A STRONG BUSINESS VOICE IS NEEDED

OCEANSIDE

BUSINESS JOURNAL

OCEANSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2018

Oceanside Business Journal is published by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce in 4 editions: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

This newsletter is available at the Chamber office, community centers, local businesses, libraries, Sunset Market, and in PDF format on the Chamber’s website.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER

928 N. Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 722-1534 info@oceansidechamber.com www.OceansideChamber.com

Produced and published by the staff of the Oceanside Chamber Copyright Oceanside Chamber of Commerce All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2018

Design: Scott Ashton and Tiffany Smith

INSIDE THIS EDITION

1 Chamber Opposes “Anti-Business” SOAR Initiative

2 Oceanside’s New Mayor, Peter Weiss

4 Networking and Community Events

6 Long Awaited Beach Resort to Break Ground

8 Spotlight on North San Diego NAACP

10 Welcome New Chamber Members

12 MiraCosta College Update: Building our Future

14 Thank You Renewing Members 16 Economic Development News

20 Threat Recognition Training

A STRONG BUSINESS VOICE IS NEEDED

In the ever-changing political landscape in the City of Oceanside, one thing remains constant, a strong voice is needed to represent the business community. The Chamber continues to be committed to filling that critical role.

There are two current examples in which the business community’s voice needs to be heard, and the Chamber is making sure that this happens. First is the impact of the proposed SOAR Initiative on our farming community, and its potential future consequences to other industries. We have detailed this issue on the next page; and if it does make it onto the ballot, the Chamber intends to play a key role in ensuring its defeat.

Another current issue is a hotel project that was recently denied by the Oceanside Planning Commission. This proposed project would bring a Fairfield Inn to a vacant property on Oceanside Blvd., just west of I-5. The 99-room hotel would provide an estimated $450 - $500 of TOT taxes to the City of Oceanside in addition to the potential of increased sales tax revenue.

The project went before the Planning Commission in January where it received opposition from nearby residents. The Planning Commission passed a motion “to not certify the Environmental Impact Report, to deny the development plan, conditional use permits and variance; and to recommend Council denial of the general plan amendment and zoning amendment.”

At its March meeting, the Oceanside Chamber Board voted to support this project, as it is an appropriate use for the land and location and will help generate needed tax revenue to fund many of our City’s local priorities, such as public safety.

The issue is expected to go before the City Council in early April and the Chamber has already expressed its support of the project to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

These are just a couple of examples of your Chamber providing an important voice for the greater good of the community. Chris Mead, author of “The Magicians of Main Street (America and its Chambers of Commerce)” speaks of how “voluntary groups of business people (chambers of commerce), even before the American Revolution, changed not only their local economies but often their society”.

I know that I am proud to be part of such an effort, and I am glad to have a great business community supporting the Oceanside Chamber’s work.

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following Chamber Partners for their generous financial contributions to the Chamber’s program of work.

EMERALD PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS SILVER PARTNERS BRONZE PARTNERS

For more information about how your company can participate in the Partner Program, please contact Scott Ashton at 760-722-1534