Long Beach, WA

Long Beach Merchants Association | Regular Meeting
Friday, April 3, 8:00 am
Benson’s by the Beach Restaurant; 504 S Pacific in Long Beach; 642-3300

CALL TO ORDER 8:00 am

INTRODUCTIONS Craig Smith, Troy Rodenbaugh, Ragan Andrew, Bob Andrew, Jill Grey, Merry Scharfe, Dian Barker-Sayce, Wendy Murry, Steve Watts, Keleigh Schwartz, Kim McAbee, Steven Linhart, Dave Little, Keith Schwartz, Kay Buesing, Ruth Ann Hocking, Jeff Harrell, Eve O’Dell, Wayne O’Dell, Sherry Hash, Cheri Diehl

APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Motion to approve as written by Bob Andrew, 2nd Ragan Andrew. Unanimously approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT. Given verbally and attached in the Secretary’s notebook.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

2009 Budget. Presented by Steven Linhart, Merry Scharfe motion to approve, Ragan Andrew 2nd, passed unanimously.

Merchants’ Building Roof is leaking badly reported Steven Linhart. Estimate for repair is $7,000, which translates to $140 per month payment for loan to come out of general fund. Or, property may be put up for sale and storage space leased, which would cost approximately $1,100 annually. Current building has no heat, no power, asbestos issues and may not be worth roofing. Email will go to festival chairs asking for estimates on their space requirements. Will also get storage requirements from Kiwanis & Lions. Hoping for some decisions before our next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Washington Festivals & Events Calendar for 2010. Ragan Andrews reported that LBMA has an opportunity to go in on an ad for $99 for 2010 Summerfest. Currently there is only one coastal ad in the magazine. Wants to stand out in coast section of the publication. There is also an opportunity for a Long Beach Coast Weekend insert.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Bluegrass Festival – Ruth Ann Hocking. In light of reduced attendance over the last six months of events, the committee was very pleased at the turn out – only down 9 people from last year. Clamming may have had a negative impact on the event. Local sponsorship is down – especially from those involved in Real Estate, building, loans, etc. Generally the Bluegrass people tend to spend money. Attendees expressed how happy they were with the way they were received by the community. Already booking bands for next year.

Beach to Chowder – Steven Linhart. Moving ahead with finalization of brochures. Art work for t-shirts underway. Course is being laid out – 13k marathon’s route has changed. Other courses have stayed the same. Awards to be presented at Bolstad approach.

Doggie Olympics – Jill Grey. Brochures are out and they look great! Beachdog did an awesome job! Have modified the registration form so is now a self-mailer. 5000 have been ordered, 510 are being mailed, and 2000 have already been distributed to coastal merchants. Fundraising campaign starting this weekend. Limit of 125 dogs. If participants need to be turned away, will consider changing event to a 2-day format. Jill asked for clarification on LBMA rules regarding vendors only being able to have booths if event has 4000 or more spectators. Ruth asked if Kiwanis & Lions could have booths since they are not vendors, they are nonprofit. Merry said vendors with hot dogs on the beach detract from the main street businesses. Steve mentioned that a legal definition of vendors is available at City Hall.  Keleigh reminded everyone that the LBMA board and membership have already voted on this; nothing is to be sold on the beach unless event participation is great enough to shut down the approach (4000-ish).

Sandsations – Dian Barker-Sayce. Getting materials from the previous chair. Committee is working on brochures & obtaining the mailing list of attendees from last year. Meeting being held this week, April 8th, 12:00 pm at El Compadre restaurant. Also working on t-shirts. Amount event is in the hole is monies that is coming back, so it isn’t as bad as it looks.

Jake’s Birthday – Wendy Murry. Event is progressing. Photo shoot scheduled for the 18th to get event in the paper. Event will be enhanced this year by the addition of a classic drive-in movie with projector & speaker setup. Hoping to feature creature from the Black Lagoon. In order to avoid cake serving delays as has happened in the past, Wendy requested to offer one type of cake … maybe a green cake.

Kite Festival – Kay Buesing. Kay reported that there have been good discussions and new ideas. However, there are concerns over the ocean’s high tide. There may be a need for a different orientation area. Brochures are at the printers. Working on the programs at this time. Ad coming out in Northwest Kiting and another in Kite Runner. Boosters are not doing the salmon feed this year. Will have to think of something else to put in its place.

Holidays at the Beach - Still a lot of time before event. New ideas to be presented later.

LBMA Holiday after Hours – Will talk about later, once we get through Loyalty Days.

Kite Museum - Advertising opportunity in the Mariner’s Program (printed). Many ads coming up in a variety of publications. Exhibit of Afghanistan kites at museum now. Spring Fling going on for Spring Breaks. Attendance doubling this year. Three collaborations during the month of April: exhibit at the Lower Columbia College; April 17&18th exhibit at Classical Chinese Gardens (lectures & kite making); and exhibit of kites going to convention in Philadelphia at the end of the month. There will be over 7,000 spectators in Philadelphia, Kay will be attending. AAA is featuring Kite Festival in some of their travel publications.

Loyalty Days – Bob Andrew. Schedule of events is out and button sales are underway. Applications are coming in for the parade (more than last year) expects to round out around 100-110. Impact from gas seems to be minimal. Hoping for good weather. Live radio feed for 3-hours from event. Coronation Apr 17th.  Key Speaker this year: Abraham Lincoln

Surf Perch – Steven Linhart.  New information on funbeach.com. Event May 16th, some time changes due to tide changes. Fishing starts at 10:00 a.m. with awards ceremony at 5:00 p.m.

Summerfest - Ragan Andrew.  Schedule of Events on Funbeach.com. Rack cards almost ready. Horses are pushing the wagons this year.

Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau - Kay Buesing. There has been discussion regarding new highway signage. If interested, contact the LBPVB, as space is limited. Annual meeting was held including a pep talk on customer service & shopping locally. There is a possibility Fort Columbia will be closed. State closing approximately 30 parks.

Liaison to Long Beach City Council – Bob reported that work is being done on ordinances. Not a lot of big or new things to report. Working on budget & new water plant. Gayle Borchard is new Community Development Director. Sent City crew to help Chinook with silt situation.

City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee – Wayne O’Dell. Regarding the Kite Museum’s Mariners ad, if they would’ve known about content before the product was produced they may have been able to take advantage of some additional white space. Committee reviewed new charter, which includes LBMA as a charter member. Talked about flags for 4th of July & flag sponsorship ideas. BELO Communications, including KING 5 are presenting an online marketing program to the committee.

Liaison to Ocean Park, Ilwaco – Dave Little. Peninsula as a whole is talking about advertising and getting signage out for events. Ocean Park & Ilwaco want more signage. The Port of Ilwaco has offered to allow signage to be put on their cyclone fence. Other signage opportunities include – Ocean Park 101 & Sandridge, landowner has ok’d signage on their property. Also, PUD is making their cyclone fence on 101 available for event signage but only for short-term display (7-10 days). Oregon Tuna Classic is on schedule for Ilwaco for Aug 1st. Going from 56 to 72 teams, thus more people. If you want a discount coupon enclosed in informational packet going to participants, get that info to Una at the LBVB. All fish caught are being donated to local area food bank.

National Heritage Area – Bob Andrew. Shorebank Cascadia (non-profit) group heading up effort to make sure funds become available once approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Steve Watts from Workforce – presented Work Opportunity tax credit for employers. There is $9,000 in tax credits available per employee; see Steve for more information.
• Humane Society accepting donations for Memorial Day Garage Sale, holding May 17th Golf Tournament
• LB City Council Meeting: April 6, 2009, 7:00 pm, City Hall
• LBMA Board Meeting: April 17, 2009, 8:00 am, Benson’s
• LB City Council Meeting: April 20, 2009, 8:00 am, Benson’s
• LBMA Meeting: May 1, 2009, 8:00 am, Benson’s

ADJOURNMENT - 9:07 am