Downtown Business Association becomes part of Nevada City Chamber

Photo by Bob Lickter Gary Tintle and Jim McConaughay made the DBA report to the City Council on Nov. 18.

City Manager Gene Albaugh’s report said that “at this point in time, there are no plans to ask the City Council to levy an annual assessment on the district for the calendar year 2010.”

The Nevada City Downtown Business Association has joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce and decided it will not seek to assess an annual fee in 2010 that has been a point of contention in the past.

 As part of that agreement, three DBA members have been appointed to the chamber’s board of directors.

 The DBA, which has around 160 members, was formed in July 2005 after the City Council approved a Business Improvement District, which allows the city to assess fees for marketing and downtown improvements.

 The fee raised an estimated $33,000 a year but was subjected to an annual vote of downtown businesses that was certified by the City Council. In the most recent vote in November 2008, a narrow majority of businesses supported the fee, but the debate that preceded the vote was a rancorous affair in City Hall chambers.

 According to a report City Manager Gene Albaugh prepared for the City Council, DBA and chamber representatives and city officials began meeting this past summer to discuss a merger.

 The final agreement was made on Sept. 21, which led to the appointment of Contractor Gary Tintle, Bob Weiner and Country Collectibles owner Jim McConnaughay to the chamber’s board of directors. Albaugh was appointed as a non-voting member.

 The DBA members join four other new board members who were elected to two-year terms in November: The Union publisher Jeff Ackerman, former city councilor Steve Cottrell, National Hotel owner Tom Coleman and Michelle Litton.

 Kirk Valentine, who serves as the chamber’s liaison to the DBA, said the two groups will now combine their resources and focus on new marketing strategies.

 “This recognizes the need to do a better job, stop the fighting and start working together,” said Valentine, who owns the Classic Café in downtown Nevada City.

 Valentine said the chamber’s board of directors will start working in January on strategic plan “that will literally take us into the 21 Century.”

 The chamber is already working on improving its web site by adding a community blog and other features, he said.

 The DBA, meanwhile, issued its annual report at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting. The organization spent 80 percent of its budget on two 30-second commercials that appeared on the Lifetime, TLC, USA and VHI networks and were aired in the Reno, Rocklin, Lincoln, Roseville and Granite Bay markets, the report said. Andy Howard, who owns the Emma Nevada House, produced the commercials at no charge.

 In addition, the DBA said it held its 4^th Annual Sidewalk Sale, conducted the annual Windows on History celebration, power washed sidewalks, placed American flags on the streets during holidays and big events, and worked to improve signage in the historic downtown district.

 The report says the DBA will maintain its non-profit status, hold another sidewalk sale and continue holding board meetings.

 In addition, Albaugh’s report said that “at this point in time, there are no plans to ask the City Council to levy an annual assessment on the district for the calendar year 2010.”