MINUTES – June 29, 2011, 8:30 am at Alchemy Restaurant 
SOUTH PARK BUSINESS GROUP MEETING

1. Introductions 
2. Police and Safely – Nothing new. 
3. South Park Community Group (Matt Thomas) – Matt will be presenting the South Park plan to the North Park Planning Committee to present our plan and to open dialogue about changing the boundaries of South Park up to Switzer Canyon. There are 3 levels involved with doing this:

Planning Groups – NP Planning Committee, Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee, etc. They deal with land use issues. Vicki from North Park Planning Committee was at last month’s meeting and states that their position is against changing boundaries.

Police District Boundaries - The division between Central and Western is currently Juniper Street. They are reevaluating these boundaries. The police will be at the Greater Golden Hill Community Planning Committee’s July meeting July 13th 6:30-8:30 pm at the Golf Course. (Always 2nd Wed of Month, 6:30pm) to give their new redistricting plans and to take questions. This is an issue for the businesses located on the North of Juniper Street and up to Kalmia, whose businesses are patrolled less frequently and response time is longer because they belong in the Western Division.

MAD Boundaries – The Boundary between Golden Hill MAD and NP MAD is the middle of Juniper Street. To change these boundaries involves a vote of the residents, who must request the change. NP is currently having a vote regarding their MAD. This also involves taxes on those in the districts, so some people may have their tax amount changed as the MAD district changes. This may involve a vote on ALL the MAD districts, so it is quite involved.

Each of these levels acts independently, and we would need to appeal to each level and make our case. The issue has been tabled until more information is obtained. (matt@alchemysandiego.com).

4. Refuse/Recycle situation – As of July 1, Commercial trash and recycle will no longer be picked up by the city. We can obtain cans or dumpsters and arrange for our own pickup. Mixed use house/business may still be picked up, it is unclear, but the workers will be going by addresses with a business license. We can call Environmental Services if we have questions.

From message from Anthony Bernal of Councilman Todd Gloria's office after the meeting: 
Very briefly, here is the plan: 
Businesses:

  1. We are retrieving the [black] containers. We will be doing this in phases around the city, starting on Friday. We will be retrieving containers on collection day (after the regular truck empties the can).
  2. This process may take up to 8 weeks. After the first week’s experience, we will have an idea of how well we are keeping up or exceeding our retrieval plan.
  3. In some cases, private haulers are removing city automated containers at the same time they are delivering a new container/dumpster. Refuse Collection Supervisor is: Mary Valerio 858-526-2355

5. Old House Fair – A great success! Record attendance and ticket sales, preliminary feedback from sponsors, vendors, homeowners, and fairgoers was very positive. Follow up questionnaires have been sent out to exhibitors. Businesses near the fair reported an uptick in business The home tour, trolley and walking tours went well, Urban Garden and Bike Corral were great, and PR/advertising campaign (especially KPBS ads and Westways magazine coverage) was successful. Fuller financial report to come at future meeting. New arrangement with CDC meant lower expenditures for accounting. . **6/23/12 is next year’s date. **

6. Walkabouts - Future dates and themes: 
7/16 "Sizzlin’ in South Park" 
10/1 "Artoberfest in South Park" 
12/3 "Twinkle, Twinkle, Mix & Mingle"

For summer walkabout, on Beech St. there will be tours of the Historic Streetcars they are proposing to bring back to San Diego. "School of Rock" band will play on Beech/30th St. corner from 7-10pm. Urban Safaris walking tour will be at 6:30pm. Please send your business walkabout info ASAP to Marsha at spbg@lucyslist.net.

For 10/1 walkabout, try to work in some kind of "pumpkin art" project like last year. Postcards for fall and winter walkabouts will be on the same card because of proximity of the dates.

7. PR Committee Report – Micro BID grant status – No official word yet on how much for 2011-12. Contact Marsha to get your business Facebook page listed on South Park Scene page (www.facebook.com/southparkbiz), or to set up your own Facebook page. (No charge for SPBG "Ask Campaign" businesses.)
Show of hands indicated enough interest in a seminar on using social media to promote our businesses. We will contact Jeniffer Thompson to arrange it.

8. Community Reports 
CDC – Mixer tonight at the Grove 5pm-7pm 
MAD – Additional Pots ready to go but city needs to finalize approval first. Thanks to them for steam cleaning the benches and trashcans for the Old House Fair. Ben Verdugo available to answer questions – Ben 619-664-5138. Can they pick up our trash?! 
From message from Ben Verdugo (ben@goldenhillcdc.org) after the meeting: 
Working on the feasibility of commercial trash collection, per everybody’s concern at the meeting yesterday morning. I will keep you posted.

Councilman Todd Gloria – Anthony Bernal reports a meeting to discuss SANDAG streetcar feasibility study. Thursday June 30 4-8pm Santa Fe room in Balboa Park. ABernal@SD.gov

9. New Business 
City Attorney's office – Central Division. Danielle Straud out on Maternity leave, so Carolyn Westfall here from South division in her place. KWestfall@SD.gov. 619-533-5676. Call her to follow up on cases or to ask if something is a crime or not if you are not sure. Paige Hazard is the contact for Western division North of Juniper. Note that it is illegal for people to take things out of the recycle bins. If you see anyone doing it, report it to the nonurgent police line 619-531-2000. The more that complain, the higher a priority it will be.

Assemblyman Toni Atkins office – Lindsey Masukawa was here to talk about the budget that should be passed today, It may involve eliminating redevelopment agencies, and will include a $12 increase at the DMV. It also cuts into the UC system funding. As of July 1, all houses must have a CO alarm (Carbon Monoxide). Every year 40 people die and many get ill from CO in California. They cost $40-100. Have one in case the fire marshal comes to dinner! 
There may be a decrease in the sales tax, but no one is sure with the budget situation. The Board of Equalization will inform us if and when it goes into effect. Lindsey.Masukawa@asm.ca.gov 619-645-3090. 
From follow-up email message from Lindsay: 
To answer the question regarding the state’s base business tax, the temporary tax will not be extended through legislation or a special election before July 1, 2011, which means it will go from 8.25% to 7.25%. As of now, it does not look like there will be a special election in 2011 and the five-year extension on sales, income and vehicle taxes will not occur. For more information please see the below link which is the memo that I believe Matt was referring to this morning. 
www.boe.ca.gov/news/pdf/1277.pdf

10. Announcements 
Alchemy will have dinner with strangers each 3rd Thursday of the month. Max 2 people per party and you share a table with total of 6. 
Fourth of July party at Alchemy with Bicycle parade and decorating, kids crafts, roast pig and pie eating contest. 11am-6pm 
Baby Garten and Rebecca's – Thursday 6/30 free concert for kids10:30am at Rebeccas 
Station Tavern is selling their famous veggie burgers for home use at the Golden Hill Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. 
Make Good will have art classes for kids and adults this summer. 
South Bark Dog Wash will be selling Colognes for a Cause in July to benefit the Wounded Warriers, a charity which pairs service dogs to wounded vets. Come buy T-shirts, colognes, etc.

From email message from Paul Broadway: 
I am the new GGHCDC President. I want to invite you to attend the Golden Hill Farmer's Market with me. The market is every Saturday from 8:00am until 12:00 Noon. It is located on B Street between 27th & 28th Street. The community has an open booth to share with any neighborhood organization like yours. You can hand out literature, recruit members, and tell the South Park Business Group's story. If you are interested in joining the community booth, please call me at (619) 261-7411. 
ANY SPBG BUSINESS INTERESTED IN REPRESENTING SOUTH PARK AT CDC BOOTH ON ANY SATURDAY, PLEASE CALL PAUL AT 619-261-7411. South Park map/guide brochures and Walkabout postcards are available at the booth.

Minutes drafted by Dr. Tara Zandvliet. 
NEXT MEETING -- Wed. July 27, 8:30am at Alchemy.