Title
Parking Business Improvement Area 2025 Program Evaluation Process
Recommended Action
No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on the scope, timeline and support needed for a 2025 Parking Business Improvement Area program evaluation process
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8046
Tim Smith, Interim Community Planning & Economic Development Director, 360.753.3915
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Tim Smith, Interim Community Planning & Economic Development Director
Background and Analysis:
On December 10, 2024, the Olympia City Council held a public hearing on the matter to reduce the Parking Business Improvement Area rates to zero dollars ($0) for all business types and locations in the district. The existing rates are codified in Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) 3.62.030.
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 recommended 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...
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