MINUTES
of the
BACK STREETS BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, Rm. 278
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Peter Cohen at 4:15 p.m.
Present: Peter Cohen David Beaupre (PORT)
Mark Dwight Gabe Cabrera (OLA)
Oscar Grande Mike Grisso (SFRA)
Louis Guidry Jennifer Matz (MOEWD)
Mark Klaiman Jasper Rubin (DCP)
Bob Legallet
Michael O'Connor (SBC)
Michael Potepan
Absent: David Lupo
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of January 11, 2006 were approved as written. The minutes of April 5, 2006 were approved as corrected
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jasper Rubin: 2660 Harrison mixed use project proposal included building housing on an area that is currently designated industrial. Negative Dec published by Dept. supporting project was appealed to the Board of Supervisors that upheld the appeal. Finding indicated that any project presently proposed that would displace PDR businesses, buildings or land must include an EIR. Must analyze potential loss of that PDR space in relation to the cumulative numbers–what City needs and how it affects the bottom line. Described as a de facto moratorium on projects in industrial zoned land because of the burden it imposed on project sponsors. About 50 projects affected by this.
4. UPDATE BY MOEWD ON CITY'S ECONOMIC PLAN
Jennifer Matz, MOEWD: first report is a data product; lists the makeup of the workforce, information re educational levels of the residents, earning levels, changing population. Have not yet begun to draw conclusions re policy directions, but it provides foundation data re challenges City faces. Ms. Matz suggested that the report be put on next month's agenda after everyone has had a chance to review it.
5. ADVISORY BOARD REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. Cohen brought a copy of the SF Arts Task Force report to show the Advisory Board what the report should look like. He provided an outline of topics the Advisory Board should address for the purpose of promoting and preserving Back Street businesses: business assistance, business attraction, land use controls, infrastructure needs, workforce development and organizing how to create a voice for businesses as a whole and may be some other categories. Asked members to come up with ideas for recommendations in the above categories for the next meeting. Asked that members send ideas in advance of meeting.
6. REPORTS
a. Business Outreach, Mark Klaiman reporting. Getting the interviews done is harder than anticipated–difficult to get through to people. Two problems are access to workforce folks, getting people who are willing and ready to work and land–inability to expand space. Mike Grisso reported that employers are reporting that they are having a difficult time finding trained and/or trainable employees. David Beaupre stated that interviews should be finished by the end of April and will report to the Advisory Board.
- Research Group, Gabe Cabrera reporting. Using the Boston lobster model, from bay to plate, is working on a diagram using a Charles Schwab report to shareholders as a model to show the chain of businesses utilized from the report production to the distribution. Important that businesses are clustered, proximity-wise. Mr. Cohen stated that Gabe will work with Jasper Rubin re clusters.
Michael Potepan reported that the 2000 Census can provide statistics for Back Street Businesses with respect race and gender information relating to pay. Believes it will look similar to information described in the City's Economic Plan described by Ms. Matz.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
