According to North Bay City Councillor Dave Mendicino, the downtown ambassador program will be wider-reaching this year.
“The project has been a resounding success,” said Mendicino, who is a council representative and board member. “The feedback has been extremely positive, to the extent that, come spring, with Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support and Downtown North Bay, we are going to re-launch the program on a full-time basis.”
A report to council on Downtown North Bay’s operating budget indicates “the overall budget relative to 2019 is up by $33,444 or 18.51%. The budget increase primarily relates to an increased marketing strategy and an investment in security and the healthy ambassador program in order to increase safety in the downtown.”
Mendicino indicated Downtown North Bay is contributing $25,000 to help fund the ambassador program. Mary Davis, executive director of Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support confirms the organization will supply the community outreach worker from its funding.
Besides the downtown focus, this edition of the ambassador program could extend its reach to the public library to offer assistance to those who need it, according to Mendicino. The 2019 outreach program directed the vulnerable population to services, with an aim of making downtown North Bay “more welcoming, more safe, and more inclusive for all.”
See related story: Downtown outreach program begins today
The Healthy Community Ambassador Program is the result of a partnership between local social service agencies and community partners, including Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support, North Bay Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic-Downtown, North Bay Recovery Home, City of North Bay, North Bay Police Service, AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area, downtown property owners, the Gateway Hub, North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce and Downtown North Bay.
Downtown North Bay did employ security guards following several break-ins last summer but Mendicino said the plan is to resume patrols but not until a discussion takes place with the North Bay Police Service.
“No details are firmly ironed out, other than to say we did it for a short time in 2019 and it achieved positive results. We have allocated some funding [for security] in the 2020 budget,” he explained.
NBPS has committed to an increased downtown presence — including foot and bike patrols — through spring, summer and fall.
Mendicino said, “We’re still working out details on how we’re going to allocate that money for security. It’ll be in conjunction with what the police are doing. We’re waiting to see how what they are doing can complement the security that Downtown North Bay has planned.”
The news came as council passed the 2020 operating budget for the Downtown Improvement Area in the amount of $214,136. This results in a DIA tax levy of $142,176 to be divided among members. The maximum levy is $1,600 for non-Main Street properties and a maximum levy of $2,665 for Main Street properties. The maximum thresholds remain unchanged from 2019.
