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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRestaurant Association BID Minutes 07/27/2016 Page 1 of 4 City of Newport Beach Restaurant Business Improvement District Board Meeting Minutes – July 27, 2016 Newport Beach & Company 1600 Newport Center Drive, Suite 120 Newport Beach, CA 92660 I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 9.36 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Directors Present: John DeFrenza Crocker’s The Well Dressed Frank Bruno Massuger Back Bay Bistro Jordan Otterbein A Restaurant & A Market Catherine Pavlos Provenance Christopher Roman CUCINA enoteca Brendon Salisbury The Cannery Restaurant & El Cholo Ronald Schwartz Muldoon’s Irish Pub Jim Walker The Bungalow Restaurant Quorum Achieved Directors Absent: Mario Marovic Dory Deli, Malarky’s Irish Pub & Stag Bar + Kitchen Matt Meddock Sessions West Coast Deli Director Via Conference Call: Dan Miller The Village Inn BID Administrator Present: Polly Peak Newport Beach & Company Guests Present: Keith Curry City Council Member Katy Dennis Newport Beach & Company Lesley Swain Newport Beach & Company Jim Mosher Resident Gary Edkins Prudential III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS • Gary Edkins with Prudential introduced himself and provided an overview of his services available to NBRA Stakeholders. • Jim Mosher mentioned that the BID board is an advisory board to city council, and is subject to certain rules of governance. He also mentioned that there is a referendum proposed to City Council to amend the BID in which the categories for BID Stakeholders would change. Page 2 of 4 IV. CURRENT BUSINESS 1. NBRA BID Governance • Ms. Peak provided a general overview of the BID governance, BID Authorized activities and the meeting schedule for FY 2016-2017. 2. Approval of Minutes President Walker requested a motion to approve the minutes from the May 25, 2016, meeting. Motion: Director Schwartz moved to approve the May 25, 2016 meeting minutes. Director Salisbury seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: DeFrenza, Massuger, Otterbein, Pavlos, Roman, Salisbury, Schwartz & Walker 3. BID Financial Reports • Ms. Peak informed the board that the BID bookkeeping is currently in transition for the next couple of months and Newport Beach & Company will take over the books starting in September 2016. • Ms. Peak provided an overview of the BID Financial reports ending June 2016 that were prepared by City staff. • Assessment invoices will be sent out in September. • The BID is curbing advertising spending over the summer to ensure that there is money in the bank for monthly expenses President Walker requested a motion to approve the BID financial reports ending June 2016. Motion: Director Schwartz moved to accept and file the financial reports. Director Otterbein seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: DeFrenza, Massuger, Otterbein, Pavlos, Roman, Salisbury, Schwartz & Walker 4. President’s Report • President Walker reported on the NBRA BID and Amendment process. On August 9, 2016 – City Council will oversee the final public hearing to amend the NBRA BID, and encouraged board members to attend the meeting. • Ms. Peak reviewed the planning process August through November for an updated three year strategic plan for the NBRA BID. 5. Election of NBRA BID Officers for FY 2016-2017 • President Walker reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President positions. • The BID Board voted on officer positions using closed ballots that resulted in: President Ronald Schwartz Vice-President Christopher Roman Treasurer Dan Miller Secretary Jordan Otterbein Page 3 of 4 6. Delinquent Stakeholder Accounts • Director Walker provided an overview of the issue of delinquent accounts. There are currently (72) delinquent stakeholder accounts totaling $58,121 in assessment and penalty fees. • There are no ramifications for stakeholder businesses not paying the NBRA BID fee, and the City does not enforce payments. • NBRA does not have the authority to enforce businesses to comply, but can recommend to the City how to handle these delinquent businesses. • Several board members were not happy that they have paid their fees while other stakeholders have not paid. • NBRA has attempted to collect from past due accounts, and has seem some success in the past couple of years of collecting past due assessments for the current year, but not for years prior to 2014. • It was suggested waiving the past due penalty fees, but having the BID assessment fees attached to and paid with the business license. • It was clarified that in the past, the City has not allowed NBRA to revoke a business license for non-payment of NBRA BID fees. • It was recommended that there needs to be better information on the City website and notification when stakeholders apply for a business license that the NBRA exists and that stakeholders will be additionally billed for annual assessments. • NBRA can penalize delinquent stakeholders by removing their listings from the website, not allowing them to participate in NBRA events such as restaurant week, and discontinue promoting any stakeholder offers and events. • Suggestions from several board members included the following: o Enhance the communication about the NBRA BID when applying for the business license. o Provide more detailed information about the NBRA BID and how it benefits its stakeholders. o Create a more official looking invoice when assessments are sent out. o Better define each of the proposed NBRA BID categories. o Allow businesses to select their own NBRA BID category when applying for a business license or when paying the assessment. Motion: Director Schwartz made the following motion: NBRA doesn’t oppose the collection of delinquent assessment fees and penalties. However, NBRA doesn’t have the resources or abilities to enforce the payment of delinquent accounts. If the City wishes to pursue the delinquent accounts, then NBRA recommends that the City provides a means to enforce sanctions on the past due accounts. Director Salisbury seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Massuger, Otterbein, Pavlos, Roman, Salisbury, Schwartz & Walker Nays: DeFrenza 7. Marketing Report Ms. Peak provided an overview of the current one-year contract with Newport Beach & Company for marketing, communications, PR and BID administration. Page 4 of 4 Motion: Director Schwartz moved to recommend to the City to amend the contract with Newport Beach & Company for marketing, communications, public relations and BID Administration services to a two-year agreement expiring June 30, 2018. Director Salisbury seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: DeFrenza, Massuger, Otterbein, Pavlos, Roman, Salisbury, Schwartz & Walker Nays: Ms. Peak provided a general overview of the year-round marketing and promotions. Ms. Peak asked for feedback on the timing for Newport Beach Restaurant Week in January 2017. Several board members expressed different opinions on the start dates and length of the event. It was decided to table the discussion until the September meeting. V. BOARD/COMMITTEE/COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS, WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS) VIII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:21 p.m. The next board meeting will be Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at Newport Beach & Co.