The Downtown Area Revitalization Committee (DARC) chair recently told council about some plans for the upcoming year.
Among those goals is to create a preliminary document with recommendations for a Town of Sundre public art policy and procedure using existing municipal policies and procedures, said Alyssa Campkin during the Nov. 23 meeting.
“That'll help us get some more art in town.”
Additionally, the committee wants to encourage a shopping excursion type tourism event and work with administration staff to propose new projects such as Communities in Bloom.
“That's a very popular one — we'd love to see it come back.”
She also provided a detailed update during her presentation to council and said the committee has been busy.
“Our mandate is to act on the recommendations outlined in the Corridor Enhancement Study,” which was done in 2013, she said.
The committee works in conjunction with the town and the businesses along the main corridor to help make a reality the design concept with the enhancement study. DARC further provides strategic direction as well as guidance and ideas to council through administration with regards to the enhancement and redevelopment of the downtown core, mainly in between the two bridges on Main Avenue.
“We are instrumental in nurturing buy-in for the downtown revitalization and the corridor enhancement project among businesses and residents of Sundre. One way that we do this is by providing guidance and advice to the town council via administration regarding decisions relating to issuing Storefront Improvement Grants.”
The committee provides support through administration with issuing Sundre Economic Development Initiative Fund (SEDIF) grants as well. In summary, she said DARC's initiatives consist of the Storefront Improvement Program (SIP), SEDIF and the Genivar Project, through which the committee provides input to Alberta Transportation towards the potential pilot project for Main Avenue, the Visitor Information Centre and way-finding signage. The project also includes the Centre Street and Main Avenue furniture as well as town cleanliness.
“In 2015, we completed revisions to the grant application forms. To spread awareness, our members completed business visits on May 29 and June 18 to provide SIP brochures and promote the program. We reviewed and approved six applications this year — we actually used all the funding that was available to us.”
Recipients of the SEDIF grant, a role that the committee took on this summer, are the Sundre and District Curling Club for the Rockin' the Rink event, the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association for Bulls and Wagons, and most recently Sundown in Sundre and Sundre Minor Hockey for an upcoming comedy night, she said.
Discussing some details about the Genivar Project, Campkin said the pilot project for Main Avenue is in motion with Alberta Transportation. The Visitor Information Centre was to have a new sign, which has since the meeting been installed, and the committee also helped refine a list of boundary names for new way-finding signage.
“We've been working with architectural designers to refine ideas for new way-finding signage. We're excited about that — we just have to get some approval from Alberta Transportation for it to move forward.”
Another major part of the Genivar Project has been the installation of new benches, planters and garbage receptacles. Existing planters were relocated to landscape the area just west of the bridge coming into Sundre.
There has been “an enormous amount of positive feedback for the benches and the furniture that's been put out, so that's great,” she said, adding the town staff's help in making that happen was appreciated.
“We also took on town cleanliness initiatives this year — we had our first annual Spring Clean Sundre, and we partnered with the Sundre High School's May Queen program to help businesses clean up.”
Plans for 2016 include continuing with SIP and SEDIF grants as well as pursuing efforts for the pilot project and new way-finding signage with Alberta Transportation, she said.
The committee also wants to add “new furniture elements throughout the downtown corridor through sponsorship programs and any funding we can get together.”
In concluding her presentation, Campkin expressed the committee's appreciation for town staff and their help in implementing projects in 2015.
“The town staff have been instrumental in providing an environment that is conducive to execution and various design components that have helped secure funding.”
Coun. Chris Vardas thanked Campkin and the committee for the work its members have accomplished over the last couple of years.
Coun. Myron Thompson said he wanted to reiterate what Vardas said and added he looked forward to the new sign at the information centre.
Mayor Terry Leslie also praised the committee's efforts.
“Those of us that were new to council after the last election, we heard from many previous councillors that there seems to be an awful lot of studies and engineering reports and that kind of thing,” he said.
“And this is an example of implementation. This is where you take a study, you take the recommendations, you put them in place — and it takes years — and you have done a remarkable job of doing that.”
