SPBG MINUTES - March 27, 2013

Meeting held at Eclipse Chocolate, 8:30am
Chaired by Donna Walker
Minutes by Jeniffer Thompson

1. Mission statement
2. Introductions 
3. SPBG Reports:
a. Ask Campaign - 2013 - List of members is on the agenda. Prospective new members should complete application available, submit $100, will be reviewed. We are considering adding new membership categories.
b. SPBG Posters map/guide - Melinda: take poster if you would like to place one in your window. We also have new brochures (folded, pocket size). Call 619-235-0438 (Melinda) if you would like more posters or brochures. Can also stop by Studio Maureen on Beech Street.
c. Maintenance program: Matt Thomas: power washing, trash cans - they have come out and cleaned, some are very clean, some look terrible. Please let Matt know if you have issues. Matt is going to talk with the vendor, take him through and show him items that need to be re-cleaned. Payments are due if you ordered special cleaning. Contact matt@alchemysandiego.com.

4. SPBG Events:
a. Spring Walkabout: March 23:
-. Next year - change theme. Two years of Wild West is enough. Keep Summer of Love.
- Just Skin is on Fern near Food Bowl - they don’t get much traffic. Ideas to get more traffic to the fringes - ideas: more promotion, music, trolley, a booth at a higher traffic location. Just Skin also has stage area, available for special events.
- How many people came: One guesstimate: 5,000 (Eclipse gave out 2000 coupons, ran out early in evening.)
- Is there a way for individual businesses to measure traffic and the effectiveness of our marketing. Compare from year to year. Christy: Hope to have measurement project in next fiscal year.
- Ideas to strategize the quarter with coupons, etc.
- Many people from out of the area attended from as far away as Encinitas.
- Melinda suggests signs where the Trolley stops, with a map of stops with places to see when you get off. Maybe also places maps at the city bus stops: suggest add #2 bus stops to our neighborhood brochure/map. Matt talked to MTS about placing our map at the bus stops as well.

b. Old House Fair: June 15 from 10-4; Great way to get visibility, applications available for booth rentals, sponsorship, live music, house tours. Jinna of Thomas Bike Shop, Mac The Inspector encourage more SP businesses to sponsor and exhibit here.Exhibit info available on website -- www.theoldhousefair.com

c. CiclosDias: August 18, 2013 (NOTE: DATE CHANGED to August 11, 2013)
- Going to be a large event, the first of its kind in San Diego; we are looking into sponsorship, looking to see what the benefits would be; going to be a very organic event. The streets will be blocked off - but the the local neighborhoods need to promote themselves. Ideas: music, booths, etc.

NOTE: On 4/1/13, Ciclosdias announced change of date to August 11, 2013.

4. Branding Project: Christy Jaynes: focus right now is the presentation to be given to the City to present our neighborhood and EDTS grant proposal, 5 minutes to sum up SP - hopefully we will get money from the grant. We want to have a total vision before we implement anything. We want SP to be and look special. We want to implement everything in a timely fashion - cohesive vision.
- Another objective: measurability.
- If you have any ideas for measurability: who are we attracting, where are they from, what do people enjoy - please share your ideas with the group at the next meeting. Example: Bus stops? Advertising the fact that #2 bus comes through our neighborhood. Take better advantage of our info booth - hand out community coupon booklets.

5. Community Affairs:
- Police and safety: not present. There is a white SUV driving around slowly, they are stealing planters. Small Civic - Hispanic female and Caucasian male caught red-handed stealing a planter from Just Skin. Also happening in Golden Hill. Be aware, file police reports, and police ourselves.
- Todd Gloria: Courtney Thomson - Todd sits on the MTS Executive committee - he votes on bus and advertising - so Courtney can be helpful with that topic. 619-531-2000 non-emergency line - for items mentioned above. Always ask for an incident number - give those to Courtney - she will follow up. Visit www.sandiego.gov/cd3 for updates, news relating to our community, Our Lady of Peace Court case, tourism marketing district, etc. Ask for Anthony Bernal if you need anything in the next week as Courtney will be on vacation.
- Toni Atkins: Jason Weisz - Toni Times edition: San Onofre power plant, Nuclear regulatory commission; has introduced Leg Bill 1229 - guarantees local jurisdiction can make requirements of large developers.
- GGHCDC: no report

6. Events and ad opportunities:
WHERE SAN DIEGO Magazine - Upscale visitor publication - 94 hotels in SD. Tourism Promotion piece - ad that promotes South Park as a destination. 31 million people came here on vacation last year. Concierge program: last summer 10 businesses participated. Where Mag does a weekly e-blast to concierge - events, etc. The more of us who advertise, the more diversity, paints a better picture. For more information contact: joanna.mclean@wheresd.com or 619-260-5599. More info, sample, and rates: click here.

Pride event: July 13-14 - shared booth last year, it was very beneficial for gaining more visibility. Will/Eclipse suggests we have a neighborhood float in parade. A booth is being organized by Bad Madge - contact Tanya at starbootie@mac.com.

7. New Businesses:
- Pilates of South Park, in home - 33 and Date - fully equipped, only private sessions. Would like to pass out some coupons.

Announcements:
* 1. Thomas Bike raised $350 (+ donating another $150) for American Cancer Society - KUSI is returning with the lady who won a bike and they will present a check.
* 2. 20% discount at South Park Abbey for local businesses (for owners and employees).
* 3. Maybe we could have a local discount program for employees - would like this to be organized.
* 4. Clarity is offering a soap making class on Sat April 6, at 1:00 - children 12 and under free. $20 for two adults. Will go home with three things of soap.
* 5. An idea to put together a restaurant/service industry committee - Will talked about spearheading this.
* 6. 50% off massage at Just Skin to business owners. Tara Thompson (therapist) - www.justskinbylo.com - can book online or call 402-706-7398.
* 7. Kwan Yin Holistic - 50% off any service to business owners. www.kwanyinholistic.com.
* 8. Candace: rain barrels from the city - $1 a gallon toward your rain collection system. www.rainthanks.com: RainThanks & Greywater's is a design/build company working to create a regenerative water culture by reusing, capturing and conserving water
* 9. If you see bad reviews on Yelp - we as a business community can go on and mutually support one another with positive reviews.
* 10. Event at the Abbey: BBQ and beer, April 24 from Noon to close.
* 11. Idea for next meeting: Recap the history of the walkabout. try some past ideas. Lisa Vella would be willing to present since she was part of the group who founded the concept.

Guests:
* Polish American Assoc. (non-profit); 70 years in their location on 30th/Grape near the Alano Club - special events, industrial kitchen.
* Christmas Lights: Kelly McCarty was present. Perhaps we can coordinate an event where we buy the lights and Kelly helps hang them so we have a cohesive look next year.

NEXT MEETING -- Wednesday, April 24, 2013, 8:30am at Alchemy.