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Monthly Business Meeting – April 7th, 2010 Saugatuck
City Hall
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lincoln Brackett-Brackett & Co., Mike Carey-Del Sol, John Jerome-Butler Pantry, Fred and Janet Schmidt, Marilyn Starring-Star of Saugatuck, Jodi White-Macatawa Bank
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Julie Abel-Jabberdesign, Ben Barton-White House Bistro, Angela Holmes-Century 21, Bill Smith-Parrot in the Square, Kevin Tringali-Bella Vita Spa, and Toni Trudell-Park House
AUDIENCE MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeanne Smiczek- Back to the Fuchsia – Barry Kott, Manager-Center Street Bistro – Jane VerPlank-Victorian Inn/City of Saugatuck – David Langley-Serendipity –Seth Getz-Business Mastery – Lisa Lungaro-Macatawa Bank
OPENING REMARKS: John Jerome – Discussed on how we are changing format of meetings – going to put relevant information first portion of the meeting and board business second half of meeting.
MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT: Janet Schmidt: Town Crier is this Saturday – as of this morning 238 runners are registered, and they are expecting over 330. Sparkle – next meeting is 16th of April. Oxbow will be featured on the Sparkle ornament this year, and has provided artwork for it. The final proof on ornament should be back soon -700 ornaments have been ordered. Editorial material has been submitted to the Grand Rapids Family Magazine for May issue. Our ad is also completed for Shoreline Magazine. SABA is going into last few weeks of ‘The Morning Grind’ with Mike Johnson on 92.7. Marilyn Starring will be talking this Saturday about recreation in the area and Sandra Randolph will finish up the SABA series on April 17th.
Spring Kick-Off – Will be on Tuesday, April 13th at Mermaid’s from 5 to 7 p.m. The menu has been planned and there will be a cash bar. SABA will be featuring our service members, and a flier has been designed to highlight them. SABA Service members have been asked to bring cards, and/or fliers that promote their services.
May 11th – There will be a private reception for SABA members at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts from 5 to 7 p.m. There will also be a reception at the Historical Society’s Pump Museum on June 2nd from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. Marilyn Starring said that chain ferry can be operational for the June 2nd event – weather permitting. Cost will be $1 per person each way to use the ferry. May 18th – The White House and Star of Saugatuck have a SABA member event planned for B&B owners.
April newsletter going out around the 15th – featuring Serendipity – Kirby House – Fancy Nancy and Framers Alley , and featuring Mason Street Warehouse’s upcoming season. This year Mason Street has housing needs for interns – need a bedroom, access to bathroom and kitchen privileges.
The first ad with Holland Sentinel begins on April 29th for all four partnership members (SCA/SDHS/MSW & SABA) and will run every Thursday for 22 weeks. Merchants wishing to advertise in the Thursday edition for their individual businesses will get the same fantastic rates will that we do - readership of 20,000 people. Speak to Janet or call Robert Frieling at the Sentinel direct.
May 19th – Journals and Topics ad will run – in Chicago suburbs. Have you been on Facebook? If you haven’t visit to our site and click on – it’s a great way to share information and add to our e-mail list.
Would also like to recognize Lisa Lungaro, Macatawa Bank, as being a huge asset to the Tower Crier Race. Lisa has helping in bringing everyone up to par for this race – including city and all participants.
Reminder: Credit Card Processing Seminar – to be held on Tuesday, April 27th, at 9:30 a.m. at the Old School House in Douglas. School House has a seating capacity of 65 people. There is an expert from the Small Business Assn of Michigan coming in to do the presentation.
Spring Preview Saugatuck/Douglas – Saturday, May 1st 5 to 9 p.m. Trolley service will be operating between towns that evening.
Next SABA Board Meeting – Wednesday, May 5th 8:30 a.m. – Saugatuck City Hall
NEW MEMBERS: Swaboda Images, Sisters in Ink, The Hickory Pit, Back to the Fuchsia – Harbor Town Real Estate – Harbor Town Vacation Properties and Custom Quilts
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Jeanne Smiczek – Do I need a business License? John Jerome – It appears that the city is not going to renew the annual business license fee. Court ruling that does not allow city to charge more than the cost for processing and material for the license. Marilyn Starring – Attended a council workshop and it appears that the city will not be charging businesses the $150 fee. This fee generated approximately $26,000 – $6,000 for free shuttle service during the summer, $6,000 for Officer Bob and $13,000 for Holiday Lighting. Since this fee is not being collected this summer the merchants are going to have to pool money together to pay for services that we want to have. Several Saugatuck members of the SABA board met with Kirk Harrier to discuss this issue, but cannot officially do anything until council takes a vote on this issue. This is not a SABA issue, since SABA represents both Saugatuck and Douglas. Merchants will meet with Kirk after the vote to discuss what options Saugatuck merchants have as a means of revenue raising– Principle Shopping District, Business Improvement Zone or Business Improvement District – more research has to be done on these types of entities, and to inform Saugatuck business owners what options are available. Will probably be next year before we can get anything in place in regards to one of these business districts as a fund raising mechanism.
David Langley – Is there money being allocated for shuttle bus, holiday lighting and Officer Bob this year? Doesn’t appear so.
John Jerome – this is not a SABA issue – primarily a Saugatuck business owner issue. We need to talk more about it. Working on something for next year – business owners needs to be considered and addressed.
JANE VERPLANK: ROADS: Running on schedule – about 2-3 weeks out before asphalt plants power up. Sign committee is almost ready to send out a survey with a preliminary set of questions for signage – going to e-mail to people who have signs. Will ask what types of signs are good and not good. City is going to do a brand new sign ordinance – going to start all over. Business representatives on committee: SABA Pat Murphy (Wick’s Park Place), CVB- Laura Durham (Mill Pond).
BUSINESS LICENSE FEE: City council will vote on it this Monday (April12) or next meeting (April 26th).
BUSINESS SIGNS: Tall kiosks – need to do something about them. Maybe we should ask Pat Murphy to attend our meetings so she can do progress report on signage meetings. No meetings are currently scheduled for the sign committee. Marilyn Starring will hire someone to paint and take off obsolete names and paint poles on the high signs. Need to talk about what we are going to do about these signs. These signs belong to SABA.
EVENTS: Town Crier, this Saturday, May 10th. Music in the Park – 11 weeks – Wednesday’s 7 to 9 p.m. beginning June 23rd City Hall Douglas – need update from their city hall for next meeting. Next board meeting: May 5th, 2010 – Saugatuck City Hall 8:30 a.m.
BOARD MEETING: SECRETARY’S TREASURES REPORT &MINUTES: No quorum. Tabled Marilyn Starring asked than meetings are being recorded that you please talk into the microphones. Will make it easier to hear, as microphones are live. 70,000 Brochures will be delivered Monday, April 12th. The brochures will be available Tuesday at Kick-off. Cost of brochures is $3,000 less than last year. SABA - 857-1626 our new phone number and will be on the brochure. Drug Store Wall – had 4 open spaces – but wall is now full. SABA Bucks – This year SABA placed an ad in the brochure for SABA Bucks. Statuses of SABA Bucks as of 4/6/2010 – about 60% were gifted and about 40% were purchased – about ½ of the tickets have been redeemed. SABA Bucks have been redeemed by 34 stores to date. Totals by Year: 2008 - $1580 2009 - $4,125 and 2010 (to date) $810
NEW BUSINESS: Watering Flower Pots – Lisa received letter from Garden Club asking if we would support student to water plantings - $20 per week – will be from early June to Labor Day – about $250 for the summer. Will vote on this next meeting, but don’t think it will be a problem. Need to remind merchants to water plants in between watering. Janet Schmidt – Community Pride Day is May 17th – 6th graders apply for the position of watering plants, and then teacher panel decides on best person for the job. Marilyn Starring – Should we do an e-mail vote on this? Janet Schmidt - Should be okay doing vote at May meeting. There is also some parental involvement – getting the student to both downtowns and they also help the student water plants.
BUSINESS LICENSE: Appears Saugatuck will not have one this year. Mike Carey – We need to get a group of volunteers to make up a donation form for $100 donation from businesses - $40 for trolley - $40 foot patrol $20 for Sparkle. City has contacted auditors to see what they can do for this year. Marilyn Starring – Who is going to hold and distribute money – SABA? City? Get some Saugatuck merchants who are not on the SABA board involved. John Jerome – Saugatuck merchants should form a committee and figure out how much we do need – what is important and what we can do without. Draft a form and take it door to door - a Bank account needs to be established. Marilyn Starring – Was Officer Bob paid as independent contractor or was he an employee? Employee.
Fred Schmidt – Douglas merchants want to be assured that none of the SABA money will go to these services. Lisa Lungaro – City and merchants group need to draft a letter to merchants. Kirk said that he would draft a letter of that nature with city support.
Fred Schmidt – Have to figure out next step if there is not going to a license fee – Saugatuck merchants have to think about 2011 and 2012 – thoughts about becoming Principle Shopping Center or some sort of district within the business district.
Jean Smiczek –Is very interested and wants to participate and support the downtown activities
Mike Carey need to keep business district viable – feel this is the year for us to shine.
Jane VerPlank – Saugatuck merchants need to form a group, be very proactive and will gave to sell the idea to city council. Business owners have to say what they want, and they have to stick to it until it is done and come to city with a plan. If there is no definitive plan nothing will happen.
Lisa Lungaro – There has been research done before.
John Jerome – We need to form a committee soon – can we send out e-mail blast to SABA members.
Marilyn Starring – We need to send to all businesses in Saugatuck including non-SABA members.
Jane VerPlank - Need a solid proposal for the city on what businesses want to do. Only reason for a business license is to have owner contact.
Mike Carey – At SABA kick-off need to have information and put that information out there – we need to get the word out.
Marilyn Starring – It has been suggested that we could do a pay-for the shuttle. Prefer to see it left as a free shuttle. Lisa Lungaro – Need an approach – should have hand out with a letter to support it – have part of the process in place – need to have direction.
Mike Carey – need to let merchants know that it is not SABA but Saugatuck merchants.
Marilyn Starring, Mike Carey and John Jerome - talk to Kirk Harrier and get ready for next week. Jane VerPlank and Lisa Lungaro said they would also help.
Fred Schmidt – We should ask Kirk to come to the kick off on Tuesday.
May Preview - Janet Schmidt reminded everyone that shuttle will run between Douglas and Saugatuck, and hopes merchants will stay open 5 to 9 p.m. that evening.
John Jerome– need to schedule an events meeting – will send out an e-mail on date and time.
Lisa Lungaro – When will kiosk be updated? Janet Schmidt - Kiosk updated will be held off until after the brochure comes out to catch any new members – will be up before Memorial Day.
What is the benefit of joining SABA? Are features and benefits on the SABA web site? Fred Schmidt – Yes, it is on the SABA members web site which isn’t being well utilized. Maybe we need to merge websites – click thru link so you want to be a SABA member put on our main web site? Calling Tree will be available on SABA member’s web site – this is a service that is provided to whole community.
Lisa Lungaro – Have information booth volunteers been invited to Spring Kick Off? Janet Schmidt – Yes, both councils and volunteers invited.
Janet Schmidt - spoke to township about Hooten Inn, specifically spoke to Al Wester, and he was going to speak to owner about north approach to Saugatuck – i.e. cars covered with tarps. Mr. Wester will get back to Janet.
Property is owned by Mr. McClendon/Mr. Neumer and leased backed to current leases.
David Langley– Suggests that his guests go to other entrance of town instead of using the north entrance since it is so unsightly.
Information Booth – belongs to the city – need to sit down with city and talk about it and decide what needs to be done. Need to schedule a meeting for this.
Meeting adjourned. |