HomeMy WebLinkAboutRestaurant Association BID Minutes 11/19/2014
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Newport Beach Restaurant Association
Business Improvement District
Board Meeting Minutes - November 19, 2014
Newport Beach & Company
1600 Newport Center Drive, Suite 120
Newport Beach, CA 92660
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
President Walker called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Directors Present:
Jim Walker The Bungalow Restaurant
Thomas Giulioni Back Bay Bistro
John Robinson Amelia’s
Ronald Schwartz Muldoon’s Irish Pub
Sheri Drewry Wilma’s Patio
Dan Miller Village Inn
Alexandra Robinson Park Avenue Café
Joe Campbell Ruby’s Diner
Stephen Joyce Newport Beach Tennis Club
Cathy Pavlos Provenance
Quorum Achieved
Directors Absent:
Cindy O’Shea Whole Foods Market & Back Bay Tavern
BID Administrator Present:
Polly Peak, Marketing Consultant Newport Beach & Company
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
President Walker postponed approval of the meeting minutes from July 24, 2014, to next
meeting.
V. CURRENT BUSINESS
A. BID Financial Reports for September/October 2014
Director Giulioni reviewed the BID financials for the period ending
October 31, 2014.
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MOTION: Director Schwartz moved to accept and file the September/October
financials. Director Campbell seconded the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Walker, Giulioni, J. Robinson, Schwartz, Drewry, Miller, A. Robinson,
Campbell, Joyce, Pavlos
B. President’s Report
President Walker provided an update on the where the NBRA is tracking with
regards the NBRA Strategic Plan.
President Walker and Director Miller reported on the Membership Advisory
Committee progress. The group is looking at different ways to define the BID
membership such as occupancy vs. employee numbers.
o Directors Campbell and Joyce recommended establishing an Associate
Membership for industry vendors (i.e. Sysco or Hornblower)
The NBRA toll free number is no longer being used. and will be discontinued by
the end of the year as planned.
The city is setting up credit card processing for NBRA through TransFirst.
Members will be able to pay their assessment fees and Restaurant week
participation fees online using a credit card.
The board discussed the Annual Membership Meeting in March, and provided
ideas on structure and format for the meeting as follows:
Inviting the public for reception but only members for a pre-meeting.
Making sure the event will be cost proportionate.
Bringing a keynote speaker,
o Bill Marvin from www.restaurantowner.com
o Somebody on tour doing a cookbook signing
o A selection of people from our community for a panel
C. Dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Ms. Peak reported (35) restaurants have registered to participated, and (7) of
those restaurants are past due on the NBRA fees. Goal is have a total of (70)
restaurants involved in the event.
Ms. Peak announced that event will be funded only by the restaurant
participation fees, grants for the event and event sponsorships.
Marketing budget for Restaurant Week is approximately $45k - $50k for 2015.
Last year approximately $65k-$70k was spent for event marketing.
The new Restaurant Week ad campaign is called “Seize the Dish.”
Ms. Peak reviewed the advertising, media and PR plan for the event.
A social media campaign will include an Instagram photo promotion .
Menus for participating restaurants are due December 12th.
The Restaurant Week portion of the website will launch December 15th.
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D. BID Marketing Report
Ms. Peak reported that the new website has received two prestigious MarCom
awards of excellence. One for design and one for the mobile site.
Ms. Peak provided the current website and social media channel metrics.
Updates on PR metrics, media highlights and coverage.
Updates on restaurant quarterly and monthly consumer newsletters.
CRA restaurant industry updates:
o General discussion regarding minimum wage throughout California:
o $15/hr in San Francisco
o $11.50/hr in San Diego
o $13.25/hr in Los Angeles
Update on 2015 Food Events in Newport Beach
o Taste of Balboa confirmed for March
o Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival confirmed for October
o Possible Fried Chicken Fest and a Sriracha Fest in 2015
Save the Date for the next NBRA BID Meeting – Wednesday, January 21, 2015
at 9:30am at Newport Beach & Company.
VI. NBRA BID announcements or matters, which members would like placed on a
future agenda for discussion, action or report (non-discussion items)
Director Giulioni asked to have Steve Bender placed on the next agenda to
speak about two new culinary events at The Dunes:
o International Wine Festival on May 11, 2015
o Kansas City BBQ Competition on June 24, 2015
VII. Public comments on non-agenda items
None
VIII. Adjournment
MOTION: President Walker moved to adjourn the meeting.
Director J. Robinson seconded the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Walker, Giulioni, J. Robinson, Schwartz, Drewry, Miller, A. Robinson,
Campbell, Joyce, Pavlos
The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
The next regular board meeting will be January 21, 2015.