By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Benicia Economic Development Board on Wednesday will continue a discussion from last month on policies and programs to encourage more retail businesses to open downtown.

A subcommittee formed to explore the question initiated a discussion April 17 that focused on two policy ideas and two program concepts that could help enhance the downtown business environment.

The two policy initiatives are:

1. Recommend consideration of an ordinance that places a moratorium of certain “oversaturated” business classifications. Additionally, implement limits on business types within the downtown districts; and

2. Recommend consideration of a more stringent zoning code for the Town Core (or a subset of that corridor) that restricts ground-floor businesses to only traditional retail and restaurant/bars.

The two program initiatives are:

1. Invest in a more robust Business Attraction Program, including such items as collateral materials and marketing/advertising campaign; and

2. Develop incentives to tenants and landlords to encourage retail businesses in identified space opportunities.

Per request, city staff submitted for EDB review a sample letter to the City Council outlining the recommendations. According to a report in the materials for Wednesday’s meeting, “It may be necessary to vote and/or poll the EDB on each initiative to determine if there is majority support.”

The report also recommends that if there is majority support for any of the actions — or other actions that might be suggested Wednesday — that the EDB designate a member or members to make appropriate edits to the sample letter, then sign and submit it to the Council.

In other matters Wednesday, representatives of Benicia Main Street will present a quarterly report highlighting activities and services they have provided over the last three months.

“In the month of April 2013, Benicia Main Street submitted an invoice totaling $8,775. Of that amount $1,400 was applied to advertising, $1,500 was applied to business promotions and $691.66 was spent on operations,” Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani wrote in a report to the EDB.

To date, $85,575.00 has been paid, leaving a remaining balance of $31,425.00.

New Benicia businesses, or businesses that have moved or made any changes to their business name, will be acknowledged in a presentation. They are: Lynne Parella’s Studio; Spoiled Brat Fashion, doing business as Vanite; NHT Audio (warehouse only for existing business); Camari Henderson Design; Dollar Tree #5179; RPM Mortgage; The Cottage Massage and Body Spa, doing business as Coffee Break Massage Company; and Benicia Biker Barre LLC.

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!