DATE:
October 28, 2025
CATEGORY:
Public Hearing
DEPT.:
Community Development
TITLE: Downtown Business Improvement Area
No.2 and Allocation of 2026 Business
Improvement Area No.2 Revenues
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Confirming the Annual Report of the Downtown Mountain View Business Improvement Area No. 2 and Levying the Annual Benefit Assessments for Calendar Year 2026, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to allocate the 2026 revenues from Business Improvement Area No. 2 to the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce to fund a disbursement agreement with the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce to accomplish the purposes of the area.
BACKGROUND
Mountain View has two Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) originally created by the downtown businesses and Downtown Business Association (DBA) , formerly the Central Business Association. The 1983 Business Improvement Area, BIA No. 1, includes the entire length of Castro Street (from West Evelyn Avenue to El Camino Real) and some side streets. BIA No. 1 fees are based upon the 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 a llocated to the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce (Chamber). The Chamber utilizes BIA revenues for promoting downtown, coordinating special events, and providing business advocacy.
ANALYSIS
State law requires the annual renewal of both BIAs go through a public meeting as well as a public hearing to levy the assessments and authorize the allocation of revenues. At the first public meeting on September 23, 2025 (Attachment 2), the City Council unanimously approved the
Downtown Business Improvement Area No.2 and Allocation of 2026 Business Improvement Area No.2 Revenues
October 28, 2025
preliminary approval of the assessments and set the public hearing. At tonight’s public hearing, the City Council will be asked to levy the BIA assessment and allocate the 202 6 revenues from areas No. 2 to the Chamber to fund assessment activities in 202 6. The Chamber would utilize allocated funds for 2026 pursuant to disbursement agreement terms. After the City Council takes final action, BIA assessment amounts will be included with business license renewal notices and sent in November to businesses loc ated within the BIA boundaries. Staff will work with the Chamber to ensure that businesses pay their BIA fees.
FISCAL IMPACT
Businesses in BIA No. 2 are assessed annual fees ranging from $25 to $175, depending on the square footage of the business. The Chamber projects total revenues of approximately $12,250 from BIA No.2 in Fiscal Year 2025 -26. The Chamber does not propose any changes to the 2026 assessment rate or methodology.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website:
www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-
play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
☒ Contract or franchise agreement
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the resolution levying the BIA assessment. If the resolution is not adopted, the assessment would not be collected and there would be no allocation of the BIA No.2 2026 revenues to the Chamber. The Chamber would need to seek new funding or reduce its programming.
2. Provide other direction.
Downtown Business Improvement Area No.2 and Allocation of 2026 Business Improvement Area No.2 Revenues
October 28, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICING
Notice of this public meeting was included in the standard Council agenda notice and posting procedures. Notice of the public meeting and hearing was mailed to all businesses in the BIA No. 2 area and published in The Daily Post, the official record for the City of Mountain View.
Prepared by:
Amanda Rotella
Economic Vitality Manager
Approved by:
Christian Murdock
Community Development Director
Kimbra McCarthy
City Manager
Attachments: 1. Resolution of Intention to Levy Assessments
2. September 23, 2025 Council Report
cc: Mountain View Chamber of Commerce