TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
George Gabriel, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Conduct Public Hearing Renewing the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District and Approval of the Annual Collection of Assessments for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (City Manager Moe).
(Estimated Time: 15 Mins.)
A) CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 23-0020
C) RATIFY 2023 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
D) CONSIDER THE PROPOSED 2023 ACTIVITY PLAN
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
a) Conduct a Public Hearing regarding the proposed assessment;
b) Adopt Resolution No. 23-0020, renewing the district and authorizing the collection of the assessment to provide services of the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District (North MB BID);
c) Ratify the Business Improvement District Advisory Board Members for 2023; and
d) Review and approve the Proposed 2023 Activity Plan.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District (NMB BID) is funded through an 80% surcharge to the business license tax paid by those businesses located within the district, not to exceed $500 annually. At the current rate, the assessment levied collects approximately $25,000 per year. Prior to the pandemic, assessments collected were approximately $28,000 per year. NMB BID has approximately $420,000 in reserve for projects and activities.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2004, the City Council dissolved the North End Business Improvement District, which was formed in 1969 under the State’s Parking and Business Improvement District Act of 1965. The BID was limited in scope and was mainly responsible for addressing parking acquisition and construction. Because opportunity for acquiring additional parking in the North End is limited, business district members wanted to use the funds for other types of activities, such as physical improvements, beautification, signage, marketing, and promotion. To accommodate this request, City Council dissolved the 1969 Business Improvement District and created the current Business Improvement District using the broader 1989 BID Act.
DISCUSSION:
Assessments
The NMB BID and its associated assessments must be renewed annually. In conformance with applicable law, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-0020 on January 17, 2023, declaring its intention to authorize the collection of assessments to provide services in accordance with the 2023 Activity Plan and Annual Budget. Tonight’s public hearing to allow testimony both in support of and against the proposed assessments was established at that meeting and has been properly noticed in accordance with State law.
The Resolution of Intention was circulated to all current North Manhattan Beach business members and was published in The Beach Reporter. If adopted, Resolution No. 23-0020 will be effective immediately and will set the assessment at 80% surcharge on the business license tax not to exceed $500 annually for NMB BID member businesses. This assessment remains unchanged from last fiscal year and will be in effect for the next assessment cycle, which coincides with the fiscal year 2023-2024 business license period (March 1, 2023 - Feb 28, 2024).
Advisory Board
The 1989 Business Improvement District Act requires that the City Council select a BID Advisory Board. Advisory Board duties include recommendations to the City Council on expenditure of revenues derived from the assessments, as well as the method and basis of levying the assessments. The following is a list of the 2023 Advisory Board elected by the North MB BID membership, and their affiliation with the district:
Abbot Lawrence IV - Pancho’s
Harry Ashikian - Salvatore’s Shoe Repair
Jessica Jordan - Fishbar
Justin Maxwell - North End Caffe
Lorenzo Pitera (Vice Chairperson) - Baja Sharkeez
Mike Simms (Chairperson) - Nick and Son’s Market
Roxanne Faire (Secretary) - Aesthetics on Highland
This board was elected at the December 14, 2022, North MB BID Advisory Board meeting for a two-year term through a nomination and election process via zoom virtual meeting.
Annual Budget and Activity Plan 2023-2024
The Business Improvement District Advisory Board reviews and approves the operating plan for the District. The attached Annual Budget and Activity Plan 2023 (March 1, 2023 - February 28, 2024) contains all information relative to projected revenues and expenses, and outlines the services and programs to be funded by the Business Improvement District. This year, the operating plan identifies the following programs:
• Continue using the websites for North MB BID visitor outreach and marketing. Maintain and enhance the digital presence of the North Manhattan Beach district through public engagement (e.g. surveys, individual business outreach), website, social media, and e-notifications;
• Explore the feasibility of becoming a professional non-profit association similar to the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business Professional Association (DBPA);
• Solicit Bids for Public Art and work with the Cultural Arts Commission for installation and placement;
• Trademark and begin to utilize approved North Manhattan Beach Logo;
• Solicit professional services to manage and administer Advisory Board priorities and responsibilities identified in the Activity Plan including contracting for Executive Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator positions;
• Continue to develop North Manhattan Beach branding using the new approved logo throughout the district (Pole flags with approval and permits from the City, refurbish the North Manhattan Beach welcome monument on Rosecrans utilizing the new color scheme and logo);
• Continue to develop event and partnership opportunities to draw more foot traffic and awareness to North Manhattan Beach;
• Continue to establish participation and support for the North MB BID amongst businesses;
• Continue to grow the annual North MB BID Holiday Stroll and establish additional collaborative events;
• Collaborate with Manhattan Beach’s Environmental Sustainability Division, Traffic Engineer, Community Development Department and Public Works Department to implement programs for alternative e-transportation;
• Explore a weekly e-bike, golf carts and e-scooters community outreach program on an agreed upon evening when businesses would benefit from additional patrons in the BID;
• Consideration of golf cart only parking spaces in the BID (preferably in locations not already allocated for parking);
• Review of opportunities for additional bike & e-bike parking in the BID;
• Update the community on the status of the crosswalks and other street markings and street repairs north of Rosecrans after the construction done in this area. Collaborate with the City on the replacement of the crosswalks and intersection design at the intersection of Rosecrans & Highland also affected by the construction in the area. Continue to work on the functionality of the lighting of the crosswalks south of Rosecrans;
• Continue the Highland Avenue improvement discussions with Community Development, Traffic Engineering and Public Works to find solutions to improve the safety of Highland Avenue;
• Continue discussions to find additional parking solutions; and
• Continue collaborating with the Downtown Business District and the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce to best serve North MB BID businesses.
• Continue to work with Public Works on the implementation of string lights on NMB BID light poles owned by the City throughout the BID (Highland Ave. from 32nd-45th Streets and on north side of Rosecrans up to Veranda’s and the south side of Rosecrans just past El Tarasco.)
By-Laws
The North MB BID recently reviewed and revised their bylaws at the advisory Board Meeting held on January 10, 2023 (Attachment #3). These bylaws provide the North MB BID governance articles election procedures, annual reporting requirements, meeting procedures, and code of conduct.
CONCLUSION
If there is not a majority protest of the assessment payers, staff recommends that the City Council:
a) Adopt Resolution No. 23-0020 renewing the district and authorizing the collection of the assessment to provide services of the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District;
b) Ratify the Business Improvement District Advisory Board Members for 2023; and
c) Review and approve the Proposed 2023 Activity Plan.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
In compliance with State law, copies of the Resolution of Intention adopted on January 17, 2023, were mailed to all current NMB BID members on January 20, 2023. A Public Notice was placed in the February 2, 2023, Beach Reporter publication.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 23-0020
2. 2023 Annual Budget and Activity Plan
3. North MB BID Bylaws