South Park Business Group (SPBG) Minutes

November 20, 2013, at Alchemy 8:30am

1. Mission Statement: Donna Walker chaired the meeting, read the mission statement. Introductions.

2. SPBG Reports:
-There is no meeting in December. The next meeting is Jan. 29, 2014.

-Maintenance program: Matt Thomas of Alchemy said there's not much to report. Things are going smoothly. If you need garbage bags, come talk to him: matt@alchemysandiego.com. The kiosks will be cleaned up for the next Walkabout. Also, the clock at Grape Street will be set back an hour.

-SDSU Project and Survey: Christy Jaynes of Progress said the marketing project is wrapping up. The team will make a presentation on Dec. 6 at SDSU, either at 8:40 or 9:0 a.m. If you want to attend, email Christy so she can RSPV: christy.progress@gmail.com. The presentation will go over demographics, opportunities, and how the SPBG can raise money.

-Membership dues, $150, are due by Jan. 31, 2014. You can make a single payment of cash or check or make three installments of $50 each (via PayPal only). If you prefer to pay in December to get it in 2013 expenses, you can do so. Paying early is accepted and encouraged. Here is link to page with dues brochure and Paypal info.

3. Events:

-Luminaria San Diego: Christy Jaynes reported that lights in the business districts are now being installed. Installation should be completed by the weekend of Nov. 23 and lights will undergo testing. Streetlights will be lit by Thanksgiving. The first official lighting, First Light, take place when the tree sculpture is lit on Dec. 1, 6 p.m., at Grape Street near the clock tower. Invite your customers and residential neighbors to the tree lighting. Emphasis is on community. Stores can consider closing for that hour (Progress will have sign on its door on Dec. 1 asking people to join them at the tree lighting), distributing goodies or coupons at the event, reopening after.

Luminaria will take place the whole month of December. All lights will be up in South Park, a month of sparkle. Within that time we'll have the tree lighting (First Light) and the Walkabout Dec. 7. There will be Facebook posts on it (facebook.com/walkaboutsouthpark and facebook.com/southparkbiz, and it will be on SouthparkScene.com.

A question came up: can we keep our own lights up and on our trees? Yes. The lighting program will go over existing lights. Your lights will not be taken down. It's a personal choice as to what looks best.

Interim Mayor Todd Gloria will attend First Light. Leyla Chavez of So Childish will have a children's craft table. The Big Kitchen will have food and drink. Progress will hand out candy canes. Christy said you can hand out fliers, coupons, whatever you want at First Light. She encouraged business owners to hand out goodies. Let Marsha (spbg@lucyslist.net) know about those goodies so posts can be added on Facebook.

Donna Walker said we want as many people to know that South Park businesses are sponsors of Luminaria, supported by the City grant.

Christy also mentioned the lighting contest for residents within the business districts and in between the businesses. The contest will include best overall design, best porch and door (so renters in apartments can participate), and best overall design. Getting residents to participate in the Luminaria will help light the blocks between the business districts. Prizes are one $500 gift basket and two $200 gift baskets. SPBG is collecting whatever businesses want to donate to make up those gift baskets. Christy said they need a lot more items, anything from candles to gift certificates to tchotchkes. Christy needs donations for the gift baskets delivered to Progress by Monday, Nov. 25, so she can assemble everything for Dec. 1. Jeffrey Parish of Junc suggested giving actual goods as well as gift certificates. Products help make a basket look better.

Extended hours during holiday season: Maureen Ceccarelli of Studio Maureen encouraged businesses to stay open later to attract families visiting Luminaria lights. Maybe one night a week stay open later. Let Marsha (spbg@lucyslist.net) know of holiday hours plans.

Marsha reminded business owners how exciting the Luminaria is. The last couple of years, the SPBG used $500 in dues money to buy lights and hand them out to businesses to install. This year we are making an investment of $10,000, made possible through the grant from the City of San Diego to build business in our neighborhood. The more we can share that excitement with people, the better.

-Luminaria Walkabout: Donna reminded business owners not to have open flames. Exhibitors cannot block the sidewalk and must follow all the rules of safety. Print out the Walkabout Policy Form (available for download here), sign it and give it to exhibitor to complete. Monitor will pick up forms during Walkabout -- you'll be busy so take care of this in advance.

Maureen also advised business owners to be a good neighbor. That is, make sure that your exhibitor doesn't sell the same things as other businesses nearby. The idea of Walkabouts is to get business into the stores, and we all share in the expense of producing and promoting. If you allow outside exhibitors they should add excitement, not compete with other SP businesses.

Peace on Earth Carolers will roam and sing at the Walkabout. A sign-up sheet was at the meeting for business owners to sign and donate $35 if they wanted the carolers to stop at their shops. Info at christy.progress@gmail.com.

Leyla of So Childish said there is plenty of space on the sidewalk near her business during First Light if you want to have an exhibitor there. She suggested (next year) handing out tickets, like a passport or punch card, at First Light to get people to go to different businesses.

4. Walkabouts for 2014:

Spring: Cirque de South Park: March 22
Summer: Superheroes of South Park: July 19
Fall: Harvest Night: Oct. 4
Winter: Luminaria: Dec. 6

5. Community Affairs:

-No one from Police and Safety attended the meeting. However, business owners mentioned recent crimes. Jeffrey Parish said Junc got tagged. South Bark got tagged. At Buona Forchetta, someone stole a phone. Donna mentioned that during the holidays, you'll often see crimes of opportunity. Leyla of So Childish said a few years ago, her iPhone was stolen from the counter. Be careful out there!

Leyla also complained about the homeless drinking and smoking in front of her store. Jinna Albright of Thomas Bike Shop said the police are limited on moving the homeless. But she said her husband could help Leyla out when he's off duty.

-Government: Liz Studebaker, Business Improvement District (BID) Advocate for the City of San Diego, said bike racks should be delivered to SD by end of year. She asked SPBG to compile a list of locations who want them. If you're interested please email Matt at Alchemy (matt@alchemysandiego.com).

Maureen asked if the blue ones currently in place could be taken out and the new ones put in. Liz said she can't request the removal of assets. Liz Studebaker's email address: estudebaker@sandiego.gov.

Anne Mery of The Grove asked about the status of a grant with the BID. Liz said she is working on protecting microdistrict funding. She is also organizing a meeting on the BIDs for Monday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. on the 14th floor downtown to discuss how to support large brick and mortar businesses as well as a more informal economy (food trucks). She is looking for one representative from each BID. She asked if there was one general feeling in South Park about where we stand on food trucks. Matt will attend the meeting. Liz said some cities have been sued about how they dealt with food trucks.

Liz also brought up CicloSDias (there will be one Feb. 9 from Pacific Beach to La Jolla). Christy said the group felt overall that it was positive, but most people felt that a double street closure was too much and few people checked out 30th Street. Liz will follow-up re plans for our area next year.

Also at the meeting was Jason Weisz of Rep: Toni Atkins' office. The assemblywoman planned to have a forum on the healthcare law at the Joyce Beers Community Center Nov. 21 in Hillcrest.

6. New Business/Information/Announcements

-Maureen proposed that Melanie Michaud of Graffiti Beach be added to the SPBG Board of Directors. Members will vote on this action item in January.

-Becca Kumar was introduced. She is the SPBG's new social media and PR representative. She will help Marsha with a lot of PR. Her email is beccakumar@gmail.com.

-The Brabant Bar & Cafe (former Vagabond space) is to open Nov. 23.

-Dr. Z said kids with wagons filled with baked goods wanted to take these around to businesses at the Walkabout. Anne said the Walkabout wasn't the place for kids with carts, because it would be so busy and sidewalks are for customers. Maureen added that they would need the permission of a business to do so, and to be set up in front of a business, not on the sidewalks. She said the business of selling food is regulated.

-Leyla asked if the SPBG was doing a toy drive this year as a group. This had been planned as part of Luminaria, but we did not have resources to organize it this year. Hope to add it next year.

-Matteo Cattaneo of Buona Forchetta said his restaurant is doing a toy drive; he just doesn't know who to give the toys to. He was open to suggestions from different members.

-SPBG members also discussed food trucks. Jinna asked what everyone thought of them. Monta Briant of Baby Garten Studio suggested the food trucks at Gala come on Mondays when many restaurants are closed.

Liz said the city is looking at adjusting the law to allow food trucks on private property. Right now, those trucks are not legal. The law is not being enforced. The city is trying to develop a process.

Donna said we will not encourage something that takes away business from SPBG members or interests. Leyla suggested the food trucks at Walkabouts. However, someone said we all pay our dues for the Walkabout. When someone takes advantage of that (i.e. a food truck), and doesn't contribute, it's difficult. We also need parking during Walkabouts, not non-SPBG businesses selling things and blocking spaces. The other side to the food truck issue is they can attract business, Donna said.

-Leyla said for next year, the group should discuss the Walkabouts, as they have slowed down this year. She asked why not have one that's bigger than others? Donna explained that with the Walkabout titles, the SPBG wants businesses to go all out on these "themes," to "resparkle" and spark more interest in the Walkabouts. Next year we may have an open forum to discuss ideas of how you can plan tie-ins to the Walkabouts. Monta said for Harvest Night, for example, maybe have a scarecrow contest.

-Christy reminded everyone to turn in three things: dues, donations for the prize baskets for the lighting contest, and $35 for the carolers.

Minutes by Bonnie Nicholls.

REMINDER: No SPBG meeting in December. Next meeting Wed. January 29, 2014. Bring your dues check ($150) to that meeting if you have not previously mailed check or paid Paypal $50 installment.