4th Street Business Association

January 2008

Feb 26, 2008

4th Street Business Association
General Membership Meeting
January 9, 2008
Creative Mortgage Lenders

Vice President Jeannie O?’Grady called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM

Officers Present:
Jeannie O?’Grady, Vice President
Bill King, Secretary/Treasurer
Officers Absent:
Ginny Lomagno, President

Members present: Representatives from 7 member businesses, guests and SPPD.
(10 attendees total)

1. Introduction of members and guests.
Welcome Sun Title Insurance Agency.

2. Secretary?’s Report (Bill King)

The November 2007 meeting was held at Cornerstone Community Bank and featured a preview of the Discover Downtown ad.
Minutes from the meeting were distributed with the printed newsletter and are available on the Association?’s website at:
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/4thstreet/

3. Treasurer?’s Report (Bill King)

(treasurer's report not published online)

4. Membership Committee Report (Dean Landsman)

Membership status as of 01/01/08:

Active / Paid 2007 42
New / Paid 2008 8
Courtesy 7 (City Council, SPPD, Newspapers, etc)
Prospective Members 0
===
57
Special Membership Event held at BB&T (7100 4th St N) on Wednesday December 12, 6PM was an overwhelming success ! Thank you again to BB&T for hosting this event and we look forward to the 2008 event!

5. SPPD CPO Report:
Officer Ray Merritt provided an update on police activity in the district. There have been burglaries at 4th St businesses this fall including a robbery at a Chinese Restaurant and two gas stations on 4th Street. These robberies appeared to be sporadic, with no patterns. Also, a high-end optical shop on Beach Drive NE was robbed of over $7000 in high-end sunglasses, a repeat pattern of ?“smash and grab?” robberies seen last year in our area.

6. 2008 Officers:
The Nominating Committee presented the slate of Officers for 2008:
- President: Jeannie O?’Grady (Creative Mortgage Lenders, former Vice President in 2007)
- President Emeritus: Ginny Lomagno (Coldwell Banker, former President in 2007)
- Vice-President: (Open)
- Secretary/Treasurer: Bill King (AMK Business Systems, former Sect?’y/Treasurer in 2007)
Gary Orthner, Creative Concept Builders, was nominated from the floor for the Vice President?’s office.
The Slate, including the nomination from the floor for Vice President, was approved by acclimation and the new officers were seated.
Secretary/Treasurer, Bill King, will update website, membership application, and other printed collateral to reflect the new officers. Also the banking account will require updated signature cards.

7. Discussion: Membership Drive for 2008
Dean Landsman, membership committee chairman, led a discussion on ideas for a membership drive for 2008. Ideas included: A potential ?“breakfast?” meeting in July, working with the Chamber to develop a membership campaign, a ?“platformed?” membership drive based on topical events affecting our City (Baseball expansion, homeless, etc), focused marketing on USF/Bayboro/SE Business Distriuct, joint campaign with 9th St Business District. Tom O?’Grady volunteered to join the Membership Committee this year and help develop a campaign for 2008. Committee report will be included in March 2008 meeting agenda.


8. Discussion: Sign Repair
Last year, the Association funded repair/refacing of the 3 ?“4th St Business District?” signs at 5th Ave N, 22nd Ave N and 30th Ave N. At that time, estimates for having the internal lighting for the signs repaired as also looked into, but deferred due to cost. Tom O?’Grady took an action to get updated estimates for having this electrical work done, and will report back at the March 2008 meeting. Also the City has cleared the overgrown shrubbery from around the base of the sign at 5th Ave N. Discussion on replanting plans, Ginny Lomagno was working with City on this ?– will followup.

9. Discussion: Proposed Topics for Meetings in 2008
President Jeannie O?’Grady led a discussion on proposed topics for meetings in 2008. The proposed topics included: A briefing from City Codes Department regarding business signage regulations, an update on LDR (re-development regulations), speakers of business interest (City Economic Development, Devil Rays, etc).

10. Discussion: Printed Advertising (Discover Downtown)
Bill King, Treasurer, reported that the final installment payment has been made for the Discover Downtown ad that ran in the November 2007 issue. The next issue will be Spring 2008 (Feb-Apr).
Discussion: The print ad cost $3900 per insertion. Feedback from the membership is that the Association cannot afford to run this ad each edition, and a recommendation was mad that the Association only run the ad once annually in the November edition (High Season).
President Jeannie O?’Grady took an action to evaluate other lower cost print advertising (St.
Pete Times, NE Neighborhood News, etc) and will provide an update at March meeting.

11. Next Meeting:
March 5, 2008: Location: To Be Announced (TBA)

Meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Bill King, Secretary