The New West Progressives believe more work needs to be done to strengthen the local economy.
The local electors group recently released economic platform includes commitments to support the development of a regional economic development strategy, to expand the number of business improvement areas in the city and to limit average business tax increases to no more than the rate of inflation through 2022.
“We really believe the city can play an important role in helping to foster and facilitate economic growth,” said Bryn Ward, one of the New West Progressives council candidates. “However, the reality is entrepreneurs face a lengthy and complicated system if they want to set up shop in our city. This needs to change or we’ll continue to see higher than normal commercial vacancy rates in our city.”
The New West Progressives would like to introduce a “one-staff interface” model that would have a single city staff person acting as a “navigator” to help with all the necessary permit and approval processes.
“Tor businesses to have one person that is the ‘navigator’ at city hall, to guide them through the process, I think that would also eliminate a lot of time from one department to the next, trying to get answers and information,” said Ward, who said she’s personally experienced issues as a real estate agent trying to get information from city hall.
Coun. Mary Trentadue said the city has been working toward a one-stop shop kind of business model for all kinds of services that businesses and residents may need as part of the city hall renovation.
“As far as business licences, we did a very in-depth survey of local businesses and residents that have anything to do with business in the city. Access was something that they were very happy with,” she said. “Our communications department does work with a lot of local businesses. We haven’t heard a lot of negative feedback about people not getting access quickly. It’s not something that we have heard from the community that is needed or is a shortcoming.”
Other components of the New West Progressives economic platform include consulting with the business community to determine the feasibility of implementing an unoccupied business property tax to encourage landowners to lease out their priorities, rather than having them sit empty and unused for extended period of time. The group also wants to designate and better promote a portion of Columbia Street as Bridal Row.
“When it comes to Bridal Row, our attitude is to embrace it and make it an ever greater destination for brides and grooms, as well as young graduates,” Ward said. “There is a great opportunity to use the high concentration of bridal shops to help attract even more related stores, cafes and unique restaurants.”
Trentadue, a member of the city’s economic development advisory committee, believes businesses would be “very smart” to locate near the bridal shops in downtown New West. While the city is open to all kinds of business that are interested in setting up in the city, she said landlords and leasing agents are responsible for deciding what businesses open in their spaces.
The City of New Westminster is nearing completion of a new economic development strategy.
“A lot of the things in the strategy are around engagement, they are around making sure it is easy for businesses to set up when they choose to. The other thing that is important for New West is to be a really good promoter of ourselves,” Trentadue said. “We need to be out there telling other businesses and municipalities how great New West is so they consider New West.”
In addition to Ward, Daniel Fontaine and Paul McNamara are running for council under the New West Progressives banner. In recent months, the grouphas unveiled a number of platforms on issues like housing, active living and public amenities, Queensborough, and technology, innovation and learning.
