Despite the Covid pandemic, both sales and property-tax revenues are rising in Oceanside, the city’s Economic Development Manager told the Monthly Morning Meeting of MainStreet Oceanside Tuesday.
Michelle Geller said the city received sales-tax revenues from Oceanside residents making purchases from home (instead perhaps in shops in other cities).
Her presentation began with some “quick facts” about Oceanside. It covers 45 square miles and has a population of 180,047. The median age is 37.4. There are 63,485 housing units, and the average household income is $105,228.
There are 6.800 businesses – about half of them “brick and mortar”, and they provide 53,662 jobs. Healthcare, biotech, action-sports-equipment manufacturing, food-and- beverage manufacturing and tourism top the list.
The city’s Economic Development Division offers direct business assistance, liaison with the development services department, site selection and marketing and research. Its partners include MainStreet Oceanside, the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Oceanside.
During the pandemic, it assisted with business loans and grants, commercial utilities relief, no-cost permitting for outdoor operations, “Shop Local” campaign funding, a dedicated business-resource webpage and printable signage.
Geller’s slides showed that sales-tax revenue went up 15 percent in the first quarter of this year for a total of $5.7 million, compared to increases of 7.4 percent in the county and 9.5 percent in the state. The slides showed that service stations brought in the most revenue, almost $486,000, although the total declined over the previous year’s first quarter. The biggest leap percentage-wise came from sporting goods and bike stores, up 144 percent for $147,500.
Geller went on to show pictures of new developments like the El Corazon Aquatic Center, the first phase of beach improvements, the railroad quiet zone, the downtown property business improvement district, Coast Highway corridor improvements, including roundabouts, the Coast Highway Incentive District, beach-sand replenishment, San Diego County Live Well Center North Coastal and MiraCosta College’s Community Learning Center.
Her slides of private development projects showed the beachfront Seabird Resort and Mission Pacific Hotel, including new bars and cafes, some to come soon.
They also included Scripps Clinic Jefferson, Krispy Kreme, Tremont Collective, “The Brick” boutique hotel. Frankie’s Cocktail Lounge, the Arroyo Verde Center at Oceanside Boulevard and Rancho del Oro Drive and Oceankamp with commercial offices, a 300-room hotel and 700 residences on the site of the old drive-in theater.
Her new businesses list included Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen relocated to Mission Avenue and to-come Curry & More Indian Bistro, The Sassy Bucket and Sugar on the Glow on Freeman Street. A “trademark venue” is the Cape House at the old Jolly Roger restaurant location.
She included JS Industries Surfboards’ U. S. headquarters and UEI College on Mission Avenue east of Interstate 5 and listed several other future business openings for doughnut and coffee shops and breweries.
Geller said one of the biggest new projects will be the redevelopment of Oceanside Transit Center.
Alta Oceanside is a five-story project on Coast Highway and also upcoming are a Marriott Residence Inn and a Fairfield Inn & Suites.
From the audience, Colleen Foster asked if there could be single-story units for older folks who can’t negotiate stairs, and Geller said some studio and one-bedroom units are under consideration.
Kim Heim, MainStreet director, special projects, asked about the corner of Mission and Horne Street, and Geller said that residential project is no longer active.
Wright asked about a project on the steep side of the road going down into the valley, and Geller answered that it is “going through the process.”
Geller continued, “There’s a proposed Carmax near the Department of Motor Vehicles, the long-proposed The Inns at Buena Vista Creek near the border with Carlsbad and the Arena Califino soccer stadium at El Corazon.”
Geller said Oceanside continues to partner in Innovate 78 with the cities of Carlsbad, Escondido, San Marcos and Vista to promote development, regardless of municipal jurisdiction, along the state Route 78 corridor touched by all five cities.
Geller’s complete presentation is available online [HERE].
From the audience, Skip Coomber of Coomber Wines said said there still are tax credits available, for businesses with less than 500 employees, and he offered to help anyone with the process.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rick Wright, MainStreet CEO, lamented that the session was so “lightly attended” (less than 30 people) particularly with an “A-List” guest speaker, “It’s time to get back in the groove,” Wright said.
Wright introduced Jan Borson, in the audience, one of the founding board members of MainStreet 21 years ago.
He announced that there were flyers available which list meetings for the Phase II beachfront improvements feasibility study. According to the flyers, the study explores potential improvements to the Junior Seau Beach Community Center, the pier Amphitheater and the plaza and the Oct. 14 meeting will focus on community sports and recreation with the Oct. 28 session centered on cultural, community and events. Both are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
Project presentations with public input were held Monday at the Arts Commission and Tuesday at the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and are scheduled Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. at the Economic Development Commission, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Harbor & Beaches Committee and Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Downtown Advisory Committee.
Janene Shepherd, aide to Councilman Ryan Keim, mentioned the success of last Saturday’s sold-out Taste of Oceanside, and the audience applauded Gumaro Escarcega, MainStreet Chief Operations Officer who also served as the event organizer.
Kathy Kinane, organizer of the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, said flyers were available with details on the event, back in person after being held virtually last year. She said prizes will include 20 gift certificates to local restaurants and proceeds will benefit the Move Your Feet Foundation, which aids such organizations as the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation and local schools. https://osideturkeytrot.com/
Foster, the city’s environmental officer, said a 2019 contract with Waste Management for a new program for businesses was ready for rollout when it was shut down (by the pandemic). But, she said, “70 percent of businesses who subscribed actually saw a reduction in monthly trash expenses,” and “my team is available to help.” “Put a lock on it” she advised about every trash receptacle.
On Oct. 20, Foster said, the council will consider a new law permitting the use of styrofoam containers “only upon request.”
And on Nov. 10, she said, there will be a workshop on the Waste Management agreement, which expires in 2023, “We have to put the current agreement out for competitive bid,” Foster said.
Cathy Nykiel, MainStreet Director of Events and manager of the Sunset Market, announced that the annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration will be held Oct. 24 in the market area with a car show, altars and entertainment.
And, Nykiel said, on Thursday (the 28th), the annual Haunted Market will give treats to the kids “until we run out of candy.”
Wright said it’s fun to see the Dia de los Muertos celebration coming back downtown, where it originated, after intervening years at Mission San Luis Rey.
Heim announced the annual Bike the Coast event Nov. 4-6 beginning at the pier and said a lot of events are scheduled going forward into the spring and summer.
Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside, agreed with Heim that the upcoming 20th annual Iron Man event is an important one for Oceanside and said posters will be available for local businesses to welcome participants.
The next Morning Meeting, open to the public, will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at MainStreet headquarters, 701 Mission Ave.
