10:15am | Following an extensive public process spanning the course of a year and its fair share of controversy, the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) released the final draft management plan for the proposed Downtown’s Property Based Improvement District (PBID).
The PBID is a special benefit assessment district formed in 1998 and renewed in 2003 that conveys what the DLBA specifies as “special benefits” to each individually assessed parcel located within the district boundaries that supersede services from the City itself. Downtown property owners are now seeking to continue the PBID for an additional ten year term.
This final draft plan is the culmination of a yearlong progression which engaged downtown stakeholders to help develop, create, and refine the proposed management plan. During this time, over 1,000 voices played a role in articulating the community’s priorities and shaping the plan. The local community was engaged through a variety of public participation avenues, including meetings with the PBID Steering Committee, DLBA Board of Directors, Downtown Residential Council, homeowners and neighborhood associations, as well as roundtables with stakeholders, residential open houses, an online survey, a DLBA hosted community meeting, and First and Second Council District community forums.
Additionally, the most recent and expansive avenue for public participation was an online comment tool which provided another opportunity for greater feedback on a page-by-page basis of the proposed plan. The public comment period, which remained open for 76 days beginning in mid-November when the first draft of the plan was released, to its close on January 31, resulted in 412 comments. Those that utilized the online tool included Downtown commercial property and business owners, residential owners, renters, employees, non-profits and visitors. To ensure the final draft plan accurately reflects the expressed needs of the community, all the comments were synthesized and considered during the process of amending the plan, resulting in the following 15 significant changes:
General Comment Resulting Revision
– Not supportive of community court – Community court eliminated
– Overall budget increase too aggressive – Budget reduced by $400,000
– Administrative budget should be reduced to 10% – Reduced from 13% to 9.8% (line item includes 3% reserve)
– More focus/resources to economic development – Economic Development budget increased by $25,000
– Increase residential representation – Management plan anticipates DLBA Board to explore appropriate representation
– Assessment methodology for condos should be – Methodology changed from flat rate to per square equitable foot, consistent with other property types
– Supportive of residential coordinator – Residential Coordinator position is further described
– Tri-County Consumer Price Index escalator should – Continued 2003 model of using CPI as a be a specific amount benchmark with a 5% ceiling
– Add further explanation for inclusion of homeowners – Language added – legal memo summarizing case law available as an exhibit
– Remove bond issuance language – Language removed
– Change property south of Seaside Way to Standard – Benefit Zone modification incorporated
– Include more language about growing residential – Language addedpopulation
– Include an example property assessment calculation – Sample calculations addedfor illustration purposes
– Methodology for rental residential should reflect – Rental residential property changed to reflect property use, not ownership type benefits experienced by individually owned units
– Create exemption application process for non- – Added process for property owners seeking non-profit owned properties profit rates to document both building ownership and tenant use by non-profits
The revised PBID management plan including the input received via the online public comment tool, are available online at www.downtownlongbeach.org.
On Thursday, February 16, the Downtown Residential Council will host a community forum to discuss the final draft plan. The DLBA will continue its commitment an inclusive public engagement process by presenting a summary on how the final draft management plan incorporates the recommendations received during the public comment period. This meeting is open to the public and will take place at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 111 East Ocean Boulevard beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Additional opportunities to provide comments are available at upcoming public meetings and thru the ballot process.
On Thursday, March 8, the proposed plan will be presented to the DLBA Board of Directors, comprised of individuals that represent Downtown property and business owners, residents and community partners – many of whom currently contribute to the PBID. This meeting will take place at the Hilton Hotel, located at 701 West Ocean Boulevard beginning at 8 a.m.
During the second quarter of this year, stakeholders will have the opportunity to sign a petition in support of the plan. After garnering the legal requirement of support through the petition process, all Downtown property owners will have the opportunity to vote yes or no when ballots are mailed to them directly. Following the ballot process, a mandatory action is necessary by the Long Beach City Council.