Help for the Holidays

Is your store or restaurant offering holiday promotions or special events? 

Are you doing last-minute hiring?

If you're located within our district boundaries we can help you publicize these activities.  Just contact our associate director for a listing on our social media sites.  There's no charge for this service.

Holiday Security Patrols Start Soon

Did you know that the Florin Road Partnership contracts with a private security firm to provide armed holiday patrols of our district?  Merchants and commercial property owners can participate in this program free of charge.  Just contact our office for details and the necessary Notice of Agency (NOA) form.

Online Resources about Workplace Laws & Rights

http://www.workplacefairness.org
A list of workplace laws in all 50 states, court decisions impacting the workplace, and a “Find a Lawyer” feature.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws
Interactive tools provided by the U.S. Department of Labor to help you understand how employment laws apply to you

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/practical/workplacelaw.html
The American Bar Association provides answers to common questions regarding workplace issues such as sexual harassment and discrimination.

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs7-work.htm
Detailed information to help you protect your privacy at home and at work.

Florin Road Fun

September 2012 will be a busy – and fun – month in our district! 

Join us on Sunday, September 2 for the 2^nd Annual Family First Show-N-Shine Car/Bike/Motorcycle Show at Southgate Plaza (Florin Road and Franklin Boulevard, Sacramento).  This FREE family-friendly event will feature a live DJ, kids’ fun zone, Aztec dancers, vendors, raffle, and of course, all those cool cars, bikes, and motorcycles. 

The show is from 11 am to 5 pm.  The car entry is from 7 am to 11 am.  The fee to enter a car in the show is $20, with a portion of the proceeds going to local non-profit organizations.

The following weekend is the Big Fair in Little Saigon on Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9.  This event takes place from 9 am to 9 pm both days at the corner of Stockton Boulevard and Florin Road.  It’s hosted by the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (GSVACC).  Carnival rides, bounce houses, exhibits, food vendors, and a beer garden are just some of the fun awaiting you.  For more information, visit www.gsvacc.org, email contact@gsvacc.org, or call 916-627-5165 or 916-213-5831. 

Our affiliate, the Florin Road Foundation, is holding their 10^th Annual Beach Blanket Bingo fundraiser on Thursday, September 27 at Florin Road Bingo (2350 Florin Road, Sacramento).  Doors open at 5:30 pm, with the event running from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 

This event is rapidly selling out with a special BOGO for BINGO deal available only through August 31!  A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door on a first come-first serve basis for $50.00 per person. 

All admissions include a BBQ Tri-tip and Thai Chicken dinner by Hannibal’s Catering, dessert, nonalcoholic beverages, goody bag, door prize entry, and cards and daubers for 8 bingo games.  There are over $3,000 in bingo, raffle, and door prizes!  All guests must be at least 18 years old.  The cash bar staffed by The Bolt Bar is open to guests ages 21+, with beer, wine and spirits available for $3 to $6 per serving.

Last year’s celebrity emcee Richard T. Jennings II returns again to call the games.  Rick is the CEO of The Center for Fathers and Families and the Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XI Champion.  Proceeds from this event benefit K-12 schools and nonprofits in the South Sacramento community.  For more information, visit http://www.florinroad.com/events/080512BingoFlyer.pdf

Learn About September 2012 Regional Transit Service Improvements

Effective Sunday, September 2, 2012, Sacramento Regional Transit District will implement major service improvements.  This includes extending night service on light rail and nine major bus routes, increasing frequency on highly-utilized bus routes, and restructuring bus routes to better serve riders.

Stop by one of RT's information booths to learn about changes that may affect your route.

Thursday, August 9

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Broadway light rail station

3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Meadowview light rail station

  

Thursday, August 16

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Florin Towne Centre Transit Center (65th Street and Sky Parkway)

Tuesday, August 28

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Cosumnes River College Transit Center (Bruceville Road east entrance) and City College light rail station

The September 2012 service changes are the first-year of TransitRenewal service improvements based on community input. TransitRenewal is a comprehensive operational analysis of the RT bus and light rail system.  It resulted in recommendations on how to restore, restructure and "renew" transit service through 2017. 

New pocket timetables and the September 2012 Bus & Light Rail Timetable Book/System Map will be available at the RT Customer Service and Sales Center located at 1225 R Street (adjacent to the 13th Street light rail station) beginning Monday, August 27.

Big or Small - We've Got It All!

Looking for a particular merchant or type of business
on the Florin Road Corridor? 

Our downloadable Merchant Directory features over 500 businesses in an Excel spreadsheet.  We've got everything from large chain stores and internationally-known restaurants to small mom-and-pop shops and eateries, schools, worship centers, government offices, and more.

Just visit the "Directory" page of our website at http://www.florinroad.com/.  On that page you can also download our District Map and check out each month's Featured Businesses.

How to Protect Your Small Biz from Zombies

Is your small biz prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse? 

Do you have a disaster plan in place for either natural or human-created disasters?

If you answered "no" to either of these questions, you should take a moment to read this article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for tips on creating a business disaster plan:  Prepare for a Zombie Invasion of Your Business

June Business Seminars & Mixers

The City of Sacramento will hold the FREE Sacramento Business First workshop for small businesses on Friday, June 8, 2012.

You’ll get information about business counseling, marketing, social media, finance, business tax programs, and more! Local economic development researcher Ryan Sharp will discuss the latest economic trends taking place in our region. There will also be informational booths, networking opportunities, and refreshments.

The event runs from 7:30 am to 11:45 am at the Woodlake Hotel, Sacramento.

To register, visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/econdev/sacramentobusinessfirst/index.cfm

Paychex Insurance Agency, Inc. presents Navigating Health Insurance Options for Businesses.  This seminar will be held on Monday, June 18, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET. 

To register, visit http://www.paychexinsurance.com/seminars.aspx.


The Power Inn Alliance presents Security & Business Protection Faire & Mixer on Thursday, June 21, 2012, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at the Alliance office, 5310 Power Inn Road, Suite F, Sacramento.

This event combines a meet-and-greet style mixer with the popular "Crime & Dine" meetings.  Local security and protective products companies will be on hand showcasing their products and services.

To register, visit http://securityfaire.eventbrite.com.

FREE May Business Seminars

The Paychex Seminar Series presents two valuable topics in one FREE seminar.  Learn the benefits of offering a 401(k) plan for businesses of any size and how payroll- and non-payroll integrated 401(k) plans work.  You'll also learn about today's ever-changing regulatory environment and requirements from federal agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor (DOL).

This seminar will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 9 am to 12:00 pm at your local Paychex office or a nearby location.  A continental breakfast will be served. To register, visit www.paychex.com/localseminars or call toll free 877-321-8581.

"What Every Business Should Know About 401(k) Plans" is another FREE seminar offered online by Paychex.  The next session will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET.  To register, visit www.paychex.com/print/401(k)-seminar.

It's Our Lucky Day!

It may be Friday the 13th,

but here in our district it's a lucky day

as we welcome 4 new businesses.

Guaranteed Auto Sales on Florin Road,
across from Luther Burbank High School

Check 'n Go at Jeremiah's Plaza

Vinai Market & Pure Water and Noor Jewelry at Sun City Center

Welcome to Our Newest Businesses!

24/7 Auto Sales on 65^th Street, near Stockton Boulevard

Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant at Stockton Square

Furniture #1 at Home Leisure Plaza

Visions Unlimited at Stockton Square

Vovinam Vietnamese Martial Arts at Pacific Rim Plaza

Look What's New in Our District!

Did you know that an average of 4 new businesses open

every month in the Florin Road Partnership's district?
Here’s a sampling of some that we recently welcomed:

MetroPCS at Southgate Plaza

Sprint on Florin Road, across from Florin Towne Centre

Boost Mobile at Florin Trade Center

Smog Mart on Stockton Blvd. by Florin Towne Centre

Meineke Car Care Center on Stockton Blvd.

Spring into Savings on the Florin Road Corridor

Looking for a particular merchant or type of business
on the Florin Road Corridor? 

Our downloadable Directory features nearly 500 businesses in an Excel spreadsheet.  We've got everything from large chain stores and internationally-known restaurants to small mom-and-pop shops and eateries, schools, worship centers, government offices, and more.

Just visit the "Directory" page of our website at http://www.florinroad.com/.  On that page you can also download our District Map and check out each month's Featured Business.

Here We Grow Again!

Did you know that eBay has an online Small Business Center?  It promises "practical business tips, helpful tools and hard-won wisdom."  A number of resources are provided through their partnership with Small Business Opportunities magazine.  You can also access exclusive offers and special savings targeted to small businesses. 

What are you waiting for? Start growing your business today!

http://cc.ebay.com/small-business-info

It's Business First in Sacramento

Save the Date for “Sacramento Business First”! 

The City of Sacramento will hold this FREE workshop for small businesses on Friday, June 8, 2012.

You’ll get information about business counseling, marketing, social media, finance, business tax programs, and more!  Local economic development researcher Ryan Sharp will discuss the latest economic trends taking place in our region.  There will also be informational booths, networking opportunities, and refreshments. 

The event runs from 7:30 am to 11:45 am at the Woodlake Hotel, Sacramento. 

To register, visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/econdev/sacramentobusinessfirst/index.cfm

Giant Ferris Wheel Coming to Southgate Plaza!

What does a 7-story giant Ferris Wheel, Midway Games, 17 rides, and traditional carnival food have in common? It's not a trick question - the answer is Southgate Plaza! 

From Wednesday, April 4 through Sunday, April 8, 2012, you can enjoy rides, food, and fun (and do some shopping, too!)  The Carnival will be open from 4 pm to 10 pm, Wednesday through Friday, and from noon to 10 pm on Saturday & Sunday.

Bring your family & friends to Southgate Plaza, at the intersection of Florin & Franklin in Sacramento.

For more info about the carnival, visit California Carnival at http://www.californiacarnival.com/.  For more info about Southgate Plaza, including special coupon offers, visit http://www.southgate-plaza.com/.

Dare to Be Aware this April

Are you interested in tying your marketing efforts to a special day or event?  Here are a couple websites that list upcoming "Awareness Days":

http://www.newtonmfg.net/Ideas/CalendarofEvents.aspx and

http://www.epromos.com/education/calendars/

 April is:

• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Blood Donor Month
• Cancer Control Month
• Customer Loyalty Month
• Facial Protection Month
• Get Yourself Tested Month
• Injury Prevention Month
• Jazz Appreciation Month
• National Autism Awareness Month
• National Car Care Month
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Occupational Therapy Month
• National Oral Health Month
• National Stress Awareness Month
• Patient Safety Awareness Month
• Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month
• Prematurity Awareness Month
• Procrastination Awareness Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month
• Sports Eye Safety Month
• Stress Awareness Month
• Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
• Youth Sports Safety Month

Information, Please!

Are you looking for statistical information to help with your business decisions?  Here are a few websites to check out:

Bureau of Labor Statistics/Demographics:  Information about the U.S. labor force, including demographics, geographics, and consumer spending patterns.
http://www.bls.gov/bls/demographics.htm

FedStats:  Statistical data from more than 100 government agencies.
http://www.fedstats.gov/

U.S. Census Bureau - Quick Facts:  Easy-to-understand facts about people, businesses, and geographics.  There's also a link to a site for younger students to access.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd

Employers & Veterans: A Perfect Match

There are a number of agencies and associations in the Sacramento area that provide information and programs to help connect employers and job-ready military veterans.  Some of them include:

• California Employment Development Department (www.edd.ca.gov)
• California Department of Veterans Affairs (www.cdva.ca.gov)
• Sacramento Area Human Resource Association (www.sahra.org)
• Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (www.seta.net)

• Sacramento Veterans Resource Center (www.vietvets.org/svrc.htm)

Sacramento By The Numbers

Here are some interesting stats about Sacramento region businesses (based on U.S. Census Bureau data from 2009, the latest year for which official figures are available):

·         The Sacramento region had just over 45,000 private-sector businesses in 2009.  This ranks Sacramento No. 28 in the country for the number of business establishments,

·         These businesses employed about 644,000 workers in 2009, putting us at No. 444 nationwide.

·         That’s an average of approximately 14 workers per business in our region.

·         97.85 percent of all the businesses in the Sacramento region are considered small businesses (1-99 employees).  Nationwide, 97.7 percent of businesses have fewer than 100 employees.

·         74.21 percent of Sacramento area businesses are considered microbusinesses (1-9 employees).

·         Sacramento private sector employees earn an average salary of $41,800, ranking No. 57 nationwide.

·         The region’s private sector employees earned a total of $26.93 billion in 2009. Private sector payrolls in America’s 938 metropolitan and micropolitan areas were valued at $4.6 trillion in 2009.

(data courtesy of On Numbers and the Sacramento Business Journal, October-November, 2011)

Get Legal – Get Licensed

Sacramento County issues business licenses to regulate businesses operating in the unincorporated area of the county to promote improved enforcement of ordinances.  The license is not a business tax and is not based on business revenue. 

There are several types of business license; some businesses may be exempt from the General Business License, others may require both a General Business License and a Special Business License.  Operating a business without the required Sacramento County Business License(s) is a misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500.00 and six (6) months in jail.

The county has a new, expanded online business license process.  This allows you to track your application’s progress and helps the county answer your questions.  You can also search whether a business name has been registered and who owns the business. 

Find out more at http://www.finance.saccounty.net/Tax/BusLicGeneral.asp

Get This Party Started!

Join the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce at their Installation Banquet and Gala on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Hilton Arden West, 2200 Harvard St., Sacramento. 

The event runs from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and includes a reception, dinner program, entertainment, and dancing.  Individual tickets range from $55 - $75 while tables of 10 are $500.

For more information, please call Phung Vo at 510-703-9795 or visit www.gsvacc.org.

Reminders and Resources from EDD

·         The California Employment Development Department reminds you NOT to send a cover letter with your Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages or Continuation form (DE 9 and DE 9C).  Doing so may delay processing.

·         EDD has free email subscription services for:  Employment and Payroll Tax Information, Labor Market Information, Paid Family Leave Information, Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act.

To subscribe, go to http://www.edd.ca.gov, select “Get E-mail Services”, then select “I want to subscribe”.

·         E-Services for Business offers employers and their representatives a fast, easy, and secure way to manage their payroll tax accounts online.  After completing a simple, one-time enrollment, you can access your account 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Built-in edits help you identify and correct errors online.  Visit https://eddservices.edd.ca.gov.

·         EDD offers no-fee State payroll tax seminars, either classroom-style or Web-based.  Visit www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars/.  Additional information is also available from their Taxpayer Assistance Center at 888-745-3886.

Learn More, Earn More

Looking for FREE or low-cost business workshops?  Be sure to check out the "Events" page of our website for flyers of upcoming training events.

http://florinroad.com/events/events.html

California, Get Your Business Online!

Get Your Business Online is managed by Google and designed to make it fast, easy, and free for any business to get online. 

Here’s what you get:

• Free, easy-to-build Intuit website,
• Free customized domain name,
• Free web hosting for one year,
• Free online tools and training.

Find out more and signup at www.gybo.com/california/howitworks

Win a FREE TV commercial to promote your business!

Staples is giving away 15 seconds of one of their commercials to promote a real small business – maybe yours!  It’s valued at $50,000 and will air in your local market. 
Enter by Wednesday, March 14, 2012 on the Staples Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/staples

Who Needs More Business?

If you do, then don’t miss the “How to Get More Customers Workshop” on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.  It’s from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce office at 5770 Freeport Blvd., Suite 44, Sacramento. 

Learn how to get more clients without spending a lot of time and money on advertising that doesn’t work.  The workshop is FREE, but the information is priceless! 

RSVP by calling 916-231-0416 or by emailing lmilton@sacblackchamber.org.

Get Lucky on Florin Road!

Be sure to check out this month's Featured Businesses on our website at http://florinroad.com/directory/March%202012%20Featured%20Businesses.pdf
Great deals and special savings are waiting for you!

Free Small Biz Marketing Resources

Business.com
http://www.business.com/

Business directory with over 10,000 vendors, a price quotes engine, and over 50,000 articles, guides, and whitepapers on business topics.

Business Owner’s Toolkit
http://www.toolkit.com/small_business_guide/sbg.aspx?nid=P03_0101

Thousands of pages of information and tools to help you start, run and grow your business.

SCORE
http://www.score.org/index.html

Templates, tools, free local mentoring, and more.

Startupnation
http://www.startupnation.com/Marketing/5/

Articles, blogs, audio podcasts, discussion boards, etc.

U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/marketandprice/index.html

Your one-stop-shop for info on starting & managing a business, loans and grants, contracting, counseling and training.

Permission to Build?

The City of Sacramento's Community Development Dept. is initiating many changes to make the building permit process easier.  The "Sacramento Streamline Program" will happen in stages, over the next few months.

Improvements now available include an ePlan check, an express lane at the public counter, a solar flat fee, and a guide to electrical vehicle supply equipment permits for residential.

Upcoming changes include online project status and appointment scheduling, e-permitting, and creation of an expedited plan review process for pre-approved customers.

To find out more, visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/customer-service/sacramento-streamline.cfm.

Get Connected - Stay Connected

Sacramento State offers FREE online career management services for employers.  You can post positions (full-time, part-time, internship, co-op, and volunteer), review online resumes, register for career fairs, and track career center events.

For more information, contact the Career Center at 916-278-6231 or visit www.csus.edu/careercenter.

Sacramento County Resources At Your Fingertips

Have you checked out the County of Sacramento’s website recently?  They have a wealth of free information for you.  The “Business Assistance” section features information About Sacramento, Business Development, New Business, and Economic Development.  The “Business Resources” section includes information about Business Operations, Building and Development  Services, and Restaurant and Food Facilities.  Visit http://www.saccounty.net/Business.

Just for California Businesses

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is a not-for-profit organization that helps California businesses with complex laws and regulations.  Their CalChamber Store, which is open to nonmembers, has an extensive library of products to assist you.  This includes posters and reference books on many human resource topics such as employment law and sexual harassment prevention.  Find out more at http://www.calchamber.com/.

Going Postal

The United States Postal Service recently introduced improved features to make post office boxes an even greater value for customers. 

Did you know that you can now use the street address of a post office for your PO Box and benefit from the credibility of a street address for your business?  If you sign up for this feature, the post office will accept packages from private carriers that do not deliver to a PO Box.  These packages would be placed in a secure parcel locker, if available, for your convenience.  This service is especially important if you own a small business because you can now use a street address – not just a PO Box number – for your business.

The USPS also now offers Real Mail Notification ™ Services.  You can receive an email or text message each day you received new mail in your PO Box, Monday through Saturday. 

Additionally, you can have the post office keep your signature on file for signature-required mail and packages, including Express Mail ®, Insured Mail over $200 (including Electronic Return Receipt), and Signature Confirmation ™.  These items would then be placed in your PO Box or in a secure parcel locker for you to pick up at your convenience.  No more standing in long lines!

To find out more about these services, please visit your local post office and speak with a retail associate.

Small Biz Health Care Tax Credit

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, is now available to California small business and tax-exempt employers that provide health care coverage to their employees. 

For the 2011 filing season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is allowing a tax credit up to 35 percent of the health insurance premium costs that a small business incurred for insuring its employees.  This will increase to 50 percent in 2014.

More than 600,000 California businesses may be eligible for this tax credit.  Yours may be one of them.  For more information, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/sbhtc or consult with your tax preparer.

Green Cross Corp. Signs Florin Road Deal

As reported in The Sacramento Bee's January 26, 2012 edition, Green Cross Corp. plans to open a blood plasma collection center at 4333 Florin Road in March of this year.  They will be moving into the 10,000-square-foot building that was previously occupied by Bio-Medics and the California State Automobile Association.  Green Cross Corp. is a South Korean company that plans to eventually hire 40 employees to run the site.  

We Love February's Featured Businesses

Did you know that the Florin Road Property and Business Improvement District is comprised of nearly 500 businesses, representing more than 65 business categories?

Find out more about our merchants on the "Directory" page at http://www.florinroad.com/.  And be sure to check out each month's "Featured Businesses" flyer for profiles of our restaurants and retailers.

Upcoming Employee Turnover & 401(k) Seminars

Did you make a New Year's Resolution to learn how to manage your business better?  If you didn't, it's not too late!  Paychex is offering seminars to help you:

"The Cost of Employee Turnover" and "Tax Advantages of a 401(k) Plan"
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
In or near your local Paychex office
9:00 am to 12:00 pm (Continental breakfast will be served)
www.paychex.com/localseminars/
toll free 877-321-8581

"What Every Business Should Know About 401(k) Plans"
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Online:  2:00 pm to 2:45 pm ET
www.paychex.com/print/401k-seminar/

Where's The Beef?

Les Schwab is marking their 60th Anniversary with a Founder's Celebration and The All New Free Beef Promotion. 

Find out more at http://www.lesschwab.com/ or by visiting them at 5501 Florin Road, Sacramento (near Burlington Coat Factory and 65th Street).

What State is Your City In?

Join the Metro Chamber for the Twentieth Annual State of the City Address on Monday, January 30, 2012, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Sacramento Convention Center.  Mayor Kevin Johnson will highlight issues that are important to the region and the business community as well as the city's accomplishments and future goals.  Visit http://www.metrochamber.org/ for more information.

Employer Reporting Requirements for W-2 & EITC

The State of California Employment Development Department reminds employers that they are required to prepare a federal Wage & Tax Statement (Form W-2) for each employee. 

For the 2011 tax year, this form must be provided to employees by January 31, 2012 [per Section 13050 of the California Unemployment Insurance Code (CUIC)].  Employers who fail to provide a Form W-2 to each employee, or who furnish a false or fraudulent statement, are subject to penalties under the CUIC. 

Information about Form W-2 reporting requirements and instructions for completing the form can be found on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/ or by calling the IRS at 800-829-3676.

Employers are also required to notify their employees about the availability of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  For more information, please visit the IRS website or www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Year-End_Notification_Requirements.htm.

(Disclaimer:  Information provided in this blog posting is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal or financial advice.)

Monster Bus Rolls Into Southgate Plaza

Going to school was never this cool! 

Take a wild ride in the Monster Bus at Southgate Plaza (Florin & Franklin). 

And if you need some Dramamine, be sure to visit the new pharmacy at the nearby 99 Ranch Market.

Year of the Dragon Celebrations Rescheduled

Due to anticipated heavy rains, the Little Saigon Street Festival Parade and the TET Festival originally scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2012 have both been rescheduled to Saturday, February 4, 2012. 

The parade will begin at 9 am at the intesection of Fruitridge Road and Stockton Boulevard and will end at the intersection of Florin Road and Stockton Boulevard at approximately 11:15 am.  The parade is free and open to the general public.

For more information, please visit www.gsvacc.org/events, email parade@gsvacc.org, or call Elise at 916-538-9624.

Your Input Needed! Upcoming Public Transportation Service Hearings

You're invited to participate in an upcoming hearing on unmet needs for public transportation services in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties and the Sacramento Regional Transit District. The hearings will be held:

Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:00 PM
Sacramento Regional Transit District Auditorium
1400 29th Street, Sacramento, CA

Transit Access: RT Routes 30, 38, 67, 68, and RT Light Rail (Gold Line)

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 2:00 PM
Folsom-Hilton Garden Inn, Natoma Room A
221 Iron Point Road, Folsom, CA

Transit Access: Folsom Stage Line Route 10 and RT Light Rail (Gold Line)

 

Monday, February 27, 2012, 4:00 PM
Yuba County Government Center, Marysville Room
915 8th Street, Marysville, CA

Transit Access: Yuba-Sutter Transit Routes 1 and 4

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 2:00 PM
City of Galt Council Chambers
380 Civic Drive, Galt, CA

Transit Access: SCT/Link General Public - Dial-a-Ride and Highway 99 Express

 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 6:00 PM
City of Davis Council Chambers
23 Russell Blvd., Davis, CA

Transit Access: Yolobus Route 42 and Unitrans Routes M & Q

 

Thursday, April 19, 2012, 9:00 AM
SACOG Board Room
1415 L Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA

Transit Access: RT Routes 30, 31, 62, RT Light Rail; Yolobus Route 42; and Yuba-Sutter Transit Arrive - Highway 70 or 99 Commuter Route, Return - Midday Route

 

 

Each year the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), the regional transportation planning agency, seeks feedback on local transit services [including those offered by Regional Transit, e-tran and e-van, Folsom Stage Line, Paratransit, Inc., SCT/Link (South Sacramento County Transit), Yolobus and Yolo Special (paratransit), and Yuba-Sutter Transit]. 

 

SACOG asks if people need to make trips by transit but have difficulty because of issues like where transit goes or doesn't go, the schedule or cost. SACOG accepts unmet transit needs comments from any area in the counties of Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba.  They want to know the transit needs that are most important to the public and about suggested changes that could provide improved public transportation services if/when funds become available.

For questions or more information, check out http://www.sacog.org/transit/unmet.cfm
or contact Barbara VaughanBechtold at SACOG at 916-340-6275 or bvaughanbechtold@sacog.org.

Cover Your Asphalt!

There are lots of reasons to CYA (Cover Your Asphalt) with shade:

·         Reduce pavement temperature by up to 36 degrees (wow!)

·         Decrease parking lot runoff containing hazardous oil, grease, and metals

·         Lower fuel tank temperatures up to 7 degrees and temperatures inside vehicles by up to 47 degrees (yow!)

·         Increase customer satisfaction and increase business profits by up to 12 percent.

A demonstration CYA project is in progress at the parking lot of Florin Road Bingo at 24^th Street and Florin Road in Sacramento.  Last month, 25 Chinese pistache trees were planted there and will be provided a regular water source until the trees are established.   

This is a joint effort of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s 2011 Leadership Sacramento class.  In August they held a luau themed fundraiser at the bingo hall to raise funds for this project.  Once completed, the project will serve as an example that other businesses can emulate throughout the Sacramento region. 

The project is already receiving local recognition, having been featured in the September 2011 issue of Comstock’s Magazine and the August 12, 2011 edition of the Sacramento Business Journal.

Kudos to all the hardworking folks who coordinated this project!

New Tenants Coming to Florin Towne Centre

Word on the street is that some exciting changes are coming to Florin Towne Centre (the former Florin Mall):

Sizzler plans to open by early Spring of this year. (Keep your fingers crossed that this dry weather holds!) 

A restaurant is interested in the space formerly occupied by Eatza Pizza.  We hear that it's a new concept out of the San Francisco Bay Area.  Any guesses? (hint:  It's NOT pizza.)

And another soon-to-be-disclosed restaurant is looking to open at Florin Towne Centre.  (Wow, good thing the centre is also home to 24 Hour Fitness!)

Chase Bank plans to expand their presence in our business district by opening a second branch. Don't worry, we're told that the Chase branch at Southgate Plaza is doing well and plans to stay open.

Interior and exterior renovations are in the works for the Sears building.  (We're hearing that easier access to and from the rest of the centre is part of the plan.)

Look for holiday and community events throughout the year to draw shoppers to Florin Towne Centre.  (Yup, that means photo ops with the Easter Bunny and Santa!) 

Workplace Posting Obligations

Attention Business Owners and Managers -

Are you up-to-date with your workplace posting obligations?  State and federal regulations require employers to display various posters and notices to inform their employees of certain laws and regulations pertaining to employment and working conditions.  The posting are usually available at no cost from the requiring agency and can often be downloaded and printed online. 

Shown below are links to some of the required postings.  Please note that additional posting requirements apply to some workplaces.  Be sure to read the "frequently asked questions (FAQ)" pages at these sites for more information or contact each agency directly.  (Disclaimer:  This blog entry is not intended to be all-inclusive nor is it intended to offer legal advice.)

California Department of Industrial Relations:  http://www.dir.ca.gov/wpnodb.html

Cal/OSHA:  http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/puborder.asp

California Employment Development Department:  http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/Employer_Requirements.htm

For policyholders of State Compensation Insurance Fund:  http://www.statefundca.com/