Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District Agendas
Regular MeetingLa Verne, CA · June 6, 2022
Minutes
OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
Monday, June 6, 2022
1. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Craig Walters at 8:36 a.m.
Advisory Board Members present: Craig Walters, Marianne Stark, Micky Rehm, and
Matt Forgey (via Zoom). City Representative present: Principal Planner Candice
Bowcock. Others present: Fang Wang, Ken Valmonte, Kristina Tomlin, and Roberta
Virgin.
2. CALENDAR
Beer Walk – Date to be determined
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Postponed
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Wine Walk Recap – Chairperson Walters reviewed the finances for Wine Walk and
estimates a $35,000 profit. Ticket sales included 806 full price tickets at $55, with 60
designated driver tickets at $35, and 96 discounted tickets at $45 for a total of 968 tickets.
The board discussed long lines at some locations, participants walking outside designated
areas with wine, and people were taking too much food. It was suggested that better
signage and more volunteers might help.
Chairperson Walters suggested lowering attendance to 700-800 people and stated that
other cities close the streets to avoid the issue of attendees walking around with wine.
Ms. Tomlin suggested moving the date back to April due to conflicts with the Fair,
graduations, and weddings.
Chairperson Walters stated that in the past 15%-20% of the profit was given to the
selected charity, and that this year, 15% would be around $5,000.
It was moved by Ms. Stark and seconded by Ms. Rehm to donate $5,000 to the K-9
Foundation. The motion carried by a 4-0 vote.
B. Beer Walk – Ms. Rehm stated that she met with Russel McKnight of La Verne
Brewing Company and he expressed interest in being a part of the planning process. She
also suggested that it would be easier to get breweries to participate if the BID purchases
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one keg and the second is provided by each brewery. Ms. Rehm suggested October 15th
as the most likely date.
C. Future Car Shows – The Board discussed beginning negotiations on a contract with
the current promoter or going out to bid.
It was moved by Ms. Stark and seconded by Ms. Rehm to ask the City to start
negotiations on a new contract with the current promoter. The motion carries with a 4-0
vote.
D. Change of Meeting Date/ Location – Chairperson stated that Café Wang has
volunteered their space as a location for future meetings.
It was moved Ms. Rehm and seconded by Ms. Stark to hold future meetings at Café
Wang, located at 2316 D Street. Motion carried by a 4-0 vote.
E. Recommendations for Re-apppointment – Chairperson Walters stated that the board
seat from the University of La Verne was up for re-appointment and that Dr. Zuhey has
expressed interest in continuing to serve.
Mr. Forgey expressed that his term as a board member was expiring and that he was not
looking to serve on the board for another term at this time.
It was moved by Mr. Forgey and seconded by Ms. Stark to recommend that the City re-
appoint Dr. Zuhey Espinoza to the board and that one vacancy be named to the board.
Motion carried by a 4-0 vote.
5. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. None
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ UPDATES
A. City Report (Eric Scherer):
B. University Report (Zuhey Espinoza):
C. Marketing (Micky Rehm):
D. Chamber Report (Leah Skinner):
E. Social Media Update (Micky Rehm):
F. Financial Report:
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
(Any discussion or action on non-agendized items must be deferred to the following
meeting, as required by California Brown Act Law)
No comments received.
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8. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 9:39 a.m., to the next meeting to be held on Monday, July 11,
2022 at 8:30 a.m. at Café Wang.
Respectively submitted,
_____________________
Natalie Hiatt
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Agenda
AGENDA
Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District
Advisory Board
Monday, June 6, 2022 – 8:30 am
2079 Bonita Ave – Chase’s Patio
1. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER-
Board Members City Representatives/Others Present
Craig Walters, Chair Eric Scherer, Com. Dev. Director
Marianne Stark Natalie Hiatt, Com. Dev. Admin. Clerk
Micky Rehm
Matt Forgey
Zuhey Espinoza
2. CALENDAR-
Beer Walk Date: TBD
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Postponed
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Wine Walk Recap
B. Beer Walk
C. Future of Car Shows
D. Change of Meeting Date/Location
E. Recommendations for Re-appointment
5. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ UPDATES
F. City Report (Eric Scherer): Mainiero Square Update
G. University Report (Zuhey Espinoza):
H. Marketing (Micky Rehm):
I. Chamber Report (Leah Skinner):
J. Social Media Update (Micky Rehm):
K. Financial Report:
7. PUBLIC COMMENT (Any discussion or action on non-agendized items must be deferred to the
following meeting, as required by California Brown Act Law)
8. ADJOURNMENT
Eric Scherer
To: Natalie Hiatt
Subject: RE: Complaint regarding Cafe Wang street structure
From: Jai Choi
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 10:52:45 AM
Subject: Complaint regarding Cafe Wang street structure
Hello,
My name is Jay and I am a long-time resident of La Verne. I spoke to Gabriel at the city council's
building/planning department. He provided me with your email so that you can forward this complaint to the
downtown business improvement district office members. Thank you for your time. Complaint is below.
I visit and enjoy the simple beauty and cozy atmosphere of downtown La Verne daily. Recently, Cafe Wang
has started construction on what looks like an orange parallelogram shaped patio for themselves and I
understand that this was approved by the downtown business improvement district and the structure will stay
for 2 years.
Downtown La Verne has been increasingly lacking in parking spaces, and this structure seems to cover 3 or 4
public parking spots. Also, COVID mask mandates have been lifted by the Governor and the brunt of COVID
seems to be over. I have spoken to many restaurant owners in the area where I am a regular customer, and none
of them knew this was approved by the downtown business improvement district. What qualifications or
associations do the members of this district have that they approved the patio structure without speaking to the
local neighboring restaurants and businesses? Enclosing 3/4 parking spots for one business's gain is not fair to
the rest of the community. Not only for the neighboring restaurants that may lose business, but especially for us
residents who have trouble finding parking in downtown as it is.
Also, the ugly shape, build type, and orange-ish color of the structure does not fit the theme of downtown at all.
Downtown means a lot to La Verne residents and we want to keep it the way it is without turning it into an LA-
looking mess with mediocre structures built into parking lanes.
I have spoken to dozens of residents who enjoy the simple atmosphere of downtown. Even random residents I
meet while dining at one of the restaurants agree. Every one of them agrees that this structure is unbefitting of
downtown and that it ruins the area both aesthetically and logistically by decreasing parking.
Please consider the wishes of most of the residents and retract the approval for this structure. Or at least
decrease the permit by 1 year. Having this abominable structure for the next 2 years in my favorite part of town
will decrease visitors from other areas as well as residents. It most likely will affect the neighboring businesses
as well. It is unfair to allow the building of a structure on public city land that benefits only a single restaurant
while causing harm and discomfort to nearby businesses and the very residents of the city.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely from a La Verne citizen,
Jay Choi
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