Downtown Benicia Alliance
Board Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 9:00 am
The Rellik Tavern, 726 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510
Notice to the Public:
You are welcomed and encourage to participate in this meeting. Public comment is taken (3 minutes maximum per person) on items listed on the agenda when they are called. Public Comment on items not listed on the agenda will be heard at the meeting as noted on the agenda. Comments on controversial items may be limited and large groups are encouraged to select one or two speakers to represent the opinion of the group. The order of Agenda items is listed for reference and may be taken in any order deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The Agenda provides a general description; however, the Board of Directors may take action other than what is recommended.
Brown Act Notice:
Government Code Section 54950 (The Brown Act) requires that a brief description of each item to be transacted or discussed be posted at least 72 hours prior to a regular meeting. Action may not be taken on items not posted on the agenda. Meeting facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. If you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, notify Leah Shelhorn at 707-745-0254 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Board of Directors:
1. Leah Shelhorn, Chair, Studio 41, Capitol District
2. Renee Marie Jordan, Vice Chair/Treasurer,Jordan Real Estate, Park District
3. Jim Morgan, Secretary, Sailor Jacks, Waterfront District(2 yr. term)
4. Jeanne Steinmann, Benicia Magazine, Capitol District(2 yr.term)
5. Eileen Stern, ReMax Gold, Waterfront District
6. James Long, Pups N Purrz, Waterfront District(2yr.term)
7. Carl Lucca, Lucca Restaurant and Bar, Waterfront District(2yr.term)
8. Thomas Hamilton, The Rellik Bar, Capitol District
9. Tom Gavin, Gavin and Schreiner, Capitol District, 2nd Floor(2yr.term)
Advisor: Mario Giuliani, Economic Development Manager, City of Benicia
Board Meeting Agenda
The Rellik Bar, Tuesday, January 13, 2014, at 9:00 am
1. Call to Order:
2. Public Comment: Members of the Public are invited to comment on any item related to the affairs of the Downtown Benicia Alliance. Each member has up to three minutes to address the Board. The Board is not allowed to discuss matters brought up during public comment.
3. Approval of the Agenda: The Chair will seek approval of the Agenda. Only items already on the Agenda may be discussed. Approval of the Agenda allows for adjustment of the order in which items are discussed.
4. Approval of Minutes: The chair will seek approval of the December 8, 2014 minutes. The minutes should be approved if they meet the adequately and accurately the decisions and action made at the previous meeting. If a board member was absent for a meeting, they should abstain from voting, unless their vote is necessary to make a quorum, at which point they may vote on the item.
5. Election of Officers: The new Board of Directors will elect the Chair, Vice Chair/Treasurer and Secretary. The Board will also draw lots to decide length of terms.
6. Update on BID Assessments. Mario to update. Assessment dues letters were ready January 5th. Possible Board Action.
7. Annual Report: Leah will review the report to the Board.
8. Treasurers Report: Renee Marie Jordan will report. Discussion and possible Board Action.
9. Changing Board Meetings to 4 a year(One a quarter). Board Action required. Special Meetings can be called when appropriate.
10. What is the plan for the downtown from the City of Benicia. Goals? Beautification (Street Cleaning)? Recruitment? Advertising? Possible Board Action.
11. What’s new in each District:
Waterfront: Jim Morgan, Eileen Stern, and James Long
Capitol: Jeanne Steinmann, Leah Shelhorn, Tom Hamilton, Tom Gavin
Park: Renee Marie Jordan
12. Sub Committee Reports:
Promotions:
Website:
Advocacy:
Tourism Meetings
City Council Meetings
13. Adjourn
Downtown Benicia Alliance
Minutes: Monday, December 8, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.
The Rellik Tavern, 726 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510
Board Members Present: Leah Shelhorn, Chair; Renee Marie Jordan, Vice-Chair & Treasurer; James Morgan, Secretary; Frank Casesse; Carl Lucca; Thomas Hamilton; James Long; Eileen Stern, member of public and a prospective Board candidate, and Mario Giuliani, Economic Development Director, City of Benicia. Excused Absences: Jeanne Steinmann and Tom Gavin.
1. Call to Order: Leah Shelhorn called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
2. Public Comment: Mario Giuliani commented on the tree problems with the lights. Those problems include the following:
a. Waterfront District: The GFI issues are causing the lights to be tripped during times of wind or storm. Mario Giuliani has a meeting with Public Works on December 16th.
b. Vets Hall and City Posts: The switching of the light posts is no longer a simple task to plug in the lights. PUC requires an expensive meter to be installed. It is up to the City to decide what its budget may be with respect to this item.
c. PG&E/PUC: This issue is between the City and those entities. Circuits on First Street are overloaded, particularly in the Central District area, which may require the installation of one or more new circuits. Discussions are ongoing.
3. Approval of Agenda: Carl Lucca moved to approve the Agenda, Thomas Hamilton seconded it and the Agenda was unanimously approved.
4. Approval of Minutes: Thomas Hamilton moved that the Minutes be approved,
Frank Casesse seconded it and the Minutes were unanimously approved.
6. Staff Report: This item was taken out of order insofar as Frank Casesse indicated that he needed to leave by 9:30 a.m.
Eileen Stern was presented as the sole new candidate for inclusion on the Board. Renee Marie Jordan spoke favorably about Eileen Stern as a candidate. The Board unanimously approved of the appointment of Eileen Stern to the Board and she was welcomed aboard.
The Board Members with expiring terms were polled to ascertain their willingness to remain on the Board. Renee Marie Jordan agreed to be on the Board for one year provided that she was not to be Treasurer. Thomas Hamilton agreed to continue to be on the Board. Leah Shelhorn agreed to continue to be on the Board. The continuation of their Board Membership was confirmed.
5. Promotions & Veteran’s Appreciation Day: It was a unanimous consensus that the event was a success. Based upon a summary provided by Renee Marie Jordan, the 2014 Veteran’s Day expenses were $3,077.66. The total income generated was $2,146 ($1,796 in sales and $350 in donations). The total out-of-pocket cost was $931.66. The Board expressed its collective pleasure with the results.
7. Annual Report: Leah Shelhorn and James Morgan will coordinate and produce the report by its due date of December 31, 2014.
8. Treasurer’s Report: Renee Marie Jordan indicated that we had approximately $5,000 in our accounts. Her expectation was that there was approximately $2,000 more owed and would be received by another check from the City. Mario Giuliani indicated that there was a little bit left but he was not sure how much. He also cautioned that, in the first few months of 2015, we will receive no revenue but will have the ongoing expense for the twinkle lights.
9. Renaming of Highway 780: Leah Shelhorn indicated that she had been asked to speak in front of the City Council regarding the renaming of the 780 freeway to “Purple Heart Highway” or to some other name that would include the phrase “Purple Heart Highway.”
It was agreed that Leah Shelhorn would gather additional information about the freeway renaming and would report back to the Board at its next meeting.
10. What’s New In Each District:
a. Waterfront District
Some issues were reported with respect to the blocking of parking spaces unnecessarily in the gravel lot at the end of First Street. Informal discussions will attempt to correct. A fire was reported in the massage studio adjacent to Lucca’s Restaurant. Uncertain as to when it would reopen.
b. Central District
It is noted that the Capital Café has been sold and that a new restaurant would be going in next year.
c. Park District
It is noted that Gallery 621 was going to be relocating to the Oakland Terminal. The relocation of the museum was uncertain.
11. Adjourn: Leah Shelhorn called the meeting to a close at 11:53 a.m.