By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

The Economic Development Board meets Wednesday to determine who will serve as chair and vice chair, when the panel will meet in 2013 and who qualifies to sit on the Tourism Committee.

Current EDB Chair Kimble Goodman will make appointments to the committee, and the EDB will amend membership criteria and approve a committee work plan.

Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani wrote that the EDB “shall amend membership criteria to include a representative from the Benicia Downtown Alliance and move the Old Town Theatre Group and Benicia State Parks Association into the Visitor Center/Organization category, making that category a permanent appointment.”

Giuliani pointed out that in September 2011 the EDB voted to amend the membership criteria of the Tourism Committee “to expand the breadth of membership and establish staggered term limits to ensure that there is both continuity in the membership and new participants.”

The city has received four applications for the one-year terms that will expire at the end of December. Those are for the members representing Parks, Recreation and History; Marketing; Lodging; and one of the EDB positions.

Some of the tourism committee’s goals for 2013-14 are to continue participation in the Sunset Celebration Weekend, develop a visitor booklet, grow the Art Walk, attract Benicia residents to First Street via a “Discover Benicia” campaign, explore a retail-only ordinance, and develop corporate tours.

The panel’s long-term goals include developing an action plan for the waterfront, exploring new branding, and utilizing the waterfront for more recreational activities such as kayaking, biking and kites.

Also Wednesday, the EDB will elect a chair and vice chair to a one-year term beginning in January. Ron Myska currently serves as vice chair.

The board will also adopt the 2013 meeting calendar, with the panel continuing to meet on the third Wednesday of each month, Giuliani wrote. “The adoption of the 2013 meeting calendar formally establishes the exact dates and allow the Commission an opportunity to adjust certain dates prior to adoption.”

The first proposed meeting of 2013 is Jan. 16.

In other business, the EDB will hear a report on city sales tax receipts for the second quarter of 2012, and will review the November invoice, tracking worksheet and quarterly report from Benicia Main Street.

“In the month of November 2012, Benicia Main Street submitted an invoice totaling $8,250. Of that amount, $2,000 was applied to advertising, $1,500 was spent on business promotion, and $1,091.67 was submitted for expenses,” Giuliani wrote.

Among the new businesses opening in Benicia, according to information from the Benicia Economic Development Division, are The Workshop, 511 Claverie Way, owned by Danny Glassmaker; Seymour Family Law, Suite 203, 821 East Second St., owned by Brent D. Seymour; Golden State Bridge Inc., Suite D, 2990 Bay Vista Court, with officers David Riccitiello and Ann-Marie Talbot; Benicia Auto Body, 2045 Fir Road, owned by Rafi Nawabi; Sportclips, 808 Southampton Road, owned by Joe and Dan Ardave; Meo Baaklini Photography, Suite A, 940 Tyler St., owned by Melissa Baaklini; Goldcrest Designs, Suite M, 4592 East Second St. owned by Jim Pawloski; Alladaye Enterprises, Suite F, 3195, owned by William Alladaye; and Pro-Faction Martial Arts and Fitness, 632 First St., owned by Geoff Quares.

If You Go
The Economic Development Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Commission Room at City Hall, 250 East L St.

Sharing is caring!