SPBG Minutes – July 31, 2013 Meeting 8:30am at Alchemy
Minutes by Bonnie Nicholls

  1. Mission Statement & Introductions

  2. South Park Business Group Reports

a. New member: Patricia Leon of South Park Relational Therapy has joined the SPBG. She was not present

b. Board of Directors: SPBG members unanimously voted for Jeffrey Parish of Junc Life & Style to serve on the SPBG Board of Directors, taking the seat previously held by Jeniffer Thompson, who resigned.

c. Maintenance program: Matt Thomas of Alchemy said everything seems to be going pretty smoothly right now. He is not getting a lot of calls or reports of problems. He mentioned that he just got two more signs, and one is a replacement for Jeffrey Parish. If anyone needs additional trash bags, contact Matt at matt@alchemysandiego.com.

d. SPBG Mixer: Get to know your fellow business owners at Mimosas, Munchies & Members, slated for Monday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m-11:30 a.m. at Station Tavern. RSVP to SPBG@lucyslist.net. Marsha will send out an email to members to let them know what items might still be needed for the event, e.g., flatware, cups, etc. Rebecca’s is donating pastries for the event.

e. Micro District grant application: Anne Mery of The Grove introduced Elizabeth Studebaker to the group as part of an update on a grant application the SPBG submitted for $8,000 to help fund South Park Walkabouts. Elizabeth is the new City of San Diego Business Improvement District (BID) Advocate, which is a newly created position. While she is new to the position, she is not new to the neighborhood. She was previously the executive director of the North Park BID. She started July 1. So far, she has been meeting with the city’s 17 BIDs and 20+ micro districts.

She said all submitted grant applications will be reviewed in the next two weeks and decisions will be made at that time. She explained that BIDs are formal organizations that go through the ballot process; business owners pay an assessment in addition to their business tax certificate. Micro districts, like South Park, are not assessed. To contact Elizabeth Studebacker, call her at 619-533-4561 or email her at estudebaker@sandiego.gov.

  1. San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

a. CicloSDias (Aug. 11): Andy Hanshaw, the coalition’s executive director, updated the SPBG on CicloSDias that takes place on Sunday, Aug. 11, and how it will impact South Park business. A first for San Diego, the free event entails closing off urban streets to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk or bicycle around their neighborhoods. It is not a race; it’s more like a “moving park,” he explained.

Both Fern St. and 30th St. will be closed for parking from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed to driving traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 5.2-mile route goes from downtown to North Park, mostly on 30th St. Buses will be directed down 28th Street.

SPBG business owners asked how this would affect parking for their staff and access to their businesses by customers. Because of street closures, it was suggested that the Gala parking lot be used for staff parking. Andy said he is talking to Ace, which manages the parking lot, to see what he can work out. Jeffrey Parish said that CityFest is taking place the same day; Andy said he has spoken to the Hillcrest BID about cross-promoting. Scot Blair of Hamilton’s asked how this would help local businesses. Andy said no food vendors are part of the event, so that those who attend will frequent shops along the way. He advised store owners that any food they provide be quick and easy. Donna Walker asked if Andy could have something printed out that business owners could give to customers so they understand the route and navigate around it. Hanshaw said he would look into that. Posters of the event to post in stores are available. Door hangers have also been distributed in the neighborhood so residents know about the event.

For more information, contact Andy at execdir@sdcbc.org. Read more about the event on the CicloSDias web site: http://www.ciclosdias.com

b. Tour de Fat (Sept. 28): Andy also discussed Tour de Fat, the bicycle festival sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, that takes place on Sept. 28 in Golden Hill Park. It starts with a costumed bike parade at 11 a.m., a 5-mile slow-moving bike parade that will probably come through South Park. City police officers will help with the route. The festival starts at noon in the park and goes until 5 p.m. All funds generated support the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. Last year’s event raised $30,000. South Park liaisons for the event are Karen Blair at Karen@hamiltonstavern.com and Jinna Thomas at jinnathomasbike@yahoo.com. The web site is http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat/san-diego.aspx.

  1. SPBG Events

ArtOberfest Walkabout (Oct. 5): The theme is Altars & Icons. Jeffrey Parish came up with theme and artwork. Deadline for the Walkabout Guide is Sept. 25. Send info for PR to Marsha at SPBG@lucyslist.net.

Summer Walkabout: Business owners said it was really slow. slower than usual.

Melissa Hendrix-Lawson of Crow Thief said members would like to participate in the theme ideas for future Walkabouts. It was agreed that owners should brainstorm and suggest theme ideas for 2014, so a list of suggestions can be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Candace Vanderhoff of Rainthanks & Greywater offered to collect theme suggestions and then send them to the Board of Directors. Please email your ideas to Candace at cyberhuts@gmail.com.

There was no further discussion on other upcoming events.

  1. Community Affairs

a. Police & Safety: Tara Zandvliet (Dr. Z) reported there were two break-ins in her neighborhood near Kalmia Street.

b. Govt.: Jason Weisz of Assemblywoman Toni Atkins’ office said that The Rose Wine Pub was named business of the year for the 78th Assembly District. Courtney Thomson of Council President Todd Gloria’s office said the city is working on new directional signage for the Fern and 30th split for people driving into South Park along 30th from North Park. A stop sign at Ivy and Fern is also under review.

c. GGHCDC: The Golden Hill Business Group now has a Shop & Dine brochure available. Copies of the brochure were available at the meeting.

  1. New Business/Information and Announcements

a. Adam Neitzke of South Park Abbey brought up the idea of a South Park Farmer’s Market. He was asked where it would be and what day was proposed. Members took an informal vote, and there was enough interest in it to request that Neitzke get more information to bring back to the group.

b. Scot Blair of Hamilton’s announced that he is planning to develop a brew/pub next to Hamilton's. It will go expand into the space where he currently has a café next to Hamilton’s. He and wife Karen also own Monkey Paw, a small brewery, downtown. He mentioned that San Diego's growing reputation as a craft beer location is attracting many visitors, media coverage, and business for the City, and that South Park can capitalize on that attention. Hamilton’s has been covered in the New York Times Magazine and cited in other publications as an award-winning pub. He also has a strong relationship with the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, and that people come from all over the world to go to Hamilton’s. He said starting the new brew/pub is a very arduous and trying process. It might take about nine months to complete. The brewery won’t affect Hamilton’s. That will stay as is. He has not announced this to the public yet.

c. Other announcements:

-- Jerome Gombert of Vagabond Kitchen announced he is closing his restaurant. A new restaurant, the Brabant Belgian Beer Café, with new owners, will open in its place.

-- Will Gustwiller of Eclipse said his restaurant won a Silver Fork award from San Diego Home & Garden.

-- Dr. Z won best doctor in North Park News.

-- Lisa Vella of South Bark Dog Walk talked about the distraction brought on by the problems in Mayor Filner’s office and its effect on San Diego’s reputation. Courtney Thomson of Todd Gloria’s office said you can contact her about any questions or concerns at 236-6633 or CThomson@sandiego.gov.

--Donna Walker mentioned she plans to be married to her fiancée at the end of the month.

--Jinna Thomas announced that Midnight Madness was happening over the weekend. Money raised goes toward youth hostel organizations. She also said Bike the Bay was coming up on Aug. 25. http://www.bikethebay.net/. She also said Thomas Bike Shop donated a bike rack to Gala. Matt Thomas said more business owners have requested bike racks. Elizabeth Studebaker said the city doesn’t have a stockpile of bike racks but that money is being put aside for new racks. Jinna also mentioned that Thomas Bike shop won best bike shop in the North Park News.

--Christy Jaynes said Progress was named the best place to buy house-warming gifts in San Diego Magazine.

--Tanya McAnear of Bad Madge said Consumer Bob of Challen 39 is an amateur photographer specializing in 1950s homes. He plans to do a photo exhibit at Bad Madge for the next walkabout.

--Matt Thomas said Alchemy is doing an event on Aug. 15 called The Rancher, the Butcher, the Brewer and the Chef to promote locally sourced and organic foods. They’re partnering with Heart & Trottery Butchery, which will provide a butchering demonstration of a hind quarter from Dey Dey’s Best Beef Ever Ranch from Santa Rita Hills. A six-course meal will follow, with beer from Societe Brewing. More information is on the Alchemy web site: http://alchemysandiego.com/the-rancher-the-butcher-the-brewer-and-the-chef/

  1. Invited Guests

a) Jason Noble of CityBeat said the magazine will partner with the San Diego County Bicycle Coaltion with a map of CicloSDias. There a few advertising spots left for business owners. He said CityBeat has done a lot of community pages so that businesses can have a group ad, thereby reducing the cost of advertising per business. Donna said if the SPBG is interested in group advertising, they’ll talk about it via email.

NEXT MEETING: Wed. Aug. 28th, 8:30am at Alchemy