"The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association is a non-profit membership organization working through programs, services and advocacy------ for the economic, social, cultural and environmental vitality and beautification of Downtown."

Executive Director's Message

Deborah Cash  CMSM Executive Director.

Feedback on the recent State of the Downtown Breakfast is encouraging! Comments, both verbal and written, indicate the topics and presentations were relevant, eye opening and useful. And, while we do have our share of challenges, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. The fact that nearly 100 people turned out shows that people are concerned about, interested and engaged in their business environment.

More than a few have remarked that on some of the topics we could hold an entire breakfast! For example, understanding your financial statement is one of the most critical factors in running a business. Jay Beck, Founders Community Bank, gave a quick overview of the importance of working with your lender and financial advisor to keep your business on track, but due to time limitations, it was but a "tease," as one attendee put it.

So, internally, we'll be talking about if holding seminars or workshops on the nuts and bolts of being in business would be feasible and worthwhile to our membership. Please let us know if this would be of interest to you.

For me personally, the process of conducting a survey, developing an annual report and addressing the audience with a message about the State of Downtown has been energizing. I'm looking forward to working with the Economic Activities Committee in the coming months to begin the process of updating our Strategic Operating Plan, developed in 2000 and last updated five years ago. We'll look at the accelerating pace of change in the business environment and what trends and practices might be key to conducting business in the future. Early in the fall, we'll begin outreach to members and groups to solicit input on their needs and suggestions for how we, as an Association, move forward. Stay tuned.

For now, I'd like to bring up a topic that you'll hear more about in the coming months: mobile food vendors, or food trucks, and their ability to conduct business in the public right of way. Though the issue hasn't surfaced yet locally as one of huge concern, nationwide the "food fight" has begun with brick-and-mortar businesses crying foul when wheeled-vendors (and not just the hot-dog-cart variety but full-on gourmet wagons) pull up or nearby and 'poach' customers away during busy lunch or dinner hours.

The City's existing ordinance pertaining to this type of activity, according to Doug Davidson, Deputy Director of Community Development, is antiquated and there have been inquiries from food truck vendors about where they can and can't go. The City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance to minimize risks to public safety and achieve a uniform application process.

So before it gets to the point where the tomatoes are flying, it's wise to develop a plan that's fair-and legal.

Davidson is soliciting input from the Downtown business community (as well as other groups). You can view the city's WHITE PAPER on the issue and also an article from the Wall Street Journal that provides some insight into what some towns are experiencing as the popularity of mobile food has mushroomed in their communities.

We hope to hear from anyone who would like to weigh in as ultimately, we will be looked to for our input on the proposed ordinance.

I hope you have enjoyed our wonderful Concert series and will be able to join us at the Taste of San Luis, "Spanish Nights, Spanish Lights" on September 12...around Downtown.

Kathy Smith

Our city government's homeless concerns have literally "turned a corner." We've transformed from defend and spend to care and share . . . the kind of government we elected public servants signed on to maintain and enhance.

For months, our tax resources have been expended on hiring legal counsel to confer with skilled and costly staff to defend the spirit of our humanistic culture as they support the spirit of our laws (ordinances) that seek to protect ALL residents.

Staff has pored over documents and successful programs in other cities, seeking to unearth the "perfect program" that provides services to those in need and yet honors the investments of our citizen taxpayers.

We hear it often: "You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't."   Tell me about it!   Each time an elected official votes, the aforementioned outcome is a given.   We learn to live with joy and adversity and believe there is a reason for each.

Did we do it "right" this time?   We hope so.   We have agreed to renege on two ordinances to create a new Parking Ordinance that both recognizes the needs of the homeless and honors the rights of businesses/homeowners.

We're dismissing criminal citations and expunging records so we can "begin all over again" as we introduce a new ordinance on October 2, 2012.   It's going to be a controversial list of parking regulations and those of us who vote "yes" or "no" understand each of you have differing perspectives. We'll do our best to be fair.

Lastly, with this issue, is the problem of money!   We don't budget for homegrown lawsuits in our two- year plan.   They're clearly not a major goal.

We know we have nearly $120,000 in outside legal fees supporting the defense of our positions.   That number doesn't begin to quantify the dollars in valuable staff time of our City Attorney and other management staff has invested.   Also, we may end up supporting professionals who guided the legal controversy.   Bottom line: it all costs taxpayers.

I tend to be a positive person.   I'm not looking back. I'm continuing to believe that Safe Parking Program locations will meet needs of many of our homeless. I also see our focus being re-energized as we kick off a campaign to support a specialized Homeless Services Center in September.

It's all about community . . .