Pebruary 1 18th, 1974.

fa) create a co-ordinated effort by merchants and landlords to ) stimulate

interest and business in downtown Port Coquitlam;

0D). make City Council avare of needs and concerns of the business community din the areas of licensing, parking, canopies, Lighting, etc. examine methods cf upgrading and beautifying the area; help new merchants and businesses get established; = provide advice to Council in the planning Stages of downtown development. A discussion ensued, and Alderman Laking inquired as to ‘the reason the meeting could not include all Port Coquitlam merchants, rather than just those in the downtown area, and stated his view that this should be a full Port Coquitlam merchants association. Alderman Keryluk Stated he agreed with Alderman Laking with respect to the use of the word ' ‘downtown'" which appears twice in the letter of. invitation, and he proposed the following motion:

Moved by Aiderman Keryluk:

. Seconded by Alderman Lakine:

That all merchants in Port Coquitlam be invited te attend the meeting on Wednesday, February 20th, 1974, for the purpose of discussing the forma— “tion « of a Merchants Association. . | Carried.

Prior to Passage of the foregoing resolution, a further discussion ensued, _ and Alderman Ranger stated the reason he wished to discuss the form- ation of such an Association with the merchants in the downtown area was

partially be because of problens he foresees coming and the need for participa- fon by the xey' s downtown merchants, and he pointed out that the letter of invitation was placed on the agenda for the information of the public, ‘Alderman Thompson inquired whether the Association would be an | organization . in replacenent of or in addition | to ‘the Chamber of Conmerce, and Alderman Ranger commented that it is conmon Inouledge the downtown nerchants do not | feel the Chamber has done anything for them. Alderman Ranger pointed out there are ‘local problens existing and future ones foreseen that need atten- ‘ton, and he posed the question ' "hat ‘Broup than those who make their liv- ing in the dovntown area would be better equipped to help solve these pro- blems?" Alderman Ranger mentioned that if this group does get organized, it would then be up to | that group: to decide whether. or not it wants to be affiliated with a basic body, such : as the Chamber of Commerce. Alderman Traboulay inquired why the landlords in the area were included in the invit- ation and Alderman Ranger stated that he felt that since the invitation was

sent ‘to ‘the merchants, re would 1 have been very wrong not to have included

“the tandlords whose interests are common in the downtown area,