Opinion: BID Council can help La Jolla merchants organize

By W. Patrick Edwards

President, San Diego BID Council

I was at the meeting last week at the Recreation Center hosted by Sherri Lightner where the topic was the current status of the La Jolla Business Improvement District. I was there to offer support in forming a new nonprofit management corporation to regain complete local control of the existing La Jolla BID assessments and talked about what benefits the San Diego BID Council can bring to the new group. The council currently represents 16 different BIDs across the city, and La Jolla will become the 17th BID to join the Council, and have a voting seat at the Board of Directors meeting each month.

The Council (a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation) and its partner, the BID Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) will work closely with Council District 1 staff and Office of Small Business staff to directly assist the La Jolla business members.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed which allows a full time independent consultant to canvas the district and assist in organization efforts. This also will guarantee the success of the Gallery &Wine Walk and the holliday decorations.

It is important that the survey now being circulated among merchants be completed and returned promptly. Part of this effort is to identify business members who are willing to volunteer a few hours a month to be seated on the new board of directors for the La Jolla BID. When a slate of candidates is available for election, secure ballots will be mailed to all members of the current BID, and the board of directors will be appointed. It is essential that this board be in place by the end of this year for the city to issue a management contract on schedule.

Questions may be directed to me at BID Council, 1010 Second Avenue, Suite 1835, San Diego, 92101. For more information go to

www.bidcouncil.org

or call directly at 619 239-2437.