4a) Noticed Public Hearing - Discussion and Possible Action Including Adoption of Resolution Confirming Acceptance of the Fiscal Year 22/23 Mendocino County Business Improvement District (BID) Annual Report Thereby Levying an Annual Assessment for the BID Fiscal Year 22/23
(Sponsor: Planning and Building Services)
Point Arena Merchants Association
Board of Directors
P.O. Box 274
Point Arena, CA 95468
May 6, 2022
Mendocino County
Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road
Room 1010
Ukiah, CA 95482
Dear Board of Supervisors:
The Point Arena Merchants’ Association (PAMA) is writing you regarding the Business Improvement District (BID). It is our understanding you are questioning the need for our County to match BID funding from incorporated cities.
We strongly encourage you to continue matching Point Arena’s BID funding, as it is vital to the economic wellbeing of our community.
As you may remember, Point Arena was excluded from BID and therefore received no promotion from Visit Mendocino County (VMC) until November 2020, when the Board of Supervisors modified the District to include the city of Point Arena.
Our economically challenged community is greatly benefiting from the BID funded promotion we are receiving from VMC.
VMC is actively marketing Point Arena through a variety of methods, including Bay Area Morning TV, a promotional video and email blasts promoting our recent Almost Fringe Festival.
As a result, our businesses are all collectively experiencing significant increases in revenue. During the Almost Fringe Festival many businesses reported record breaking sales. The Arena Market and Café, a non-profit; founded in 2008, experienced the best day in its history.
This increase in visitor spending is not only good for our Point Arena economic recovery, it generates an increase in sales tax for the County.
PAMA fears a cut in BID funding will negatively affect the promotion Point Arena is finally receiving and will therefore negatively impact our economic wellbeing and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
We request the County continue to match BID funds from incorporated areas, for the economic wellbeing of our entire County.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Barbara Burkey
Franny’s Cup & Saucer
PAMA President
Kelley Litle
The Zen House
PAMA Vice President
Tracy Dupont
The Pier Chowder house & Tap Room
Point Arena Gas
PAMA Treasurer
Ling Yen Jones
Coast Highway Art Collective
Solano Press
PAMA Secretary
Mark Hancock
Point Arena Lighthouse
PAMA Board Member
Judy Mello
B Bryan Preserve
PAMA Board Member
Lisa Joakimides
Lisa’s Luscious Kitchen
PAMA Member
Mendocino County
Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road
Room 1010
Ukiah, CA 95482
May 12, 2022
Dear Board of Supervisors,
I am writing as a member of the Lodging Business Improvement District advisory board and Regional Manager of a Fort Bragg based hotel chain. Having watched the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 3, 2022 I noted the discussion of matching BID funds from the incorporated areas of Mendocino County and whether that should continue.
I am requesting your continued match of BID funding for the incorporated areas of Mendocino County.
The work of our Destination Marketing Organization, Visit Mendocino County (VMC), is vital to the economic wellbeing of the entire county. The BID and matching funds that fuel the marketing programs and campaigns by VMC are providing much needed awareness of our destination in the inundated tourism market of California. This VMC generated awareness of Mendocino County and its assets is the driving force in the increase in sales tax receipts and TOT, in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas. We would be inaccurate to think that if a visitor is lodging in an incorporated area that they aren’t spending any of their vacation dollars across the county in retail shops, restaurants, gas stations, attractions, etc.
Our community is challenged economically now more than ever, and we are greatly benefitting from the work VMC is producing on behalf of the county. Our businesses are seeing increases in revenues that are aiding in the recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. These increases are also seen through sales tax receipts for the County.
The continued growth of tourism in Mendocino County and economic recovery efforts are paramount as we move forward, and your continued support of the BID and match will help Mendocino County stay top-of-mind as a world-class destination to potential and returning visitors.
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
RE: May 17, 2022 Agenda Item 4a
Distinguished Supervisors,
After watching your last meeting of May 3, 2022, I became concerned at an idea brought forward by Supervisor
Haschak. I understood him to suggest that the County not pay the BID Match of½ of 1% to any BID Monies
collected from our four Incorporated Cities. An Ad Hoc Committee was going to look into it.
I find this proposal to be very short sited. One of the promises made to Lodging by the County is that all BID Dollars voluntarily assessed and collected would be matched by the County. This match is reflected in the Contract made by the County with Lodging. The Cities understand that. If the County pulls out of the BID Match in all or part the BID would fail and promotion would no longer happen.
In years past Lodging and the County had a contentious relationship. The County made a verbal agreement with
Lodging to raise the TOT 2% saying 1 % would be used for Promotion ... The raise was passed and the County
reneged. In 1998, when we bought Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, we were told about the anger toward the County and its apparent deceit. In 2006 The County and Lodging finally entered into a working partnership, the BID. Over the years we have fostered and built trust working together for Mendocino County. It is still working.
If there is any less money for promotion we would lose the promotional ground we have gained. We have bigger
more affluent Counties fighting for the same Tourism Dollars that we are. For instance, in 2006/2007 we had
$600,000 to spend on promotion while Sonoma had 3 Million! That is where we started! We are still here and have carefully spent our dollars getting as much for each one that we can.
The BID Monies are collected from Lodging to promote Mendocino County outside Mendocino County. Getting
heads in beds brings in TOT which goes into the General Fund of the County. If promotion lessens, or stops, the
General Fund will shrink.
I suggest looking deeper into County spending. The Tourism Commission has to have outside audits, does the
County? The Museums should charge for entry, maybe having free days as some do. Find another way.
Picking what looks like low hanging fruit will kill the whole tree.
Point Arena Merchants Association
Board of Directors
P.O. Box 274
Point Arena, CA 95468
May 6, 2022
Mendocino County
Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road
Room 1010
Ukiah, CA 95482
Dear Board of Supervisors:
The Point Arena Merchants’ Association (PAMA) is writing you regarding the Business Improvement District (BID). It is our understanding you are questioning the need for our County to match BID funding from incorporated cities.
We strongly encourage you to continue matching Point Arena’s BID funding, as it is vital to the economic wellbeing of our community.
As you may remember, Point Arena was excluded from BID and therefore received no promotion from Visit Mendocino County (VMC) until November 2020, when the Board of Supervisors modified the District to include the city of Point Arena.
Our economically challenged community is greatly benefiting from the BID funded promotion we are receiving from VMC.
VMC is actively marketing Point Arena through a variety of methods, including Bay Area Morning TV, a promotional video and email blasts promoting our recent Almost Fringe Festival.
As a result, our businesses are all collectively experiencing significant increases in revenue. During the Almost Fringe Festival many businesses reported record breaking sales. The Arena Market and Café, a non-profit; founded in 2008, experienced the best day in its history.
This increase in visitor spending is not only good for our Point Arena economic recovery, it generates an increase in sales tax for the County.
PAMA fears a cut in BID funding will negatively affect the promotion Point Arena is finally receiving and will therefore negatively impact our economic wellbeing and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
We request the County continue to match BID funds from incorporated areas, for the economic wellbeing of our entire County.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Barbara Burkey
Franny’s Cup & Saucer
PAMA President
Kelley Litle
The Zen House
PAMA Vice President
Tracy Dupont
The Pier Chowder house & Tap Room
Point Arena Gas
PAMA Treasurer
Ling Yen Jones
Coast Highway Art Collective
Solano Press
PAMA Secretary
Mark Hancock
Point Arena Lighthouse
PAMA Board Member
Judy Mello
B Bryan Preserve
PAMA Board Member
Lisa Joakimides
Lisa’s Luscious Kitchen
PAMA Member
Mendocino County
Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Road
Room 1010
Ukiah, CA 95482
May 12, 2022
Dear Board of Supervisors,
I am writing as a member of the Lodging Business Improvement District advisory board and Regional Manager of a Fort Bragg based hotel chain. Having watched the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 3, 2022 I noted the discussion of matching BID funds from the incorporated areas of Mendocino County and whether that should continue.
I am requesting your continued match of BID funding for the incorporated areas of Mendocino County.
The work of our Destination Marketing Organization, Visit Mendocino County (VMC), is vital to the economic wellbeing of the entire county. The BID and matching funds that fuel the marketing programs and campaigns by VMC are providing much needed awareness of our destination in the inundated tourism market of California. This VMC generated awareness of Mendocino County and its assets is the driving force in the increase in sales tax receipts and TOT, in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas. We would be inaccurate to think that if a visitor is lodging in an incorporated area that they aren’t spending any of their vacation dollars across the county in retail shops, restaurants, gas stations, attractions, etc.
Our community is challenged economically now more than ever, and we are greatly benefitting from the work VMC is producing on behalf of the county. Our businesses are seeing increases in revenues that are aiding in the recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. These increases are also seen through sales tax receipts for the County.
The continued growth of tourism in Mendocino County and economic recovery efforts are paramount as we move forward, and your continued support of the BID and match will help Mendocino County stay top-of-mind as a world-class destination to potential and returning visitors.
Thank you,
Jon Glidewell
Beachcomber Hotel Group
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
501 Low Gap Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
RE: May 17, 2022 Agenda Item 4a
Distinguished Supervisors,
After watching your last meeting of May 3, 2022, I became concerned at an idea brought forward by Supervisor
Haschak. I understood him to suggest that the County not pay the BID Match of½ of 1% to any BID Monies
collected from our four Incorporated Cities. An Ad Hoc Committee was going to look into it.
I find this proposal to be very short sited. One of the promises made to Lodging by the County is that all BID Dollars voluntarily assessed and collected would be matched by the County. This match is reflected in the Contract made by the County with Lodging. The Cities understand that. If the County pulls out of the BID Match in all or part the BID would fail and promotion would no longer happen.
In years past Lodging and the County had a contentious relationship. The County made a verbal agreement with
Lodging to raise the TOT 2% saying 1 % would be used for Promotion ... The raise was passed and the County
reneged. In 1998, when we bought Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, we were told about the anger toward the County and its apparent deceit. In 2006 The County and Lodging finally entered into a working partnership, the BID. Over the years we have fostered and built trust working together for Mendocino County. It is still working.
If there is any less money for promotion we would lose the promotional ground we have gained. We have bigger
more affluent Counties fighting for the same Tourism Dollars that we are. For instance, in 2006/2007 we had
$600,000 to spend on promotion while Sonoma had 3 Million! That is where we started! We are still here and have carefully spent our dollars getting as much for each one that we can.
The BID Monies are collected from Lodging to promote Mendocino County outside Mendocino County. Getting
heads in beds brings in TOT which goes into the General Fund of the County. If promotion lessens, or stops, the
General Fund will shrink.
I suggest looking deeper into County spending. The Tourism Commission has to have outside audits, does the
County? The Museums should charge for entry, maybe having free days as some do. Find another way.
Picking what looks like low hanging fruit will kill the whole tree.
Thank You-
Jo Bradley, RVT
MCLA Past President