HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05211985 - 1.43 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
-� Contra
FROM: Anthony A. Dehaesus
Director of Community Development ;�;:;_ �' Costa
DATE: May 2, 1985 * County
SUBJECT: Legislation - AB 2483
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Position in Support of Assembly Bi112483 Establishing a California Main Street Program
FINANCIAL IMPACT _
None.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
The proposed California Main Street Program is designed to assist merchants and civic leaders in
smaller cities. Central business djstricts An -smaller communities are continuing to experience
considerable economic difficulties stemming from shifting populations and markets together with
increased competition from.subur-b-an shopping centers. These• merchants also do not have modern
marketing expertise; there is a shortage of_capital'to modernize their businesses, and few associations
exist to provide advertising and promotion aid. A comprehensive program making the central business
district the center of community life would aid not only small business people but also their employees
and the entire community. This point of view has been expressed by groups and individuals representing
the downtown areas of Rodeo, Crockett, Martinez, Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood:
The Main Street program was developed originally by the private, nonprofit National Trust for Historic
Preservation. By '1980, after a three-year experiment in'three Midwestern towns, the program was
expanded to five states. Today, the .program is operating in 15 states and nearly 100 cities.. More than
$59 million of new private investments hay.e.been generated,
The Main Streetapproach has four distinct elements:
o Strengthening the ability of both.private and public leaders.to manage the central business district.
o Promoting/marketing the downtown area as a place for community events and as a place to shop
and work.
o Enhancing the physical appearance- of the downtown .area :through attention to building design,
signs, window displays, .landscaping and public areas.
o Economic restructuring; the recruitment. of new businesses, finding economic uses for existing
buildings, and the.retention of existing businesses.
The California Main Street Program is envisioned to be directed by the Department of. Commerce's
Office of Local Development. It will follow a plan recommended by a committee consisting of
representatives from organizations of merchants, -.historic preservation groups, local'. economic
development associations, financial institutions, and private industry councils. Initially, the proposal
calls for a two-year demonstration' project .wherein technical assistance, in co junction with the staff
of the National Trust's Main Street Center, will be provided t five citie with less than '50,000
residents.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REG M ATION tOARD CO ITTEE o
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) 1�7C
ACTION OF BOARD ON J111APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT _ ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED _t>
Community Development . PHIL BATC ELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Legislative Delegation SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M362/7•83 X BY v "! DEPUTY