Brampton City Council approves governance model change for downtown

At a Council Meeting Brampton City Council received and approved recommendations to promote stability and business confidence in Brampton’s downtown area. Council voted to accept the recommendations of staff and consultant Malone Given Parsons to put in place actions to establish full authority for a Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) through a reinvigorated Brampton Downtown Business Association (BDBA) and to wind down the operations of the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation (BDDC) in its current format. “The profile, growth and development of Brampton’s downtown are priorities for us,” says Councillor Jeff Bowman, Brampton’s Economic Development Committee Chair. “The City has pursued a transparent, deliberate and consultative process to develop a path forward to ensure resources to promote this priority are effectively delivered.” Both the BDDC and a BIA have governance models that are regulated through provincial legislation, and are managed at an arms-length from the City. Due process is required to re-institute a BIA and wind down the BDDC, and that process requires the participation and engagement of members and directors. “We want to partner with the business community,” says Elaine Moore, Regional Councillor for Wards 1 and 5. “It’s our obligation to help develop and support a strong governance model for the downtown. The outcome of the consultation process demonstrated business owners downtown want enhanced BIA-type governance and activities.” The BDDC Transition Committee was struck in March of 2013 to review the governance model for downtown business improvement and develoopment. The City hired consultant Additionally, the Office of the Central Area, the City’s newly created office to build partnerships and economic growth for Brampton’s downtown and central area, needs more time to refine and grow into its mandate. The City will continue to operate in an open and transparent manner as the various developments unfold related to Council’s decision today. For more information about the BDDC Transition Committee and the consultant’s report, please visit www.brampton.ca