More advertising, a better tourist guide, arts promoting and enabling business loans up to $100,000 were just four of many ideas submitted at Tuesday’s “Economic Summit” at Auburn’s City Hall.

Jan Decker, executive director of the Placer County Visitor’s Council on Lincoln Way, was one of the later speakers at the conference, but made a poignant statement when he said that he did not have enough business guides to pass out at a recent trade show.

Potential Auburn visitors clip out coupons from magazines to receive tourist information about the area, yet Decker had no guides to send, he said.

“We need to get the information out,” Decker said.

Councilman Dr. Bill Kirby told the group about something that could have been done years ago.

“We could buy billboards for I-80 to promote our town,” Kirby said.

Kirby threw out another idea that he hopes will bring more people to Downtown Auburn.

“We should have a free family movie put on every week and that would bring people into town to dine and shop,” Kirby said.

Melanie Barton, Placer County Museum administrator, said there were five museums within a mile of City Hall and she wants to see the arts included in any future Auburn promotions.

Mayor Mike Holmes, who moderated the session that went nearly an hour and a half, agreed with Barton.

A surprising offer of business loans could possibly help jump-start the local economy. Brent Smith, president of Sierra Economic Development Corporation, has an office on Auburn’s Wall Street, that specializes in business loan programs.

“We provide loans up to $100,000,” Smith said. “We’re a nonprofit and our loans are lower.”

Auburn businesses need to make some changes in order to compete during these challenging economic times. Mark Lund, president and chief executive director of Community 1st Bank, said he has heard the complaints about parking problems in Downtown Auburn. He also talked about the out-of-town competition.

“Your competitor is not a block away,” Lund said. “It’s Costco. It’s the Walmarts.”

Over and over again, participants pointed out that Auburn has not been advertised as a place to visit and stay.

“No one has bothered to wine and dine Triple-A,” said Margareta Swann, co-owner of The Golden Swann Jewelry & Collectibles Gallery on Lincoln Way. “We are more than a crossroad on Highway 49.”

Paul Petruzzelli, a retired businessman, who owned four T-shirt shops in the Lake Tahoe area, said he would offer his services to Holmes and the city, free of charge, in order to help promote Auburn.

“I know the problems of advertising,” Petruzzelli said after the meeting. “Some good coupons would encourage people to shop locally.”

According to one resident, an independent survey showed that Auburn lacks activities after 5 p.m. and not enough hotels. Holmes responded by saying that the Hampton Inn is being built here soon.

Holmes was looking for ideas that could help the economy within the next 60 to 90 days. Randy Martin of Trailscape in Weimar offered the idea of promoting Auburn as a place to bike.

“People come here from the Bay Area to ride their bicycles,” Martin said. “It would get people to spend the night.”

When the participants were filing out the door, Petruzzelli was asked to comment on the meeting.

“I think the meeting served a good purpose and it needs to be ongoing,” he said.