Downtown Association Members Page

Downtown Association of Santa Cruz - Members Corner

Welcome to the Downtown Association's members page. We hope that you will find this a helpful resource for participating in the Downtown Association and our business community. We welcome any feedback you may have on the site and its content. - Chip

Keep in touch. This spring we are doing a major overhaul of the Downtown Directory. Currently the directory lists all of the retail, restaurant and entertainment businesses in the Downtown district and is distributed through a variety of outlets including about 10,000 per year to Santa Cruz Visitors, via the Conference and visitors Council's information center. Our upgrade will not only launch a new and exciting look but will also be expanded to include all of the professional services available in the Downtown Area. Over the next couple of months we will be doing everything we can to make sure our business listings are as comprehensive as possible. If you haven't been in the directories yet, please get in touch with us to make certain all of your info is correct and in the right place. E-mail chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com with all your up to date info so we can best promote you! Exciting Sponsorship Opportunities! The Downtown Association has many great opportunities for you to increase your visibility in and around the Downtown District. Our exciting events taking place throughout the year, our business directory and our Web Site all give you direct access to a large targeted audience of locals and visitors, all looking for goods, services and entertainment right here. To find out how you can get involved with our many events our through our marketing tools, contact Chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com or at 831 429-8433. Sidewalk Cleaning Info A frequent topic of conversation amongst business and property owners, as well as visitors, has been how to keep our downtown consistently clean, safe, and friendly. I think that we can all agree that a uniformly clean sidewalk is a crucial element to achieving this goal. Although many of us wish the City would have continued to provide this service, as they had for many years, the reality is that there havenÕt been any funds available in the City budget for the past few years for sidewalk cleaning, leaving it up to business and property owners to get it done on their own. In response to this shortfall, many of you have already assumed this responsibility, and should be thanked for doing so. However, there are still gaps that need to filled. If you are not currently having your sidewalks cleaned, please seriously consider hiring a service to have them done. Talk with your neighbors about going in together and sharing the cost in order to get a better deal. If you are currently working with a service, please re-evaluate the frequency of cleaning to ensure that your customers will always have a positive impression of your business before they even get to your front door. The vendors below are currently working downtown and provide professional sidewalk cleaning services. Contact information is provided for your convenience. Coyote Industrial, Bob, 429.5521 Lasting Impression, Regina and George, 460.9564 American Steam Power, Mario, 479.4587 Block Captain? Want to really get to know Downtown? The Downtown Association is reviving the Block Captain Program as a means to keep in touch with it's membership. If you're interested in being a liaison for your neighbors and the DTA, please contact Chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com or 831 429-8433. The 411 Check out the new visitor information area at Cruzio, 903 Pacific Avenue. in the lobby. Passersby will find maps, business directories and other visitor information. Get on Board the Art Bus! Each First Friday the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts Drives the Art Bus Through Downtown Santa Cruz, Bringing culture- seekers around the district. Get your first Friday event on the map. For more information about First Friday promotional opportunities and how to get on the Art Bus, please contact Chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com or 831 429-8433. Next Stop - Your Shop! Where to Go? In the on-going struggle to provide clean accessible public bathrooms downtown the city is soliciting business to open up their facilities to the public, during business hours, in exchange for a monthly stipend. For details and more information contact Keith@ShopSantaCruz.com or 429-8433 Don't be afraid to put it out there! Once again the Downtown Association is sponsoring monthly Sidewalk Sales along Pacific on the last weekend of each month from March through September. The City has granted permits to the DTA allowing use of Pacific Avenue sidewalks for display purposes. Pedestrian access must be maintained and all sales must take place inside. For more information feel free to contact Chip@DowntownSantaCruz.com or 831 429-8433. Sidewalk Sale Dates March 28,29,30 April 25,26,27 May 23,24,25,26 (includes Memorial Day) June 27,28,29 July 25,26,27 August 29,30,31,September 1 (Labor Day) September 26,27,28	From the President 2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year! I am pleased to be the Board President during this year of opportunities and challenges. Your business neighbors and friends are working hard on the board to make the downtown as great as we all know that it can be. Many people ask what the Downtown Association does? Our goals are: to make the downtown consistently clean safe and friendly, create an identity for the downtown as a premier retail and entertainment district in the region, to create a strong downtown business community, and to create a strong and sustainable Downtown Association organization. To those ends we advocate to various government agencies for downtown business interests. We have developed and maintain an excellent web site which promotes all of our businesses and events. We put on many events throughout the year including the Holiday Parade and Children's Day. We maintain the free standing directories and publish and update the business directories We advertise through many forms of media all events and promote the downtown as a great place to shop, dine and be entertained. I invite each of you to become involved with your Downtown Association this year. You are always welcome to attend our committee meetings which are listed in this newsletter. Come to the mixers which are a wonderful opportunity to meet your fellow merchants and have some great food and entertainment. Attend the block meetings hosted by the Police Department where you can voice your concerns for your block. Come out for our events like the Holiday Parade and Thursday Nights Out. Let us know your ideas and concerns. You can always drop by and talk to me at Hoffman's, or call me at 420-0135. I am always checking my email as well. My address is junehoff@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you!! June Hoffman- Hoffman's Bakery Comings and Goings! The Vault, an 18 year downtown institution, and, may I say, labor of love by owners Doug and Joy Kilner, has closed its' doors. At the time of this writing, nothing has been formalized regarding a future owner. Think Pawsitive, at 1101 Pacific on the corner of Cathcart and Pacific}, has moved out - welcome to Monica Karst and her new venture, The Baby Shoppe Santa Cruz. The empty Togos location at 1315 Pacific Avenue will soon house a new business called Cereality. The Om Gallery moved to the corner of Lincoln and Pacific (Cottontales' old location) - Sprint moved into Om's original space at 805 Pacific. Monique Cook, owner and founder of Coach for Recovery, moved into an office suite at 725 Front St. (The McPherson Center) A Mothers Place at 504 Front St. moved out - Gravity and The Crafter's Studio divided the space and have moved in. Renovations have begun on the vacated Motion Pacific space on Front St, Benjamin Moore Paints will be moving in when the work is done. Motion Pacific has been operating in the Arts Center on Center St. for some time now. Khyber Pass, an Afghan restaurant, will be opening soon at 814 Pacific in the space formerly occupied by Avatar. A new cafe, Starlette, will be opening soon in the space previously occupied by the Information Center (next to the Del Mar Theater). Food purchased there will be allowed in the theater. Construction is schedule to begin soon on the Front St. side of the Soquel Parking Garage. Once it is completed, there will be additional space created for Oswald's, two retail/offices spaces and a police sub-station. Lighthouse Bank opened in the location previously occupied by Countrywide Home Loans at 111 Mission St. Santa Cruz County Bank crossed the river and will be locating at 720 Front St. Salon De Beaute' is open at 114 Pearl Alley. Fro-Yo is moving into 1010 Pacific #D and will be open in May. The Tea Spot will be opening soon at 103 Lincoln St, next door to Sitar Kudos: - The Silver Lining at 719 Pacific is celebrating their one year anniversary - Dakota Club recently celebrated their 10th anniversary - Dell Williams, a truly iconic downtown business, recently celebrated their 80th anniversary.

Downtown Web Forum. Introducing the Downtown Association's On Line forum for DTA members and it's community, designed as a tool for sharing information and ideas about the Downtown Business District, as well as providing a vehicle for Our members to develop relationships with each other. Please take a moment to explore the conversations that have begun and register to add your comments. If there is a topic you would like to discuss with your on line community that is not currently listed, pleas feel free to post a suggestion in the member communication section, or contact chip@shopsantacruz.com Enjoy the forum - Here's the link. Back to top

Downtown Association Meetings.

The Downtown Association is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of and representing its membership. The Board is charged with carrying out the Mission of the Downtown Association. In accordance with the DTA By Laws the Association also has three working committees, each charged with advising the board on specific areas of the DTA's Work plan. All meetings are held at the Downtown Association's Office at 1347 Pacific Avenue, Suite 201 and are open to the public. Membership participation is strongly encouraged.

Board of Directors*
3rd Tuesday of every month
8:30-10:00am @DTA Office

The Board of Directors is Charged with Carrying out the Mission of The Downtown Association: To provide effective leadership in order to promote and sustain downtown as a unique and economically viable business, entertainment, social & cultural center.

The Board is elected from the membership and serves for a term of two years.

Social and Legislative Affairs*
1st Wednesday of every month
2-3pm @ DTA Office

The Social and Legislative Committee advises the Board on issues relating to downtown social issues.

Promotions*
2nd Wednesday of every month
8:30-9:30am @DTA Office

Membership*
1st Thursday of every month
9-10:00am @DTA Office

No December meetings

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Board of Directors 2008

Board of Directors, 2008 Session
Board Officers:

President of the Board, June Hoffman (Hoffman's Bakery)
Vice President, Curt Simmons(Plaza Lane Optometry)
Chair, Social and Legislative Affairs Committee, Jennifer Greene (Attorney at Law)
Chair, Promotions Committee, Maria Sentry (The Hat Company)
Chair, Membership Committee, Curt Simmons (Plaza Lane Optometry)

Board Members:

Germaine Akin, Red Room/Red Restaurant
Sonja Brunner, Old School Shoes
Casey Coonerty-Protti, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Joe Ferrara, Atlantis Fantasyworld
Warren Grand, Bank of the West
Jennifer Greene, Attorney at Law
Yeyen Gunawan, Cafe La Vie
Karl Heiman, Cafe' Pergolesi
June Hoffman, Hoffman’s Bakery Café
Rebekah Jacob, Starbucks Coffee Company
Andrew Lenz, Lenz Arts
John Lisher, Artisans
Rick Melrose, Riordan Winnett Travel
Aimee Neitzberg, Village Yoga
Sharon Richardson, Ferrari Florist
Maria Sentry, The Hat Company
Curt Simmons, Plaza Lane Optometry

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Top Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the DTA:

1. Q. What does the DTA do?
The job of the Downtown Association is best described in its mission statement: "To provide effective leadership in order to create, promote and sustain downtown as a unique and economically viable business, entertainment, social and cultural center.” The DTA markets downtown through electronic and print media, as well as events, provides legislative advocacy on issues that affect businesses and visitors alike, and support services for its membership.

2. Q. How do I join…am I a member already?
If your business is located downtown between Center St., Front St. and N Pacific/River St and just past Laurel St. you are a member.

3. Q. How long has the organization been around?
The original articles of incorporation were signed in 1960. The Business Improvement District was formed, and the DTA funded, in 1985

4. Q. Do you have meetings that I can attend?
All meetings of the DTA are open to the membership. Committees are; Social and Legislative Affairs, Membership, Promotions, and the Board of Directors.
All meetings take place in the morning in the DTA office, most start at 8:30 and go for either an hour {committees} or an hour and a half {board of directors}. Every effort is made to begin and end meetings on time. Meetings

5. Q. How are my fees determined?
The Business Improvement District fees are determined by a formula that includes business location, type of business and the number of square feet of your business. The fees are split into two payments; one due in July and one due in January.

6. Q. Who decides how the money is spent?
The Executive Director works with the DTA committees early in the calendar year to determine the types of marketing and membership services that they would like to see the organization provide in the upcoming fiscal year. The Executive Director then creates a budget and work plan based on that input. The Board reviews the plan at two consecutive meeting in March and April. The final plan is then given to the City Finance Department who reviews the plan for financial accuracy and adherence to the overall goals of the organization. The Finance Department then brings it to the City Council for review and discussion in May and June. The City Finance Department provides oversight during the course of the year and is the agency responsible for billing and collections. The DTA operates on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year.

7. Q. Is the DTA a city agency?
The DTA is not a city agency and receives no money from the city.

8. Q. Who sits on the board and how do you get to be a board member?
Any business owner or their representative, who is a member in good standing, is eligible to sit on the Board of Directors. Elections are held in the fall of every year. The first meeting of the year is in January. Terms are two years in length.

9. Q. Does the organization get involved in local politics?
The Downtown Association, due to its IRS classification, 501{c}6 – non- profit mutual benefit organization, is allowed to advocate for issues that can affect its mission but not endorse candidates for elective office.

10. Q. What are the boundaries of the DTA?
The business improvement district encompasses the area downtown east to west between Center Street and the San Lorenzo River, north to south from the River St /North Pacific Avenue intersection to just past the Oceanview Card Room.

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