Pinole Chamber of Commerce
Pinole Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1
Pinole, CA 94564
United States
ph: (510) 724-4484
fax: (510)724-4408
pinolech
Message from Ivette
News and Information from Ivette
The Community Corner Project
2301 San Pablo Ave.
May through July 2011May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
The Community Corner Project
Community and Business Working TogetherThe "ugly green fence" is gone, HOORAY!
The most prominent corner in Old Town Pinole is now a bit more pleasing to the eye and an eyesore has been transformed into an asset.
As I and other volunteers worked on this project prior to the June 4 Community Service Day, (alongside Mayor Swearingen and Project "supervisor" Crag Parker), residents walked by and asked what we were doing, cars drove by and honked their horns and gave us a thumbs up as they yelled, "Yea, Finally, and Way To Go!"
The overwhelming sentiment was and has been that this was long overdue.I do admit that when we initially thought of doing this, I had no idea how much work was involved and how many moving pieces there were to contend with.
But, the Chamber of Commerce, with the support and hard work of many (including city staff and Council members) has taken a big first step in the beautification of Old Town Pinole.
The corner was not the only part of Old Town that benefited from the Chamber's initiative, the areas adjacent to the lot, such as the parking lot where the Farmers Market takes place, and the areas surrounding the now vacant Pinole Bank Building have been cleaned up by the Chamber.
This project is what the Chamber hopes will be a the catalyst for making Old Town more visually appealing. The beautification of Old Town is a task the newly formed Old Town/Downtown Merchants Association will tackle.The Community Corner as I have dubbed it, is only in Phase One of a Two Phase process.
The next major hurdle is to design a welcome sign that complies with the City's sign ordinance and General Plan, a process that involves the approval of the Planning Commission. Council member Tim Banuelos, an architect, is helping with this process. Cost will be a factor but with the support of the local organizations who have committed to helping us with the sign portion of the Community Corner, Pinole Artisans, the Pinole Rotary, The Pinole-Richmond Lions Club and the Pinole Historical Society, I am confident we can accomplish our goals.
Other features will be taken into consideration, and I thank all of you who have made suggestions regarding additional amenities.The small business community stepped up to the plate yet again, as they have done for so many others throughout the years.
We are very grateful to Sugar City, Maintenance Plus, Travalini Construction and Dolan's Lumber for their contributions to this community effort.
Thanks also to the Community Services Commission for organizing Community Service Day.Nothing says community like the expression of support we experienced before, after and during the planning and development of this Chamber led project.
Truly a beautiful thing to behold.
NEXT
Phase II
The development of a Welcome sign.
Installation of the sign(s).
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Chamber Updates From Ivette
January 11, 2012
It's a New Year.
Will it usher in new ideas and new possibilities?
Will the economy improve?
Will small businesses rebound?
Will big businesses invest in their communities?
Will California use its new found wealth (Redevelopment Funds) wisely?
As I watched the New Year celebration unfold on television, I felt, as I usually do, a sense of relief. Relief; that my family and I had survived another year, albeit a difficult one.
I also felt a hint of optimism. Optimism as we bring our young men and women home from war.
Optimism that reports showed there were fewer people on the unemployment rolls.
But that is my typical half full glass outlook. The reality is we are still a nation searching for long term answers to difficult problems.
The young people heading home from war will find themselves returning to a far different nation than those who returned after WWII.
They may have lost their homes, their jobs and will face stiff competition from the many skilled workers who have flooded the job market over the course of the last ten years.
Frankly I doubt that the job market outlook is as rosy as the stats show. Many of the newly unemployed have run out of benefits and have decided to try and start their own businesses. I have seen this first hand. Others have left the state while sadly; others have joined the ranks of the homeless.
I think we are a victim of our own prosperity. Convenience is killing us. It is time to take a hard look in the mirror.
It's time to engage, face to face. It's time for customer service and communication.
It's 2012; in spite of all the miraculous advances we appreciate it wouldn't hurt to turn the clock back just a little.
Ivette
Policy Commitee - Report - September 2010
The Chamber at Work for You
Rental Inspection Ordinance Letter to Council
Josh Genser, Chair
The Policy Committee of the Pinole Chamber of Commerce has recently addressed two issues: Pinole's Rental Inspection Ordinance and Pinole's Proposed New General Plan.
Owners of two motels in Pinole contacted the Chamber with concerns over the fees for the Rental Inspection Ordinance. Surprised that the Ordinance even covered hotels and motels, and sharing the owners' concerns over the amount of the fees being charged, the Policy Committee convened a meeting attended by the motel owners, City staff, City Councilmembers and others interested in the Ordinance. Later, the City Council held a study session on the issue at which the Chamber addressed the Council. Finally, the City Council, at a meeting at which the Chamber again addressed the Council, amended the Ordinance to exempt hotels and motels from the Ordinance, although it did require that the hotels and motels provide to the City copies of reports of inspections by other agencies.
The City's new General Plan will soon go before the Planning Commission, meaning it is getting closer to adoption. Because it is in some sense the constitution of the City, the General Plan can have profound consequences for business and economic development in Pinole. The Policy Committee convened a meeting with City staff to permit Chamber members and other businesses in the City to hear about the new Genera Plan and to ask questions about it. The meeting was sparsely attended, indicating either that the community is well-informed and reasonably satisfied with the proposed General Plan, or some level of apathy. We hope for the former but fear the latter. If you have any concerns about the General Plan, even if you don't know anything about it, you will still have many opportunities to comment upon it before the Planning Commission and the City Council, and, of course, the City staff would always welcome your input.
The purpose of the Policy Committee is to inform Pinole businesses about local government and issues that might affect business, to provide a forum for concerned local businesses, and to advocate on behalf of the business community. If you have any concerns, please let the Chamber know about it, and watch this space for announcements about meetings or issues that concern others.
May 8, 2009
The Pinole Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the creation of a Policy committee. Josh Genser of Genser & Watkins LLC has been selected as the Chair of the Policy Committee.
The Policy Commitee is intended to be a conduit between the City of Pinole and Pinole's business community for communications regarding proposed legislation and other acts by the City which could have an impact on business in Pinole.
Commitee Members are:
Josh Genser, Chair
Alex Gomez
Geoff Torretta
Tom Welsh
Ivette Ricco
Pinole Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1
Pinole, CA 94564
United States
ph: (510) 724-4484
fax: (510)724-4408
pinolech
