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: May 13, 8:30 a.m., Google Meet & SJDA 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: May 8, 8:30 a.m., SJDA 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: TBD
Past Meeting: This will be re-started with a new Head of Marketing and Communications and chair Gumby.
Next Meeting: TBD
SoFAC (South First Area Committee)
This committee deals with neighborhood issues, markets events and more.
Chair: Kevin Wick and Dap Ashaolu
Contact: Brenda Zendejas
Past Meeting: SoFAC met on March 26 with OCA to discuss upcoming events and community projects. Fil and Pete Be outlined major events planned for the area, emphasizing street closures required for crowd management. Lou Jimenez, the Street Life Manager, provided updates on ongoing beautification efforts, including new murals. The Department of Transportation (DOT) also shared plans for a bike lane project, noting that instead of plants, pavers will be used to improve aesthetics and reduce maintenance.
Next Meeting: April 30, 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: The committee meeting provided updates on St. James Park, including capital improvements, operations and maintenance, and park activation efforts such as placemaking and event programming. There will also be a discussion on park safety and feeding issues, highlighting a coordinated engagement strategy developed by multiple city departments and stakeholders.
Next Meeting: May 23, 9 a.m., via Google Meet.
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: The committee met on April 24. City staff, Melina Inglesias, Kerry Adams-Hapner and Rosalynn Hughey, gave a presentation on the Entertainment Zone Ordinance and asked businesses for feedback. SJDA’s Operations Manager discussed new guidelines for requests for removing the San Pedro Street barriers and informed businesses that a new Groundwerx/SIT service request web page has replaced the Groundwerx app. SJDA’s Streetlife Manager presented the proposed outdoor furniture for San Pedro Street from the Reimagining Civic Commons grant.
Next Meeting: TBD June or July
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: TBD
Past Meeting: The Advocacy Committee met on April 18 and discussed the following issues : SJDA leadership transition; Advocacy Committee Policy; Federal reductions; Alebrijes fundraiser; MACLA’s fundraiser; D3 Election update; and Advocacy Q1 recap and Q2 planning.
Chair: Chris Shay
Co-Chair: Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
Next Meeting: May 16, 2 p.m., via MicrosoftTeams
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:
On April 28, the committee convened to review and discuss several agenda items. Chris Kendrix delivered a PowerPoint presentation with updates on the Santa Clara Corridor project, which the SJDA team has been developing over the past year. The committee found the information highly valuable and deemed it beneficial to share with their tenants and customers. The Social Impact Team (SIT) program was also discussed, highlighting how it serves as a resource for addressing unhoused issues and supporting properties and businesses. The committee was introduced to the new Groundwerx/SIT Service Request webpage, where Chris Kendrix provided examples of service requests that can be submitted and explained the submission process for the form. A follow-up discussion from the previous meeting about Graffiti Enforcement took place. Chris shared updates on the progress made by the Groundwerx team, including collaborative efforts with property owners to address the issue. Additionally, an announcement was made regarding the need for a chairperson to represent the committee. Members were encouraged to consider volunteering for this position.
Next Meeting: July 28, 10 a.m., 10 S Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95113
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: The Social Impact Committee convened on March 14 to discuss upcoming projects, provide updates, and review metrics for the Social Impact Team program. Chris Kendrix shared performance data from January and February. The committee also welcomed Lauren DeRosa, the Community Development Specialist with TRUST, an outreach organization specializing in mental health crisis interventions across the Bay Area. TRUST presented an overview of their work and highlighted ways their efforts could support both our organizations and the broader community. The committee brainstormed ideas for an upcoming Outreach Resource Fair, which is tentatively scheduled to take place at St. James Park on Thursday, May 22. The event aims to feature various outreach organizations, including mobile haircut services, a mobile medical RV, and potentially mobile showers. Plans also include distributing bagged lunches or snacks alongside donated items such as new undergarments, socks, and shirts. Additionally, the group explored the idea of launching a summer donation drive to collect these essential items ahead of the resource fair, ensuring ample resources to support community members in need.
Next Meeting: May 9, 10 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: Dennis Yu
Past Meeting: On March 25 the PBID Board of Directors met to discuss the progress of SJDA’s BART advocacy, raising “second signer” check limits, Groundwerx ambassador uniform changes, and updates to the Santa Clara Corridor Project. The board discussed the proposed 2025/2026 PBID budget.
Next Meeting: May 7, 3 p.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: TBD
Past Meeting: The Board Organizational Committee met on March 10 to review committees and structure, continue review of materials, plan a Board orientation, and discuss recruitment and engagement for 2025.
Next Meeting: TBD
Downtown Parking Board
This public-private entity discusses downtown parking issues and budgets.
Chair: Dave Heindel
Vice Chair: Tamiko Rast
Contact: TBD
Past Meeting: The March 4 Downtown Parking Board meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum.
Next Meeting: June 4
Historic District
Deals with concerns regarding events, construction, safety and marketing of this downtown neighborhood.
Chair: Eric Nielsen & Blair Carson
Contact: Chris Kendrix
Past Meeting: The HDC Committee met on April 23rd and discussed the following agenda items: Melina, Nelly, and Carrie from OCA presented a PowerPoint regarding the City of San Jose’s proposed downtown Entertainment Zone, which would allow four designated locations—San Pedro, Little Italy, Post Street, and the SoFA District—to obtain permits from OCA for outdoor alcohol consumption during events. A public meeting to gather support or opposition for the Entertainment Zone will be held on May 20th at city council. Street Life Manager Lou Jimenez informed the committee about an upcoming street mural project planned for Post Street in the coming months, which is currently in the planning phase. Chris Kendrix requested the committee’s input on the Collaborative Neighborhood Marketing Project, which has $3,500 allocated for a district marketing initiative. Committee members received a Google Form to vote on project ideas, and the group decided to move forward with a collaborative social media campaign featuring videos highlighting the district. Kendrix will provide further updates at the next meeting. Additionally, Kendrix informed the committee about updates to the Groundwerx & Social Impact Team programs reporting app and the new webpage on the Groundwerx.com website where PBID members can report cleaning or safety issues within the downtown PBID.
Next Meeting: June 25, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 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: San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) Board Meeting, members discussed fundraising strategies such as landing pages and greeting card sales. The Dr. Jerry Award program will be incorporated into the 2025 Downtown Doors event. Updates included the selection of 20 finalists, with vinyl wraps scheduled for installation the first week of May. A reception is currently being planned, and funding efforts are underway to support the program.
Next Meeting: May 13, 12 p.m, at the San Jose Museum of Art (Reception Rehearsal)
Finance Committee
Reviews and approves the SJDA budget.
Chair: Garrett Perez
Contact: Marie New (Noble Accounting)
Past Meeting: On March 31 the Finance Committee reviewed the February 2025 financial statement package.
Next Meeting: April 28, 8:30 a.m., via Zoom Conference Call
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: TBD
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: TBD
