It’s that time of the year again — leaves falling off the trees, Christmas ads filtering onto TV and the theatre of a Steveston BIA formation stirring the audience of an otherwise harmonious, seaside village.
The cast that makes up the Business Improvement Area (BIA) production is rehearsing for its biennial push for, and resistance to, a formal body, which would advocate for local merchants, courtesy of a mandatory levy.
On the “yes” side of the BIA stage, the volunteer-run Steveston Merchants Associaiton (SMA) claims the village is crying out for a formal association that would pool marketing power, boost consumerism and be nothing but positive for the community as a whole.
On the “no” side of the stage are proprietors vehemently opposed to the move, insisting the bid will only serve a small, select group and that many village business owners can’t stomach the levy (based on property tax) that a new BIA would charge through the City of Richmond.
The “no” camp also claim a petition launched two years ago — which indicates about 120 of 200 local businesses were against a BIA — is reason enough to trash the idea for all time.
More than two weeks ago, however, a presentation was made to Richmond City Council by the 44-member SMA about its intention to, once again, try to form a Steveston BIA.
“This is step one of about 10; this is not us asking council for approval for anything yet,” said Jim van der Tas, owner of the Blue Canoe restaurant and SMA president.
“This is the first part of the outreach, which will last for about four to six months and which will involve us answering lots of questions about the benefits of a BIA and about why we’re doing this.”
However, several Steveston merchants are not convinced of the SMA’s apparent good intentions. Those include Dominique Jarry, who owns Sugar Art, Rick Germain, who owns Original Pure Water Shoppe, and Jerry Biggar, who owns Steveston Landing, which houses 12 businesses, including Shady Island and Sockeye City restaurants and Pierhouse Deli.
“If you want to be a member of Tourism Richmond and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, then you have a choice whether you want to join or not,” said Biggar.
“Shady Island is a member of Tourism Vancouver because that makes good business sense for us. This (process) is not democratic; not for small businesses who work on a day-to-day basis with small margins. They should have the option to join or not join.”
Richard Vetter, an SMA member and financial planner who runs the WealthSmart Financial Group on Chatham Street, made the presentation to city council Oct. 19.
“These people work their tails off and they’re tired,” said Vetter, referring to the volunteers who keep the SMA running.
Vetter told city council that unanimous support for a BIA in Steveston is improbable; however, “a robust outreach campaign that explains, in detail, the anticipated benefits of a BIA can assist in increasing support.”
The proposed BIA boundary, said Vetter, is expected to be properties within the immediate Steveston Village area.
Vetter admitted to council that not all businesses within a BIA benefit to the same extent; however, a “vibrant business community, in general, would reverberate to all businesses within the area,” he noted.
Before considering the matter further, city council asked Vetter to provide more information on the activities and success of other BIAs in the Lower Mainland.
Richmond is believed to be the only city in Metro Vancouver that doesn’t have a BIA, many of which are specific to a neighbourhood or shopping district.
Asked by the News about the level of opposition to a Steveston BIA, Vetter said he didn’t think the naysayers were a particularly large group, but they are “certainly vocal” and have “been handing out misinformation.
“But, I tell you, if a BIA was formed, it would be great to get these same people involved and have them keep the BIA accountable.”
Before council can allow the SMA to hold a vote for a BIA to be formed, the SMA must conduct proper outreach, which means meetings, big and small, one to ones etc.
Once satisfied, council can give the SMA the go-ahead to call a formal meeting, invite the local business community and hold a vote on the issue, with each property owner getting one vote.
However, it’s a vote that shouldn’t even be entertained, according to Jarry, who has owned Sugar Art on First Avenue for 15 years.
“Two years ago, the majority of the merchants in Steveston, 120 or so out of about 200, signed a petition saying no to this,” said Jarry.
“They still don’t have the support of the merchants, so they go around us and straight to city council. That’s what it looks like to me.”
Like many in the “no” camp, Jarry feels the desire for a BIA has been triggered by a small group who “do not represent the village.”
“The SMA membership is very, very low and the (BIA) levy would be passed down to the tenants and most of them are small businesses; they don’t like the thought of a mandatory levy for something they don’t want in the first place. Many don’t feel they would benefit from a BIA.”
Germain, owner of the Original Pure Water Shoppe on Chatham Street, said it comes down to the idea of people doing something of their own volition.
“This is a cabal of merchants who perceive a variety of benefits from the formation of a BIA. And I’ve no doubt it might be good for them, but not for all of us, including me and many others,” said Germain.
Van der Tas said the misinformation about what a BIA levy is used for, and who is going to benefit, is a challenge.
“Everything is above board, budgeted, transparent and won’t cost thousands and thousands of dollars each,” he said.
“Something say the size of the Original Sausage Haus would likely pay around $240 per year; which is not an onerous number.”
Responding to the accusation that he’s part of a small group pushing their own interests on the village, van der Tas cited the former Dunbar Business Association in Vancouver, which many years ago scraped through a vote to form a BIA by a tiny margin.
“After five years, they’re duty-bound to have another vote; around 90 per cent said yes recently,” he said.
“(A BIA’s) sole purpose is take a business commercial district and attract more customers, bring the community together and support the businesses that are in the area.”
After Vetter’s presentation to council last month, Jarry and Germain were sent a letter from a consultant, hired by the SMA, accusing them of spreading untruths around the village about a potential BIA formation.
Both business owners deny knocking on doors and posting flyers, as the letter suggests. Both, however, have agreed to meet on Nov. 12 with the consultant and, possibly, other pro-BIA representatives from the SMA to see if some common ground can be found.
