Coast Village Association Seats New Board

The Annual Meeting for the Coast Village Improvement Association met last week at the Montecito Inn. The meeting’s purpose was the presentation of the 2024 slate to vote in the Board of Directors and to update the accomplishments and goals of the Interim Board and Executive Director. 

The Interim Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the new Board of Directors. The Board went from 10 to 12 directors, and includes President Trey Pinner, Vice President Robert Miller, Treasurer Mike Chenoweth, Secretary Jason Copus, and directors Trish Davis, Francois DeJohn, Kevin Frank, Jeff Harding, Rob Kooyman, Michael MacElhenny, Thorn Robertson, and Suzi Schomer. 

Executive Director Beth Sullivan gave a presentation on the newly designed website (still under construction) and the social media relaunch, which has been well received by followers with exceptional engagement as seen by the data displayed. In an effort to improve the district’s “sense of place,” the group is rebranding the area through marketing, publicity, community involvement, events, a new logo, and strategic alliances. Sullivan has been interacting one-on-one with each merchant, stakeholders, and neighbors. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of the building phase of the improvement district and feel that this district is the heartbeat of this wonderful community,” she said, noting that the inaugural Coast Village Week, which ended on Saturday with a plethora of events, pop-ups, and sales, was a great success. The winner of the raffle prize during Coast Village Week will be announced next week.

Updates from Pinner and Miller, who were the interim board president and vice president, respectively, revealed that the road will be improved in 2024, starting with loading zones and improvement of the crosswalk at the Chevron station in the spring, and ending with a complete repaving of Coast Village Road from the Hot Springs roundabout to Olive Mill Road in the fall. New landscaping is planned, but it is anticipated that a sizable sum of money will need to be raised in order to support the medians’ beautification. 

The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2024.