Meeting starts 8:15 AM

Board members present:

Bruce Wood, Marsha Ershaghi, Ted Vegvari, Debbie Lang, Bruno Sartini, Lynetta Coleman

Ted: Introduces RHE AWMA, purpose, notice of meeting through RHE City mailer.

Discusses establishing Business Improvement District

Mentions possible new board member Gary Loftstrom (Longs Drugs)

Established goals & charter, information is online, web site is announced.

Announcement of meeting on Tues. City Council meeting presented request for funding (RHE Economic Development subcommittee of marketing & development.) Budget approximately

$72, 000 , motion to provide funding. Start marketing tactics to encourage businesses to get involved.

Begin discussion of survey questions:

• What is the most important need an Area Wide Merchants Association can accomplish for you?

City Council to be more receptive to merchants, improve signage, equal benefit city regulations, traffic flow.

Ted: mentions Oscar @ City has plans re: signage, and the City wants suggestions

Peggy Herrera – Peninsula Center Pet Hospital: present a united front w/ common goals, improve access w/ local signage. City needs to temper concerns of ambiance versus commercial viability. Traffic flow on Deep Valley . Change parking to diagonal, progressive shopping fairs (alternate street fair location) – free certificates for merchants. Promotion ex: 10% on Wed. shop on the hill.

Discussion of Studio West – sold to Church still in Escrow – Escrow closes 3-31-98.

Ed Rea Jr. – Rea’ s Hardware – present a united front; traffic signage

Gina Blank – Fred Sands: more activity on the hill, better for businesses; perception of higher cost on hill, merchants are competitive, but because PV has no premium costs, no department stores. High-End image. (emphasize neighborhood, local, friendly, safe)

Ted: mentions IMAGE CAMPAIGN

Tim Marshall: Unified Property Management, user friendly, improve parking, traffic flow, look & feel of area "have to be something before attracting something". Likes tree lighting, pole banners. Also supports parking improvement: Deep Valley Drive * Diagonal parking

Susie Seamanns: job to bring Council on board (design & marketing committee) Council’s role: City spends funds wisely, projections, budget surplus.

$80,000 surplus for economic development.

x-tra staff (consultants) hired for 6 months

overview of Economic Development

Consultants have tremendous contacts, make sure all groups are working together.

Budget of $70,000 for Image Campaign, City will fund this.

Ted: stresses membership

Difference between AWMA vs. Chamber of Commerce, partnership w/ Chamber is future.

Design Committee: enforce maintenance, look & design; look & various usage of properties /parking.

Cousins purchase closed Monday, 2/3 closed, Robinsons building hasn’t closed. Development Agreement purchase must be closed by July. City is a covener, here to help things start.

Ted: with funding we will have significant enticements to purchase.

Susie:

1. Start banner program around commercial district using logos from 4 cities
2. Light pine trees in median on Silver Spur 3 trees per median

Aziz: Neon lights open/close

Approach Banks, Financial institution to support organization, several donations from larger merchants

9:00 AM conclusion.