DATE: June 21, 2016
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Downtown Business Improvement Area Annual Report and Proposed Budget for FY 2017
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council adopts a resolution accepting the Annual Report and declaring intention not to levy annual charges for the Downtown Hayward Business Improvement Area (DBIA) for Fiscal Year 2017.
Body
BACKGROUND
Hayward's Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) was established by the City Council in 1985. The DBIA's purpose is to promote the economic revitalization and physical improvement of the downtown business district and to attract new businesses to the downtown. Funding for the DBIA is direct from business owners collected through the City Business License.
Historically, the DBIA funds received were coupled with financial support from the Hayward Redevelopment Agency and were used to promote and improve Downtown Hayward. With the State of California's decision to eliminate Redevelopment Agencies in 2012, DBIA funding was essentially reduced by fifty percent and greatly reduced the program effectiveness. Coupled with the downturn in the economy, annual DBIA fee assessments have been averaging $43,000 for the last four years and collected funds were directed to select services which included sidewalk cleaning, special event funding, and marketing. Administrative support of the DBIA has been handled through the City Manager's Office and staff time and resources to administer the collected DBIA funds has reduced time available for other priority programs.
The City is evaluating a Community Benefit District (CBD) to provide necessary funding to support the downtown. The project is still underway and the City is evaluating district boundaries and continues to outreach to property owners. By providing a stable source of revenue derived from property owners, including the City and Bay Area Rapid Transi...
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