The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) is seeking renewal of its mandate for the next 10 years, 2020-30. The organization acts as a collective voice on downtown issues and advocates for the priorities of its members, all of whom are encouraged to attend the organization’s upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) on June 18.
“We want members to be engaged, learn more about our exciting plans for the future, attend the annual meeting and vote in support of moving forward with the plan,” says DVBIA CEO Charles Gauthier.
The DVBIA consults with members to identify concerns and opportunities, meets with city staff and elected officials to discuss these concerns, and works collaboratively to implement solutions on a wide variety of issues, such as homelessness, transportation, property crime, placemaking and cleanliness.
At the AGM, members will be voting on renewing the DVBIA’s mandate for another 10 years, the first-year budget, and the maximum amount of money the DVBIA will be able to collect over the next decade of operation.
Expanding key DVBIA services and programs
In 2015 the DVBIA launched an initiative called Re-Imagine Downtown Vancouver, asking the public and businesses to share what they wanted downtown to look like by 2040. More than 11,000 people participated in this visioning exercise. On top of that, the DVBIA also conducted a membership survey in 2018 to get to the heart of what its member businesses were looking to see downtown.
“A number of recurring themes emerged. For example, our members and the public want us to make public spaces more vibrant, more interesting, more exciting and more engaging,” says Gauthier.
All businesses within the DVBIA’s 90-block area are eligible to attend the DVBIA’s AGM, where they will vote on the 2020 mandate renewal proposal. If this vote successfully passes, a city process is then initiated to notify all business and building owners within the DVBIA’s catchment, giving them an opportunity to object to the renewal. City Council convenes in February 2020 to review the level of opposition and make the decision as to whether or not the DVBIA’s mandate is renewed.
There is three million square feet of new downtown office space coming onto the market between 2020 and 2024, according to Gauthier. These spaces are projected to bring approximately 20,000 new employees into the DVBIA’s district.
“Downtown is growing. It’s an unprecedented increase in job space,” Gauthier says.
The DVBIA’s goal is to draw people downtown to enjoy revamped public and private spaces, shop and dine. More festivals and events, like public Sunday-afternoon salsa dancing and the Lunar New Year festival, benefit downtown businesses economically, says Gauthier. The new renewal plan will feature an increase in these fun and exciting occasions.
“To keep pace with the growth of downtown, it’s really important we elevate our programs and services like placemaking, festival sponsorship and our clean and safe initiatives.”
The AGM will be held on June 18 at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.dtvan.ca./renewal
