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Page 8, Whiby Free Press, Wedriesday, September 1, 199~3 wh'ntb bsins CONFLIC77NG OPIMIONS ON NEED FOR ORGANIZA T7ON Criîs want vote on fuiture of DBIA By 1'ike Kowalski Disgruntled members of Whitby's Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) are demanding a vote on their future. Critics say the turne bas corne te, poil the DBIA's approximately 400 mexubers te determine whether they want te continue funding the 15-year-old organiza- tien. The resuits of such a vote would demonstrate te proponents and foes alike the level of sup- port for the DBIA, critics dlaim. If the majority believe the DBIA bas eutlived its usefulness (as opponents feel it bas), then steps should be taken to disband it they say,. as has eccurred elsewh ere in Ontario (see separate story). D)BIA backers, hewever, sec ne need for a membership-wide voe and attribute the criticism te a few chronic complainers. Gene Peacock, ewner of Pea- ceck Sports & T7rephies, is one of those calling for a poli of the membership. i erh n Earlier this erb n group of downtown business pe)opie initiated. a campaign aimed at informing rnerch ants and non-retail businesses about the DBIA and how much they are paying te support it. Peaceck and others in the group produced the anti-BIA T- shirts, flyers and pamphlets found in seme downtewn shops. «Pretty well ever7body's bec n excited about it, it s gene over really well," he said. Peacock conceded tbat net everyone shares bis opinion of course. "There's been the odd person who says we should get involved (through the DBIA rather than outaide it), but it's generally been well accepted,» he said. Peacock said most of the larger downtewn. stores and businesses such as banks and grocery chains are reluctant te express opinions at this stage. But pointing te other Ontario municipalities where BIAs have been suspended, Peacock said "When they realize small businesses are upset, they get involved." Accrding to Peacock, Whitby can ne longer afford a BIA in its present ferm. The extra cest of belonging te a BIA is a hinderance te attracting new business te the dewntown care and is forcin g existing businesses te relecate, Peacock contends. "People ait moving eut of the area, they're catching on to these BIA taxes. It's happening acress the province," hie said. Fermed in 1978 after a byiaw was p assed by Town council, the DBIA was established to boost dewntown businesses threugh a variety ef means such as imprev- ing the appearance of buildings and promotional campaigns te attract shoppers. Centered aât the intersection of Dundas and Brock streets, the UBIA geographic area juts and jags through the downtewn as far nerth as Walnut Street east te Hickory Street, soultot Ontario Street and west te High Street. The DBIA is eperated b y a management board appeintdby ceuncil and censists'of merchants and business peopie based in the dewntown. Membership is inandatery. Members are assessed a special levy which is paid in addition te their proery taxes.'ocl'n The levy, listed as 9cl'o the tax bill, is based on such factors as square footage, park- ing area and general tax assess- ment. Last March, the DBIA annual meeting approved a $155,974 budget for 1993 which was Jil p er cent less than last year's $175,894 budget. AlthoughPeeacek and others have argued for years that the cest of beionging te the DBIA far outweighs whatever benefits may be derived, a recent decision by the DBIA board has given im- petus. te their demand for a THE DURHAM REGION DISTRICT HEALTH COUNCIL IS NOW REQUESTING: APPLICATIONS for MEMBERSHIP on the DURHAM REGION LONG TERM CARE PLANNING COMMITTEE A Long Term Care Planning Committee is currently being formed. As a dedicated volunteer you will become part of a skilled and innovative regional planning teamn made up of both consumers and providers of long termn care services, and other interested people. Through ongoing community liaison, your teamn will develop a progressive plan for a coord inated and accessible long term care system which will meet the needs of the Durham Region as a whole. If anyone would like more information or an application package, please contact the Durham Region District Health Council by calling (416) 433-4262. The office is open weekdays between 8:30 and 4:30. L THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 15 SEPTEMBER 15, 1993. ADVERTISING POLICY The Whtby Free Press is a business whlch derives almost ail Its revenue from advertising in one form or another. For obvious seif-interest, we want our clients' advertising to work. Our policy is to reach as many homes in Whitby as possible (usually more than 99%) and ta provide local high-interest content that ensures that people read the paper and hence the advertising as weil. We urge readers to patronize our advertisers in order that we can provide eveni better coverage in the future. We aise stress creativity. We will provide our professionai experience te advise dlients on ways te make their advertising more effective, but for a preduct that cannot be repossessed. there are no guarantees. We strive to avold errors, but when we make them. a correction wiii be made in a subsequent issue or a discount offered. The newspapers iegai iabiiity is oniy for the actual spaoe eccupied by thte errer. Adverting iS 501d accordiflg to the space tl occupies. No additionai charge is made for arteflrk or iayout and hence the newspaper retains te copyright on ail ils oniginal work. The newspaper reserves the right to refuse advertsing which tl finds objectionable or detrimeitai te its bus iness. membershi p vote. The DBJA contracted with a local newspaper te produce a monthly publication aimed at promoting downtewn businesses and which is distributed te homes in Whitby. The DBIA board maintains the publication will be self-support- ing, with advertising paying for more than two-thirds of the cost and DBIA money covering the rest. With the recessien affecting almost ail of the newspaper in- dusr, in Canada, Peacoék asks how the board could have appre- ved such a risky proposition. - How can they start a newspa- per and spend our mnoney when advertising is down at ail news- papers and papersar closing and having layoffsT he ask ed. «How much thought went into that? How much research» DBLA chair Sean Hogue said the Whitby Merchants Associa- tion, formed earhier this year te promete businesses in the down- town core, approached the board with the idea for the paper. A -newsletter whices tbe board had been publishing "wasn't doing anything except costing us money," said Neue 'TMis was a way te, get our message out there, at low cost and high quality,» he said. Hogue said the only businesses which can advertise in the pub- DAVE GRANDY (Ieft) of Grand Upholstery and Design stands proudly beside the pro- Business Improvement Area (BIA) sign he displays in his shop window. George Eliopou- los (right), owner of the Submarine Machine, has a different view about the association. Photos by Mark Reesor, WhIiby Free Press lication are these which pay the DBIA assessinent. «It's not just the merchants but professionals who can advertise at discounted rates," he said. Hogue aise stressed that the board is merely followinq the wishes of the membership as expressed at the annual meeting. 'Me merchants wanted us te spend more mnoney on advertis- By Mfike Kowalski Opponents of Whitby's Down- town Business Improvement Area (DBIA) need only te lIook beyond Durham Region's border for inspiration. About two years ego, Newmer- ket council abolished that muni- cipality's BIA at the bebest of its downtown merchants. As councillor Dean Burton explained, Newmarket's BIA had bee-n in existence for almost 20 ing. and the membership feit it was necessary we responded. Even though Peacock dlaims support for a vote on the DBIA is gwing, Hogue dees net see a need for one., "Quite frankly, we've had general meetings and I don't feel that's the case'. It's just a smail, disgruntled greup,» he said. SEE PAGE 16 years when it was expanded te, take into acceunt t he entire downtewn. "But people in the new area didn't want it. Tbey presented a petition te council asking that it bdisbanded," said Burton. Since the petition ref1ected the wishes of most downtown businesses, council acceded te their demand, he said. About 200 businesses belonged te Newmarket's BIA at the time, Burton said. Located nortbwest of Whitby, west of Uxbridge township, New- market bas a population etf 48,000. Even thougbhoh personally supported retaining the BIA, Burton, the brother of fermer Whitby councillor Lynda Buffett, voted with the majority et' coun- cil te kili it. While be understood the nmer- chants' opposition te the BIA on financial grounds, Burton stili feit they were wrong. "When you try te coýmpete witb reginal (shoppng) mals its bard tede it witb ine gaine plan," he said. "B3eautification eof streets, pro- motional activities can't be done with ne group in place." While a "loose group" of busi- ness owners bas cerne tegether te try and.promote the downtown, ««it'a nothing like before,» said Burton. "As fer as Fm concerned it's net as strong as it was," be added. CORPORATION OF THE TOWN 0F WHITBY 1993 FINAL TAX NOTICE The fourth instalment of taxes for 1993 is due and payable September 15, 1993. Taxes may be paid at any Whitby bank wthout colection charges or at the Municipal Office, 575 Rossland Road East, Whi% ntari. In addition, taxes may be paid by telephone through Bankline or Canada Trust EasyLine. If you have flot received a tax bill and you are responsible for payment, please contact- the Tax Department at 668-5803 to obtain the neoessary information. Ifpay ment is net received by the due date, penalty will be added on thfrst day of default and the first day of each calendar month se long as noo-pymont continues, at the rate of 1-1/4 per cent per month. or part teef LYNN PIKE SUPER VISOR 0F REVENUE