Arlington Business Partnership
Annual Report — FY 2025–2026
Reporting Period: November 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026 Approved: July 2026
Submitted by: Oz Puerta, Executive Director
Introduction
The Arlington Business Partnership proudly presents its Annual Report for FY 2025–2026. This report summarizes the organization’s governance, strategic direction, community engagement, business support, physical improvements, financial activity, and proposed services for FY 2026–2027.
The Arlington Business Partnership serves as the advisory and managing organization for the Arlington Business Improvement District. Its work focuses on providing tangible value to district businesses, improving Arlington’s physical environment, promoting economic vitality, strengthening partnerships, and creating a greater sense of pride among those who live, work, shop, and conduct business in Arlington.
History and Mission
The Arlington Business Improvement District was established in October 2002, and the Arlington Business Partnership was appointed to assist with the district’s management and improvement.
Mission Statement
To advocate and foster the economic and community development of the Arlington Business District, creating a sense of pride for all who live, work, and do business in Arlington.
Board of Directors
Officers
Cindy Keyes Ross — President, Keyes Mane Design
Mike Sadeghian — Vice President, Van Buren Land & Investments Mike Munksgaard — Treasurer, Center Electric
Michael Wilhelm — Secretary, Community at Large
Directors
Paul Akes — Director, Akes Family Funeral Home
Joshua Kopp — Director, Arlington Community Action Group Michael Canahai — Director, Affordable Homeworks
Michele Drake-Fox — Director, Pet Wants USA
Miles Ward — Director, Community at Large
Carolyn Badger — Director, Community at Large
Jack Cords — Director, Printing Connection
James Hawthorne — Director, Shalhoub’s McDonald’s
Board Policies
The Arlington Business Partnership maintains the following formal governance documents and policies:
● Code of Conduct
● Conflict of Interest Policy
● Policies and governance provisions contained in the organization’s bylaws Strategic Goals
The Arlington Business Partnership continues to operate under the following strategic goals:
1. Enhance the Physical Environment
2. Improve Marketing and Visibility
3. Support Local Business Growth
4. Strengthen Strategic Partnerships
These goals were introduced during the prior fiscal year. FY 2025–2026 represented an early implementation period in which the Arlington Business Partnership continued developing programs, partnerships, staffing, and performance measures to advance each goal.
The Arlington Business Partnership also adopted its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan in 2025. The plan expands the organization’s long-term direction into five interconnected areas:
● Refreshed Marketing and Branding
● Tangible Business Support
● Physical Improvements
● Economic Development
● Proactive Engagement
The Strategic Plan includes objectives, action steps, milestones, and performance indicators intended to guide the Arlington Business Partnership’s work through 2028.
Community Engagement Plan
Monthly Meetings
The Arlington Business Partnership provides recurring opportunities for district businesses, community partners, City staff, and members of the public to discuss needs and review progress.
Board of Directors meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
The Marketing and Economic Development Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
The Community Action Committee meets on the first Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
The Marketing and Economic Development committees are now combined into one monthly committee meeting.
Identifying Business and District Needs
The Arlington Business Partnership identifies emerging needs through:
● Direct requests and reports from district businesses
● Monthly outreach and check-ins with businesses
● Routine inspections conducted by staff
● Reports and referrals from City of Riverside staff
● Issues raised during monthly board and committee meetings ● Comments and requests received through social media
● Observations made during cleanup and beautification work The Arlington Business Partnership is also exploring access to shared City of Riverside 311 service-request information. Access to this information could help staff identify dumping, graffiti, vandalism, and maintenance concerns sooner and coordinate a faster response.
Tracking Progress
The Arlington Business Partnership tracks its work through:
● Before, during, and after photographs
● Project and event photographs
● Monthly Board of Directors updates
● Review of completed projects and emerging needs
● Financial records and grant documentation
● Strategic Plan performance measures
Monthly Board of Directors meetings provide a recurring opportunity to review results, address concerns, and adjust priorities.
FY 2025–2026 Accomplishments
Cleanup and Beautification
The Arlington Business Partnership completed approximately 40 cleanup and beautification projects on a rotating schedule throughout the Arlington Business Improvement District.
Through its partnership with Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful, more than 500 volunteers participated in cleanup activities within the district.
Work performed included:
● Litter and debris removal
● Illegal dumping response
● Graffiti removal
● Pressure washing
● Parking lot restriping
● Bus shelter cleaning and maintenance
● Monument cleaning and restoration
● Public right-of-way cleanup
● General district beautification
These services provided visible and tangible benefits by improving commercial corridors, storefront surroundings, parking areas, public infrastructure, and the overall appearance of the district.
Physical Improvement Highlights
Notable FY 2025–2026 projects included:
● Flower Alley mural
● Riverside County Lumber Co. outdoor lighting improvements ● Pressure washing at Sadeghian Magnolia Center following vandalism ● Monthly touch-ups, cleaning, and pressure washing of Arlington Business Partnership bus shelters
● Cleanup and restoration of vandalized Arlington monuments ● Parking lot restriping at Akes Family Funeral Home
● Beautification wraps installed on four frequently vandalized utility boxes The utility box wraps incorporated artwork and wording related to Arlington’s identity and history.
The project helped discourage recurring vandalism while turning public infrastructure into a visible celebration of the district.
Events and Community Programming
The Arlington Business Partnership hosted, supported, promoted, or participated in numerous community and business events during FY 2025–2026, including:
● Riverside Chili Cook-Off
● Winter Wonderland
● Arlington’s Holiday Season
● Business grand openings
● Business anniversary celebrations
● Inside Arlington
● Additional community events and partnership activities The Arlington Business Partnership helped celebrate the grand opening of Riverside’s first Dutch Bros.
The Arlington Business Partnership also supported Horizon Barbershop’s five-year anniversary and Norris Jewelers’ anniversary celebration.
Holiday Decorations
The Arlington Business Partnership restored and displayed 20 of its 24 large holiday wreaths, along with approximately 100 smaller wreaths throughout the district.
Garland was installed across eligible poles where it could be placed safely.
The holiday program experienced no major widespread vandalism. Most damage was limited to decorations located near ground level. One significant incident involved the destruction of the Arlington Business Partnership’s Christmas tree located on the center median near Magnolia Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard. The damaged tree was replaced so the holiday display could continue.
During FY 2026–2027, the Arlington Business Partnership intends to:
● Restore the remaining four large wreaths
● Maintain and reuse the 20 restored large wreaths
● Continue using approximately 100 smaller wreaths
● Expand garland and other decorations where installation can be completed safely ● Improve the protection and placement of ground-level decorations ● Continue building a more complete Arlington holiday display Direct Benefits and Support for Businesses
The Arlington Business Partnership contacts district businesses monthly to check on their operations, identify concerns, and determine what assistance may be needed.
Direct assistance during FY 2025–2026 included:
● Grand opening coordination
● Business anniversary recognition
● Social media and event promotion
● Connections to Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce resources ● Assistance with Physical Improvement Program and vandalism reimbursement applications
● Guidance regarding City permits and code-related questions ● Police and public safety referrals
● Homelessness and encampment referrals
● Advocacy and coordination with City departments
● Assistance identifying business resources and partner organizations The Arlington Business Partnership maintains a strong partnership with the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and its Ambassador program. The Arlington Business Partnership also presents at Inside Arlington alongside the Chamber and community partners.
Homelessness-related concerns were among the most frequent issues raised by businesses.
Although the Arlington Business Partnership does not directly provide homelessness services or law-enforcement functions, the organization redirects those concerns to the appropriate City staff and raises recurring issues during monthly Board of Directors meetings.
BID Boundaries and Assessment
Boundary Changes
The Arlington Business Partnership proposes no changes to the existing boundaries of the Arlington Business Improvement District for FY 2026–2027.
Assessment Structure
The current BID assessment is a flat $400 per assessable business annually.
This equals approximately $33.33 per month or $7.69 per week.
Approximately 938 businesses are expected to be assessed, producing estimated annual assessment revenue of $375,200.
Home-based businesses are not assessed.
Businesses experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact the Arlington Business Partnership. The organization works with businesses to understand broader operating challenges and connect them with available programs, agencies, guidance, or other support.
The flat annual assessment gives each assessable business a straightforward method for estimating its obligation while supporting districtwide services such as cleanup, pressure washing, restriping, physical improvements, marketing, events, grants, and business assistance.
Website and Public Transparency
The Arlington Business Partnership’s official website is:
www.riversideabp.com
The website provides public access to:
● Meeting information
● BID boundary map
● Grant applications
● Volunteer information
● Arlington Business Partnership contact information
● Special event information
The website supports transparency, business participation, volunteer recruitment, and public awareness of Arlington Business Partnership programs.
FY 2025–2026 Financial Results (YTD)
Income
BID Assessments: $296,506.28
Sponsorships and Contributed Income: $33,812.08
Total Income: $330,318.36
Marketing
Riverside Chili Cook-Off: $44,913.99
Winter Wonderland: $2,499.16
Business Promotions: $5,304.18
Total Marketing: $52,717.33
Physical Improvements
General Improvements: $8,942.97
Holiday Lighting: $44,734.01
PIP Grants and Vandalism Reimbursement: $7,910.98
Total Physical Improvements: $61,587.96
Administrative Expenses
Meeting Expenses: $6,186.48
Cleaning: $600.00
Internet, TV, Phone, Alarm, and Cameras: $1,982.43
Rent: $24,288.48
Utilities: $696.67
Software and Apps: $1,684.27
Office Supplies and Administrative Costs: $6,711.16
Insurance: $7,140.00
Payroll and Taxes: $108,462.99
Total Administrative Expenses: $157,752.48
Financial Summary
Total Income: $330,318.36
Total Expenses: $272,057.77
Net Revenue: $58,276.94
The Arlington Business Partnership will carry forward $58,276.94 in net revenue to support programs, services, physical improvements, events, business assistance, and operating needs during FY 2026–2027.
FY 2026–2027 Proposed Revenue
BID Assessments: $375,200.00
Sponsorships and Contributions: $25,000.00
Sales and Event Revenue: $5,000.00
FY 2025–2026 Carryover: $58,276.94
Total Available Resources: $463,476.94
FY 2026–2027 Proposed Budget
Marketing
Riverside Chili Cook-Off: $50,000.00
Winter Wonderland: $10,000.00
Business Promotions: $8,000.00
Total Marketing: $68,000.00
Physical Improvements
General Improvements and Beautification Program: $104,000.00 Holiday Lighting: $45,000.00
PIP Grants and Vandalism Reimbursement: $20,000.00
Total Physical Improvements: $169,000.00
Administrative Expenses
Meeting Expenses: $6,500.00
Cleaning: $3,600.00
Internet, TV, Phone, Alarm, and Cameras: $2,400.00
Rent: $28,800.00
Utilities: $3,000.00
Software and Apps: $2,400.00
Office Supplies: $8,000.00
Insurance: $10,000.00
Payroll and Taxes: $112,000.00
Total Administrative Expenses: $176,700.00
Proposed Budget Summary
Total Available Resources: $463,476.94
Total Proposed Expenses: $413,700.00
Projected Ending Balance: $49,776.94
The projected ending balance will provide operational flexibility for unexpected repairs, vandalism, delayed assessment collections, event overruns, emergency maintenance, and other district needs.
FY 2025–2026 Sponsors and Community Partners
The Arlington Business Partnership’s FY 2025–2026 sponsors and community partners included:
● New York Pizza
● Akes Family Funeral Home
● Center Electric
● Riverside Auto Center
● Rolling Brews
● Horizon Barbershop
● Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful
● Shalhoub’s McDonald’s
● City of Riverside
● Affordable Homeworks
● Righty Tighty Plumbing
● Smart Prep
● The Cave Clinical Services
● Athens Services
● Pho Star Bowl
● The Home Show People
These organizations supported the Arlington Business Partnership through combinations of sponsorships, services, food, in-kind contributions, volunteer assistance, event participation, or other community partnerships.
Anticipated FY 2026–2027 Sponsors and Partners
The Arlington Business Partnership anticipates continuing outreach and partnership opportunities with the following organizations during FY 2026–2027:
● New York Pizza
● Akes Family Funeral Home
● Center Electric
● Riverside Auto Center
● Rolling Brews
● Horizon Barbershop
● Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful
● Shalhoub’s McDonald’s
● City of Riverside
● Affordable Homeworks
● Righty Tighty Plumbing
● Smart Prep
● The Cave Clinical Services
● Athens Services
● Pho Star Bowl
● The Home Show People
FY 2026–2027 Planned Improvements and Activities
The Arlington Business Partnership plans to provide or continue the following services and programs:
● Rotating district cleanups
● Graffiti removal coordination
● Illegal dumping response
● Pressure washing
● Parking lot restriping
● Bus shelter maintenance
● Arlington monument maintenance
● Utility box beautification and maintenance
● Holiday lighting restoration and installation
● Physical Improvement Program grants
● Vandalism reimbursement
● Riverside Chili Cook-Off
● Winter Wonderland
● Arlington’s Holiday Season
● Business promotions and district marketing
● Business grand opening support
● Business anniversary recognition
● Website and social media communications
● Volunteer engagement
● Monthly business outreach
● Business referrals and City coordination
● Implementation of the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan
Looking Ahead
During FY 2026–2027, the Arlington Business Partnership will continue implementing its board-adopted 2025–2028 Strategic Plan.
Priorities will include:
● Modernizing the organization’s branding and digital presence ● Improving public-facing business resources
● Expanding direct business support
● Hosting workshops, networking opportunities, and business events ● Continuing storefront, PIP, and vandalism reimbursement assistance ● Expanding beautification, pressure washing, restriping, and maintenance ● Advocating for infrastructure improvements
● Increasing business outreach and surveys
● Strengthening social media and public communication
● Pursuing economic development opportunities along Magnolia Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard
● Strengthening collaboration with businesses, property owners, developers, City departments, and partner organizations
● Using Strategic Plan performance indicators to measure and report progress