AN ORDINANCE establishing a new Ballard Parking and Business Improvement Area; levying special assessments upon owners of business property, multi-family residential property, and mixed-use property within the area; providing for the deposit of revenues in a special account and expenditures therefrom; providing for collection of and penalties for delinquencies; providing for the establishment of a Ratepayers Advisory Board; and providing for an implementation agreement with a Program Manager.
Thank you. The bill passed and the chair will sign it. Please read the report of the Affordable Housing Neighborhoods and Finance Committee. To report the Affordable Housing Neighborhoods and Finance Committee agenda item one Capital 118 747 Establishing a new pilot parking in a business improvement area, levying special assessments upon owners of business, property, multifamily, residential property and mixed use property within the area, providing for the deposit of revenues in a special account and expenditures therefrom providing for collection of and penalties for delinquencies. Providing for the submission of a rate payers advisory board and providing for an implementation agreement with a program manager. The committee recommends the bill passes amended. Councilmember Burgess. Thank you very much. This legislation, as we've heard, establishes the Ballard Parking and Improvement District, the BIA in Ballard. It's one of the economic development mechanisms that we use in city government to allow neighborhood business districts to establish a variety of programs to address issues that they've identified as important to them. In this particular case, the Ballard Business Improvement Area is designed to accomplish eight objectives a clean environment, which includes sweeping of sidewalks, graffiti removal and advancing plans for a Ballard public restroom facility, advocacy on urban design and transportation issues that affect the Ballard Business Area. Business development and retention for businesses that are serving that community or may serve them in the future. Marketing and Promotion Activities. Promoting Ballard as a destination to live, workshop, eat or play. Public safety and health enhancements in the neighborhood. Programs related to education and network opportunities for individuals and for businesses. Promotion and management of the Ballard Seafood Fest, which happens every year and has been going for 40 some years in Ballard. And then finally, the management of the BIA and its financial and administrative obligations. Some speakers this morning indicated that they never received notice of the council's consideration of this matter. Notice was sent on August 22nd by the City Clerk to approximately 125 potential ratepayers in the area. That's 16 days before the public hearing was held. The public hearing was held in council chambers on September seven at 930 in the morning. One person spoke against establishing the ballot BIA. The committee recommends that this ordinance be approved. Any further comments or concerns? Councilmember O'Brien. Great. Thank you for highlighting all that. Councilmember Burgess. I've had conversations with a number of community members going back over a year now about this work, as we know, with business improvement areas throughout the city. There is a requirement for a certain threshold to be met and a lot of conversations to be had. We did hear today from some folks that have expressed concerns about their building being included. What I've heard on the street, my conversations with the folks in the area is is broad support for this. Today, we heard some folks highlight that they would like to see the boundary drawn a little bit differently. And what I know and I can share with my colleagues here is that the legislation around base does allow future expansion of those areas there. My understanding is there are folks that are outside the area that would like to be included in the future. It'll just take some time. I've talked to the folks at the Ballard Chamber and they have also an interest in doing that as it allows moving forward. What I can tell you is that there is a lot of growth happening in Ballard. There's a lot of opportunity in that neighborhood and a lot of challenges that come with it. And I really applaud the people that have come together and are willing to commit their resources to add to what the city is doing to help improve the conditions in the community. And I fully support this legislation. I want to remind colleagues that the the legislation talks about the different scales about how folks are charged, but there's a cap for a residential unit can be charged no more than $90 a year, $7.50 a month. So residential participants is relatively modest. This would raise nearly, I believe, $400,000 a year for community wide improvements. Any further comments from any of my colleagues? I'll just say that I'll be supporting this legislation. But some of the objections that I heard this this afternoon do concern me that I continue to think that the city should not do a bare minimum job of notice, that the notice is intended to create a discussion and a dialog . Dare I say a negotiation. I trust that a lot of this was going on, but when I do hear I was barely complying with either the guidelines and I'm not sure that's what I heard. But I would like to be very proud of of solid outreach done by our departments. Even if we disagree with at least know that there was a forum by which the disagreements were vetted and they would move forward. So I'm very pleased to hear that there's still a process moving forward as we unfold. The Big I continue to think this is going to be very good for the neighborhoods and the businesses and the residents in this area. But again, I think lessons could always be learned when we establish these buys. No, the comments from any of my colleagues. Please call the roll on the passage of the bill. Johnson. Suarez. O'Brien. Thanks, John Burgess. Gonzalez. President Harrell. All right. Seven in favor. Nine opposed the bill passed in the Senate. Please read agenda item number two.