About Walkabout this Saturday, October 5th:

To download a copy of the Walkabout Guide to give to your customers, please click here. Copies will also be distributed online, at the Info Booth, and on the Trolley.

Reminder -- If you approve a vendor or exhibitor to set up on public property in front of your business, you must sign the Walkabout Policy Form and give it to the vendor to complete and acknowledge. Remind them of laws -- no blocking sidewalks, no street setup, no open flames, etc. Please maintain neighborhood aesthetics and qualities ... Walkabouts are NOT flea markets. The purpose is to build traffic and awareness of the permanent storefront businesses operating here. Thank you!

Minutes - September 25, 2013 Meeting

Mission Statement -- Donna Walker read the mission statement out loud for all attendees.

South Park Business Group Reports

a. Upcoming SPGB meetings: Oct. 30th, 8:30 a.m.; Nov. 20 (3rd Wednesday due to Thanksgiving week), 8:30 a.m.; NO MEETING in December

b. SPBG mixer: Many thanks to Jinna Albright for organizing, Sam Chammas of Station Tavern for hosting, and Eclipse's Will Gustwiller and Rebecca's Coffeehouse for food and drink. Members said they enjoyed mixing and mingling.

c. Maintenance program: Matt Thomas said things are going smoothly. If you need garbage bags, ask him for more at matt@alchemysandiego.com. Tanya McAnear said the trash can in front of Bad Madge needs the placard changed. Matt said that's in progress.

One of the owners of Goldline Salon said they've seen brown widows in their trash can. While Matt said they're less aggressive than black widows, Dr. Z said they can still harm you.

Matt also said he has turned in infrastructure request forms submitted by members to the Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee. These were for three projects: repainting and maintaining utility boxes; adding a slurry seal on top of South Park streets; and implementing a way-finding system or decorative signs in South Park that indicate where points of interest are, e.g., this way to Balboa Park.

Tour de Fat: Sept. 28.

Jinna said a lot of people would be at Golden Hill Park for this event. She planned to set up a tent on Friday. The bike parade was planned for 11:30. Businesses were encouraged to wave to folks on parade.

SPBG Events

Oct. 5: ArtOberfest Walkabout. PR info was due to Marsha at spbg@lucyslist.net by Sept. 25. Extra South Park maps, Walkabout postcards and South Park posters are available. Check with Maureen Ceccarelli at Studio Maureen at studiomaureen@gmail.com.

Nov. 30 is Small Business Saturday. Donna Walker said South Park gets a lot of business from that. Sponsored by American Express.

Dec. 1-31 is the Luminaria Festival in South Park. Christy Jaynes reported that she's getting a wonderful lighting plan from Kelle McCarty, DeLights of XMas. The plans include wreaths and garlands that visitors will see when they enter the neighborhood. While the SPBG is organizing the tree lighting, businesses are encouraged to do something with their storefronts and windows.

The Luminaria isn't just for this year but for future holiday seasons as well.

The event includes a residential lighting contest, which is about to be announced. It will extend to homeowners and apartment dwellers in the business districts and in between. There will be prizes for best door, best stoop, etc. Andrea Frank will print and distribute flyers to homes along 30th and Fern from Kalmia to Beech and along Juniper up to 31st. Residents must have their houses decorated by the Friday after Thanksgiving for judging.

Jeffrey Parish said Andrea will have a team of real estate agents who will do the judging. There will be yard signs for those who win.

Christy is collecting prizes from business owners (deliver to Progress). She'll be letting people know what the deadline is to get those to her.

Walkabout dates for 2014 are:

• Spring - Saturday, March 22
• Summer - Saturday, July 19
• Fall, Saturday, Oct. 4
• Winter - Saturday, Dec. 6

Members were asked to vote for subthemes for each walkabout. Jeffrey Parish said that since we're branding South Park, each walkabout would always be associated with the season, with the themes as subtitles, e.g., the Winter Walkabout has a Luminaria subtheme. Donna elaborated that the SPBG is promoting an "interpretive flavor" for each walkabout. Every year will be spring, summer, fall and winter. Flavors will change (except for Luminaria). Members voted for the subthemes. The winners are:

Spring: Cirque du South Park

Summer (the same time as Comic-Con): Superheroes of South Park. This vote was taken twice because someone said they accidentally voted for the wrong theme.

Fall: Harvest Night

Jeffrey and Christy explained after voting that Comic-Con brought a lot of people to South Park, and that's why they had hoped people would vote for Costume-Con. Bonnie Nicholls said she would have voted for that one had she understood the intent. However, the voting was deemed final.

Melanie Michaud said that marketing materials for the walkabouts should emphasize walkabout, since visitors are starting to get what the walkabout is. She said that walkabout should be the main focus, and the theme should be secondary.

Donna Walker advised business owners that when they hand out the walkabout cards, to emphasize the walkabouts.

Community Affairs

a. Police and Safety: Suzy De La Pena of the San Diego Police Department reported that bike thefts are still everywhere. Police are trying to do some undercover to catch thieves. She advised if you ride a bike, use a U-lock instead of a chain. A U-lock seems to take a little longer for thieves to crack. She also said not to store your bikes on your patios.

She also reminded people to lock the doors of their vehicles. She said you'd be surprised how many people forget to lock their car doors. Stolen items from cars lately include golf clubs, cameras, wallets, and purses. If you park in an underground garage, burglars may follow you in, take your garage door opener from your car, and then return to commit more car burglaries (this is common downtown). She said thieves have even stolen the tires and wheels from vehicles.

Another crime she reported is people following the elderly into the complexes. One guy that they caught had been offering to help the elderly with their groceries or bags, and then, once in the complex, started to see if people's doors were unlocked. He's a transient with a record.

Lastly, she mentioned that people have been going around asking to do yard work with the intent to burglarize a home. She suggested keeping your doors and windows locked.

She said the police department's central division has a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sdpdcentraldivsion

Dr. Z reported that people have been knocking on doors asking for residents to make change for a $50 and then they see where you keep your cash.

b. Todd Gloria's (District 3) Office: Courtney Thomson said Todd Gloria, now interim mayor, is having weekly briefings. He has also asked all city staff to stick to enforce city codes, while at the same time, asking residents to let him know if codes are inappropriate.

She mentioned his first priority is to fill advisory boards and committees. Many of these lack a quorum and can't make decisions.

She reported that the elderly and disabled have complained there is not enough accessible parking in Balboa Park near the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park. Additional parking for them will be in Alcazar Park.

Other items of note:

• The Laurel Street bridge will be closed during Caltrans work only.

• The Planning Department is being re-established.

• The library dedication ceremony over the weekend would have booths, musical acts and all kinds of fun stuff for kids and family.

• Todd Gloria planned to participate the AIDS Walk on Sunday, the 29th.

Regarding code enforcement, Luci Dumas mentioned that food trucks are illegal in parking lots. Courtney replied that Todd Gloria will enforce those codes, but the city also needs to discuss these codes.

Donna Walker asked Courtney who business owners and residents can contact if new road paving hasn't taken place on their streets. Courtney replied you can contact her (cthomson@sandiego.gov), but it's best to report it to the streets division and have your neighbors call in. The more people that report a problem, the higher it will rise on the list.

She also reported that the city denied a stop sign for Ivy and Fern. She asked that they put in a crosswalk. However, business owners can get a petition going to request the stop sign again.

Matt Thomas brought up the painting of utility boxes. Courtney said she could forward those requests to SDG&E, that it's not a formal process.

c. Assemblywoman Toni Atkins' office: Jason Weicz pointed out an article in the assemblywoman's newsletter about Assembly Bill 639 (Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2014). The Assemblywoman proposed allocating $600 million of that funding toward homeless veterans housing.

New business/information/announcements

Lisa Vella said Dr. Z has information about the new health care law. She said if you have employees, you have to notify them by Oct. 1 about their options. She said Dr. Z had offered to write a summary on this. Lisa said as business owners, you must hand your employees written information that tells them what to do regarding purchasing health care.

Tanya McAnear of Bad Madge said she will be hosting Consumer Bob during the next Walkabout. He'll have photos on display.

Anne Mery of The Grove said that the San Diego Yarn Crawl would take place over the weekend of Sept. 28.

Maureen of Studio Maureen said she would have a new art show opening at the October walkabout. She also has a big altar for the Day of the Dead where you can leave notes for your loved ones.

Jinna said Thomas Bike is having a jug band for the walkabout.

Donna reported that South Bark Dog Wash will have an altar for pet owners to owner their pets that have passed on.

Jeffrey mentioned that the non-functioning food truck is now gone from the lot next to Junc Life & Style. Landscapers are putting in pavers, a walkway, and grass. A fire pit will be installed. There will be another local business owner with a food truck there every day serving up street tacos from around the world. The food truck and redone area will be ready for October walkabout.

Monta Briant of Baby Sign Language and Baby Garten Studio has a colleague looking for part-time work as a family assistant on Fridays to run errands, offer computer help or babysit in the evenings. If interested, contact Courtney Mayfield: networkingnannies@gmail.com. She charges $15-$20 an hour.

Thomas Bike Shop is sponsoring the World Bike Polo Tournament in Miami on Oct. 18.

Oliver Zammit talked about a program to help local artists and dressmakers. An event is planned at the B Street Pier on Oct. 19 that will raise money for breast cancer awareness. The person putting on this event was placed on speaker phone at the SPBG meeting, but members couldn't hear her. Here is information she provided:
October 19, 2013; Exhibit Ambush will transform the runway into an extravaganza. Think of an avant-garde show with a twist that will never leave you bored. We highlighted the oeuvre of awesome fashion and accessory lines that haven't been seen. Our contemporary artists,poets, dancers, makeup artists, and graphic designers relish in taking risks; that will leave you in awe when you see their work. Our staff draws most of their inspiration from their surroundings, social networking, street fashions, research, and the classic underdogs. Fashion and art are an integral part of our culture and lifestyle. This event gives that artist a platform to showcase their work, while simultaneously raising awareness about a great foundation-Susan G. Komen. Our goal is to raise awareness by telling a story through our performance. All talent in this show are given the liberty to create and do whatever they want. Think of it as a playground for adults. The story starts to unfold as you enter the venue. All talent will be simultaneously interacting with each other. The art, entertainment, and fashion industry is constantly changing, and therefore it's important for our designers to keep up with the status quo. The garments in this show will have that shock value that will leave you wanting more. Be ready for Exhibit Ambush Phase 2/Komen Event next month. Prepare to be Ambushed!

The event is taking place at: The Port Pavilion 1000 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Time: Pre-party for VIP from 4pm-5pm/ Doors open to the public 5pm/ Show starts at 7pm

General admission : $40
VIP Ticket $100
If a guest wants to purchase a table for 6 people with bottle service, they can send a request to theambushevent@gmail.com.

Guests

Jayme Williams is opening the Woof and Purr Veterinary Hospital across from Progress, where the old record store once was. She will treat mostly does dogs and pets, but will also treat "pocket" pets. She will open sometime between Dec. 15 and March 15.

Lastly, Anne Mery thanked Matt of Alchemy for hosting the SPGB for the last three years.