HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 16, 1995JOINT MEETING OF THE
LODI CITY COUNCIL AND THE
LODI-WOODBRIDGE WINEGRAPE COMMISSION
— SPENKER WINERY, 17303 NORTH DEVRIES ROAD, LODI
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1995
7:02 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members - Pennino, Sieglock, and Warner
Absent: Council Members - Davenport and Mann (Mayor)
Present: Winegrape Commissioners - Joe Cotta Ill, Kevin Delu, Steve Felton, Brad Lange, John
Ledbetter, Larry Mettler and Mark Chandler, Executive
CEO
Also Present: City Manager Flynn, Acting Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Ronsko, Community Center Director Lange, Economic Development Coordinator
Goehring, Electric Utility Director Vallow, City Attorney Hays and City Clerk Perrin
2. INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Economic Development Coordinator Goehring.
DISCUSSION OF ITEMS OF MUTUAL CONCERN
Prior to the meeting a tour was given of the Spenker Winery and an elegant dinner was provided
by the Spenkers.
Mark Chandler, Executive CEO, opened the meeting, and the City Council and the Winegrape
Commissioners discussed the following matters:
• The Chamber of Commerce Visitors' Bureau will help to bring more tourism to Lodi; however,
the Visitors' Bureau and the Winegrape Commission need to work together more closely to
optimize spreading the word about the local wineries;
• Lodi needs more wineries, such as the Spenker Winery, to open in the area and to stay open
with longer hours;
• The Commission feels the Welcome to Lodi billboards are important to retain at the main
corridors into Lodi. With the California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA) coming to the Lodi
area, the location of the billboards may need to be reconsidered. Currently the billboards
appear at the entrance to the City on Highway 99. It may be necessary to put up billboards
on 1-5 and Highway 12. Also, the art work on the billboards are outdated and do not catch the
drivers' attention. The Commission indicated it would be willing to donate its graphics for the
billboards.
The possibility of the City and the Commission jointly opening a wine tasting room was
mentioned. Mr. Chandler informed the City Council that the Lodi Grape Festival is
considering opening an agricultural center at the previous driving range on Lockeford Street
and Cherokee Lane. If this is to be done, it needs to be in the right spot to work. Council
Member Pennino suggested that it be located downtown. It was also felt that most people like
to go into the country to visit the various wineries and see the vineyards and how things are
done, instead of stopping at one centralized spot to taste various wines. However, a majority
concurred that it would be nice to have one spot in town that could refer visitors to the local
wineries.
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Continued November 16, 1995
• Another suggestion was to keep Lodi Lake full year-round and use it as an attraction to Lodi.
The Parks and Recreation Commission is currently looking into the feasibility of keeping the -
lake full all year.
• If the Council were more aware of the types of businesses needed to supply wineries with its
equipment (for example, barrels, corks, bottles, etc.), it could do more in its economic
development program to attract those kinds of businesses and/or distribution markets to Lodi.
• The agricultural industry of Lodi as a whole needs to be promoted more in Lodi. An idea put
on the table was to contact local supermarkets and request that they display local products in
their stores, including wines, nuts, fruits, etc.
• The Commission suggested that the City Council and staff become more familiar with the
agriculture industry terminology and vocabulary so that it can better sell the market to the
public. The Council also needs to focus not only on Lodi's tourism, but regional tourism.
• Transportation issues also need to be looked at. With CYSA coming to the area, the best
route from CYSA to Lodi needs to be determined. Further, the City needs to be ready to
handle tourism of this magnitude which would include hotels, restaurants, wineries, etc.
• The Commission indicated its support of the 2% growth in Lodi, so it does not lose its prime
agricultural land.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Pennino left due to another commitment, therefore, due to lack of a quorum, the
meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 p.m.
ATTEST:
/!�
nifer Perrin
ity Cler
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