Title
Public Hearing on the Intention to Change the Olympia Parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment Rate
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Hold a public hearing, and move to change the PBIA rate to zero dollars for 2025 consistent with the Council Resolution M-2580.
Report
Issue:
Whether to change the rate of for the Parking Business Improvement Area to zero dollars for the year of 2025 with the stated intention of using the year to do a program reevaluation.
Staff Contact:
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director, 360-753-8591
Presenter(s):
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) was established by the City Council in 2005 under Ordinance No. 6375. It was brought forth by the downtown business community with a petition to the City Council to implement a self-imposed business tax that would be used to support downtown priorities. With the use of these collected funds the PBIA provides funding for various downtown programs, including parking improvements, public safety, beautification efforts, and business support initiatives.
In 2010, the City Council removed the PBIA's renewal clause, allowing ongoing operations without a mandatory recertification or required program renewal. Other than a boundary modification there having been very few changes to the program as adopted in 2005, including there has been no change to rates, business classifications, or operational practices.
For 2025, the PBIA Advisory Board recommends conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the PBIA's effectiveness and future role in downtown Olympia. To support this, they suggest setting the 2025 assessment rate to $0 for all ratepayers, utilizing $60,000 of the PBIA's estimated $85,000 fund balance for program evaluation and downtown beautification, and retaining $25,000 as a reserve.
On November 19, 2025, City Cou...
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