Daily Business Report — Feb. 28, 2011

Tax Defaulted Properties to be Auctioned

A total of 469 tax defaulted properties will be sold at auction by the county on March 18 at the San Diego Convention Center in an effort to collect more than $2.4 million in unpaid property taxes. “We currently have 76 improved properties, 278 time shares and 115 unimproved parcels ready for auction,” said San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister.  “The numbers may change if owners step up and pay the defaulted taxes with penalties right before the deadline. Owners of delinquent properties have until 5 p.m. on March 17, the day before the tax sale, to bring their taxes and delinquent charges up to date, or their property will be sold.”

Interested bidders may purchase registration packets for $60 at any of the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s offices in Downtown San Diego, Kearny Mesa, Chula Vista, El Cajon or San Marcos.  A $1,000 refundable deposit is also required at the time of registration. Prospective bidders must register by 5 p.m. on March 11 to participate in the auction.

State law gives McAllister the right to sell any or all portions of properties that have been in default for five years. In December 2009, the Board of Supervisors approved 379 properties for last year’s auction.  In November 2010, the board approved nearly 600 properties for auction at this year’s sale.

“We have timeshare properties starting with a minimum bid of $375.00,” said McAllister.  “You cannot beat that deal for a vacation home, especially here in San Diego.”

Information on the current availability of properties going to auction can be obtained by calling the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Tax Sale Information Line at (619) 531-4862 or by accessing sdtreastax.com.

Port Board Approves Finance Plan for Embarcadero Phase

The Board of Port Commissioners has approved a financing plan for the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan. The cost of the first phase, estimated at $28.6 million, will be shared equally by the Port of San Diego and the Redevelopment Agency of the city of San Diego, acting through the Centre City Development Corp. The Port can’t move forward on the project without funding assistance from the Redevelopment Agency. An amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement on the plan allows it to advance construction costs so construction could begin as soon as possible. The Redevelopment Agency and the San Diego City Council are scheduled to vote on the approved JPA amendment at a meeting today. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. at the City Council Chambers, 202 C Street, 12th Floor, San Diego. Officials estimate that the first phase of the plan will go before the California Coastal Commission at its April 13-15 meeting in Santa Barbara.

San Ysidro Port of Entry Renovation Begins

The U.S. General Services Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection broke ground last week on a landmark renovation of the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, the nation’s busiest border crossing. The modernization and expansion of the facility is planned to make it the first net-zero border crossing in the country, meaning it will create as much energy as it uses. The renovation also will reduce wait times at the border and boost the local economy. GSA Administrator Martha N. Johnson and other federal and local officials celebrated the kickoff. 

“This renovation will boost the local economy and cut wait times at the border,” said Johnson. “We will be investing in innovative green technologies that will make San Ysidro the first net-zero energy land port of entry. It will be a model for other land ports across the country.”

The San Ysidro renovation is planned to incorporate green features such as solar panels, solar thermal hot water, a geothermal heat exchange system, and ultra-low flow fixtures that would make it the first net-zero energy land port of entry in the country. The water-saving features will also reduce water consumption by 12 million gallons per year, enough water to supply more than 100 typical households.

Construction of Phase 1 of the project begins this year with the installation of double-stacked northbound primary inspection booths, which will allow nearly double the traffic to flow through the border crossing by 2014.

Better Business Bureau Issues Retailer Warning

The San Diego Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about Internet retailer Matrix Boards for Less of Escondido that is allegedly defrauding customers by accepting orders and funds for merchandise — snowboards, sno skis, skateboards, wakeboards and apparel — and delivering nothing. According to complaints received by the BBB, Matrix Boards for Less will charge a consumer’s credit card and then send a FedEx tracking number that is invalid. The BBB said some consumers have either never received their merchandise, or if a shipment did arrive, the merchandise was incorrect or damaged. Other consumers complained that they have been waiting since last year for arrivals of Christmas gifts intended for children or spouses. Losses vary from several hundred to several thousand dollars, according to the BBB. The BBB is handling complaints from consumers across the country, including some from as far away as Minnesota and New York. The BBB’s automated Helpline is (858) 496-2131.

Scholarships Awarded for Nonprofit Leaders

The San Diego Foundation has named Kelly L. Focht, CEO of The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, and Donald E. Stump, executive Director of North County Lifeline, as the 2011 recipients of the Stanford Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders scholarship for nonprofit executives in the San Diego region. The scholarship is designed to further the professional development of current and future leaders in the nonprofit sector and is delivered by the Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Center for Social Innovation every two years.

Local residents Connie Matsui and Bill Beckman, both Stanford MBAs, have long been proponents of the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders and partnered with The San Diego Foundation and the Stanford Graduate School of Business to create and fund two spaces for San Diego nonprofit leaders.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Adds Two Executives

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has named Scott Hermes as general manager and Patrick Connors as director of sales and marketing. Hermes has more than 30 years experience over thirty years of sales and marketing experience. He previously held positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts as senior vice president of sales and marketing, North America, vice president of sales and marketing, Western United States and prior to that served with Starwood as regional director of sales and marketing for Northern California. Connors worked as the senior sales manager for the Omni Sagamore Resort and Spa, director of group sales at the Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines, associate director of sales for the Sheraton Boston and director of association sales for the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.

Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:

• March 1 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 3 – Leasing Strategies – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 5 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).

• March 5 – Costing, Pricing, Break-Even Analysis – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

•  March 8 – Managing Grants and Contracts for Nonprofits – 9 to 11 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 9 – Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 10 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 11 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 12 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 12 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 14 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge – please preregister).

• March 15 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 17 – California Sales and Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 18 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; Attendees: $30 by March 15, $40 thereafter; Exhibitors: $80 by March 15, $90 thereafter).

• March 19 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 19 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

• March 22 – Marketing & Contracting with Federal Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 24 – Internet Marketing 302: Develop a Winning E-mail Marketing Success Strategy – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 25 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now! – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 30 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge, please preregister).

• March 30 – How to Start a Nonprofit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

For more information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.

North County:

The Business & Entrepreneur Center and the Small Business Development Center at MiraCosta College will offer free upcoming workshops to help businesses succeed. The workshops will be held at Vista City Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:

March 1: Increase Sales Using Social Media: Learn how to incorporate social networking into a business.

April 5:  Financing Options for Businesses: Direct lenders and the SBA will discuss financing options for a business.

May 3: Ways to Market A Business: Learn to identify the “right” customer for a business and easy ways to market your business to them.

June 7: Marketing A Business Using Google Tools: Learn how to use Google tools such as ad words, ad sense, Google trends and more.

Bring a lunch to the workshops. Drinks will be provided.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.