just a couple of questions about the program and obviously as it applies to Dundas. Um just a little bit on the dates that are being offered. Traditionally in Dundas we have our holiday um experience begins on the first Friday of November. And we'd be very interested to see the dates of the program reflect that instead. Uh so something like November 27th to December 27th. So uh general ask about uh the flexibility around the dates to reflect what is required in the neighborhoods. Um and I would just throw uh in the same question then just for feedback is around the communication. We've spoken about the issues that there were last year. Um because the Dundas program is significantly different than the rest of the city. We need to have cooperation with the city about that communication and how that gets out to our customers and our clients and our residents. So looking to just hoping that there is a commitment to communicating and cooperating on how the communication is done for this program that honestly is is a huge deal to our downtown uh throughout the holiday season. So those are my general questions. uh and just want to see what the the feedback is on that. Thank you. >> Thanks Dave. Uh so to answer your questions uh with regards to flexibility of dates so when we reviewed the program um I believe it's either earlier last year I think it was if my timing is correct um one of the feedback we received was that uh we used to have the program start uh November 25th and it ran to December 25th and uh people didn't understand uh that that was the case. We had other BAS that ran it December 1st to December 31st and there seemed to be a lot of confusion. Uh that was a feedback we got from uh from BAS and also from the public uh with regards to the program. So the reason why we standardize it for the month of December was to make it very hopefully more simple and much more clear to the public that you know December is a holiday season and uh that's when we're starting our program. So it was to try and standardize it across the board across all the BAS um because we did have confusion uh when it came to even just um even though we had communication to that effect it still was confusing for the public. Um with regards to your second question about communications um as mentioned uh we you know I do remember having a conversation with you and also we received the feedback through the surveys uh from the BAS talking about Dundas in particular and the need for signage and just um better um communication uh overall for the program and we've heard heard you loud and clear and just to let you know that we are committed to um helping ensure that there's better communication this year with the program. If I could if I'm allowed to just uh follow up on that through the chair. Uh I again I guess I think what we're talking about is communication here and um maybe we can take this up uh individually on the on the afterwards but those dates and the communication see every one of the BAS and affected neighborhoods are different and this is what we ran into last year that Dundas is significantly different and I think you see from the numbers also one of the biggest contributors of parking revenue in the entire city is a big deal for us and we need to have cooperation from the city that our customers and our clients and our residents understand what's going on. So, uh I understand the need for standardized dates from the city, but that really quite frankly doesn't matter on the street in downtown Dundas. So, I would just like to leave it as I I would like that open for discussion about modifying the dates based on the needs of the neighborhoods and the taxpayers. So, if we could leave it at that and sort of uh set up to meet something meet at some point in the future to talk about the details, I would appreciate that. >> Uh I'm more than happy to meet uh with you and Christina. Absolutely. Yeah, we can set that up. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thanks, David. Uh Tracy, >> uh thank you, Naen. Um okay, just a number of uh questions that were related to David's comments. When we first agreed to the program, the changes in the parking, we were told that we could purchase, you know, a week, a week at a time, two weeks before Christmas, uh, for the parking. No discussion was had with us. So, I'm shocked that there was talk about a discussion. Never had any discussion. I just had an email request to Christina because we were told this is what it was. Um, and also in regards to the standardized, the last couple years, we got all the BAS to agree. We were all agreed on November 24 to December 24. So, I think it that would actually help David's case and that would actually be uh more beneficial to a number of businesses. A lot of businesses in Hamilton close Boxing Week, so it's really just a waste when we're paying for that week. At least half are closed in most BAS. So, uh, I'd like to know if we could go back to, uh, there was no confusion that that I was aware of in multiple BAS. We had all agreed and had the same messaging for November 24th to December 24th. So, I'm happy if there's going to be any discussion. Could we participate and discuss how that would probably work better for most people and actually go back to what the standardized was, hoping that's the case. And then specifically for Lock Street, you're saying you're bagging meters. Will you put back those big rectangular bags that go on the um lock street um meters? Another question is uh will the BIA be responsible to do the bagging? And my third question is we had a number of businesses uh when we had the free parking two years ago, uh they watched customers not even get out of their car. They parked their car, they're getting their phone to pay. literally within 30 seconds they have a ticket on their window and it like it just scared people away because they couldn't even come for free parking. They just got a ticket instantly. So, uh I'm just wondering if that is going to be still the case this year. And then my final question is on communication. Just wondering if any communication goes out that it not be as misleading as last year's communication and could we participate like David is requesting in uh the communication and knowing what is going out. Thank you. >> Wow. >> Uh through you chair. Um, with response to the communications uh, information, absolutely, we're going to do a better job this year of communicating and rolling that out to the BAS that wish to participate this year in advance. So, we'll be working on putting that package together um, so we can share that. Um, with regards to Lock Street, so Lock Street is a bit unique in that it has a actually a three-hour time limit on Lock Street and the program is for 2-hour free parking. Um, so, uh, we can't bagg the meters, but, uh, we will ensure that there's some kind of, uh, better messaging on the machines themselves, like not just a little sticker, but maybe something more prominent, uh, will work on that. Uh, so that people understand that it's two-hour free parking. Um, and then for those that do need to park that extra hour beyond the two, um, they can then, uh, pay with the machine. Um, so we'll we'll make sure that there's something in place that makes it more prominent to customers so that they're they're very clear that it's two-hour free parking. Um, and with regards to standardizing, as I mentioned, um, uh, when we had reviewed the program and we had put it, uh, the changes, uh, before council, we did standardize it to December. Um, you know, I'm happy to have that discussion with Christina and talk more about the hours. Um, but again, just to reiterate, the the reason why we went to December was um that was the feedback that we received uh up until that time was that having it from uh the November to December timeline. People weren't clear on that and that they wanted a more clear um uh period of time when they would associate with holiday parking. That's why we did switch it to the month of December. Um, but willing to have that conversation. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Um, Jennifer, thank you to the chair. We did have a question. the incast BIA to um overcome not having the banking last year. We bought Santa hats and labeled those up with free parking. Would we be able to use those again this year? >> Uh through you, chair. We'll still we'll continue to bag the meters anyway. Like we'll we'll go ahead and do our program. Um as long as it like in that case, it's not like they're going to interfere with the the meters. So, I don't have any concern with having Santa hats on the on the meters. >> Thank you, Tracy. I see your hand. Any other firsttime speakers? I'm going to pass the chair to Susan real quick because I have a question. Um, how many BAS participated in the program last year? >> Through you, chair? I believe it was four. And I'm going to go blank on right now. Um, but yeah, I believe it's four. >> Uh, I'm wondering if as part of the optin, there can be a consensus amongst those BAS that are opting in about the dates if that's a potential conversation and maybe again it can be taken offline, but um, if it's the same BAS that are opting in and they have consensus, perhaps there's an opportunity there. Uh, absolutely. That's definitely something we can talk more about when we when we when we talk further with the BAS. >> Thank you. I will take the chair back from Susan. Thank you. Um, Tracy as a second time speaker. >> Uh, thank you, Naen. And just to follow up on yours and Jennifer's comments. So, the signage is never fabulous. Uh, we had to create our own in Westdale before. I'm uh glad to hear that we can follow we can uh at least augment what the city is is going to put on there. And uh again my one question wasn't answered which is uh people opting in. Uh one of the issues was when we did have free parking multiple people were getting multiple tickets and they didn't even get out of their car. So, I'm just wondering if that's going to be uh curved a bit so people at least could be given I don't know 30 seconds is a bit extreme for me and we have multiple witnesses uh that can attest to that. So, I'm hoping people could get at least time especially if someone needs accessibility but to get out of their car and go uh be able to take a moment to get the code and purchase a ticket without getting uh an infraction ticket as well. And if you are doing signage, could it also be very clear on Lock Street that you need to pay and display? And we'd like to assist with that because one sign, you know, 10 feet in the air at the very end of the street is not uh reasonable signage for people. And also following Naen's uh comment that whoever is uh opting in that we can discuss the dates and go back to what was all agreed by all the BAS before. Thanks. uh through you madam chair. Um with regards to the mach like the signage so as mentioned agree that we will ensure that there's better signage at the machines themselves. Um you know having just one sign on the street it's not enough. Uh we also uh provide the posters for um businesses to put in their their windows or in their businesses wherever they wish to display them. Um and we would certainly encourage them to do that. Um uh with regards to the as mentioned the times uh changing the dates um you know happy to have that conversation. Um and as I said I'm committed to having that conversation with the BAS and uh lastly with regards to enforcement um I will definitely take that back uh to the manager of parking enforcement and and let him know that uh there was a concern with that happening last year. Great. Thank you. Um, David as a second time speaker. >> You're muted, David. >> Oh, and I just made the best point ever. Um, uh, just to echo what Tracy had said about the enforcement. It was, uh, brutal. uh you know very very aggressive. Um and just to the communication also would just want to make sure that um again communication in Dundas because our street parking is still paid but our municipal lots are two hours free. Uh we got our hands slapped uh last year, metaphorically speaking, uh for putting stickers on or small photocopied signs on the meters reminding people that they had to pay. So, we need to the communication is so important here and we I just need to stress to everyone in the room that's hearing this that um this isn't going to work the way it's designed if we can't communicate locally and with our own merchants and our own like and and and on the ground. Um, you know, we we we had the situation last year which if you were parking less than 2 hours, you still had to buy a ticket at the machine. That was never ever communicated. So again, there's a lot to communicate at a time when if the communication is this is a pain in the behind in Dundas will go elsewhere. This isn't benefiting anybody. So just to again communication and customizing the communication for the neighborhoods and letting us on the ground have a bigger say and a bigger part of that and uh that's all I got. >> Thank you David. Anybody else? Tracy >> sorry one more thing. David sparked something in the head on customization. This has been a request of mine for a few years and it doesn't seem to get done and it's a simple computer uh you know a few little lines in a program uh on the app even though there's free parking someone will can still go on the app and they're not given that free parking notice. I just want to make sure so they are paying which angered customers because they paid when it should have been free. So I'm wondering if that could be uh put in the programs uh especially for the BAS that are participating on the date they are participating that would be great. It's a very simple doesn't cost anything to do. Thanks. Um I just want I'd like to respond to the to the app comment. Um so we did have the app last year. um it should not have charged if they were in a free parking zone. Um, so perhaps Tracy, if you could if if you happen to know where that particular uh payment occurred, if you could let me know and and I can definitely look into it, but uh we did um just so everyone's aware uh where it was free parking in the BAS, the app uh would have uh been um uh not working at the time. So it would not have taken payment for the two hours. Okay. Um I'm going to pass the chair to Susan real quick. I just have a comment. Um in any of these circumstances, uh I know that reaching out to parking directly, um I have experienced this myself where I paid for parking in a lot through the app. Um, and when I came out to my vehicle, there was a ticket on it. The time difference was literally a minute. I took a screenshot of the app and a picture of the ticket and sent it into parking. And within 20 minutes, that uh ticket had been uh cancelled. I I don't know what the word is, but um and it was taken care of uh without any issues. So, I I very much appreciated that. Um, I know that there isn't always that leniency available. Um, but it's worth an ask. So, if there are specific circumstances like um, you know, an app that's charging when it shouldn't be or whatever the case might be, I I have found that parking has been uh quite responsive to those scenarios. So, thank you for that >> through you, Madam Chair. Appreciate you bringing that up. Um, absolutely. like if if um if there's any uh concerns or any um odd things that seem to happen uh between uh when somebody is paying through the app or whether it's a machine um please uh don't hesitate to reach out to parking at hamilton.ca and we'll make sure that we um we can look at it and make sure that that's not sometimes glitches do happen on our end uh with the with the the apps that we have or the systems that we have. Um it does happen. Um, and the other thing is we have the disputes uh um portal as well. So like if you're ever issued a ticket and you and you feel strongly that it was unfairly um issued um you can also do the disputes, but I would encourage you to just simply initiate it through uh parking hamilton uh.ca. Um and then that way uh we can look and see if there is a in fact something that's that's not right and we don't have to send you through the disputes portal. Thank you for that. Not seeing any other hands. Thank you very much, Joan. Appreciate that. You're welcome to stick around, but you also don't have to. I'm sure you're busy. Um, okay. Uh, we will now move on to 7.2, the Common House Cafe. I'd like to call upon Kristen Hugenboss, program lead and, uh, small business champion. that they seems to be missing here on my thing. I don't know. Uh from the Hamilton Business Center, uh please begin your presentation. Thank you for that warm welcome, chair. That's great. It's great to be back and and thank you for having me. I'm just going to flip it to make sure we're in the the right mode here and hopefully everybody's okay. It's catching up. Very good. Awesome. So, it's it's great to be back and thanks for having me today. Today, I'm going to talk and provide a little bit of an update. Um, for some of you that are familiar with our Common House Cafe and talk about some of the successes and and where we are. For those in terms of um those that we haven't met, my name is Kristen Hugamos and I'm the program lead for the Hamilton Business Center. And the Hamilton Business Center is an amazing partnership just like this one around the table today. Um we partner with the city of Hamilton but also made available through the ministry of economic development, job creation and trade. And the common house cafe falls under our ministry partnership and this is a program where we had and we solved a problem. So it was an idea and an opportunity and through our services in terms of our core delivery where we meet with businesses, connect with businesses and learn from businesses in our community. We know that there is a high need for support and resources within our food sector. And if I look at last year's performance from the team, we met with over 1,400 and 53 businesses onetoone and more than 30% of those businesses fell within a food sector. So the common house cafe continues to serve a need. And essentially what the program is is an opportunity for those who are starting a business within the food space to be within a landing space and work and inspire and coach and work with other local entrepreneurs here in city hall. And it's been a brilliant model in terms of where we've been able to go. The objectives of the program when we started this three years ago were really to create a showcase model. And I can tell you today it has been. We have had well over a dozen other municipalities and municipal partners reach out inquiring about this program and how we solved a problem with a vacant space and a demand for increased programming within that food and entrepreneurial space. Um it is a great space for networking and collaboration. We actually do a lot of training in that space. So whether it's our 10 steps to starting a business or a starter company, we're meeting with businesses within that space, creating business opportunities, and again sharing that entrepreneurial journey. This has also been a great space where we're helping businesses that maybe had a side hustle or weren't sure on what that journey is. And we know by the numbers in entrepreneurship right now, there are more and more people getting into that. We had more than 18,000 inquiries through our Hamilton business center counter. that is significantly up year after year. So we know that there is more interest whether it be side hustle, whether people are doing two things at once, whether we're fully into this. So we had an opportunity really to go into that space and it is created employment. We have helped 12 direct businesses start, grow, sustain and expand in Hamilton within that model in two cohorts. So it is a success in that space. We're also looking at it from in in terms of that mentorship and coaching because we know the winning model working with our ministry partners is training, coaching space, but also some financial incentive opportunities. And many of the participants within this are looking to or have participated in another program called Starter Company Plus where we receive in excess of 500 applications to help businesses with coaching, mentoring, and a microrant of $5,000. We also have in-house resources through the program. And that is day-to-day interacting with our staff. If you have a problem, if there's a customer service experience, if there's a supply chain issue, if you're not sure on your pricing, where are we? Whatever it might be. One of the big things that's come up even from staffing and coaching and how do we help in that space, our staff is here and on site and integrated within that model daily to support the businesses in succeeding. We also bring in a network of more than 30 mentors and coaches externally who have worked within this same food space. Um again we also provide the provisions at the kitchen and and working through that but also a readily available audience. I think many of those around the table or many of those um that are joining us virtually have had the opportunity to pop in and grab a coffee in between meetings and support a local entrepreneur and and that really has helped us achieve these objectives which is great. Some of the things that we want to share in terms of um what's important is really around some of the greater supports and this has been a key draw to the program and I I want to highlight that it provides some of the spaces which is great but it provides a location and those combined with the mentoring and training have had us see more than 88 applications from businesses that want to start and grow here in Hamilton. And that's why we're here today talking and connecting and revisiting this program because there's an opportunity for us to work together with each of you in this experience because we have 88 applications that need a space in Hamilton and I think around this table and virtually we have some solutions and opportunity to collaborate there. The other part is really around our marketing support. So oftent times again, what are the resources and support and how do we help and what does that look like? And we're rolling up our sleeves and actually working on a social um campaign where we're helping you with your your hands-on marketing again expanding the business opportunity. The training and mentorship is key. We all know and you do it day in and day out as BAS working with our businesses. So whether it's something today, tomorrow, or in the future, it it is really that access to training and mentoring. And while we can't integrate all 88 applications into the program, it has allowed us to expand our footprint. So in addition to the common house cafe, we have a new training portal for any food business in Hamilton and it is called food entrepreneur food advantage entrepreneur and that is in collaboration with our other small business centers across Ontario to which there's 54 and is a boot camp of six modules that they can take online download and integrate with amazing training and entrepreneurship so that everybody receives training coaching ing and mentorship and that is open to any and all food businesses across Hamilton. We again from a program eligibility kind of bring in a primary vendor and then we have secondary vendors and when we look at what we're we're wanting to have there are some criteria again based on our facility and and when we are open making sure that we have full capacity to support and then beyond it we also bring in our secondary vendors in terms of what we've identified as well and they usually stay with us for 3 to six months and at that point we're looking for graduation opportunities again a way that we can continue to collaborate and connect to support businesses and making sure that they have a great landing space and stay within Hamilton to support their continued success. Some of the the training again we've talked about a little bit today is is really that in-person piece. So Keith who leads this portfolio and this program has done a fantastic job mentoring and coaching those that are integrated within this right now. We've also identified that there's some opportunities within our training and mentorship capacity beyond the food advantage program and this is where I will like likely and hopefully come back to see you in the fall. Um but we are looking at a market accelerator program because again we have solved a problem. We have space, we have training, we have capacity and we have the will and desire to support all of the entrepreneurs that we can. And within the market incubation space, we are hoping to collaborate with our farmers market. We are hoping to collaborate with many of you around the table who have popup markets and pop-up events in community where we can have businesses come in and have a space while providing them training and coaching and mentorship through our program. So I think there's a lot of opportunities to collaborate as we expand that in the future as well. And again, our one-to-one mentoring, bringing in food experts, bringing in the experts from across Ontario to support success beyond anything that we might have here as well. And that in itself has been a winning model. Some of the questions we're often asked and I want to share for some that might not be as familiar with the common house cafe model because it is again receiving some great attention which is wonderful is we have a call to action and and we put the marketing out there to community. We share that on our social platforms. We shout it loudly to our partners and community and then we have them complete an eligibility checklist and say, "Yeah, you know what? I'm in this and I really want to start this business or I want to grow this business and here's a need that you can specifically help me with." And then we actually do some pre-screening with each and every one of those clients. So, there is a spot for everyone whether it be in the Common House Cafe or whether it be in one of our food programs or hopefully our our market incubation program. there are lots of opportunities where we can grow and expand in that space. And then in terms of that interview, we sit down with the businesses and understand their needs and what it is that we can support them with. And is the Common House Cafe best for them or is it best to make an introduction potentially to one of our many community partners to help support them and have a space to support their success in Hamilton. And then in terms of the final phase, we integrate and on an annual basis we bring in a new cohort of businesses and we have a primary vendor who supports those core services and then we rotate many secondary vendors and in our past two cohorts we've successfully again supported 12 businesses in growing and staying here in Hamilton. Um and then just a couple pictures I'll share with you and some of you I again I hope have popped in and had a chance to see the space. Um but this is the space kind of as we had cleaned it out and what it looks like. It is an active and vibrant space and on uh busy days in our location again we we do a lot of activation. So within the Hamilton Business Center taking in our programs introducing our summer students and working through that model which is good. Okay. And that doesn't want to advance, but that brings us to the end of our discussion for today in terms of the slides and the information that I wanted to share with you on the Common House Cafe. Thank you. >> Thanks, Kristen. Anybody have any questions for Kristen? >> Councelor Wang, >> thank you. I'm really uh excited about this program. I've loved it ever since you guys rolled it out. Um just the question around that market accelerator because you did touch on it but I don't know what that really means and how does that fit in with the common house cafe sort of programming. >> Wonderful and through you chair. Thank you. Um so that's the next evolution. The Hamilton Business Center is is never really in one space. We kind of evolve and grow and adapt just like our entrepreneurs do. So the market acceler is a broad umbrella that will include working with the BAS, working with our community partners, working with any of the local markets and popups where we can integrate our business clients to have a permanent location for ideally a month or more and provide some training, coaching, mentorship, but also businessto business sales opportunities. So that is on our radar for the fall. Further questions through your chair is um this is really good when it sounds like it's for a entrepreneur that is going to public facing but what about products so I know that there are many food entrepreneurs that want to create hot sauce jar jams um but it's the supply chain is always an challenge printing also nutritional information so is there any thought process around um branching off into that level uh the product uh type of entrepreneur >> and through you chair. Great question. Um that was actually how this began. We had our own food entrepreneurial advantage here in Hamilton and we did a food boot camp with our consumer package goodsbased food businesses and we had over three cohorts and we brought in information about labeling, packaging, making those connections and that's where we continue to provide that within our virtual space with our small business partners. So that is very much alive and thriving. In our past two cohorts since we partnered with our small business network, we've had over 101 applications and integration within that space. Um, so we also we get them online, we do the mentoring and coaching as well. And then sometimes we engage our economic development food partners as well and the specialists within the the economic development department. So very thriving industry and a very important part of the common house cafe journey because that's where it actually began. Last question through you, chair, is uh this foodpreneur advantage.ca. I'm on the website now. It looks like there's a southwest food summit that's coming up at the end of May, but how do we participate because there's a lot of small business enterprise centers that participate here. Is it sound it looks like almost all the aspects are part of this um network, but um what is the what is the push and how what's the intention behind this uh foodpreneur advantage.ca? CA through you chair. So the foodreneur advantage much like many of our programs allows us to leverage expertise and coaching and support at a local level as well. So there's about half of the small business enterprise centers that have partnered with this and again we get to have some influence in the content and then the delivery of that. So the more we partner, the more we integrate, the more opportunities there are to have a Hamilton focused message as well. So it also allows our businesses though to connect with other entrepreneurs and make more businessto business connections and opportunity and we've seen some amazing success come out of that as well. So opening up that beyond the Hamilton boundary again continues to support our local business success. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you both for that. Any other questions? I will pass the chair to Susan real quick. Um I have a question around uh AI tools and whether or not you're seeing an interest in that or whether that's becoming part of the conversation. Um in particular around um you know from a scalability standpoint being able to determine am I in fact making money doing this? Um is that something that's coming? Is it already on the radar or is it already part of the program? Thank you. And through the chair, um, very much on the radar. It is part of our day-to-day business. Um, and a lot of training and coaching is within that space. Um, nonsp food specific. We have workshops for our entrepreneurs and one the first week of June, how to integrate that AI and how does it support our businesses with actionable outcomes. But yes, that is very much something that we're we're focused on right now. >> Cool. Thank you very much. I will take the chair back from Susan. I don't see any other hands. Thank you, Kristen. Pleasure as usual. Um, appreciate you coming and sharing information with us. >> Oh, Councelor Wang, go ahead. >> So, I understand our current occupant in the Common House Cafe will be leaving us at the end of June. So, when will we receive notification as to who the new um proprietor will be there? through your chair. Interesting. Yes. Um not to be mysterious, but we will definitely share that news very soon. It is part of Revolution and graduation and um we will have some good news to share very shortly on that. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. I know the exiting participant is looking for space. Hands off everybody. Okay. Thank you very much. Uh, may I have a mover and a seconder to receive items 7.1 and 7.2? Moved by Jennifer, seconded by Susan. Uh, all in favor. Motion is carried. Okay. Um 9.1 Tracy McKinnon from Westdale Village and Stony Creek. Uh please introduce uh your motion. We have sorry we have a business improvement area expenditure request. Tracy, go ahead. >> Yes. My business improvement area expenditure request a that the expenditure request from the Westdale Village business improvement area in the amount of $9,936.95 to be spent on purchase of streetscape flowers and maintenance expenses funded from the 2026 contribution to operating budget program for the business improvement area BIA payment account 815010-56905 be approved and B that the expenditure request from the Stony Creek Business Improvement Area in the amount of $12,216.64 64 cents to be spent on purchase of streetscape flowers and maintenance expenses funded from the 2026 contribution to operating budget program for the business improvement areas BIA payment account 81510-56905 be approved and C finally that the expenditure request from the Lock Street Business Improvement Area in the amount of $2559.19 to be spent on purchase of streetscape flowers and maintenance expenses funded from the 2026 contribution to operating budget program for the business improvement areas BIA payment account 815010-56905 be approved and I'm looking for a seconder please >> thank you uh looks like David has raised his hand to second for you are there any questions on the motion seeing Seeing none, please indicate your vote now. All in favor? >> This is for Tracy's motion. >> Correct. >> The motion is carried. Uh, okay. Updates from business development office. Christina Gesler, business development and business improvement area officer is here with an update for committee. Christina, go ahead. >> Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. Um, okay. So, updates for the BAS. Um, BIA second levy payments. I will be working on check requisitions for all of the BIA second levy payments um, in the coming days. Um, just be advised that the reconciliation reports that went out for end of year 2025 um, if there are any um, deficits or surplus, they will be adjusted accordingly on your second PIA levy payments. Um the um intention is to get those payments to all of the BAS before the end of June. So it'll be sometimes throughout June, but I'm going to start them early. So hopefully you guys get your monies sooner than later. Uh second, um please continue for the BAS that are in the second wave of audits through KPMG. Um please continue to work um diligently uh to get those audits completed. Just a friendly reminder for that. Um did want to as you are all aware just uh bring up that the it is an election year that means that the BIA's uh the boards of management will be up for election as well. Um I encourage everyone in preparation for that um that you review the uh procedural bylaw. There is some advanced notifications that need to be given to your members um in advance of your AGMs. I will work um if people can give me an idea when they think their AGMs will be um I will start working um with uh getting your mailing list for your uh members um to you guys in time. Um and then as well um if anyone has any questions kind of leading up into that, please just let me know and happy to work with each of you with any questions that you may have. Um, on that note, uh, the BIA annual reports, I know that that I brought those up in the past. Sorry, I've just been a little bit underwater with the patio program. So, I will get updated, uh, lists of what will be required for your BIA annual reports. Those can be either I know some people, um, have had some challenges with the third party app, the sync, um, to be able to transfer documents. If you're not having success in uploading them into sync, um, you can just send them directly to me. Um either way, I transfer all of that out of the sync app and I store it on our um city internal records. Um so it doesn't stay on that app anyways. So even if you just send it to me in in multiple emails, that will work as well. But I will be getting everyone's checklist to them. Um it's on my to-do list for the end of this month. I promise it's coming. Um IDA uh registration. Um so I sent out an email last week. Uh thank you for those that have already registered. Uh please just go ahead and register yourselves. Um economic development will be covering your registration fee only. Um any additional tours or accommodations or anything else that obviously that'll be your responsibility. But if you send us um me uh the IDA registration official receipt once you get it then we will reimburse you for that. I think it's 700 just under $800 the registration fee. And then finally, uh just a just a friendly reminder for anybody that's got um businesses that participate in the patio program, the window to apply for the program uh is up until June 1st. Now, of course, they can apply after June 1st, but applying before that June 1st deadline, what it does do is the internal reviewing partners that we have because I don't review anything. It's all of our stakeholders that need to review each application. Depending on the kind of patio application, um they're kind of on standby to prioritize these patio applications when they come in. They can come in after June 1st, but we don't commit to the 2 to five business day turnaround. So, it may take a little bit longer. So, if you do know of businesses that do want to apply for the patio uh through the patio program, please encourage them um to do it sooner than later. Um certainly before June the 1st because it just helps me get permits turned around much much quicker. And that's it. That's all the updates I had. Not sure if anyone had any other questions. >> Thank you, Christina. I see Susan, you have your hand up. Go ahead. >> Uh, yeah, very quickly through the chair. Um, the mailing lists that we get for the AGMs, we used to get names of individuals or businesses. We don't get that anymore and it makes really difficult. I have several multi-propy owners and some businesses that are numbered companies and when I had sort of names instead of sending, you know, 15 invitations to the same individual, I was able to send one when I cross reference them. I can still do that to some of my old lists, but I don't have anything for some of our new businesses. And if anybody were to fill in following me, they would get a list of much a much longer list than they really need to send invitations to. Is there anything that we can do to try and get that list um >> um through the chair? I can certainly ask. It's cardographic services actually that provides these mailing lists and and when those changes were made, it was tied into privacy. Um I know that we used to get them. I know because I used to get them as well and exactly that point. Maybe I will what I'll do is I'll go back to them and I'll position it through that angle and see if there's anything that they can do. But I know that there was privacy restrictions in them being able to disclose the name of the property owner, but I will ask and I will let you know. >> Yeah. And then sometimes like we have a business owner who's also the property owner and so we have our member list and then the property owners and then they're getting two or three invitations each too. So >> yeah. Yeah, totally get it. Um I will try and position it from that perspective and see if we have any success. So I will let everyone know. >> Thank you very much. Any other questions for Christina? Seeing nothing, may I have a mover and a seconder to receive the update. Moved by Doris, seconded by Tracy. Uh, please indicate your vote now. All in favor? The motion is carried. Uh on to statements by members. Does anyone have any updates um or items of interest? Okay. I guess I'm the only one. Nobody. All right. Um just want to share uh Barton Village Festival is um taking a new shape. Uh we're referring to it as BASH. Um it may have come come across your social media channels. Um we are working with uh Whitney McMe and Aaron Sutton who uh are behind Dreamweaver events. Um lots of fun things planned for that. Uh band called Max is our headliner and so June 13th. Um yeah, we're excited. We're going back to the street, y'all. um shutting down from Victoria to Wentworth. Um yeah, WOW is right, Adrian. It's a big uh big undertaking, which is why I'm not doing it. Um super grateful to have their help. So, please mark your calendars and I'm going to assume you don't have anything better to do that day. You should come down and check that out. June 13th, lots of activities. No bouncy castles, though. Anyone else have anything they want to share? Going once, twice. Oh, Susan, I need to have my back. >> I'll just say, and I'm sure this is for a lot of other BAS as well, but it's farmers market season. Our farmers market opens uh this Saturday. It's always a great day. We've got lots of live entertainment, and I know that everybody else is gearing up for their farmers market as well. So, come on out to those. Thank you, Susan. I'm not seeing any other hands. So, um, may I have a mover and secondary to receive the statements from members? Moved by David, seconded by Stephanie. Uh, all in favor? That motion is carried. There being no further business, the BIA subcommittee is adjourned at 11:30 a.m. >> Have a great week everybody. >> See you guys soon. Bye.