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Home My WebLink AboutCORRESPONDENCE - #35 I Mall � SABC - SANTAANA BUSINESS COUNCIL,INC a..T9 Downtown Inc Santa Ana Business Council 201 E 4th St. Suite T. 400 E 4th Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 Santa Ana, CA 92701 December 6, 2021 City Manager, Council and Mayor City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Dear City of Santa Ana Staff and Elected Officials, RE: SUPPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN SANTAANA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT THIS LETTER SUPPORTS AGENDA ITEM 35. Thank you for another year of excellent partnership and progress despite the shockwaves of setbacks from 2020's onset of the global pandemic. We commend the work of the City Staff and Electeds for your efforts and the positive impacts we see downtown. Despite tough times, we see new businesses opening and developments seeking to move forward -- and with all this progress comes an even deeper need for your support and continued partnership than ever before. Please continue to support and strengthen our partnerships this year as we adapt and seek ways to continue to recover and bounce back in 2022. The downtown organizations struggled and shrank this year with the loss of parking revenue, but were able to keep many activations and marketing efforts afloat due to one-time funds from OCTA meant to offset the impact of the OC Streetcar Construction. We look forward to restoring full funding for the downtown organizations operations as we continue to climb out of the pandemic's decimating financial impact on us. Agenda item 35 before you tonight represents the basis of the partnership between the City and our business improvement district, which is a self-assessed business tax district managed by the Downtown Inc and Santa Ana Business Council boards of over two dozen downtown stakeholders including downtown residents, commercial property owners and small business owners representing a variety of industries and geographies. This group of downtown leaders bring their perspective and expertise to public meetings where they direct professional staff and local contractors to help manage the organization and multiply its resources and impact. Some of the accomplishments of the business improvement district organizations in 2021 we'd like to highlight include: MARKETING - Both groups began leveraging $200,000 in OCTA Streetcar funds received to help increase downtown marketing funds for the downtown during Streetcar construction. - Increased social media following of Downtown with our photo contests, online videos and active social media accounts - We produced videos showcasing downtown stories and talent including DTSA Open Stage - performances from patios and public spaces and The Hot Hour with Maria "The Hot Tortilla" - a fun show that covers food, events and cultura. - SABC hosted its flagship "Boca de Oro" festival online with over 90 sessions of literary, visual and performances by and for the community. - SABC spearheaded more kid-friendly programs including coloring pages for kids at a dozen local restaurants, we wrapped-up our Kid Mayor campaign, and the groups began the development of a Kid's Corner event series coming to Calle Cuatro Plaza - SABC and Downtown Inc celebrated Valentine's Day and Mothers Day downtown with free roses for moms, arts workshops, photo ops with beloved characters from TV/movies and promotions to shop downtown - SABC, the City and the Downtown Bridal Association partnered to bring together a Bridal and Quinceaneras Fashion Show - Santa Ana Business Council launched a streamlined one-stop events calendar featuring all of the public happenings downtown - We helped develop a new shopping and culture event called Witches Brew which activates the 2nd St Promenade and Artists Village with vendors and entertainment. - We participated in the countywide Imaginology festival hosted by the OC Fair which drove residents and visitors downtown to learn about local history and landmarks PLACEMAKING - We deployed event equipment including street closure equipment that could be temporarily used by restaurants and retail and event activations of outdoor patio space. - SABC compensated local artists, who had been selected from the City's utility box art program, to freshen up their paintings which were fading due to age. - We continued to activate the 2nd St Promenade with monthly free comedy shows and yoga, while additional free yoga programs began at 4SM's patio and Calle Cuatro Plaza - We restarted hosting in-person Artwalk festivities again at the 2nd St Promenade, Callejon del Beso and Calle Cuatro Plaza areas - We worked with artist Gene Jimenez to add nearly 100 additional pole banners along Main Street and around the periphery of downtown featuring historic buildings and Santa Ana arts and culture - We participated in a global challenge to inspire local action to impact climate change. DTI granted $5,000 to local artists, residents and businesses to make Downtown Santa Ana more climate friendly while designing with the help of nature. - DTI sponsored $15,000 in competitive local grants that went to seeding free diverse community events including OC Vegan Fest, the Pozolada and Tamalada, Libromobile events, a summer music showcase and a Kids Halloween event - SABC lead the creation and distribution of 64 neighborhood libraries across the city to provide access to books during the pandemic for all Santa Ana neighborhoods - We purchased and deployed placemaking equipment including colorful seating and DTSA brand letters to help create a "place to be" for visitors and residents downtown - We helped placemake the 10th Annual Dia de la Mujeres activation hosted on the 2nd Street Promenade - We sponsored the creation of history, nature and diversity themed murals at the Blue Lot, Chevita's Ba, Callejon del Beso and near the new Pacific Electric Park. - SABC and the City led a walking tour of downtown with public works and transportation staff to identify a variety of completed and ongoing projects to make downtown more walkable. - SABC expanded its successful Dancing in the Streets program from Salsa night during Artwalk to four Saturdays a month featuring different types of dance including Tango, Cumbia and Timba. COMMUNICATIONS - Our weekly downtown newsletter continues to be a resource for residents and downtown visitors under the authorship of local writer Sara Marshall. - We hosted a Digital Roundtable for Event Producers in partnership with the City to inform event producers about changes to the fee structures and rules facing events - We hosted a community input forum around the return of Artwalk in which 50 artists, arts educators, arts institutions and arts commissioners attended and gave feedback on the return of the Artwalk - We worked with the Office of the Governor on a COVID awareness campaign in which we hosted six weeks of free outdoor community art workshops in which the community turned blue pandemic masks into butterflies which were then displayed as community quilts in storefront windows across downtown - We deployed team members to speak at Santa Ana resident meetings and events including Comm-Link, Jack Fisher Park Neighborhood and Willard Neighborhood. - Continued to adhere to the Brown Act in posting our regular meetings and hosting them online and facilitating public and membership input. - Wrote and distributed quarterly 40+ page BID reports covering new business openings, district status updates on developments and community photos and stories. - We represented Santa Ana at national conferences including Walk Bike Places, the International Making Cities Livable Conference and the Congress for New Urbanism where we told stories about working with the City and local business during the pandemic to overcome challenges and seize opportunities like outdoor dining. - We helped coordinate between downtown art galleries and business owners and the Orange County High School for the Arts to produce modern dance videos - Both BID groups and the City's Downtown Liaison provide customer service for downtown business owners, residents and visitors. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Worked with the City and the operators of The Blue Lot- an underutilized vacant lot- to create a pathway towards regular permitting for the continued activation of this space for community events and micro-enterprise. - Participated in the International Downtown Association and global placemaking networks to learn from abroad while showcasing Santa Ana's urban dynamics to a world audience. - SABC created a Downtown Coordinators program who surveyed businesses on help they needed from the recovery and then delivered information and support sessions around those topics in English and Spanish. - Worked with Creative California and Arts Now to help elevate the voice of local arts with a community Arts Roundtable and we continued to manage the Santa Ana Artists Registry with 250 active artists represented. - Supported community dialogue and awareness for the Rafferty Building and historic preservation - We began coordinating and cross-resourcing with the new destination management organization, Travel Santa Ana by familiarizing them with downtown's visitor assets and partnering with them on a tour of downtown for the hotels - We supported programs and events hosted by the Amigas Social Club and Mommies Unidos, two groups working to connect and uplift women businesses and mothers. - SABC continued to partner with "Thrive and Go Live" and with Vital Link, which provides hands-on career experiences for high school students, in order to help downtown businesses overcome the digital divide. - SABC partnered with Karen Lomas Financial Advisors to generate a Market Review for downtown stakeholders Please see additional highlights of our work in these links to 2021 quarterly BID Reports by the Santa Ana Business Council: WINTER 2020/2021 htt s://www.fuu�snack.00m/duamondheartenter ruses/i�he bud-re ort-tissue-,I .htmu p ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........................,, SPRING 2021 htt s://www.fuuosr2ack.com/duamgrid hearteri er ruses/i�he bud-re ort-ussue-'Ahtmu p ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........................,, SUMMER 2021 htt s://www.fu snaok. se re, oscom/6amondheartenter ,r-,tisue-,1,5 a ,r ,u,,n,.,,h,tmu ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, FALL 2021 htt s://www.fuuosr2ack.com/duamgrid hearteri er ruses/the::hd-re ort-ussue-,I5 falll-eduLri.htmu p ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,p,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,............................ Sincerely, Rym CAn" Rad 1jaiwz Ryan Chase Raul Yanez President President Downtown Inc. Santa Ana Business Council Downtown Inc Board Santa Ana Business Council Board - Ryan Chase - Raul Yanez - Vanessa Pozzobon - Claudia Arrellanes - Lamson Nguyen - Arturo Lomeli - John Chen - Sam Romero - Denise Reynoso - Won Cha - Michael McCann - Mike Husain - Yvonne Flores - Alfredo Amezcua - Bil Schroeder - Veronica Alvarez - Oscar Olivares - Loni Paniagua - Eddie Quillares Jr - Alexis Garcez - Nestor Correa - Bethany Schemer - Gene Jimenez - Mario Reyes - Kim Tapfer - Bobbie Rooker Arturo Arrellanes - Robyn MacNair (Advisory)