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Programs and Member Resources

Economic Development Program

Program Description & Project Requirements

District Clean-Up Program

Because Fulton Avenue is host to approximately 33,000 commuters per day and is used heavily by public transportation, the Avenue has seen an increase in loose cigarette butts, trash and other kinds of random debris.

In an effort to keep things clean, the Association developed a "District Clean-Up Program" and hired an independent contractor who regularly walks/scans the District for garbage. The contractor also identifies problem areas, such as homeless camps and zones prone to graffiti, and reports these and other issues of concern to the Executive Director. So to measure success of this program, detailed reports are kept and submitted monthly to the Board of Directors. This program was paid for cooperatively by the County of Economic Development and the Association in 2007, and is being funded entirely by County Economic Development funds fin 2008.

Landscape Improvement Grants

The Association continues to offer landscape improvement grants to its members through a competitive application process. The program is designed to give financial assistance to property owners within the district who are interested in upgrading existing or installing new landscaping. The Association will issue matching grants of up to $5,000.00 per project for board-approved improvements.

Download Grant Application Information:

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Marketing and Promotions Program

Marketing and promotional activities are currently focused in three areas: Holiday events and entertainment, educating Association members and other stakeholders about past, present and future Association activities, and promoting both the businesses on the Avenue and the Association's improvement projects through advertising and with the local media.

Holiday spirits were elevated on the Avenue now that there is a full complement of decorative candy cane fixtures and wrap on the light poles and lampposts, and at all major intersections. These physical accoutrements enhance the shopping and neighborhood experience of area residents and travelers' through.

For the fifth year running, the Association hired a Santa Claus impersonator and Costumed Carolers to promenade through shopping centers and other Avenue businesses through the month of December. Several businesses availed themselves of the offer to have Santa come sit for photographs this year, a successful experiment that we are likely renew each year.

Additional event sponsorships this past year included the 6th Annual Arden-Arcade 4th of July Parade. The goal of the Parade is to promote community pride and patriotism in and around the District. Forty-two Parade entries made for quite a show for the several hundred flag waving attendees that lined the Avenue on July 4, 2007.

The Executive Director maintained an effective outreach program that produced interest from the media regarding the Association's improvement projects. The district continues to glean positive coverage in local and region-wide newspapers.

The Fulton Avenue Association regularly produces newsletters that feature new Fulton Avenue businesses, updates on improvement projects, and code enforcement tips.

The Association holds an Annual Meeting (either a lunch or dinner) for its members and dignitaries each year at a rotating venue. Over seventy-five Association members and stakeholders usually attend this event. Five awards are given to Avenue businesses that had either improved their property or business practice over the past year, or had performed extraordinarily well in the area of marketing and promotion. There is always a guest speaker at the Annual Meeting: speakers in the past have been Mike McKeever, CEO of Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), Supervisor Susan Peters, and Chris Taylor, an ADA Consultant.

In partnership with the Arden-Arcade Business Council, and the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Association continues to sponsor member mixers at inspiring Fulton Avenue locations. Association members enjoy hosting these functions to showcase their businesses. Events are well attended and promote networking opportunities and increased awareness of Association activities and projects.

www.fultonavenue.com, the Association's dedicated web site, promotes the Fulton Avenue District and better facilitates communication between the FAA and its members. It serves as an informational tool to property and business owners, and, interested parties may visit the site to learn more about the Association's formation, boundaries, activities and goals.

Additionally, the Association contracted with PageWeavers, Inc. to produce a web site specific to the car dealers in the District. www.fultoncars.com will allow potential buyers to browse the fleet if cars available on Fulton Avenue, to see details on any car, and to provide sales leads electronically to the car dealers. Each month, the car dealers will receive an automated report showing extensive information on which vehicles were viewed and other valuable statistics. This internet project is being funded by County Economic Development funds.

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Streetscape Improvements

Undergrounding of Overhead Power Lines and Removal of Utility Poles

For the past 5 years, the Association worked cooperatively with the County Department of Transportation, SMUD, AT&T, Surewest, MCI, and MBI Construction to complete the Fulton Avenue Undergrounding project.

The utility undergrounding project was implemented in the following phases:

  • Construction of joint trench conduit by the County (2006);
  • Installation of utility service cabinets, vaults and pull boxes (current and ongoing through 2006-2007);
  • Utility company installation of underground conductors inside conduit to replace overhead wires (Spring 2007); and
  • Removal of utility poles from sidewalks (late 2007 through mid 2008).

The $5.1 million in project funding is covered by a combination of Measure A local sales tax funds, Federal transportation dollars and funding from the Fulton Avenue Association.

Supervisor Susan Peters has stressed that "Fulton Avenue is one of Sacramento County's most important economic engines and we are continuing efforts to improve the appearance of this transportation corridor. Part of the County's mission is to simulate economic growth and this project is a perfect example of working with local merchants on efforts to help attract and retain both businesses and customers. Undergrounding existing overhead utilities will go a long way towards making Fulton Avenue a more visually pleasing place to do business and shop."

Tom Zlotkowski, the Director of the County's Department of Transportation believes "Improving and maintaining a safe and efficient transportation system that serves our citizens and commerce is SACDOT's mandate for unincorporated area roadways. Fulton Avenue utility undergrounding is an important project that supports local commerce. This project will remove existing overhead utilities and replace them with a system that is essentially underground. In addition, the removal of utility poles will make sidewalks more accessible to members of the disabled community."

Tim Cahill, of Charles C. Bell, Inc., and one of the founders of the Fulton Avenue Association's founders summed it up quite nicely: "a lot of people don't know how to get things done. We do".

Custom Street Signs

Working with a local designer, and Sacramento County's sign shop, the Association's Board of Directors approved a prototype for custom street signs for the entire District. The signs are 4-color, have The Fulton District typed at the top of the sign, and have the District's branded "F" in the far, right-hand corner. The installation of these signs was completed in Fall 2007.

Median Uplighting

In 2006, the Association installed uplighting in one of its 15 landscaped medians to see if the cost of the illuminative enhancement was of aesthetic or other value. It was decided that in addition to bringing attractive light to the Avenue at night, it became an added safety feature for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Association applied for matching funds from the County's Department of Economic Development to uplight the remaining 14 medians, and those funds were approved. Ellis and Ellis Sign Co. worked in conjunction with Department of Transportation staff to connect the appropriate electrical cable and install the fixtures at the base of all of the Avenue's Palm Trees. This project was completed in Spring 2008.

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Security Program

Background

  • The Fulton Avenue Security Committee partnered with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department to provide an additional level of service and security to the Fulton Avenue management district.
  • The Fulton Avenue Security Program was launched in May of 1999
  • The association hired off duty sheriff officers to patrol the district in a decaled sheriff's cruiser five to seven days per week. Each shift is a minimum of ten hours and starting times are staggered throughout day and night to provide optimum coverage.

How It Works

  • While on duty, the officers continuously patrol the Fulton Avenue district visiting as many of the properties as possible. During a shift, officers may receive and respond to calls originating in the Fulton district. When time permits officers are encouraged to stop and introduce themselves to area business and property owners during each shift.
  • The officers are in regular communication with the staff at the Fulton Avenue Association and will respond to calls from business or property owners routed through the association.

How To Use The Program

  • Property and business owners interested in meeting with an officer to discuss matters of security may contact the office of the Fulton Avenue Association at 978-1288 to set up an appointment.
  • If you are a witness to a crime in progress, call the Sheriff's department immediately at 911.
  • When reporting non-emergency incidents that require the response of the Sheriff's department, please call 996-9345.
  • To report a crime that does not require police action, you should contact the local Sheriff's service center at 485-1492 or you may call the Fulton Avenue Association at 978-1288.
  • It is important to report all crimes to ensure that Fulton Avenue receives its share of sheriff services.

 

For more about any of the programs listed above, contact FAA at (916) 978-1288.

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