DATE:
November 14, 2023
CATEGORY:
Public Hearing
DEPT.:
Community Development
TITLE: Downtown Business Improvement Areas
and Allocation of 2024 Business
Improvement Areas Revenues
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Confirming the Annual Report of Downtown Mountain View Business Improvement Area No. 1 and Levying the Annual Benefit Assessment for 2024 , to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Confirming the Annual Report of Downtown Mountain View Business Improvement Area No. 2 and Levying the Annual Benefit Assessments for 2024 , to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 2 to the Council report).
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to allocate the 202 4 revenues from Business Improvement Area No. 1 and Business Improvement Area No. 2 to the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce to fund a contract for services with the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce to accomplish the purposes of the areas.
BACKGROUND
Mountain View has two Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) originally created by the downtown businesses and Downtown Business Association (DBA). The 1983 Business Improvement Area, BIA No. 1, includes the entire length of Castro Street (West Evelyn Avenue to El Camino Real) and some side streets. BIA No. 1 fees are based upon type of business, specifically restaurant, retail, and professional (i.e., office). The 1991 Business Improvement Area, BIA No. 2, includes the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of Castro Street, and the fees are based upon type of business (restaurant, retail, or professional) and size of business (square feet). Businesses within both BIAs pay both fees, and the total BIA revenues are then allocated to the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce (Chamber). The Chamber utilizes BIA revenues for promoting downtown, coordinating special events, and providing business advocacy.
Downtown Business Improvement Areas and Allocation
of 2024 Business Improvement Areas Revenues
November 14, 2023
ANALYSIS
State law requires the annual renewal of both BIAs go through a public meeting as well as a public hearing to levy t he assessments and authorize the allocation of revenues. At the first public meeting on October 1 0, 202 3 (Attachment 3), the City Council unanimously approved the preliminary approval of the assessments and set the public hearing. At tonight’s public hea ring, the City Council will be asked to levy the BIA assessments and allocate the 202 4 revenues from both areas to the Chamber to fund assessment activities in 202 4. The Chamber would utilize allocated funds for 2024 pursuant to contract terms. After the City Council takes final action, BIA assessment amounts will be included with business license renewal notices and sent in January to businesses located within the BIA boundaries. Staff will work with the Chamber to ensure that businesses pay their BIA fees.
FISCAL IMPACT
All 300-plus downtown businesses are included in BIA No. 1 and are assessed $50 (professional), $150 (retail), or $200 (restaurant). Businesses in BIA No. 2 are assessed an additional $25 to $175 depending on square footage of the b usiness. The Chamber projects revenues from the two areas to be $30,350 for BIA No. 1 and $9,425 for BIA No. 2 (total of $39,775 from both BIAs).
The Chamber does not propose an increase or change in the 202 4 assessment, including the rate/methodology.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the resolutions levying the BIA assessments. If the resolutions are not adopted, the assessments would not be collected and there would be no allocation of the 2024 BIAs revenue to the Chamber. The Chamber would need to seek new funding or reduce its programming.
2. Provide other direction.
Downtown Business Improvement Areas and Allocation
of 2024 Business Improvement Areas Revenues
November 14, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICING
Notice of this public hearing was included in the standard Council agenda notice and posting procedures. Notice of the public hearing was mailed to all businesses in the two areas and published in the Daily Post Journal, the official record for the City of Mountain View.
Prepared by:
John Lang
Economic Vitality Manager
Approved by:
Aarti Shrivastava
Assistant City Manager/
Community Development Director
Kimbra McCarthy
City Manager
JL/4/CAM
819-11-14-23CR
202934
Attachments: 1. Resolution of Intention to Levy Assessments for BIA No. 1
2. Resolution of Intention to Levy Assessments for BIA No. 2
3. October 10, 2023 Council Report
cc: Mountain View Chamber of Commerce