San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA)
About
SJDA is a non-profit, membership-based organization founded in 1986 to represent business and property owners. We make downtown a better place for business, residents and visitors through events, advocacy, marketing and more.
The best way to get involved is to come to a meeting. Our various committees our summarized below and meet regularly.
Watch our Annual Membership Meeting
(Public & BOD)
Committees
Want to get involved? Email the contact of the committee below you are interested in joining.
Executive Committee
The President of the Board of Directors chairs this 11-member committee. The immediate past president is ex-officio member. This committee manages the activities and affairs of the association and exercises all powers granted to the Board by the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. Makes policy, advocacy and program recommendations to
Chair: Alan “Gumby” Marques
Next Meeting: March 7, 8:30 a.m., Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St. (committee members only)
SJDA Board of Directors
The San Jose Downtown Association represents more than 2,100 businesses, non-profits and property owners who work collaboratively to enhance the Downtown experience. We make downtown a better place.
Click here to meet our Board
Chair: Emily Ruvalcaba
Next Meeting: March 14, 8:30 a.m., Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St.
Downtown Design Committee
Consists of architects, designers, and urbanists advocating for design excellence in the downtown core using. The committee honors outstanding projects with Golden Nail awards.
Chair: Brian Corbett
Contact: Nate LeBlanc
Past Meeting: The committee last met Oct. 14, 2022, and observed a presentation on potential future developments at San Jose State University.
Next meeting: TBD, via Zoom Conference Call
Marketing
Provides oversight and makes recommendations on SJDA’s long-term and short-term goals involving branding, marketing efforts, and promotions. Ensures that a consistent, positive message is being delivered to the public about Downtown San Jose and SJDA. Meets as needed.
Interim Chair: Alan “Gumby” Marquez
Contact: Nanci Williams
Past Meeting: The committee oversees and adds value to current and future marketing activities, aligned with the SJDA Strategic Plan. Marketing professionals are urged to join this committee to lend your talents to providing strategic direction to the next campaign.
Next Meeting: TBD @ Business Support Center (Normally the 2nd Tuesday of the month)
SoFAC (South First Area Committee)
This committee deals with neighborhood issues, markets events and more.
Chair: Kevin Wick and Dap Ashaolu
Contact: Juan Carlos Aguirre
Past Meeting: Attendees and members of SoFaC vocalized a desire for a new format of the regular neighborhood committees. So, before the next committee meeting Co-Chairs Kevin and Dap will meet with SJDA staff to brainstorm how to take the feedback and apply it to future meetings.
Next Meeting: TBD
St. James Park Advisory Committee
This committee deals with issues related to the park and activities in it. It also working with others on redesigning the park.
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past Meeting: The Advisory Committee met on Oct. 27 and Sept. 22 to discuss progress on capital/design for park improvements and Levitt Pavilion, safety concerns, feeding, rodent abatement/trash receptacles, fall activations and maintenance.
Next Meeting: TBD
Advocacy Committee
Represents downtown business and property owner to government and elected officials. Develops recommendations on policies impacting downtown. Supports other committees including parking and BART. Sets SJDA’s positions on specific issues including housing, retail, crime, cleanliness and shuttles. Meets as needed.
Contact: Nate LeBlanc
Past Meeting: The Advocacy Committee met on June 21. The committee discussed the recently-approved City budget and heard an update from VTA staff on BART Phase II.
Next Meeting: TBD, Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St.
Downtown Commercial Properties
Informational meetings for owners and managers of large downtown commercial properties. Meets on an ad hoc basis.
Contact: TBD
Past Meeting: The committee met Feb. 22 to discuss PBID expansion updates. Staffing increases with Groundwerx were also discussed. The Street Life Lighting Plan was also shared by Sarah Billings.
Next Meeting: TBD
Social Impact Committee
The Social Impact Committee’s goals are to use advocacy, education and partnerships to mitigate the impact of homelessness for Downtown business and property owners, residents, visitors and unhoused individuals.
The impacts of homelessness include the overall health and well-being of all San Jose residents, a lack of adequate shelter and services, the overall cleanliness of public and private spaces, and the perception of safety in downtown.
Contact: Debra Rossi
Past Meeting: The committee met on Feb 15, 2024 discussed the Social Impact Team’s deployment schedule and how to reach the team.
Next Meeting: March 28, 3:30 p.m., via Google Meet Conference Call
PBID Board of Directors
The directors oversee management and finances of the property-based improvement district. It’s meeting notices, minutes and agendas are on the PBID pages of this website.
Board President: Chris Freise
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past Meeting: On Jan. 30, the PBID Board of Directors met to discuss the goals for a focused beautification project on Santa Clara Street and receive staff updates.
Next Meeting: March 19, 8:30 a.m., Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St.
Town Hall Meeting
Learn more about SJDA and PBID activities in the downtown area in a Town Hall setting. Each quarterly meeting focuses on a different topic.
Contact: Robert Robledo
Past Meeting: Learn more about SJDA and PBID activities in the downtown area in a Town Hall setting. Each quarterly meeting focuses on a different topic, such as clean and safe initiatives, addressing homelessness, and business retention.
Next Meeting: May 1, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., location TBD
Finance Committee
Reviews and approves the SJDA budget.
Chair: Garrett Perez
Contact: Marie New
Past Meeting: On Jan. 12, the Finance Committee reviewed Dec. financials, and budget vs. actuals – new Committee day/time decided so that financials can be presented at future exec committee meetings.
Next Meeting: March 4, 8:30 a.m., via Zoom Conference Call
Board Organizational Committee
The Board Organizational Committee looks at all aspects of Board relations, certain organizational process improvements, Board of Directors election process, recruitment and membership for the Board, and enhancing camaraderie for Board and staff.
Marques would like the Committee to also focus on research, such as reviewing the bylaw; writing a CEO job description; creating a recruitment matrix for the Boards (SJDA, Foundation, PBID).
The Committee can be comprised of two co-chairs, and a minimum of 3 at large members.
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past Meeting: The Board Organizational Committee met on Sept. 22 to discuss the following changes to the by-laws: replace “Executive Director” with “CEO” and “President of the Board” with “Chair of the Board; delete offices of Vice-President of Operations and Vice-President of Marketing” and add the office of “Vice-Chair”
Next Meeting: TBD
Downtown Parking Board
This public-private entity discusses downtown parking issues and budgets.
Chair: Dave Heindel
Vice Chair: Tamiko Rast
Contact: Robert Robledo
Past Meeting: The Downtown Parking Board last met Nov. 1, The Board approved FY 2022-23 annual financial and activity Report; the Annual Parking Meter Memo, during which the Board commented on possible ways to increase revenue, which remains below 2019 levels. One example would be to institute dynamic parking rates that change as demand increases and decreases. The Board also heard an update on Parking Capital Improvement projects.
Next Meeting: March 6, 10:00 a.m., City Hall, Room 847 (City meetings are now in-person and on live video)
Historic District
Deals with concerns regarding events, construction, safety and marketing of this downtown neighborhood.
Chair: Eric Nielsen
Contact: Juan Carlos Aguirre
Past Meeting: The HDC met on Dec. 4. The focus of the meeting was on the Post Street Closure Pilot Program Extension. The San José Fire Department instructed Post Street stakeholders to remove and replace the temporary hanging lights from Post Street and replace them with a permanent–Fire Safety Approved–model. However, Public Works needs to be part of the approval process, so SJDA will invite Public Works to a future meeting to help with a lighting design. Additionally, HDC members requested that OEDCA actively recruit businesses into the empty storefronts within the district.
Next Meeting: March 4, Location TBD
San Jose Downtown Foundation
The foundation hosts, organizes and fundraises for Downtown Doors and other art projects downtown. Visit the Foundation page on this website to learn more.
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past Meeting: The Board met on Feb. 13 to receive a staff report about the spring 2024 Downtown Doors competition, exhibition and reception.
Next Meeting: March 11, 12 p.m., via Zoom Conference Call
San Pedro Square Committee
This committee works on marketing, events, safety and other issues in the San Pedro Square neighborhood.
Co- Chair: David Mulvehill and Randy Musterer
Contact: Julie Carlson
Past Meeting: On January 23, City Council held a public hearing to officially implement the Pedestrian Mall Law of 1960 on San Pedro Street. Prior to the council meeting, a ribbon cutting/press event also took place on San Pedro Street. Business and property owners in the district attended both events and showed their support. The committee last met on Aug. 23. City staff discussed the process to create the Pedestrian Mall on San Pedro Street, which would be a continuation of the temporary street closure currently in place on the block between Santa Clara and St. John streets, and remove regular vehicular traffic from the street.
Next Meeting: TBD