Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce Logo
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In This Issue
Welcome to New Members
AAR Signs as Festival Sponsor
Chamber Survey Presented to Council
Volunteers Needed
Co-Op Advertising
City Council Candidate Forum
Upcoming Events
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Welcome to Our New Members!

We'd like to welcome some new members, and encourage you to take advantage of what they have to offer.  Some memberships are pending Board approval.
 
APR logo
 
Arcadia Party Rentals
Tom Behrens
 124 Wheeler Avenue
(626) 445-7166
 
BofAlogo
 Bank of America
350 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 453-8400
 
Bantam Associates
 Property Management
Irshad-ul-Haque
P.O. Box 60910
Pasadena, CA 91116
(626) 405-8030
 
Butterfly Effect logo
Butterfly Effect Day Spa
Rita Fichera
370 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Ste. F
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 355-5507
 
Colbert Hair Studios
Allyn Colbert
94 N. Baldwin Ave.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 836-8811
 
Nikos logo
 
Niko and Friends Cafe
900 Valley View Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91107
(626) 510-6151
 
SMGrocerylogo 
Sierra Madre Grocery Company
 Karen Swisher
(626) 355-9556
 
Tracologo
 
Tra-Co Graphics
Tracy Dragoo
(626) 487-0784
 
Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce
Weekly E-Newsletter 
Greetings!

Please enjoy this week's edition of the Chamber e-newsletter.  FINAL WEEK of COFFEE WITH THE CHAMBER!!  The last regularly scheduled Coffee with the Chamber will take place on Feb. 25th.  Hope to see you there!!
Arcadia Association of Realtors Signs on as "Festival Sponsor" for Wistaria Festival
AAR logoThe Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome the Arcadia Association of REALTORS, which this week signed on as a Festival Sponsor, the top level of sponsorship available for the event.
 
The area serviced by members of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS® covers virtually the entire San Gabriel Valley.  It is the mission of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS to be the local advocate for REALTORS; to enhance the professionalism, integrity and competency of members; and to promote private property rights.
 
Thank you to AAR for your support of our event.  As part of their sponsorship, AAR will receive a large amount of visibility both at the event and in the Chamber's promotion of the event, including placement of logos on t-shirts, a booth in the downtown area, links and logos on the Chamber and Wistaria websites, VIP shuttle tickets and much more.
 
Other sponsor commitments have been received from Doubletree Hotel, Monrovia, which is the host hotel for the event, and from Grand Pacific Resorts and SCE, which have both signed on as  Brugman Sponsors.
 
There is still one Festival Sponsorship opportunity, as well as several other opportunities at the Vine level and Brugman levels of sponsorship. 
So click on the link to find out more about sponsorships, or call the Chamber at (626) 355-5111. 
Results of Chamber Survey on Vacant Commercial Property Maintenance Ordinance Presented to City Council
The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to the City Council last night as part of the public comment regarding Ordinance 1306, the ordinance requiring Maintenance of Vacant Commercial Property.
 
The Chamber used its new surveying tool to poll its members after posting the staff report on the ordinance on its website.  Because the staff report is not issued until just days before the Council meeting, the time allowed to survey its members was minimal. Additionally, the subject matter was probably more of interest to property owners and property managers than business owners.  The Chamber has many more business owners than property owners, and this in conjunction with the short turnaround time and this being the first time we've conducted such a poll, resulted in a fairly small response, with just 6% of the 135 or so people who received the announcement of the survey taking part.  It's hoped that as time goes by and more of these surveys are conducted, members will become more involved and they will become a valuable tool in our efforts to represent our member businesses at the City level.
 
The questions were: Do you own commercial property in Sierra Madre, do you own commercial property in another city, are you considering purchasing commercial property in Sierra Madre, are you in favor of passing Ordinance 1306 as described in the staff report, if ordinance 1306 is passed, would it affect your decision to purchase property with the City.  These were all yes/no questions.  Additionally, members were asked "if your decision to purchase property would be effected, how would it be," (with the options  being I would more inclined to purchase property in Sierra Madre or I would be less inclined to purchase property in Sierra Madre).  And the final two questions asked for input, asking "if you were drafting the ordinance, what would you remove that has been included," and "would you add anything that is not currently included."
 
Of those who responded, only one owns property downtown, and that person also owns commercial property in other cities.  One respondent did mention that they had been a property manager in the past.  None of the respondents is currently considering purchasing property downtown.  Half of the respondents stated they were in favor of passing the ordinance as is.  The rest of the respondents, with one exception who abstained, were against the ordinance as it stands.

 

It's interesting that more than half of the respondents stated that the ordinance passing would not affect their decision to own or purchase property within the city, yet the exact same number stated that if it passed, they would be less inclined to purchase property in Sierra  Madre.

 

Some of the responses to the question regarding what would you remove from the ordinance included the requirement for monitored alarm and security systems, requiring video systems, requiring local property management services and weekly reports.  One person noted that replacing windows or doors with finished materials within 72 hours seemed unworkable since some owners don't live locally.  Another respondent described that as ludicrous.  The same person described the city's requirement of weekly inspections of the property as the police or staff full employment act.  One person questioned the definition of local, as regards "Local property manager," and a second suggested defining local.

 

As far as adding things to the ordinance, the only suggestion was to give city staff more flexibility.

 
Thank you to all who participated in this inaugural survey, and we encourage everyone to participate in future surveys.
Wistaria Volunteers Needed

It's that time of year again.  The Wistaria Festival is fast approaching, and the Chamber is putting out its annual call for volunteers.  Here's an opportunity to be a part of Sierra Madre's signature event.  Can you spare a couple hours on Sunday, March 14th?  We need people to man barricades (all times of the day), direct vendors to their locations (early morning), draw booth lines on the boulevard (Saturday night) act as docents at the vine, work in the Chamber booths, help with entertainment, and to set up and tear down.  Any help you can offer will be very much appreciated.  If you or a friend or family member want to help, call (or have them call) the Chamber at (626) 355-5111.

UPDATE - Wistaria/Spring Co-op Advertising Opportunity
Your neighbor businesses have signed up, isn't it time you did too? Arnold's Frontier Hardware, Bean Town, Belle's Nest, Casa del Ray, Iris Intrigue and Savor the Flavor have all committed to advertise in this Co-op Opportunity.
The Chamber has negotiated with the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group for some advertising in the Pasadena Star News.  Ads will be full color ads, on a repeat basis.  We have not signed the contract yet, we are looking for commitments from our member businesses prior to agreeing to the terms.   If all goes well with the first run, we will purchase a second run, etc.

 

·         Advertising will be on a first come, first served basis. 

·         FULL COLOR ad size is 3" high x 3.375" wide. 

·         Double ads available

u      Portrait (vertical) orientation will be 3" high by 7" wide

u      Landscape (horizontal) orientation ads are 3.375" wide by 6.25" high. 

·         Single ads will be $75 per ad for members, $100/non-members/issue.

·         Double ads are $150 per ad for members, $200/non-members/issue.

 

The ads will be placed 4 times in an approximately four week period.   For this first run, there will be two half-page ads featuring 7 spaces, and one full page ad featuring 10 spaces.  The full page ad will feature 1/3 page at the bottom promoting the Wistaria Festival.  If enough businesses are interested, a third half page ad will be added.  Here's a look at a Pasadena business ad that our ad will be similar to.

 

First run (Wistaria, spring):

Full page, Sunday, March 7th (10 spaces)

Half page, Thursday March 11th (7 spaces)

Half page, Thursday, March 25th (7 spaces)

Half page, Thursday, April 8th (7 spaces) optional, only if sales warrant

 

Possible second run would be timed for the Trail Race, Father's Day, and Grads

Possible third run would be timed for 4th of July and Friday Night Live

Additional runs are being considered for Back to School and Dickens Village/Holiday.

 

Call Bill or Tiffany at the Chamber, (626) 355-5111, to reserve your space or for more information.

Chamber to Sponsor City Council Candidate Forum 
Chamber logo

UPDATE - All seven candidates have confirmed that they will participate in the Chamber's Candidate Forum on March 8th. Also, our apologies to Joe Mosca, who had committed to attend when we sent out the last newsletter, but we failed to include him. 

 

Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host a City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, March 8th from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  The Forum will be held at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  All candidates have been invited to participate.  The forum will be conducted by the League of Women Voters, Pasadena Area, and they will provide a moderator, timekeeper and question sorters, all of whom are non-Sierra Madre residents.

 

Candidates will be seated alphabetically; only candidates are invited to participate.   If a candidate is unable to attend, they may submit a written opening and closing statement which will be read by the moderator.   Each candidate will be given 2 minutes for an opening statement and 2 minutes for a closing statement.   One minute will be given to answer written questions from the audience; questions must focus on issues relevant to the Sierra Madre City Council election. These rules will be explained to the audience at the beginning of the forum.

 

Tables outside the forum room will be provided for campaign materials (buttons, flyers, literature, signs, etc) and no campaign materials are to be brought into the room where the forum is being conducted.  

 
City Council Candidate Forum, Monday March 8th  See related article above.

 

March Mixer at Sierra Madre Woman's Club

Thursday, Mar. 11th at the Sierra Madre Woman's Club, 550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7pm, $10/members, $15/non-members - City Council candidates invited (UPDATE - all candidates have confirmed their intent to be there), business networking, food lovingly prepared by women of the Club.

 
Wistaria Festival
Sunday, March 14th, Downtown Sierra Madre, 9am to 5pm.  View the world's largest blossoming plant from 9am to 4pm.  Entry to the vine is free, round-trip shuttle ride to the vine is $10/pre-sale, $15/day of the event.  Pre-order your shuttle tickets (coming soon) at www.WistariaTickets.com.   Downtown festival (admission is free) features the works of 175 juried artisans and crafters.  Shop at downtown stores, enjoy live music at multiple outdoor venues, kids attractions, remote broadcast by KOLA 99FM.  Fun for the whole family!!  More info: www.WistariaFestival.com
 
April Breakfast Mixer at Hart House in Memorial Park
Thursday, April 8th at the Hart House in Memorial Park, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 7:30 - 9am, $10/members, $15/non-members.  Learn about Microsoft Windows 7 from Chamber member Village Domain.
 
Smith-Asbury to Host May Mixer at Pinney House
Thursday, May 20th (note change of date) at the Pinney House, N. Lima, Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7pm, $10/members, $15/non-members.  Since 1987, Smith-Asbury has served companies providing brand development and strategic marketing plans. Does "doing it the way you've always done it" still work?  Find out at the Chamber's May mixer.

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