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.
Committees
Want to get involved? Email the contact of the committee below you are interested in joining.
Executive Committee
The Chair of the Board of Directors chairs this 13-member committee. The immediate past chair is an 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 the Board of Directors.
Chair: Emily Ruvalcaba
Next Meeting: Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m., Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St.
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: Nov. 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.
Chair: Alan “Gumby” Marquez
Contact: Robert Robledo
Past Meeting: The Marketing 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 project.
We will be discussing all upcoming marketing projects in the new OED contract.
Next Meeting: Nov. 20, Business Support Center, 16 N 3rd St.
SoFAC (South First Area Committee)
This committee deals with neighborhood issues, markets events and more.
Chair: Kevin Wick and Dap Ashaolu
Contact: Lou Jimenez
Past Meeting: The SoFA Committee met on August 28 at Decca Design. SJDA introduced a new meeting format for this meeting: there were three (3) different stations inside the meeting space that provided three (3) consecutive 20-minute presentations. Station One: the staff from PATH gave a presentation and update on the Project Home Key Project. Station Two: City of San José’s Department of Transportation held a listening session to receive feedback, concerns, and questions about parking. Station Three: Filco Events and SJDA facilitate a conversation on SoFA Street Fair, the SoFA Branding Committee, and received feedback on topics to be discussed at the October meeting.
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: Lou Jimenez
Past Meeting: On Oct. 25, the meeting addressed updates on capital improvement efforts, including the Levitt project, as well as ongoing maintenance work in St. James Park. The Activation Team will share information on upcoming events and placemaking initiatives. Additionally, there will be a discussion on park safety and an engagement strategy involving various city departments to address challenges with food and clothing distribution in the park. We will also coordinate with the VTA to remove the large planters in front of the courthouse.
Next Meeting: Nov. 22, 9:00 a.m., via Google Meet.
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: Alex Stettinski
Past Meeting: The Advocacy Committee met on Aug. 29 and discussed the following issues : Downtown Office Incentive Program; Unlicensed vendors; BART and downtown fabric protection; SB969 Entertainment Districts; and Arts, Sports and Destination Economy. The Committee drafted a “focus document” and discussed inviting the Mayor’s team to attend a future committee meeting.
Next Meeting: TBD
Downtown Commercial Properties
Informational meetings for owners and managers of large downtown commercial properties. Meets on an ad hoc basis.
Contact: Chris Kendrix
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: Chris Kendrix
Past Meeting: On Sept. 13, the committee met to review Social Impact Team achievements, metric, and update on the workshop from the previous meeting. Committee brainstormed ideas for a donation drive for the upcoming winter months for the unhoused.
Next Meeting: Nov. 8, 9 a.m., SJDA Business Support Center, 16 N. 3rd St.
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: Nate LeBlanc
Past Meeting: On August 20 the PBID Board of Directors met to discuss the progress for several beautification projects on Santa Clara Street, safety issues on Santa Clara Street, and BART construction impacts on Santa Clara Street.
Next Meeting: Nov. 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: Join us for an engaging discussion on how integrating arts and sports can enhance the vibrancy of downtown San Jose. Hear insights from distinguished panelists and contribute to the community conversation. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of shaping our downtown’s future! Please see link here to view the invite.
Next Meeting: January, 2025, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Location: TBD
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 August 20, SJDA hosted a San Pedro Square District stakeholder workshop. During the workshop, stakeholders had the opportunity to participate in a S.W.O.T (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the neighborhood. Additionally, the workshop participants completed a visioning for the future exercise that helped identify future meeting agenda items, formats, locations, and goals. All of the data provided during the workshop will be applied by SJDA staff to help the SPS stakeholders accomplish their mission and goals for the neighborhood.
Next Meeting: December, TBD
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: Alex Stettinski
Past Meeting: The Board Organizational Committee met on May 13 to discuss the election of new Board members.
Next Meeting: TBD
Downtown Parking Board
This public-private entity discusses downtown parking issues and budgets.
Chair: Dave Heindel
Vice Chair: Tamiko Rast
Contact: Alex Stettinski
Past Meeting: The Sept. 4 Downtown Parking Board meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum. Elizabeth Chien-Hale will report on behalf of SJDA.
Next Meeting: TBD
Historic District
Deals with concerns regarding events, construction, safety and marketing of this downtown neighborhood.
Chair: Eric Nielsen
Contact: Chris Kendrix
Past Meeting: The HDC Committee met on October 23 at the SJDA’s Business Support Center. The committee reviewed the goals and projects from our last meeting. The Office of Economic Development (OED) invited Russell Joyce from the City of San Jose Environmental Services Department (ESD) to speak about issues regarding the management of dumpsters and public litter cans (PLCs). Russell shared ways to report issues and how ESD manages those complaints. OED also reviewed updates on unpermitted vendors for the upcoming holiday season. SJDA provided a presentation on our Santa Clara Corridor Project, highlighting our accomplishments and future projects that are still in progress. We reviewed the boundaries of the Historic District. The Committee decided on a boundary for SJDA to update the map that we created. SJDA staff will conduct outreach with businesses south of San Fernando to see if any are interested in being included.
Next Meeting: Dec. 10, 11 am – 12:30 pm, 55 South, 55 S First Street
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: Lou Jimenez
Past Meeting: The San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) held its regular board meeting on August 23, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at the SJDA Conference Room. The meeting, called to order by Autumn Young, included discussions on venue options for the Downtown Doors 2025 event, sponsor outreach tasks for 2025, and expansion of the Downtown Doors program, along with a resolution for signatory authorization related to the pART Grant.
Next Meeting: TBD
Finance Committee
Reviews and approves the SJDA budget.
Chair: Garrett Perez
Contact: Marie New (Noble Accounting)
Past Meeting: On Sept. 23, the Finance Committee reviewed June preliminary audited financials with Armanino.
Next Meeting: Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m., via Zoom Conference Call
