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Home My WebLink About2000 San Luis Obispo Downtown Association Welcome Letter- Background and Benefits87125/28Aa 16:A2 885781254?SLO DOLINTO|,.JN ASSOC PAGE A1 WELCOME TO DOWIYTOWIV SLO! As a business located within the Downtown boundaries, you are entitled to membership in the Downtown Association. Your membership fees are assessed when you pay your annual business tax certificate" This packet describes the history, the mission, and prograrns of the DA. We would like to spotlight your business in the newsletter and invite you to attend a Downtown Association board meeting for introduction. We are here to promote your business and represent your needs to the city. We're sure you'lI enjoy doing business in one of the country's most beautiful downtowns. Enjoy! Post-il8 Fax Note 7671 P.O. 0ox .1402 . San Luis Obispo. C.A . 934M 805/54 I -0286 . FAX B05nE I -?U7 . e,mail daQ)downtownslo,com tf f/\Jc 1/O 7-Phone 6 1 o iFar f 1 A7/25/2488 t6:62 805781 2647 \ SLO DOI^JNTOI^IN ASSOC PAGE A2 MISSION STATEMENT "The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association is a partnership of members working for the economical, social, cultural, and environmental vitality of Downtown." ABOUT THEDOWN ASSOCIATION WN 4712512884 t6:O2 e0s?812547 HISTORY The Downtown Association, formerly the BIA, was formed in 19'75 (under AB1693), when business owners in the central core decided they wanted to speak with one voice. The formal organization allowed expression of the downtown needs and want$ to the City Council, as well as the development of unified promotions, beautification projects and parking programs for patrons. In addition to providing a forum for downtown businesses, the Downtown Association is an Advisory Body to the City Council. THE BOARD The DA is governed by an eleven member board of directors, which is elected by the membership each March. Board mernbers take office in April, and serve no more than two consecutive terms. Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, at 7:30 ?.F., in the City Cowrcil Hearing Room. THE COMMITTEES There are five standing committees: Design, Parking, Promotion, Economic Activities, and Thursday Night Activities, each with a board liaison. DA meetings are open to members and the public, and all are encouraged to be active participants in DA meetings and events. BEI{EFITS The benefits of an organization such as the DA are many. A bi-monttrly newsle$er mailed to you provides information on new busines$es, activities, promotions and projects that are occuring Downtown - a great way to keep in touch! Advertising and promotions are done for the Downtown area as a whole! There is more money for special events! Instead of over 600 individual businesses doing their own thing, the association of members works together toward a common goal which has a greater impact! In addition, the DA ssrves as the advocacy group for small businesses Downtown on important legislative issues such as additional parking, SLO DOt^lNT0ldN ASSOC PAGE A3 a7/25/2a88 16282 8457e12547 SLO DOhINTOhJN ASSOC architectural review, capiBl improvements, and Downtown planning and servrces. The DA staff lncludes an Admlnistrator ActivitiesPromotions Coordinator, an Office Promotions Assistant, plus interns from Cal Poly. PAGE A4 Thursday Night Manager and a The DA has continued its efforts at lobbying City staff regarding the imponance of safe-guarding the sotuces of downtown sales tax revenue. This has resulted in changes to several projects and methods of implementing projects Downtown. In addition, the DA staff has been actively involved in the city budget process in an attempt to assure the revenue generating projects funded by the city receive ttreir full funding. DESIGN COMMITTLE- The Design Committee oversees a variety of design and aesthetic programs, including the new Revolving Hrblic Art Sculpture Program. The cornmittee also manages the sidewalk cleaning program, holiday decorations, tree lighting and SLo Sweep 'n Greeq a clean up and goodwill ambassador program during the summer. PR C The Promotions Committee plans evenm and promotions for downtown. The events are listed on the page in this packet titted Special Events but here are a few examples of some: - Sidewalk Sales - Rib Cook Ofr - Concerts in the Plaza The committee has also developed and implemented a new downtown brochure and map which is enclosed in this packet. The map shows the area that the DA covers as well as listing all of the businesses in the downtown. PARKING COMMITTEE The Parking Committee is responsible for monitoring the parking situation in downtown and for providing solutions to arising problems. Currently, the committee has found that the downtown is in dire need for more parking and as a result of that need has worked closely with the city of SLO in furttrering 87 / 25l2gg1 16':82 8857812547 sLO DOlAtNTOt^tN ASSOC PAGE E5 the proposed expansion of the Marsh Street parking srructure. Completion of this project is anticipated by surnmer of 2001. Other projects include a Downtown and Access plan and Palm 3 parking structure. Y A C The Thursday Night Activities Committee meets every Wednesday morning to review applications and discuss all rnanners of business affecting the market. Its function is also to help promote the Market through special events. The various special events are listed on the enclosed page entitled Thursday Night Special Events. The committee has developed guidelines, rules, and regulations for the market which it continually reviews. Also, special theme night events, proposed by the promotions committee, are approved. EC MIC ACTI VITY C The Economic Activity committee, newly formed in 1998, was established to oversee matters of economic interest that affect Downtown. Issues such as business retention and atuaction, clustering, retail space availability, economic forecast, franchising, and others are discussed and implemented. The committee works with the Economic Developmenc Manager at the city of s[,o to lbrmulare strategies for rhe economic viabitity of Downtown. A7/25/2488 L6:82 845781264?SLO D0hrNTOr^JN ASSOC PAGE 86 HISTQRY . An, 1^-..-:*^Fcac rr,^rrld stav oDen late on InthelateT0.sandearlyS0's,businesseswouldstayoper Thursday nights to give peopte a chance to shop 1^::t-lh]r-,-?'* PM' Downtown was popular on Thursday nights so teens began cruising down Higuera Streer, 'ith, muin drag." This in turn deterred people from coming ro shop on Thursday nights. The merchants wanted help from the Downtown Association to reverse this trend' The DA decided to barricade 4 blocks of Higuera St. on Thursday nights to return the streets to shoppers-but how to attract them back?! on the late shopping night, the DA began arranging for special activities and entertainment on Higuera Street. DOwntown restaurants came out to offer food and to barbecue ribs. This all began in early 1983. That summer the fanners were invited to sell their produce; hence the beginnings of Farmers' Marker, or Thursday Night Activities as it's officially known. Because the event is sponsored by Downtown businesses, only DA members and non-profit organizations are eligible to participate. Non- competing businesses are also allowed to participate at a cost of $50 per night and they are to be strictly informational. A committee meets Wednesday mornings to discuss all applicadons and to manage the event. Thursday Night Activities is very popular. It is a year-round event, and the summer months draw large crowds to the Downtown district from around the world. From September through June the DA sponsors various special events which are listed on the following page. Thursday nights are so successful and well run that cities from all over the country visit San Luis Obispo to see how it's done! In 1998, an informational how to video was produced for sale to other communities seeking to have a Farmers' Market of their own. To date, the DA has consulred with and helped many other downtowns around the country. For information about TNA please cail the DA oftice (s41.02E6) and talk to the Thursday Night Activities/Promotions Coordinator, Christlne Bragg. A7/25/2888 1.6:82 8857812647 SLO DOl.lNTDlAlN ASSOC PAGE 87 2000 WINTER EVFI'{T DATE* Snow Night...,. Jan. 20* Mardi Gras Preview Night...... .....Mar. 2{( Rib Cook-Off.... ,.............MaL2 'F Swing Night ...Mar. 16 SPRII{G EVENT* Kid's Mght* Easter Egg Hunt.............t Fitness/l',{utrition Night FALL EVnhrr t( Fire Prevention Night......* Cal Poly Farm/City Night :r' Halloween Celebration..... :r€ Gift Night.............!.............,... {c Special Friday Farmers' Market+ Farmers' Market DATE .April 6 April 20 Aprrl2T+ Mother's Day at Farmers' Market..............* Law Enforcement Nighti' Downtown Brown's Birthday tc Father's Day at Farmers' Market,..,.......... SUMMER EVENT Dnrn** No Special Events planned due to HUGE crowds @ TNA ** May l1 May 18 May 25 June 15 DATT' Oct. 5 Oct. tZ Ocr.26 Nov. 16 Nov. 24 Dec. 21 Dec. 2Ei< Farmers'Market 8712512A8A L6:02 8857812547 SLO DOI..INTOI4N *SSOC -WEtrII DATE(S.} 'F Sidewalk Sale tan if* Sidewalk Sale 'k Sidewalk Sale* Sidewalk Sale :& Sidewalk Sale 'F Rib Cook-Off ..............* Casino Night..... {€ Concerts in the Plaza...... PAGE 68 There are p?Iy^great events that happen downtown annually ! Below is a list of all of ihe events along *ith their dates for this ye;. Mark them on your calendar today! DA EVET{TS Feb. Lg-Zt May 6 Aug. 12 Oct. 14 March 2 April 14 June 23 June 30 July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28 August 4 August 11 August 18 x Wheels of SLO Car Show {< Taste of San Luis .......r.....r....+ Santa's Amival {< Holiday Parade* Santa's House* Festival of Trees{' Carousel in the Mission Plaza,..... August 25 .August 26-27 September 13 November 24 December I Nov. 24-Dec.24 Dec. 4-Dec.24 Dec. 5-Dec.27 A7 /25/2888 1.5: 02 sa5781 2547 E\MNT 'r' Mardi Gras SLO D0l.,JNT0t^lN ASS0C\ o THER E PAGE 89 {< Children's Day in The plaza...... April g * I Madonnari Italian Street painting Festival April zg-3o * Mozart Festival. * Renaissance Festival. ....Juty 15-16 * Central Coast Wine Festival September 2 'l. City to Sea Mini Marathon.,............. Ocrober 15 * International Film Festivat Ocr 26-Nov.5 s First Night of SLO ........December 31 Organizational Chan @ F{ td(.9{I fL Authority UOaa -1= z-e OFz EA OJa Parking Mgmr. Commince Bofld of Appea.ls Citizen's Advisory Comrnittee Cultural Heritage Committee Human Relations Cornmission Jack House Advisory Committee Mass Transporlalion Committec Parks & Recrertion Commission Fersonnel Ctruncil Boord Comprnsation Committer Promotions Comrnittee Housing Downlown Plan Design Commiuee SLO Downtown Associalion Board of Directors Executive/Budget Comrnittee Administrator Archkectural Review Bicycle Commit{ee Trer Commiltee homotionrl Cmrdinating Commiilee Joint Recreational Use of School District Property Open Space Ad Hoc Committee 1-$l! e.l c{of F-lf)E Gf e.l6 'ic{ N C96c\ tf)c{ F- F Promot ions/TN A Coord inator Office Manager Part Time Employoes Interns Parking Comrnittee City of San Luis Obispo City Council Thursday Nighr Activities Committee Beautitication Committee Economic Activities C-ornmince Downtown Associa tion Membershi p Includi ng vorunrary Memhers