BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Ben Barton – White House, Mike Carey – Del Sol,  John Jerome – Butler Pantry, Lincoln Brackett-Brackett and Company, Angela Holmes-Century 21, Fred and Janet Schmidt, Bill Smith – Parrot in the Square, and Marilyn Starring-Star of Saugatuck

ABSENT: Julie Abel, Kevin Tringali, Jodi White

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: George Waden-Homebodies, Tony Vettori-Saugatuck City, Pierre LaVoie Small Business Assn of MI (SBAM), Rolfe Timmerman – Saugatuck Public School Superintendent, Steve Hutchins-SPS School Board President, Clay Galster-Big Lake Outfitters, Joleen Christine-Commercial Record, Jean Smiczek –Saugatuck Flowers – Lisa Lungaro-Macatawa Bank

SECRETARY’S MINUTES –Marilyn was unable to attend the June meeting. Meeting was recorded but there wasn’t any sound, so there aren’t any official minutes for this meeting. It was noted that during the June meeting that SABA passed a partnership with Small Business Assn. of Michigan – Mike Carey made motion to join SBAM at a cost of $10 per member.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Jodi White not present. Janet Schmidt provided a profit and loss statement for Jodi. Balance as of June 22nd is $10,796.51 in the checking account. Bill Smith: Would like to us work on some sort of accrual accounting. Angela Holmes: Jodi is working on implementing that now and will implement into next year’s accounting practices. Bill Smith – Would like to see the accrual of the dues over 12 months. Fred Schmidt will get information when people pay dues. Bill Smith move to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Mike Carey seconded. Motion passed.

MARKETING COORDINATOR’S REPORT: Janet Schmidt – First SABA hosted brunch for the cast of the Mason Street Warehouse “The Full Monty’ cast was June 9th. Next brunch will be July 14th at 9 a.m. - if you bringing a consumable would you please bring it on a disposable plate. This is a great way to meet cast and welcome them to the community – they are part of community for 3 to 4 weeks while they are performing.

SABA Bucks – Clay Galster – Have you looked into other business communities and how they redeem their certificates? Angela Holmes – We know who SABA Bucks were given to and if they have been redeemed. When business receives SABA Buck they in turn give it to SABA and they will be reimbursed full face value for it. It is up to the business owner to decide whether they want to give change back or issue store credit for the balance of the SABA Buck.

Police badges are here $607 were donated by 25 businesses. Mike and Tracy Carey headed up fund raising function for the badges. Letter will go out thanking persons who donated funds to these badges.

Networking luncheon at Spectators meet every two weeks.

Went with Marilyn Starring on the Star of Saugatuck with Ukrainians that were here from Amway.

Tent cards with harbor shot (inside of tent card) from Ted Swoboda went out.

Kiosk maps are finished – will be put up Thursday or Friday.

Marilyn Starring – Have we made any progress with getting an electronic eye for the Saugatuck kiosk? Angela Holmes – will talk to Kirk about it.

Music in the Park – Have had mentions in local papers and Holland Sentinel – also running ads periodically. Running ads on the VAN 92.7 - they will run up to the week before Sidewalk Sale.

Initial meeting on Sidewalk Sale was yesterday – info will go out within the next week for sign-up.

Did zip code research and recapped where people are coming from – Lake Erie/northeast corner of Ohio. Did an advertising contact with a publication from this area and will be selling spots for it.

Fred Schmidt – Want to go back to the SABA Buck – There is no cash value of the SABA buck. Whatever you elect to do it is (no change back, cash back issue store credit) is the business owner’s call. SABA will not get into the associating cash with that piece of paper.

Steve Hutchins – Can provide information to the community about the upcoming information. Would like SABA to distribute to SABA members the information that school can legally provide to public – this information should be done shortly for distribution. Angela Holmes – We can distribute just facts – we cannot take any sides. Steve Hutchins – School is prohibited by law to promote one side or the other of the election. Fred Schmidt – Any public forum where this information will be provided? Need to focus on how it pertains to the business community. Steve Hutchins - There is information on public TV – web site – haven’t decided on public forum yet.

Bill Smith – Business environment is currently being faced with less revenue? 65% of the budget - is this union contract? Can you (school) do less than 18 mills that is being asked for? Steve Hutchins - No cannot ask for less than the 18 mills – developed by funding formulas. School has cut $200,000 before the millage vote out of the school budget - laid off staff – privatized custodial staff. Classroom expenses are over 65% of the budget. Angela Holmes – Would really like to have a forum for business community – morning forum would be best.

Rolfe Timmerman (new) SPS Superintendent – Hamilton doesn’t have room for students if Saugatuck school millage doesn’t pass. He looks forward to helping out, and would like the opportunity to meet every business owner in both Saugatuck/Douglas.

Angela Holmes - will follow up with Sandy Brooks to set up the meeting for business community.

OLD BUSINESS

Road Work construction – Tony Vettori -Holland Street was completed yesterday with final blacktop. Learned from Holland Street – info that was given to residents/businesses wasn’t quite enough. Going to put door hangers out when there is something significant that is happening for future construction. Fred Schmidt – Like when the water is going to be turned off. Few complaints on Holland Street the response for the most part were positive – Triangle had good reports also and was helpful to persons living on Holland St. North Street - water, sewage and fire hydrants were put in on Holland – not so much on North. Allegan St. construction will begin July 6th. Long term drainage issues and those will be addresses on State Street (flooding of Lake and State). Pleasant Street engineering and design in process and will be moved up in the priority list. Mason Street (Water to Griffith) will begin shortly after Labor Day. Neighborhood meetings will be held to receive feedback from residents and business owners. Lower Spear and Lucy Streets will also hold neighbor meeting – will have significant changes to these street. Full schedules will be given to home owners. Vine Street of 2009. Janet Schmidt – Allegan Street will be under construction how long? Tony will get back to Janet on this. Fred Schmidt? Will they be using Hoffman and Mason Street for school buses? Marilyn Starring –as a business owner on Water Street I need to know when construction will be happening on surrounding streets so I can tell my customers when they call so they don’t have to try to wander around trying to find us. Angela Holmes– Holland Street – does affect businesses when they are rerouted. Keep SABA members informed of latest construction news through e-mail blast – the more up to date we are the better off it will be.

MEMBERSHIP – 3 new members – Friends of Felt Estate, Affordably French, and Summertime Market.

Drug Store Wall – All 48 spaces are sold – waiting for 3 signs to be finished.

Kiosk Wall Maps – Installed tomorrow or Friday. There has been some vandalism to sign.

Events Update – Music in the Park is off to a good start. Venetian Festival Kick-Off (SABA getting grill for fundraiser 6 to 10 p.m.) – August 13th SABA will sponsored Douglas Social – Sidewalk Sale Events meeting TBD.

Bill Smith, Janet and Angela had a meeting on Sidewalk Sale. The Van is doing live remotes in both towns for the event. Douglas will be doing Taste during Sidewalk Sale. Decided cost will be $50 for everyone participating. Info will go out July 12th for Sidewalk Sale. There will be bands in both towns.

Erin Wilkinson – Saugatuck Dunes Alliance (SDA) – asked by Dave Lokker from Landshark’s to participate in Music in the Park (MIP) tonight –(Landshark’s is sponsoring MIP) to sell t-shirts for SDA. SDA is not a SABA member. John Jerome has talked to Dave about handing out pamphlets but nothing was discussed about selling t-shirts. We need a more defined policy. Angela Holmes – no one is allowed to sell anything at MIP. Angela Holmes – SABA has a table that sponsors may put info out about their business.

Lisa Lungaro – Need to define about materials being distributed. Whoever is sponsoring social event may put their material out at MIP about their business. This is policy that we adopted from the beginning of MIP.

Harbor Planning – No meeting. Tony Vettori – Saugatuck has committed funding to the harbor fund.

WGVU – View from the Dunes - July will discuss – Venetian Festival – Sidewalk Sale - every show now available on the web. Janet Schmidt sends him info to Jon.

Block Captains – No Update

Community Leaders Lunch – No

Update Off Butler Street Business Signage – No Update

Tony Vettori – sandwich board signs – a lot of questions on signage. Suggestion from council is perhaps business owners would help with self enforcement – dangerous with people and tripping – on city right of way. Close to building is fine – ones in the right of way are creating a safety issue. Sign ordinance will be rewritten this fall.

NEW BUSINESS Frank Rojek passed away on June 19th. Frank was a founding member of the Saugatuck Retail Assn. and active participant for many years in SABA and helped with many SABA sponsored activities and events. Put something in the paper for his years of service and planting a tree in his memory – tree would have a plaque. Set a date for the tree planting ceremony in September. Marilyn Starring made a motion that we plant a tree if Frank’s memory and place a plaque by it. Bill Smith second. Motion passed

Janet Schmidt will take care of the article.

Work shop – No

Meeting adjourned