SPBG meeting, March 28, 2012, 8:30am at Alchemy

1. Introductions, Mission & Meeting Policy --
Donna Walker introduces SPBG - our mission and what we do. Membership is strictly limited to businesses operating in South Park which subscribe to our Mission, and which have made the membership contribution for 2012 (see form). New members are asked to submit this form, along with payment, to be considered for membership. Non-members who wish to attend a meeting are asked to place an agenda request in advance, by emailing SPBG@lucyslist.net.
 
If you are not a member of the South Park Business Group, please download and complete the 2012 membership application form.. Have to have a small business within the confines of South Park.
 
Anne Mery pointed out that we are not exclusive, but that as we grow we need to concentrate on small business promotion in the neighborhood. SPBG is not a community activist group.
 
2. Police Report: Still looking for a male, on 3/1/12 he attacked a woman walking a dog, grabbed her and groped her.  Description: Hispanic male, age 30-35, 5'6" - 5'8", Heavy, Black hair.  Here is a link to the flyer about the Suspect Please post as appropriate.
 
3. PR/Special Events:
 
Old House Fair, Saturday June 16, 10am-4-m - Update by Maureen Ceccarelli:
Thanks to SP businesses for sponsorship of OHF: The Station, Whistle Stop, South Bark, Hamilton's, Alchemy, South Park Fitness, Culinary Creative, Thomas Bike Shop, Studio Maureen. Also a shout out to Sam Keenan who does the info booth at the Walkabouts and sells tickets at the OHF.
Vendors: storefront in SP or restore, renew, refurbish Old houses. New for 2012: Foodie Expo sponsored by Culinary Creative, for kitchen goods, packaged foods, specialty items (not for restaurants). Exhibitor applications online at www.theoldhousefair.com.
 
Spring Walkabout Review - last Saturday March 24: 

  • 20 replies to date to survey: businesses report good traffic, few problems. Click here to take survey 
  • Wild West theme was very popular, Beech Street Buckaroo BBQ a huge success in bringing traffic to this area.      
  • Promotion/PR: bandwidth bumped three times during that week due to high traffic, over 3,200 individual visitors to site. KPBS Radio, PR, Google search coverage -- all successful.
  • Walkabout Guide lists everything that is happening. Everyone wants them printed and available as downloadable on the website, but available earlier in walkabout week for distribution in stores. Be sure to get your details to Marsha on deadline (via email) in order to be included. Strict deadline to be enforced - if you don't email, your info will not be included.
  • Safety/sidewalk vendor and entertainment issues discussed:
  • If you authorize a sidewalk activity, please give them the SPBG Walkabout Policy Form. Monitor reported very few had been given out. We can ask for a seller's permit and business license and ask them to leave if they do not have one.
  • Policy includes safety instructions re blocking pedestrian movement, open fire, alcohol, etc. Additional danger is that police will issue citations, shut down operations, endanger future Walkabout permission.
  • Some businesses set up on street, which is not legal -- Cafe Madeleine, Edward Jones. 
  • Full Circle Tattoo had fire-eater/sword swallower entertainment on sidewalk. Fire is not allowed. Because sidewalk there is narrow, pedestrians were not able to gather or pass on sidewalk, had to go into street and lean on parked cars. It is not feasible to get the permits to block off 30th St. there.
  • Blocking sidewalk with tables (limiting pedestrian access, causing backups and stepping into street) -- Isabella's Salon (SPBG member) and Jorge's Barber Shop (not a member).
  • Unauthorized booths: Willis Allen (not a member) set up on Fern St. near Ivy. Several booths, tables and trucks in Gala lot (not a member). Several misc. tables at residences. A few artist setups on street corners agreed to move after monitor instructed them.
  • Everyone needs to pay more attention to the trash cans - they were very full.

           
 
Summer Walkabout -- Saturday, July 14, 2012
Due to time limitations, we did not discuss the Walkabout theme for Summer Walkabout. The theme for our Summer Walkabout will be voted on at the next SPBG meeting, on April 25th. Please email your ideas and suggestions in advance. Send your ideas and suggestions in advance to Marsha at SPBG@lucyslist.net.
 

4. Trash Cans/Jess Sanders:
Jess volunteered to organize businesses to take care of the trash cans on their blocks since MAD is no longer handling maintenance. If you want to volunteer, please email Jess Sanders (jess.sanders@gmail.com). There is a possibility that the City may remove them (maroon cans). Hopefully if we maintain them, that won't happen. Sam Keenan reminded that there are 15 cans that were installed by South Park Action Council and are not owned by the City. Jess and Matt Thomas recommended that business owners sponsor cans with a logo and take care of that can. "Adopt a trash can." To be discussed. Sam Keenan said we also need to adopt the 11 planters and water them.

5. City Council - Todd Gloria's Office:
Courtney Thomson distributed the March edition of the "District Three Dialogue," new regulations regarding Urban Agriculture - info online or email CThomson@sandiego.gov;. MAD owners will be credited for December payment and refunded for current bill.
No decisions have been made regarding the trash cans MAD was previously maintaining. Councilman Gloria sent a memo to the mayor and officials asking about this issue, could take a maintenance agreement with the city, no info at this time. We have to keep in mind that this includes Golden Hill cans.
In order to get South Park street repair/maintenance needs moved up on the City's priority lists, we need more people to put in Service Requests. 30th St. north of Beech, some other blocks, particularly need attention. Please go to this page on the City of San Diego's website, and submit a Service Request.
Submit request if street light bulbs are burned out. Funds are not available for additional street lights at this time.

6. GGH CDC
Melissa Hendrix-Lawson from Crow Thief will start attending the meetings and represent SPBG, will report back at our meetings. This is NOT an SPBG seat on the CDC Board.

7. New Business in the neighborhood:

  • Melanie from Graffiti Beach - opened for Walkabout - went very well. Started in the Venice Beach area - loves this neighborhood. Supports emerging artists and Fashion designers. Vibe = beach meets street.
  • Oliver's Hair Design - moved to Beech Street - everything in the space is recycled. Pulled it all together in 45 days.
  • Fern Street Café has new owner, reorganized (formerly Urban Gourmet Market). Specializing in wraps, salads, and moving into vegetarian pizzas.
  • 7-Eleven South Park has joined SPBG. They will soon remodel the old store, will take care of trash can there, and is eager be an active part of the business community.

8. Photography for Business Directory
If you wish to have a photo of you or your business taken for the South Park Scene Business Directory, please contact Luci Dumas Fine Photography at 619.233.9390 or luci@lucidumas.com. Most of the images used on the South Park Scene website were taken by her if you want to see her style of imagery. If you sign up by April 20th she will put you one the list for her shooting days in the neighborhood. She is offering this service for $25 per business which is a 90% discount off her regular rate. In the future, we may consider whether we prefer photos to logos on the business page. For now, each business is free to submit any logo or image along with a statement that the business owner owns the copyrights to the image.

9. Media Presentations:
Information on all of these advertising opportunities has been posted on our website - click here.

  • Sean Eshelman - three papers: SD Uptown News, Downtown News, and Gay San Diego. They are putting together a South Park insert for June publication. Concept: OHF coverage, Summer Walkabout, SPBG coverage, stories about neighborhood businesses. Rates start at $129 for full-color ads plus free writeup. Needs at least 6 businesses to participate. Contact Sean with story ideas and interest, by emailing SEshelman@sdcnn.com.

  • WHERE San Diego - Joanna McLean: represents the visitor market - in 94 hotels all over SD - focus on 3-5 star properties at the Concierge. Wants to promote SP as a destination area for shopping, dining, visiting. South Park would be featured in a full page sponsored by 6 businesses, each with a photo, contact info, etc. (can have as many full pages as we have ad support for). In conjunction, WHERE will organize a concierge event - bringing concierges from hotels to see South Park and the advertisers. $225-$250 per month per advertiser, minimum three month commitment: Summer issue - June, July, August, commit by April 9th, billing starts in June. More info here.

  • San Diego Art Guide:
    Four South Park businesses will have the opportunity to advertise on the inside front cover of the Summer 2012 issue of San Diego Art Guide. The rate is just $91 per business, and will be due by June 1. The Summer edition will be distributed in July, August, and September, and will include promotion for South Park's Summer and Fall ("ArtOberfest") Walkabouts. Click here for a mock-up of the South Park page, which will appear in the most prominent position of this publication.

  • Film Out/South Park Partnership
    Jeffrey from Junc Boutique needs to finalize participants who want to advertise in the Film Out event. Needs all the info from participants by May 1st. Please call 619.283.2611 or email Juncboutique@gmail.com. Complete details are available here.

10. Other:
Events – Albert Einstein Elementary Gala is coming up in June and if any business donates over $100 they get 1 year on the AEA website.

NEXT MEETING:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25th, 8:30am at Alchemy Restaurant

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