Committee of the Whole
Monday, Feb. 27, 2017
Deputy Mayor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk opened the meeting.
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Summer Manca, and Julia Fielding from the Drumheller Economic Advisory Committee addressed Council to provide an update on the group’s activities in 2016.
Drumheller is a member of the Central Alberta Economic Partnership whose membership comprises a number of municipalities across Central Alberta. The group provided some funding for six projects totalling $17,000, and has come up with some new guidelines for 2017.
The advisory committee has also started installation of “wayfinding signs” in the downtown core to help visitors with directions to various attractions.
Ms. Fielding also included a number of events upcoming to showcase the town and talked about the cooperation their group have with neighbouring communities and elected bodies like Kneehill County Council. She also told Council there have been a lot of changes and exchange of ideas in the time she has been with the group.
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Brock Harrington from Community Futures who also is vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, addressed Council about facilitating some new ideas at the area attractions, like encouraging youth to open businesses at the Hoodoos, or the Swinging Bridge, all designed to give the touring public a better visitor experience.
Mr. Harrington proposed a two year pilot program where micro-businesses would open and provide services to tourists, and give them training to operate the businesses. He asked for Council’s blessing to engage an aggressive timeline in order to have the package ready in time for the tourist season on June 1.
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Director of Community Services Paul Salvatore provided Council with a history of public markets in Drumheller, Farmer’s Markets, and Special Events, in Drumheller, especially during the summer. Four public markets were held in 2016. There are more vendors and more ideas coming forth over time, and the Hutterite vendors selling fruits and vegetables from various parking lots, are under provincial agriculture guidelines and not handled by the Town. Permits for vendor carts cost $200, and they are required to purchase a business licence for the town. Vendors are also required to purchase liability insurance, before proceeding.
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