Council agrees to draft limits on BIAs speaking out against council decisions

City councillors have approved an idea from the mayor to consider developing a new set of policies for Business Improvement Areas – policies that could potentially stop the DBIA from speaking out against any decision of council.

The approval came even after one councillor, Gary Baldwin, was upset by the idea.

“I have difficulty with the concept that we could tell BIAs what they can and cannot do,” he said.

Baldwin said council is happy with the DBIA when it is beautifying the downtown and organizing festivals and event.

Not so much when the DBIA is speaking out against decisions of council, though.

“When things get controversial, we’re not keen on the advocacy part,” Baldwin said.

Only one other councillor spoke about the issue, at City Hall.

Coun, Diane Therrien praised the work of the DBIA, saying she’s impressed with events such as Pulse (where George St. is turned into a pedestrian mall for one Saturday in July ). But she still wants to know what city staff has to say about the DBIA’s operations – particularly whether its territory is large enough.

BIAs are funded at least in part by municipal tax money, and Mayor Daryl Bennett thinks it’s time the city look at updating Peterborough’s policies on the operation of BIAs.

Business is growing in areas such as Chemong Rd., Bennett told councillors, and it would be good to review policies before new BIAs form.

Bennett reminded councillors that the plan is simply to have staff make some recommendations.

To say in advance how it’s likely to affect the DBIA would be “premature”, he said.

Yet Bennett did submit a report to councillors stating that the policies governing BIAs in Toronto are worth noting.

Toronto BIAs aren’t allowed to take the city to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) or speak out against a decision of council, for instance.

Toronto BIAs can speak up during council’ s decision-making process, but if they’re unhappy with council’s decision they can’t say so.

Lately, the DBIA has been taking positions contrary to council on several issues.

It is appealing the city’s decision to rezone a piece of industrial land on Crawford Dr. at The Parkway, for instance.

The DB IA has argued that city council should have done a study to determinewhether a new casino could have been built downtown instead of on the outskirts. The idea is that a casino would bring people and investment to the downtown.

Two other groups appealed that decision of council: Downtown landlord AON, and the citizens’ group No Casino Peterborough.

Nobody in the public gallery could speak on the item on Monday because it was a committee of the whole meeting. (Only councillors can debate.)

But the approval must be ratified at a city council meeting next week, and citizens are welcome to speak up before the final vote.

NOTE: See more city council coverage on Pages A1 and A5.