Title
Approval of the Parking and Business Improvement Area Phase I Findings and Discussion of Phase II
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) Phase I findings, discuss Phase II, and forward to the full Council for consideration.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Parking and Business Improvement Area Phase I findings, discuss Phase II, and forward to the full Council for consideration.
Staff Contact:
Jennica Machado, Economic Development Director, Community Planning & Economic Development, 360.480.9167
Presenter(s):
Jennica Machado, Economic Development Director
Brian Scott, Founding Partner, Uncommon Bridges
Background and Analysis:
The PBIA Board was established to develop an annual recommendation to the City Council about how to invest the PBIA Fund. In recent years, concerns have emerged around the equity of the assessment structure, program sustainability, and administrative complexity.
In 2024, the PBIA Advisory Board discussed potential next steps, including the possibility of dissolving the district. After extensive discussion, however, the Advisory Board determined that further evaluation was needed to assess current conditions and identify potential paths forward for the PBIA. City Council similarly indicated that a comprehensive evaluation would be beneficial.
In late 2025, the evaluation project was initiated, and the PBIA Advisory Board selected Uncommon Bridges as the project consultant. The evaluation examined the PBIA structure, operations, fee, and administrated processes and identified potential recommendations for improvement based on best practices from comparable downtowns. Uncommon Bridges has now completed the evaluation and will present its final findings and recommendations.
The PBIA Advisory Board received the final recommendations at their monthly meeting on March 4, 2026. The Board voted to rec...
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