Nine directors voted in; length of term to be determined in January

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Downtown Benicia Association board members voted in the next nine directors Monday when they met for the last time in 2013.

The board also agreed to a four-year contract extension with All That Glows for the tree lights on First Street.

The DBA received a total of nine applications for nine open director positions. The directors, and the downtown zone they will represent:

• Renee Jordan of Jordan Real Estate, 1038 First St. — Park.

• Tom Gavin of Gavin/ Schreiner Insurance, 828 First St., who also fulfills the requirement for one second-floor board member; Tom Hamilton of the Rellik Tavern, 726 First St.; Leah Shelhorn of Studio 41, 700 First St.; and Jeanne Steinmann of Benicia Magazine, 611 First St. — Capitol.

• Carl Lucca of Lucca Bar and Grill, 439 First St.; James Morgan of Sailor Jack’s, 123 First St.; James Long of Pups N’ Purrz, 422 First St.; and Frank Cassesse of Courtyard Customs, 333 First St. — Waterfront.

“We don’t have people lining up to be on this board,” said Eric Hoglund of Estey Real Estate, the board’s vice president and treasurer.

“Everybody on that list are folks that I’ve seen come to these meetings or being a part of or involved in the city. I think it’s a fantastic group of people, and it’s nice to see people stepping up and wanting to do the work.”

Shelhorn, the current board president, and Steinmann, current board secretary, both said “I agree” in unison.

The board also considered a proposed contract renewal with All That Glows for the maintenance of the lights on the trees along First Street.

All That Glows’ proposal was for $1,400 per month for maintenance, and a twice-per-year resetting of the timers at $850 per time. The total yearly cost would be $18,500 for maintenance and timer changes.

Another bid for light service from The Christmas Tree Light Pros of San Francisco involved removing all the existing lights and reinstalling new ones, rather than maintaining the existing, and still relatively new, lights. This proposal came in at $48,640.

“There aren’t a lot of companies that do this,” Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani told DBA members.

Carl Lucca of Lucca’s said he appreciated All That Glows after working with them, but he had a concern with the proposed three-day termination clause in the agreement. “Which puts us at somewhat of a disadvantage if for some reason All That Glows decides a year from now that they’re just not going to do this,” he said.

“Then we’re in the position of having nobody to take care of the lights, and having to go out and search. Now we’re at the mercy of someone like that other company.”

“I think the termination agreement is pretty standard in all the city contracts,” Giuliani said, adding, “That’s just the nature of the beast.”

A motion to approve the four-year contract passed 7-1, with Christine Meade of Capitol Café casting the dissenting vote. The new contract with All That Glows will begin January 2014 and run through December 2017.

The first 2014 meeting of the DBA will take place Jan. 13. At that meeting the nine new members will draw cards to determine whether they will serve a one- or two-year term on the board.