HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/20/2021 Item 10, Swigger (2)
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Bettina Swigger <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:April 20 Council Meeting - Item 10 Economic Recovery, Resiliency & Fiscal
Sustainability
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Dear Mayor and City Council,
Thank you for your support and consideration for Downtown in your Major City Goal Work for 2021-2023.
I’m writing today to thank the City for its continued partnership with Downtown SLO, the nonprofit business association
that serves 500+ businesses. During the pandemic, our two organizations have worked closely together, and we again
want to acknowledge the generosity and creative spirit that has been present through the pandemic. We have been
engaged at every step of the Major City Goal development process, from providing direct feedback to disseminating
surveys, from leading weekly discussions about the COVID-19 Response and Recovery, to engaging with City staff to
ensure our partnership and downtown businesses are well-represented in the work plan.
As the heart of the city, Downtown is critical to the Economic Recovery and Resiliency of the entire community, and we
would like to express support for the workplan as it is presented. Specifically, we’d like to highlight a few features of the
workplan below.
Thank you for:
- Continuing our partnership to administer programs for the Business Improvement Area, including programming
events like Farmers’ Market (returning in May), Concerts in the Plaza (to return in some format this summer), and
Holiday activities.
- Continuation of our agreement to provide additional Clean and Safe services through our Ambassador program and
our partnership with CAPSLO to provide homeless outreach specific to the downtown
- Additional support for Homelessness Services Coordination for people experiencing homelessness
- Additional support for Holiday Decorations in Downtown. While our organization plans to bring back treasured family
events like the Holiday Parade, in-person visits with Santa, and other activities, the extra funding (which includes a
fundraising match we are prepared to raise) will allow us to pull out all the stops this coming holiday season to create a
winter wonderland in SLO, for residents and visitors to enjoy
- We appreciate the continuation and planning for the Zig Zag lights from 2020’s holiday decor to become more
permanent
- We are excited to see plans move forward for the Mission Plaza restroom replacement
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- We look forward to seeing construction begin for the new Parking Structure (see separate correspondence regarding
parking)
- And finally, the focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplan. Downtown is for everyone and we want to
ensure that the economic recovery is inclusive.
We look forward to working with you and City staff to make downtown San Luis Obispo a welcoming place in the region
for exciting businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators looking to open new businesses and fill vacant storefronts and
create more livable, walkable spaces for all to enjoy. Working together, we will employ an events and public space
activation strategy that draws on the region’s plentiful creative talent to bring vibrancy to public spaces through music,
performances and interactive experiences.
Thank you,
Bettina Swigger
she/her/hers
CEO, Downtown SLO
1135 Chorro
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
bettina@downtownslo.com
Voice: (805)234-9677
Text: (719)322-6438
Learn about how to support local at DowntownSLO.com
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