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1 Riverside Downtown Parking and
Business Improvement Area
Annual Renewal Report for the year
January 1 to December 31, 2023
Background
The Riverside Downtown Association (later Riverside Downtown Partnership ‐ RDP) was formed in 1981 by downtown businesses and stakeholders to advocate on important downtown issues.
RDP’s efforts within the Downtown BID are primarily focused on:
Promotion of business activities Security
Public events Parking activities
Beautification Advocacy
The Riverside Downtown Parking and Business Improvement Area, or Downtown BID, was established in 1986 as a vehicle to improve downtown. RDP was charged with the responsibility for the Downtown BID.
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2 Boundaries and Assessment
The assessment levy for the Downtown BID has been 100% of the base business license tax levied by the City of Riverside since July 1, 2000. There is no proposed change in the
assessment levy for the 2023 calendar year.
The recommended activities and new efforts are based upon the current assessment levy.
Since its inception, the Downtown BID
boundaries have expanded twice, and now
include the area shown on the map. No
changes are proposed for 2023.
Strategic Planning
With the assistance of a consultant and with input from stakeholders, RDP developed a strategic plan framework for 2022 to 2026 which was adopted by the Board of Directors at their July 13, 2022 meeting. With the adoption, the focus of RDP shifted to reflect its new vision, mission, values, and goals. Its activities and efforts in 2023 will continue to do so.
One important aspect of RDP’s strategic planning was adopting values and descriptive phrases reflecting desired actions for the first time. These values are:
Welcoming – We embrace those within our community and those who visit. Advocacy – We are a champion for our community’s needs and priorities. Responsive – We are supportive, helpful and add value to our members. Connected – We encourage dialogue, and cooperation within our community. Proactive – We continually seek ways to support and enhance our community. 3 4
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3 Vision, Mission, and Goals
RDP’s new vision statement reflects its aspiration ‐ “Downtown Riverside is a welcoming and exciting destination to work, live, and play while celebrating heritage and inspiring business innovation and success”.
RDP’s new mission statement reflects its expectations ‐ “Riverside Downtown Partnership’s mission is to foster a vibrant, safe, and successful business and cultural community in downtown Riverside by celebrating our past and defining our future”.
RDP’s new goals broadly reflect what it should do to serve its members / stakeholders:
To serve as the essential liaison between downtown businesses and local government representing our members’ interests.
To create an effective partnership with local government that advances downtown business priorities.
To expand our services and value for our members.
Benefits Provided by the Downtown BID
Promotion of business activities:
Benefits include promotion of downtown, downtown
businesses, and downtown attractions and offerings
through print media, digital / social media, and other
marketing and communications methods.
These methods include destination and event ads, a monthly newsletter, monthly event calendars as well as Constant Contact emails, plus social media including a website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
The Pocket and Dining Guide lists all downtown shops and most services, and information on downtown restaurants by category, and can also be downloaded from the website.
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4 Promotion of business activities:
Benefits include a welcome package to all new businesses and announcement in the BID bulletin. The welcome package includes copies of all printed materials including the organization’s annual calendar, “What’s Up with RDP”, and its Annual Report.
Benefits include workshops and seminars of interest and information to businesses. Past workshops / seminars include business development and marketing as well as security situations such as active shooter.
Benefits include working with other organizations such as the City, Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau, and arts and cultural groups to promote downtown businesses.
Benefits Provided by the Downtown BID
Benefits Provided by the Downtown BID
RDP Ambassadors patrol the downtown BID area from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. They assist with moving transients along and other problems encountered by downtown businesses, and assist both businesses and visitors as needed.
Benefits include additional safety patrols of the BID area provided by an external security company. These patrols are from 5 pm to 1:30 am daily on both foot and vehicle.
Benefits also include monitoring security issues through a committee, distributing updates, and holding workshops as necessary.
Under a contract funded by the City, RDP sub‐contracts an external security company to patrol City parking garages downtown Thursday to Sunday from 8:30 pm to 5:30 am.
Security:
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5 Benefits Provided by the Downtown BID
Benefits include RDP’s informational luncheons held each month on the fourth Tuesday with the exception of March, August, and December.
Benefits include promoting downtown events and activities through various media including a monthly calendar of events and an event guide, encouraging visits to downtown.
Benefits include hosting and sponsoring events that bring visitors and business customers to downtown. RDP hosted events include Doors Open Riverside and the Riverside Art and Music Festival.
Other Benefits:
Benefits include advocating and mobilizing on parking issues that affect downtown businesses, employees, and customers such as loss of downtown parking inventory and parking rates and schedules.Benefits include beautification efforts such as outdoor murals, alley lighting, and tree trimming and replacement where needed.
Assessing the Benefits
• Monitoring responses to ads, requests for the Pocket and Dining Guide as well as the Downtown Historic Walking Guide, and usage of calendar information. • Reviewing daily reports by both the Ambassadors and the external safety patrol on their activity and encountered incidents and compiling data. • Counting attendance at hosted events.
• Monitoring calls for assistance / advice from members / stakeholders. • Receiving input and information from Board and Committee members as well as luncheon attendees.
• Receiving input and information from members / stakeholders. • Surveying members / stakeholders periodically.
• Visiting members / stakeholders periodically.
• Assessment by partners and other organizations is also taken into consideration.
Methods Include:
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6 Responding to Emerging Needs
As part of its initial strategic planning, RDP conducted several surveys and held a downtown forum to get in ‐person responses and concerns from downtown businesses and constituents about issues and priorities. Initial findings included RDP increasing its advocacy efforts and outreach to businesses, as well as adding new programs such as ‘clean and safe’ efforts.
A number of focus groups and interviews were held by the consultant with various stakeholders and the responses used to formulate the initial framework for the strategic plan with the assistance of the consultant.
In future, emerging needs will be identified and responded to through the strategic goal of expanding our services and value to our members.
Focus for 2023
Expand our services and value for our members:
Set‐up quarterly ‘town hall’ meetings for businesses to hear information, voice concerns, and network with each other.
Implement changes to both the Security committee and Land Use committee to make them more relatable to businesses, increase attendance, and improve effectiveness. Establish a Downtown Parking Committee to address concerns and make recommendations. Extend activities and efforts beyond the downtown core. Help businesses expand their customer base through workshops and promotions. Help attract more visitors to downtown.
Expand security efforts.
Survey businesses more frequently for concerns and issues. Implement a Business Visitation Program.
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7 Estimated cost of 2023 Activities
BID Security $225,000
BID Promotion of Business Activities $140,000
BID Other $70,000
BID Total $435,000
The RDP Board approved a budget for the fiscal year of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 that included an operational deficit of less than $5,000. As a result there may be an operational deficit carried over from calendar year 2022. In addition to revenue from the BID assessment, RDP expects to receive approximately $82,820 from other sources.
Riverside Downtown Parking and
Business Improvement Area
Thank you for your support!
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