Big Bear Lake Economic Summit

The need for a new marketing and advertising strategy has never been greater for Big Bear Lake Retail Merchants, Restaurants and Lodges. While recovery for the general economy is sure to happen eventually, Big Bear Lake Businesses are suffering. Doors continue to close.

While the general tone for the 2009 Economic Summit, held on June 4, 2009, was a lot of business as usual and offered little to address what is needed or wanted by business, there was some news from the Big Bear Lake Redevelopment Director, Lyle Haynes, with (as far as I know) the first public mention of the possibility of forming Business Improvement Districts for ongoing funding of infrastructure improvements, events and marketing, all in the name of economic development for the City.

Another desperately needed action, to address the Big Bear Lake Development Code, was mentioned briefly.

It was mentioned that for property owners and business to develop properties to meet the best and greatest use and for individual businesses to compete in today's marketplace, serious changes are needed in both the Development Code and the Village Specific Plan. The changes would include density, use, parking and zoning. While this has been an important issue and needs attention, the changes would affect future development of commercial property and does not address anything in the near future.

The Big Bear Lake Resort Association presented current marketing strategy and an overview of scaled back plans for the coming year with their revenues taking a hit as fewer visitors are spending less money with their members this year.

Affordable housing projects were mentioned in the Redevelopment presentation. Both projects currently seeking approval in the Village were mentioned. I for one will aggressively oppose both of these projects based on the location and the irreversible long terms effects they would have on future commercial development and expansion of the Village. There must be some sort of policy set that these types of development should replace existing small and older residential units and be constructed in existing dense residential areas. One good idea that came up was to just let the affordable housing money revert back to the County and let them (the County) construct affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of the Valley.

Village Merchants Planning First Wine Walk Event

Village Merchants are gathering steam to host the first Wine Walk Event in the Village. A number of Merchants have agreed to pitch in to host the event. The first event would benefit the local Meals on Wheels efforts.

Village Merchants have made a formal proposal to the VBA for their support to aid in making the first event happen this summer.

The event will be a self guided tour form Northwoods Resort to Pine Knot Marina and is one of many events the retail community is actively trying to put into place in order to better compete in the regional marketplace by attracting more get-a-way and leisure travel customers from throughout SoCal.

Rassmussen takes temperature of Small Business

The confidence of 20 million small business owners takes a dip for the worse. Cash flow problems on the rise. More from Jan Norman on Small Business outlook: http://jan.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/26/business-owners-turn-more-pessimistic/14481/

A tip for our City Council as they wrap up the 09-10 budget.. Park City, UT has found themselves a bit short of projected revenues as major lodging interests file for bankruptcy before paying local bed taxes (The Block right here in Big Bear Lake). Might there be more on the horizon? TOT is a major percentage of our General Fund.

Park City Utah

Some interesting facts off the Park City Website.

• Park City was founded as a silver-mining town in 1869. By 1900, it was a booming mining town with 10,000 residents and 100 saloons
• Second largest silver strike in U. S., 1200 miles of mining tunnels under the city; the deepest mining shaft is 2600’ Flagstaff Mountain was the first mining claim in the Park City area; George Hearst owned the Ontario Mine
• Summit County was one of the fastest growing counties in the US during the 1990’s
• Park City population: 8,066 in the City; 21,000 additional in Snyderville Basin
  Elevation: 7000’ at Main Street (ranges from 6500’- 10,000’)
• City Size: 17.6 square miles
• Average Daily Water Consumption: 4. 6 million gallons
  School Population: 4,336 (Fall 2008)
• Assessed Property Valuation: $4,635,372,939 (Primary residences); $5,602,376,327 (Vacation homes)
• Number of Primary Dwelling Unit: 3,179
• Number of Secondary Homes/ Units: 4,773
• Lodging capacity: 23,307(pillow count)
• Gross Taxable Sales: $450 million in City
• Number of Restaurants: 131
• Number of Park City Business Licenses: 1,917
• Number of Retail Store: 286 in Park City & Basin
• Number of City Police Officers: 24 full-time, 16 part-time
• Number of City Employee: 305 full-time equivalents
• Number of Miles of City Roads: 121

Park City Toursim Recognized by Local Leadership

Developing our Retail Marketplace and Tourism Offering is Paramount to local growth and prosperity for small business and their employees. I think we would do well aspiring to be the Park City of California.

Recent story below from the Park City Record on Park City Tourism.

http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_12379908

US Travel Association and Toursim Workers Rally

Tourism is off in Vegas, Park City and other destinations. Folks that are planning a vacation are planning on staying closer to home.

Oskar Garcia on Tourism. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/12/nv-tourism-rally-051209/?california

There may be an opportunity Big Bear Lake. Can we take advantage? If so, how will we do it?

Spring Brings Flowers and more Business Closures

Some more negative movement in retail and commercial vacancies in April 2009 include these Big Bear Lake Storefronts: 1. Friendz Salon (had recently relocated to smaller space) Moonridge Rd, 2. Edelweiss Books on Village Dr., 3. Big Bear Souvenir and Gift (had recently relocated to smaller space) Pine Knot Ave., 4. Burger King on Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Real Estate Village Dr. Office, Cool Cabins Village Dr. Office and the 5. Mineral Shop on Village Dr. has closed and vacated the space. 6. Scrapbooking Stampede (recently moved to Blvd from Moonridge) has closed and vacated the space in Summit Plaza.



On the Recently Rented Front: 1. The Chrome Stop has reopened on Red Ant Hill and Mill Creek, 2. The Kite Factory has reopened on the other side of the Blvd at Alden. 3. Forrest Farms Market and Deli has taken a much smaller space in the Verizon Plaza with Sandy's Sports Bar and Bear Valley Printing. 4. Get the Burger will reopen in the former Sushi Ai at Big Bear Blvd. and Fox Farm.