OCEANSIDE: MainStreet may nix some events, hire new director
By North County Times | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- Downtown booster group MainStreet Oceanside plans to hire an executive director and cut some less popular programs during the next two years as it shifts its focus from large events to smaller seminars for merchants, city officials said.
The organization, which is partially funded by the city, presented its work plan for fiscal years 2008-10 to the city's Redevelopment Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
MainStreet officials said budget issues led them to cut several events, including the spring Antiques on Mission show, the Arts Alive banner program, the Saturday for Giving donation drive and July Fourth activities on The Strand.
The city's July Fourth activities were scaled down this year; the seaside carnival that had been a staple of the holiday's annual O'Fest celebration was canceled. The proposal discussed at Wednesday's meeting would eliminate some of the remaining activities.
The Arts Alive banner program would also be stopped. The annual program featured colorful, hand-painted banners that were hung from streetlights along Coast Highway and Mission Avenue for several months before being auctioned. Proceeds from the sale of the banners were split evenly between the artist and MainStreet Oceanside.
The organization also said it plans to hire an executive director to replace Kim Heim, who has been leading the group as a part-time consultant since 2002.
Heim said he will serve MainStreet in some capacity but with the organization hosting five to seven special events and roughly 100 streets markets each year, "it really needs a full-time, dedicated executive director."
MainStreet will make its regular funding request to the City Council on Aug. 13. It will ask for $190,000 this fiscal year and $160,000 in 2009-10.
That's more than the city has given the organization in previous years. Typically, the city provides $50,000 to $100,000. The last fiscal year was an exception. On top of a $100,000 payment, the city gave MainStreet $100,000 to start its Sunset Market and $50,000 for July Fourth activities on The Strand.
If the council approves MainStreet's funding request, the money would pay for half of MainStreet's administrative expenses, a third of its rent, and all of its utilities. It also would cover the annual Developer's Forum and Freedom Days Parade, a city report states.
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Marleen wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:37 PM:Question?
With the events cuts & new buildings in Oceanside, what will drive people to
the city.
Main street needs fresh ideas wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:37 PM:Thank you Kim, you have done wonders for Oceanside Main Street but we have grown up as a city and we need better and bigger ideas. Sunset market is a great event but poorly executed. Main Street please hire someone with a creative & business mind. Oceanside is a great town and we are ready for some real owesome & eye/mind catching entertainment. If it fun and exceptional....they will come....and ... spend money....
Where do I sign up wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:57 PM:I didn't realize the city was giving away money! This is very discouraging news. $250,000 given to Mainstreet just this year alone!? I can't believe that Mainstreet turned out to be the lowest responsible bidder. Or is it possible that they just waltzed up the steps of city hall and were given the bags of money just for the asking without going through a competitive bidding process? There is definitely something wrong with this picture!
john wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:30 AM:Another city bureaucracy? Let the merchants fund it.
So Cal Native wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:12 AM:How about bringing back some of the big surf contest that used to be conducted at the pier like Huntington Beach has with the US OPen of Surfing. That brings in huge bucks in addition too, good quality people unlike what floats around the pier now. We used to have the Stubbies Pro, Bud Surf Tour, Katin Pro just to name a few. I wonder what the real root cause was for these large venues to dissappear!
Jim wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:52 AM:What is strange, is that you talk about cutting back on all these less popular programs e.g. Antiques on Mission show, the Arts Alive banner program, the Saturday for Giving donation drive and the July Fourth activities on The Strand.
Well boys and girls, these are the only programs I have heard of while living in Oceanside for the last 19 years. You say you are hiring an executive director to run and organize things, well I ask what is left?
resident wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:08 PM:so the city did in fact pay for the fireworks not mainstreet. Why did mainstreet take donations when the city paid for the fireworks. I want my donation back.
Oh brother wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:16 PM:Too bad you folks are hung up on the programs. The Main Street organiztion is supposed to support downtown businesses first and foremost. Their meager membership roles show that something is wrong. The public spoke out on the budget 90% increase. Tell me how one increases the budget by so much when they have cut personnel and programs? Something smells here!
Concur on Sunset Market wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:57 PM:I was hoping the Sunset Market would really be a nice experience much like the one in San Luis Obispo. But after a while it was the same junk sold,pricey food and amateurish musicians. Some of the people in attendance were down right scary. It is hard to do something nice for middle and high income buyers when all you have in the town is low-income types.
Acounting wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:03 AM:These events should be paying for themselves. Mainstreet charges vendors for the space. I understand farmer's market actually made a profit this (first) year. Perhaps with the possibilities of losing some events the downtown merchants (didn't they used to be called "Downtown Merchants Association?") will invest in the association. Maybe Mainstreet could be given some space at the Chamber of Commerce building (the chamber pays $1 a year to the city for their building). Mainstreet needs a desk, a computer, a phone, and an all-in-one printer/fax/copier/scanner. They can then hold their meetings in the civic center community rooms. Time to downsize that big office and live off of what you're able to make. Apply your business acumen.
Johny On The Spot wrote on Jul 25, 2008 9:13 AM:I agree with Jim...
Those are the ONLY events that anyone knows about in Oceanside and they are going to be cut. We have lived here for 35 years and hoping to see the cultural and social side of the city GROW.
We need a new approach here because Oceanside has so much to offer and I think we are slighting ourselves by employing such low level thinking.
I always look to Carlsbad and see how they have made their city into a beautiful little tourist destination and then we look at Oceanside which has so much more to offer than Carlsbad (harbor, beaches etc.) being the downtrodden step-child.
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