Improvement district approved for midtown
By Melanie Turner of The Sacramento Business Journal
August 14, 2007
Midtown merchants and property owners have voted to create a business-improvement district that would levy a tax on property to finance safety, marketing and infrastructure improvements.
The Midtown Business Association conducted a petition drive, winning backing from property owners who pay at least 50 percent of the assessment in the planned district, then captured enough votes from merchants and property owners in balloting by mail.
Votes were weighted according to how much property owners pay for their assessment. All votes were due Thursday. The district won approval with 69 percent voting in favor. Ballots were counted during a City Council hearing Thursday. The district would have a budget of $575,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008.
More than 56 percent of the potential votes were cast, said Connie Miottel, executive director of the association. "It was a huge turnout," Miottel said. "Probably one of the biggest turnouts in Property and Business Improvement District history in Sacramento."
The City Council voted 8-0 Thursday to approve the district. Councilman Robbie Waters was absent.
"I'm elated. It's something we've been working on for many years to really take midtown to the next level," said Councilman Steve Cohn, reached after the vote while celebrating at Zocalo restaurant.
"It's doing great, but it still has a few things to work on," Cohn said of midtown. "This PBID is really going to help us organize together and bring some resources to midtown," such as parking and lighting. "It will make it an even better place for business."
A similar effort failed five years ago. But this time there were more businesses in midtown. Also the new attempt focused on a smaller geographic area and organizers brought in Miottel, a leader with experience, to spearhead the drive that was launched last summer.
"I love midtown and I'm really glad to be a part of this," she said Thursday.
The district will be concentrated along the commercial corridors. While the boundary is jagged, the district takes in property roughly from 16th Street to 28th Street, and concentrated along J, K and L streets and Capitol Avenue.
The Midtown Business Association conducted public workshops to build consensus over what types of services and improvements people were willing to pay for. The district's priorities will be under three headings: 'clean and safe' programs, marketing and advocacy, and parking and infrastructure, Miottel said.
Programs will include daytime and nighttime security, trash pickup, marketing and branding for midtown, political advocacy for midtown, special events, and parking and other infrastructure improvements, she said.
The county will send out property tax bills in the fall that include a levy for the district, and the new district will begin providing services in January. The PBID will last for five years, from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2012.
http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/08/06/daily50.html?surround=lfn
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