Small Business Advisory Board
The City's award-winning Small Business Advisory Board is charged with
advising the Mayor and City Council on any matter that will
enhance the capability of small businesses in San Diego to succeed, such as
the formulation of laws, policies or procedures which may affect the
management, operation or financial stability of small businesses. There are
eleven board members appointed by the Mayor and
confirmed by the City Council.
The Small Business Advisory Board was established in July 1982 to develop a
cooperative and supportive atmosphere between the independent business
community and the City of San Diego. The board was established at a time when small businesses were considered
to have a minor impact in the overall scheme of economic development. By
supporting the advisory board's creation, city leaders made a strong
statement about the unique role of small businesses in the development of
jobs. This decision is now considered extremely proactive, especially
bearing in mind the significant role small businesses have played in San Diego's
economic recovery. The foresight of the San Diego City Council has prompted
other cities in the United States to attempt to duplicate the program.
Board Members
The Small Business Advisory Board, comprised of an eleven-member, unpaid
board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, represents
key small business organizations, such as the U.S. Small Business
Administration, and the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, as well as leaders in the small business
community. The staff of the City's Office of Small Business, in addition
to their department responsibilities, serve as staff to the board, carrying
out specific projects initiated by the board. Current board members are:
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Chi K. Tran, M.P.H.
Assistant Vice President
Citibank - Community Relations
Edward Barbat
Attorney at Law
Small Business Owner
Faith Bautistia
Small Business Owner
San Diego Advertising Specialty
Kurt Chilcott
President and CEO
CDC Small Business Finance Corp.
Michelle Gray
Small Business Owner
Gray Systems
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Ruben R. Garcia, Ph.D
District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
Scott Cummins
Small Business Owner
Insurex Global Insurance Services
Spencer C. Skeen
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
Thomas Woolway
Senior Vice-President, Regional Manager
Torrey Pines Bank
Warren Simon
Executive Director
Hillcrest Association
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Advocating regulatory relief and policy reform is high on the list of issues that the Small Business Advisory Board addresses. The board works with the City to reduce regulations, streamline the permit process and reduce taxes for small businesses. Recent highlights of issues and accomplishments include:
- Guiding the efforts of the Office of Small Business staff in the
development of the Small Business Enhancement Program
- Promoting the reduction of the Business License Certificate (business license) fee from $70 to $34, for business with 12 or fewer employees.
- Working in cooperation with the City's Fire Department on the interpretation of rigorous fire codes to provide more flexibility in dealing with unrealistic safety measures for vitally needed affordable housing in the San Diego community.
- Monitoring of combustible, explosive and dangerous material policies and improvement of inspection projects.
- Easing of sign code enforcement for major construction projects in conjunction with the Office of Small Business's Infrastructure Impact Program staff, City Neighborhood Code Compliance representatives, and members of the small business community.
- Reducing, in partnership with the City's Police Department, regulations for reporting requirements and 30-day holds of merchandise for secondhand dealers.
- Testifying before the state Legislature's Revenue and Taxation Committee which helped cut by 25 percent the Minimum Franchise Tax for corporations with gross receipts of $1 million or less.
- Coordinating a successful partnership between the Police Department, the alarm industry and small businesses to develop new regulations to help reduce the staggering number of false alarms that plague the community.
The Small Business Advisory Board usually meets each month and any member of the public is invited to attend. Individuals and representatives of community groups may appear before the board to relate challenges impacting small businesses that are either caused by or can be resolved by the Small Business Advisory Board or the City of San Diego.
Meetings Times and Locations
The Small Business Advisory Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month (except for August and December) and any member of the public is invited to attend. Meetings convene at 8:45 a.m. in the 14th floor Large Conference Room of the Civic Center Plaza Building, 1200 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101.
Meeting Dates:
2008 Proposed Meeting Schedule (PDF: 28K)
2007 Proposed Meeting Schedule (PDF: 16K)
2006 Proposed Meeting Schedule (PDF: 16K)
Meeting Minutes:
09/24/08 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 298K)
06/25/08 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 168K)
05/28/08 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 199K)
04/23/08 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 258K)
11/28/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 300K)
09/26/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
07/25/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
05/23/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
04/03/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
01/24/07 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
10/25/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
09/27/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
07/26/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
06/28/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
05/24/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
04/26/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
03/22/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
02/22/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
01/25/06 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
11/23/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
10/26/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
07/27/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
05/25/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
04/27/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
03/23/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
02/23/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
01/26/05 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
11/05/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
10/01/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 29K)
09/03/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 37K)
08/06/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 36K)
06/04/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 36K)
05/07/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 40K)
04/02/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 44K)
03/05/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 44K)
02/06/04 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 48K)
10/03/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 32K)
08/01/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 25K)
06/06/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 25K)
05/02/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 25K)
04/04/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 25K)
03/07/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 25K)
02/07/03 - Minutes of the Small Business Advisory Board Meeting (PDF: 30K)
For more information on the Small Business Advisory Board and upcoming meeting agendas, contact the City's Office of Small Business.
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