Foghorn June 2, 2016 Mtg - Charise McHugh Chamber CEO - Update on the Chamber

The video included:
Pasta Moon owner Kim Levin, who described her experience with the Passeggiata event and how much people enjoyed it;
Chamber member Roy Truitt discussed the tourist trade in Half Moon Bay;
Mention was made of the Kids Faire, which drew more than 500 young people last year and promoted healthy lifestyles and healthy eating for youth;
Pilarcitos High School Principal Raj Bechar discussed the impact that the annual Rotary at the high school event had in conjunction with the chamber at the school’s career week;
Local businesswoman Heidi Kuiper discussed the opportunities that the local Rotary club’s teacher supplies event gave to local teachers;
Former Half Moon Bay Rotarian and business owner Charles Nelson mentioned chamber Round Table topics that had come up including the Main Street bridge;
Nick Gottuso discussed the Coastside Emergency Action Program (CEAP) and how it raised the bar on disaster preparedness locally including the creation of the Coastside Emergency Corps;
Elizabeth Schuck of the chamber Education Committee and retired Cabrillo Unified School District superintendent, highlighted the Principal for a Day program and its benefits;
Chamber board member Peggy Milne spoke of working with chamber staff to fully represent the Coastside and it interests.
After the showing of the video was concluded, Charise then discussed the chamber itself, which has a 501(c)6 status and the fact that it is open seven days a week to serve visitors and residents. She recognized Rotarians Kevin O’Brien, Ginger Minoletti, Teresa Adam and Susan Shapira for their assistance and support. She then introduced the “Coastside 365” publication which she says covers the Coastside from Devil’s Slide through Ano Nuevo and east to La Honda, and added that copies will be placed in local hotel rooms and be available at visitor events. She passed around mock-ups of the magazine and pointed out advertising opportunities presented by the publication.

Discussion followed around the publicizing of the Coastside, once known primarily for Pumpkin Festival and the recognition it has gained through the building of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay and the internationally recognized Mavericks surfing contest, which people flock here to see.
Discussion ranged over a number of topics on aspects of life on the Coastside, including local marshes, which hold many North American bird species, and efforts to protect those marshes. Mary Corcoran pointed out the benefits of local guided walks led by naturalists, and added that she and Ginger professionally promote such walks. This led to discussion of ecotourism on the coast, and of the chamber, social media and its benefits to local business owners.

Ginger opened a discussion of growing traffic on the Coastside, much of it from weekend visitors who visit the coast who often bring picnics as opposed to spending lunch money here. Ralph Ely mentioned that there are 30,000 people contained in the Coastside’s roughly 300 square miles, and it was pointed out that Half Moon Bay and Lompoc are the only two California cities located wholly in coastal zones.
Charise mentioned the high rate of usage for coastal lodgings – just over 720 rooms – and particularly for bed-and-breakfast lodging locally. It was pointed out that the Coastside is a spot for “air B&Bs”. Ralph also mentioned vacation rentals by owners, also popular on the coast.
Discussion moved to transportation modes used locally and elsewhere, including bike traffic and roundabouts, commonly and successfully used in England, and their interrelation with population and the numbers of local residents. Charise brought up something we are likely to hear about on the coast: “lifestyle living,” which denotes something like a department store where shoppers can get many different things at the same stop. She also discussed the intersection of Main Street and Kelly Avenue, and what she felt would make it more attractive. Discussion also moved to new hotels coming to Half Moon Bay, including Hyatt Place and Best Western, and features such as larger conference facilities they might bring. 
Brian Lee returned to the issue of traffic and its effect on the quality of life locally. Other topics that came up for discussion included Connect the Coast, busing for children to schools, and the turnaround of local city managers.