South Park Business Group (SPBG)

SPBG Minutes – June 26, 2013

Meeting held at Alchemy, 8:30 a.m.
Chaired by Donna Walker.
Minutes by Bonnie Nicholls.

  1. Mission Statement, Introductions

2. Rules of Order:
Donna went over the rules of order. Because the South Park Business Group is a chartered group, with by-laws, etc., all action items must be discussed as an information item first. The item will then be placed on the agenda as an action item for voting at the following month’s meeting.

3. South Park Business Group, Inc. Reports

a. Board of Directors: Jeniffer Thompson of Monkey C Media has resigned due to business demands on her time. Jeffrey Parish, owner of Junc Life & Style, was nominated by the board to take her place. SPBG members will vote on his appointment to the board at the next meeting.

b. New members: South Park Relational Therapy, owned by Patricia Leon, has joined the SPBG.

c. Maintenance Program: Matt Thomas said the signs on the garbage cans are done. If you have any problems, give him a call at 619-200-6989. Also, contact him if you need additional trash bags. He mentioned that maintenance straightened the leg of a bench in front of Jeffrey Parish’s store.
Matt, who is part of the Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee, also announced that SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) is talking about planning an adjustment on Highway 94 for HOV lanes. One of the alternatives includes express lanes that transition to an elevated structure, about 2 miles long, just west of 28th Street. Matt said the project is in the preliminary stages, but the time to express yourself is now. Jason Weisz, Toni Atkins’ representative, suggested the SPBG present itself as a cohesive group or as individuals with concerns to the assemblywoman. View this site for more information on the project: http://keepsandiegomoving.com/SR-94-Corridor/SR94-Intro.aspx

d. Summer Luau

Jinna Albright is organizing the SPBG mixer/potluck. Kelly Mendoza is helping with plans. The budget is $250, which will be used for a Hawaiian pig, a case of wine, and paid help. The party will take place Monday, Aug. 12, 5-9 p.m. on the patio at Connie McDonough’s home. Jinna predicts an attendance of 50-60 people, and she needs folding chairs or stacking patio chairs. Everyone who attends should bring a dish to share. For more information, contact Jinna at 619-964-0950.

e. BID Council funds

Maureen Ceccarelli reported that there was a BID surplus available from the City’s micro-district program, and the SPGB applied and received $6,075 (a record amount, even more than our original grant of $5,500 previously received). She mentioned that BID micro-district funds, which have been used to reimburse for some of our Walkabout trolley and advertising expenses for the past five years, may not be available next year, as the City is reconfiguring the Business Improvement District programs.

f. Old House Fair report:

Maureen and Marsha Smelkinson were co-directors this year. Maureen said the event was very successful, thanks to many people in the SPGB who helped out as sponsors, advertisers, supporters, exhibitors and volunteers. Feedback has been positive from volunteers, inspectors, and visitors.

She showed the group a framed proclamation from the City Council that was presented to her by Council President Todd Gloria for the Old House Fair. The proclamation lists the small business owners who sponsored the event. It also proclaimed June 15, 2013, as Old House Fair Day. The proclamation will hang in Alchemy.

She also presented thank yous – color copies of the proclamation -- to sponsors Donna Walker (South Bark Dog Wash), Andrea Frank (Realtor), Jinna Albright (Thomas Bike Shop), Lisa Vella (South Bark Dog Wash), Karen and Scott Blair (Hamilton’s), and Matt Thomas and Ron Troyano of Alchemy. Maureen said she delivered special thank yous to Sam Chammas (Station Tavern and the Whistle Stop) and Mooch Designs as well. Also, all 57 docents received $20 gift certificates from Station Tavern, and several special helpers were honored at a North Park Bungalow Tea.

Improvements to the Old House Fair this year included relocating the trolley tour, adding Vintage Row, recruiting more docents for Historic Home Tour, adding a large, level stage for the flamenco dancers, using a color cover for the resource guide and tickets, increasing online promotions (including a new Facebook page), and organizing a four-page pull-out section in San Diego Uptown News.

While financial numbers are not yet complete, the gross amount of sales was about the same as 2012. This year, roughly 500 tickets to the Historic Home Tour were sold, compared to 650 tickets last year, but the income is comparable because ticket prices went up and exhibitor sales were greater than last year. Net income from the event should keep Old House Fair reserves at about $10,000 (plus the $6,000 owed to us by GGHCDC). Funds generated by the Old House Fair have paid maintenance expenses for SPBG since we took over responsibility last summer, and will allow a $3,000 contribution to SPBG for the maintenance fund for the coming year.

Next year’s Old House Fair will take place on June 21, 2014 (third Saturday of the month), after Father’s Day. Marsha will manage the festival and the fair, while Maureen will manage the Historic Home Tour.

4. Upcoming Events

Summer of Love Walkabout is July 20. Pick up Walkabout postcards and new SPBG maps from Maureen at Studio Maureen. Get your info to Marsha at sbpg@lucylist.net by July 10 for inclusion in the Walkabout Guide. REMINDER: No drinks can be carried outside of your business. Remind your patrons they have to drink everything in your store/bar before leaving.

Other upcoming events:
Aug. 11: CicloDsias.This is a car-free event from Logan Heights to City Heights that encourages families to enjoy their communities and nearby neighborhoods by walking and cycling. It passes through South Park along 30th/Fern. These streets will be closed to traffic, so give your staff and customers alternate routes to get in to South Park. Web site: http://ciclosdias.com/.

Sept. 28: Tour de Fat: Festival in Golden Hill Park, costumed bike parade through South Park.
Oct. 5: ArtOberest Walkabout.
Nov. 30: Small Business Saturday after Thanksgiving: Promotes local shopping at small businesses.
Dec. 1: South Park Holiday Tree Lighting event: Christy Jaynes discussed this ("First Light") as part of her marketing update that follows.
Dec. 7: Holiday Walkabout.

5. South Park Marketing Update from Christy Jaynes

a. With funds included in the EDTS grant approved by the City, this year South Park will launch Luminaria, a month-long season of lights in South Park (from Thanksgiving to New Year’s), which will help make South Park and the entire neighborhood a holiday destination.

Luminaria

  1. Warm LED lights will be professionally installed in front of business owners’ shops as well as two intersections bookending South Park. (You will not have to climb trees to install the lights this year. Kelle McCarthy will source the lights, arrange installation and removal, and will store the lights for SPBG.)

  2. Plans for “First Light” (Sunday, Dec. 1) include lighting the South Park Christmas tree (location TBD), holiday music, and neighborhood participation.

  3. Christy suggests having your store’s window displays ready with holiday decorations and lighting by that time. She also encouraged business owners have holiday music in their stores.

  4. The First Light event, scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, kicks off the holiday season, and will support two charities: a food drive and toy drive (specific charities will be announced later). Participants will be asked to donate toys and food items. If you want to be a drop-off spot for charities, that could be good for your business.

  5. Also planned is a residential house lighting contest. There will be yard signs for those residents and contest prize baskets, which you can contribute to.

  6. Volunteer “elves” are needed for help with events, drop-off spots and more.

  7. For more information or to offer ideas, contact Christy.progress@gmail.com. To read the handout with a preview of Luminaria, presented by Christy at this meeting, click here.

b. SPBG applied for inclusion in the SDSU small business program. This management consulting program has students and professors analyze South Park businesses and the SPGB, help identify demographics, and provide a detailed analysis of all things the SPBG can do to grow businesses and manage our affairs. The program will take on the SPBG in the fall of 2013 or spring of 2014.

c. Branding program: RFPs will go out this month.

6. Community Affairs

a. Courtney Thomson of City Council President Todd Gloria’s office said the next Cocktails with Council President is July 11, 5:30-7 p.m., at Sycamore Den in City Heights. Matt Thomas asked about when the Land Development Code affecting microbreweries and sidewalk café permitting goes into effect. (Courtney provided the date after the meeting: July 19). Also, she said a request from Jeffrey Parish and Will Gustwiller for a four-way stop at Ivy and Fern is being investigated by Traffic and Engineering.

b. Jason Weisz of Assemblywoman Toni Atkins’ office said the state budget will provide more money for English language learners and developmentally disabled students. The Caltrans building Old Town will be knocked down and turned into a new entrance to the park. Toni will be at Gay Pride on July 12 and 13, and in the Coronado Independence Day parade as well.

7. New Business: Nothing to report.

8. Announcements

a. Luci Dumas of Luci Dumas Fine Photography has nine images at the Del Mar Fair, two of which won awards. One of the images on display is of Alchemy. You can her images on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/luci.dumas.9

b. Candace Vanderhoff of Rainthanks and Greywater also mentioned that she has a 1,000-square-foot garden at the Del Mar Fair.

c. Jinna Thomas said that people are renting garages in South Park and living in them. Courtney Thomson of Todd Gloria’s office said to contact her if you see this in your neighborhood and she will pass it along to Neighborhood Code Compliance. CThomson@sandiego.gov

d. Tyler Dalsted is the new supervisor of Stone Brewing Company Store in South Park. He said it’s important for Stone to be part of the community. One of Stone’s employees created the design for a South Park shirt. Already it’s Stone’s No. 1 selling shirt, though it only comes in black and in men’s sizes right now.

e. San Diego Canyonlands is offering a free tour of Switzer Canyon on July 27. Call 619-284-9399 for more information or go to their web site: www.sdcanyonlands.org/

f. Andrea Frank of Ascent Real Estate was nominated for best real estate agent in San Diego County. You can vote for her through July 7 online: http://uniontrib.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-San-Diego-2013/Ballot/RealEstate. Donna encourages you to also look for other South Park businesses to support -- these awards are good publicity for the business and for the neighborhood.

9. Invited Guests

a. Ashanti Davis of ArtPulse announced that Art Pulse is launching a new TV program on July 6, on NBC 7 at 5 p.m. The show will air every Saturday for 14 weeks. The program will highlight arts and culture in the San Diego and Baja region. South Park Business Group members are invited to a launch party on July 6. Barbarella Fokos of The Reader is the show’s host. For more information, go to http://artpulse.tv/

Meeting adjourned.