Aiming to improve its web presence and help expose La Jolla residents and visitors to all the community has to offer, the La Jolla Village Merchants Association is looking to partner with the developers of a website and accompanying app called Vibemap.
LJVMA is migrating its website to a different platform, and the board voted March 13 to use Vibemap to generate its business listings and event calendar and add other signature features. The website and app include guides and articles; links to attractions; listings of places to eat, drink and stay; events; charitable volunteer opportunities and more.
“Our website right now has three main functions,” said LJVMA Executive Director Jodi Rudick. “It is our business listings, but it is all done manually by me and our interns; our event calendar, which is a big drive for us; and the blog, which we are not going to give up.”
Vibemap, she said, “specializes in business districts like ours” and makes sure that event calendars and business listings are up to date by automating the process.
Additionally, Rudick said, Vibemap can create maps of businesses according to specific criteria, such as being dog-friendly or having happy hours, and create challenges for s, such as checking in at a certain number of galleries during the First Friday Art Walk for a chance to win a prize.
“We will have an app that allows people to navigate their way around La Jolla … based on their vibe,” Rudick said. “The vibe might be adventure or relaxation.”
Vibemap co-founder Noah Friedman said the company “works with communities all over the country … and are excited to help you with some of the challenges you have. … We make maps of the community to really make sure people are finding the cool places to go and things to do. We include the murals and public art spaces that you wouldn’t find on other platforms.”
A motion to accept the proposal and enter the contract for one year ed unanimously. The partnership could be renewed if it proves beneficial to both parties.
From here, Rudick said, the migration will happen in phases. The first phase will be updating the business listings and events calendar, followed by the mapping function. Her hope is to have the migration started within the next month.
Once it is rolled out, challenges or games will be added.
Other LJVMA news
Board changes: As part of a series of changes to LJVMA’s board, two new were sworn in at the March 13 meeting and another was elected.
Mark McDonald and Joline Mann were sworn in after being elected Feb. 14 following the resignations of Maddie Mackey, who moved out of the area, and Marc Cormier, who sold his business.
Midterm vacancies are filled by a vote of the board rather than the general hip, which votes in the association’s annual election.
The board last week also had an election to fill Stephanie Thompson’s seat after she resigned last month, citing schedule conflicts.
Jamie Mae Cheng, a marketer for The Kitchen at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla, was chosen over Chas. Dye, founder of Historic La Jolla Walking Tours, and Cody Decker, co-owner of Decker’s Dog & Cat.
Cheng will be sworn in at a future meeting.
Volunteer of the Year: After years of providing DJ and emcee services at LJVMA events, the board gave its Volunteer of the Year recognition to Ron Jones.
“Ron says yes to every request and always asks what he can do to help,” Rudick said. “For everything you do for us, we thank you.”
She presented him a certificate of appreciation and a gift card.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Village Merchants Association next meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Learn more at lajollabythesea.com. ◆
