DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN BEACH
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Business Improvement & Activity Plan
July 1, 2023
Prepared by the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association pursuant to the State of California
And the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989 to maintain the Business Improvement District for
Downtown Manhattan Beach, California.
DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN BEACH BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT INFORMATION AT-A-GLANCE This Business Improvement District has been in existence since April of 1969 under the authority of the “Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1965”. This law was restrictive with respect to the use of funds. In 1989 the State Legislature adopted Senate Bill 1424, “Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989”. In 1998 a group of concerned merchants and a growing coalition of downtown stakeholders, developed the proposal to establish a new Downtown Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District (BID) under the new legislation. In October 1998, that legislation was approved and adopted as City Ordinance No. 1989. In January 1999, the BID contracted with the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association (DBPA), a 501 (c) 6 not-for-profit corporation established in 1985, to provide specific benefits to the members of the BID. Location: The Existing Business District of Downtown Manhattan Beach. Stakeholders: Downtown Businesses - All business license holders in the Downtown area except commercial property owners. Improvements And Activities: A. Parking, Transportation & Community Programs B. Marketing & Advertising C. Promotions & Special Events D. Professional Management & Communications Method of Financing: Benefit-based assessments on City Business License Tax. Assessment: Based on the existing assessment. An 80% surcharge on the City Business License Tax not to exceed $600. Collection of Assessment: The fees are collected in March/April of each year and disbursed through contract, to the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association (DBPA). Governance: Advisory Board: Annual recommendations on Downtown Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District (BID) budgets and assessments will be submitted to the Manhattan Beach City Council by a seven–nine (7-9) member Advisory Board composed of business owners located within the boundaries of the BID. The Advisory Board will also monitor the delivery of improvements and activities, which will be the day-to-day responsibility of the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association (DBPA).
Business owners that are assessed within the BID, and, per State law, appointed by the Manhattan Beach City Council can nominate members of the Advisory Board. Representation should consist of businesses on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Avenue and Highland Avenue. It should also contain a mix of retail, service and restaurants. It is anticipated that the Advisory Board will meet at least once annually. Downtown Association: The BID will contract with the DBPA to carry out improvements and activities described in the Plan, as well as the day-to-day operations. In delivering BID improvements and activities, the DBPA will aim to meet the following objectives: • Maximize coordination with the City and other civic organizations to leverage resources; • Deliver programs through a cost-effective and non-bureaucratic organization that features one executive director that works for all Downtown Manhattan Beach stakeholders; • Provide for accountability to business owners who pay assessments. Maintaining the District: The City Council can maintain the district by adopting a Resolution of Intention. A public hearing shall be held not less than 20 or more than 30 days after the adoption of the Resolution of Intention. If there is not written protest from owners representing over 50% of the assessments to be paid, the BID assessment will continue. Benefits Of the District: The BID costs no more than the prior assessment and allows the district’s funds to be self-governed and to go beyond parking issues. The BID allows for integrated marketing efforts such as cooperative promotions, advertising and publishing downtown directories and calendars of events. The DBPA provides key promotional and organizational support through a variety of functions that directly benefit its ratepayers as well as the City. Such as:
• Creating a public/private partnership to manage the Downtown environment to ensure high standards for signage, security, maintenance, parking and marketing; • Increasing sales and revenues throughout the district as well as tax and parking revenue to the City; • Advocating Downtown interests and for the City at large; • Establishing and implementing a Downtown vision, an image of a thriving city center that reflects the good health and economic vitality of the entire city, making the city an attractive venue for businesses; • Assisting the City in policy making, administration and implementation of City programs; • Streamlining communications and saving time and energy, by providing the City with a single, unified Downtown entity.