Business Improvement District Initiation Petition - City Council Agenda

LONGVIEW DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
Business Improvement District
Initiation Petition
Downtown Longview, Washington
Presented by:
The Downtown Longview Business Improvement District
Program Development Team
2012-2017
D O W N T O W N L O N G V I E W , W A S H I N G T O N

Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Downtown Longview Overview ................................................................................................................ 4
What is a Business Improvement District? ............................................................................................... 5
Strategic Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 6
Beautification and Safety ...................................................................................................................... 6
Recruitment and Retention .................................................................................................................. 6
Marketing and Promotions ................................................................................................................... 7
Strategic Partnerships ........................................................................................................................... 7
Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Governance ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Program Management and Administration ............................................................................................ 10
Billing and Collections ............................................................................................................................. 11
Term ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
The Assessment Program ........................................................................................................................ 11
How the District Will Be Created ............................................................................................................ 12
PETITION APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... 12
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Introduction
We are excited to present this two year Business Improvement District management plan and petition
for Downtown Longview. Business Improvement Districts have been successful in this country for over
30 years, providing a funding tool for property and business owners to pool their resources to make
significant achievements in the areas that are most important to downtown economic districts. We
believe that we have developed a program that focuses on results with clear goals, key objectives and
measurable results that you will notice and enjoy as the revitalization process swings into gear. Here are
comments from managers of successful Business Improvement Districts in our state.
“Our BID has been very successful for Downtown Yakima. It used to be that if you came down here on a
Sunday evening, the streets were like a ghost town. Now, there is activity every day at most hours.
Everyone loves the BID because of the results. It’s been in place for 10 years now, and it has expanded
over the years because more businesses and property owners want to be involved.”
- Matt Klaus,
Maintenance Supervisor, Committee for Downtown Yakima
"A BIA can do a lot of great things. Our greatest success has been the little things that create a pleasant
pedestrian experience such as the flower baskets, banners, clean streets - and if you can do an event or
two it is a big win.”
- Michael Wells
Executive Director,
Capitol Chamber of Commerce and Broadway BIA
We ask you to take a strong look at the following program and if you agree with the proposal, sign the
petition and return it as soon as you possibly can. If you have any questions or want to discuss this
proposal in greater detail before signing it, please contact one of the Members listed below.
Thank you for partnering with us to move downtown Longview forward.
Sincerely,
The Longview Downtown Partnership
Janice Forbes, Highlander Cycling
Doug Harvey, Columbia Security
Ken Botero, City Council
Gitta Mckinster, LCC Bookstore
Wendy Kosloski, Teagues Interiors
Marcel Goulet, Kalama Housing Authority
Alex Kamandau, Family Finance Resource Center
Anna Goff, Do it Yourself Party Supplies
Lee Starr, Red Rooster Bakery
janice@highlander-cycling.com
dougharvey@columbiasecurity.net
kbotero@comcast.net
gmakinster@lcc.ctc.edu
wendy@teaguesinteriors.com
marcelg707@hotmail.com
longviewkelso@aol.com
diypartysupplies@hotmail.com
redroosterbakery@gmail.com
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Downtown Longview Overview
From the 1920s through the 1970s, historic Downtown Longview was Cowlitz County’s largest
commercial center—a vibrant gathering place for citizens to shop, eat, socialize, conduct business, and
enjoy arts and culture. When the Three Rivers Mall opened in the 1980s, anchor stores moved from
downtown and the decline of the district began.
Today Longview’s downtown competes with both Longview’s and Kelso’s commercial areas, as well as
those in the border towns of Oregon. And like all historic downtown areas across the country, the
district is also subject to the larger environmental, industrial, cultural and economic forces.
Key issues that need to be addressed:
Pedestrian areas aren’t consistently clean and attractive. Cleanliness and beautification
initiatives will provide a visually stimulating lift in minds and spirits.
Longstanding vacancies give a negative impression and must be filled. Recruitment and
retention efforts for businesses, professionals and residents will serve to bring back vibrancy to
the area.
In order to become the preferred destination in the region to live, work, shop and play, the
downtown needs a strategic branding and marketing campaign.
But here’s the good news: Downtown Longview today is still the largest center of independent retail
and professional services in Cowlitz County. And economists recognize small business owners like ours
as an engine for creating jobs. Along with existing infrastructure, density, available square footage and a
strong sense of creativity, pride, and perseverance, the district’s potential for both stability and
expansion is enormous.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Downtown Longview has a wealth of potential to become once again the thriving center of Longview
and the region. The areas of opportunity for a renaissance include beautification, safety, marketing,
business development and retention and events. In order to fully realize these opportunities, the
Longview Downtown Partnership recommends the creation of a two year Business Improvement District
(BID). While under Washington State Law a BID is called a Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA),
this proposal has little to do with parking. We have therefore decided to use the name “Downtown
Longview Business Improvement District” for the program.
Across the country, thousands of downtown areas facing similar challenges have been restored and
reinvigorated thanks to local property and business owners joining forces. By combining their resources
and operating within the legal structure of a Business Improvement District, they have achieved goals in
the areas that are most important to their community and their investments.
The Longview Downtown Partnership invites you to join the Downtown Longview Business
Improvement District to begin the process of our renaissance.
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
What is a Business Improvement District?
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a local self-funding mechanism used to improve the economic
vitality of a downtown district by providing services that enhance, not replace, existing municipal
services. There are thousands of Business Improvement Districts throughout the United States and
Canada and they are spreading to Australia, Europe and South Africa. In Washington State, more than
1,100 BIDs exist. They have been instrumental in transforming downtowns in Yakima, Olympia,
Spokane, Tacoma, Poulsbo, Port Angeles and several districts in Seattle. Leavenworth's business
improvement district fostered their transformation to a Bavarian Village and the success of the entire
town. In Yakima, they have experienced a 50% decrease in crime and a 45% increase in business in the
last 5 years as a direct result of their expanding district.
The Washington statue RCW 35.87A provides the legal vehicle for forming a BID. It is enacted with a
petition that is signed by a minimum of 60 percent of the people who will pay the assessments. The
signed petition, including an initiative or resolution is presented to the City Council. Upon receiving a
valid initiation petition, the City Council will hold a public hearing and either adopt or reject the BID.
What Can Business Improvement Districts Do?
The activities in a parking and business improvement area are financed through a special assessment
that is imposed on businesses, multifamily residential developments, and mixed-use developments
located within the geographic boundaries of the area. The assessments can be used to finance:
Management, planning, and promotion of the area, including the promotion of retail trade
activities in the area.
Provision of maintenance and security of common public areas
Decoration of public areas
Promotion of public events in public places in the area
Furnishing of music in any public place in the area
Construction, acquisition, or maintenance of parking facilities in the area
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Strategic Vision
The Strategic Vision of the Downtown Longview Business Improvement District is to
invest in the District so that more people live, work, shop, and play in Downtown
Longview.
Goals and Objectives
The four areas of focus for the Downtown Longview Business Improvement District are:
1. Beautification and Safety
2. Recruitment and Retention
3. Marketing and Promotion
4. Strategic Partnerships
Beautification and Safety
Goal: To rejuvenate the look and image of the district through aesthetic improvements, routine
cleaning and maintenance, streetscape initiatives and an ambassador program of trained professionals
who are focused on cleanliness and safety.
Objectives
Develop a Beautification Program that may include:
o Power-wash the sidewalks
o Area-wide paint-up, fix-up, clean-up
o Re-do the flower beds and planters
o Implement a flower basket program for May - October
Develop a Clean and Safe program to make downtown cleaner, more welcoming and improve
the public’s perception of safety. The program may include paid and volunteer ambassadors to
provide eyes and ears on the street to assist people and businesses downtown, graffiti removal,
cleaning and maintenance. The ambassadors will be trained professionals clearly designated by
brightly colored vests and working regular schedules.
Recruitment and Retention
Goal: To recruit new and appropriate business and property owners to the district, fill vacant properties
and retain current business. This will be achieved with a comprehensive business development plan
that utilizes all available resources such as demographics data, available properties and strategic
partnerships with other agencies and professional organizations.
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Objectives
Prepare inventories of commercial vacancies, information about incentives and benefits to
locating downtown.
Develop a common vision for the types of businesses and other organizations that would
enhance downtown.
Advertise vacancies and recruit appropriate business based on the common vision and
measurable demographic data.
Build relationships with business and property owners. Communicate opportunities such as
events, training, marketing and advertising. Provide value-added services such as retail and
professional training programs and a referral service to business services.
Marketing and Promotions
Goal: Brand and market downtown as a whole entity for the purpose of becoming the premiere
destination in SW Washington to live, work, shop, and play. This will be accomplished through a
comprehensive Marketing Plan that includes the development of a new brand for the district, a useful
and regularly updated website, regular e-mail and social media campaigns, advertising and public
relations for the district, printed marketing materials and the facilitation of co-sponsored business
advertising.
Objectives
Establish our identity for the purpose of a cohesive marketing campaign.
Explore a Buy Local marketing program that will benefit the entire downtown.
Advertise and promote downtown through a wide-variety of venues.
Utilize electronic media including websites, social marketing tools, e-mail campaigns.
Develop printed materials utilizing leveraged partnerships.
Supplement existing events such as Downtown LIVE with program management and music.
Strategic Partnerships
Goal: Work with strategic partners to ensure the most effective us of resources including The Longview
Downtown Partnership, The City of Longview, The Longview Police Department, The Kelso/Longview
Chamber of Commerce, The Cowlitz Economic Development Council, and the Lower Columbia College to
name a few.
Objectives
Develop productive relationships with downtown stakeholder organizations and Individuals by
learning about each of their strategic visions, action plans, and resource availability and by
attending meetings.
Utilize strategic partnerships to leverage available resources for the development and
implementation of win-win initiatives.
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Downtown Longview
Boundaries
Business Improvement District Program
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Governance
The Longview Downtown Partnership will manage the Business Improvement District and all of its
components. All entities in the district will enjoy automatic membership in the Longview Downtown
Partnership. The Longview Downtown Partnership (LDP) is a 501c3 non-profit organization funded by
memberships and donations.
The Longview Downtown Partnership is responsible for the daily management and promotion of
downtown and its core purpose is:
"To work together to revitalize and reenergize Downtown Longview for the purpose of
fostering community and supporting business."
The Longview Downtown Partnership's three focus areas are:
1. Membership
We support our members in all that we do and actively recruit new members by offering value and
delivering measurable results. Our members are the foundation of our success.
2. Community
We serve our community with a variety of well-organized events, excellent customer service and a
unique and trendy environment.
3. Marketing
We develop and strategically promote a professional, consistent brand that speaks to the vibrant history
and potential of the area.
The Longview Downtown Partnership is the new name for the Downtowner's Association. The Board
has been expanded to better represent business and property owners throughout the district. The new
Board will be comprised of members representing key areas including:
President Cowlitz Economic Development Council
First VP Lower Columbia College
Second VP Peace Health
Secretary Longview City Council
Trustee City of Longview
Trustee Finance
Trustee Entertainment
Non Profit Professional Service
Personal Service Resident
Property Owner Retail
Restaurant Kelso/Longview Chamber
Media
At Large
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Program Management and Administration
The Longview Downtown Partnership will hire a professional Downtown Director to manage all Business
Improvement District programs. The Downtown Director will continue to develop and work to achieve
this Downtown Longview Business Improvement District Program, to execute the Hyett-Palma 5 -Year
Action Agenda, and to coordinate all resources for the fulfillment of both. The following outlines the
work objectives and duties of the Downtown Director.
Work Objectives
The Downtown Director coordinates activity within the Downtown Longview Business Improvement
District. He or she is responsible for the ongoing development, conduct, execution and documentation
of the HDL-BID Program and the Hyett-Palma 5-year Action Plan. The Downtown Manager strengthens
downtown in the four key areas of focus including beautification and maintenance, recruitment and
retention, marketing and promotion and strategic partnerships.
Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and coordinate a Clean and Safe program utilizing paid and volunteer staff to achieve
cleanliness and maintenance tasks.
Develop and administer a comprehensive marketing program that includes a new brand for
downtown and specific marketing strategies locally and regionally.
Document and present program and plan updates, including budgets and return on investment
(ROI) statistics to the Longview Downtown Partnership (LDP) on a regular basis as requested by
the Board of Directors.
Track all measurable statistics for the purpose of reporting progress, success, requirements for
additional resources and return on investment.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory of space in the BID including retail, professional, residential
and their vacancy status.
Recruit new business and investors to the area based on specific data that determines a match
for the community and the area.
Develop and deliver value added opportunities to business owners and operators in the area
through training and development programs, referral services and marketing events.
Work with strategic partners throughout the community and the region to leverage programs,
resources, ideas and partnerships.
Attends appropriate community meetings to communicate program progress and to stay
informed.
Facilitate high-level coordination of new and annual downtown events.
Contract with professional services and other business as necessary to achieve the goals and
objectives of the Longview Downtown Business Improvement District Program.
Tracks all expenditures and submits paperwork for reimbursement.
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Billing and Collections
The City Finance Department will be responsible for mailing annual or bi-annual invoices, collecting
monies and distributing monies to the Longview Downtown Partnership for expenditures incurred
within the framework of the Business Improvement District. The City Finance Department will provide
limited collection services. The City of Longview will contribute this resource at no charge to the
Longview Downtown Partnership or the Business Improvement District.
Term
The Downtown Longview Business Improvement District will have a fixed term of two years. The district
will end at the completion of its second full year in 2014. For the district to continue beyond two years a
new Business Improvement District must be re-established following the process as defined in RCW
35.87A.
The Assessment Program
The Business Improvement Development Committee explored many ways to fund the Business
Improvement District including assessments on square footage, gross sales, district zones, property
values and combinations of these. It was determined that a fair and simple approach to assessment is
to create a flat, equal fee for every business and property owner in the district. In order to make this a
truly fair approach to funding, the program is designed to execute and administer revitalization efforts
and improvements equally to all areas of the district.
Therefore, the proposed assessments are:
Flat Rate Assessments
The flat rate for the following entities will be $365 per year or $30.41 per month or $1 per day.
Licensed Businesses - All businesses with an active city business license
Property Owners - Each individual or corporate property owner will be assessed once regardless
of how many properties the individual or entity owns
Non-Profit Organizations - with an active city business license
The exclusions are state owned property (as per RCW 35.87A) and individuals operating within the
umbrella of another business such as hair salons, spas, law firms, etc.
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Downtown Longview
Business Improvement District Program
Exemption Period for New Business and Property Owners
Property owners and businesses established after the creation of business improvement district within
the area will be exempted from the special assessments for a period of one year from the date they
commenced business in the area.
How the District Will Be Created
The Downtown Longview Business Improvement District may be established when petitions are signed
by business and property owners representing more than 60 percent of the total assessed are submitted
to the Longview City Council. Upon receiving these petitions, the Longview City Council then has
discretion to create the district or not. If the Longview City Council decides in favor of the district, they
will adopt a resolution of their intent to establish the Business Improvement District. A Public Hearing
date will be set. After the Public Hearing, the Longview City Council will make the final vote on the
establishment of the district. Upon adoption of the ordinance creating the new district, a payment
system will be set up and work will begin immediately.
PETITION APPROVAL
Name of Petitioner:_____________________________________________________________________
Name of Business or Property Owner:______________________________________________________
Property or Business Address:_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______ YES, I support this petition
Signature:_____________________________________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________________________________
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