Title
Recommendation on the Downtown Improvement District (DID)
Report
Issue:
Whether to provide a recommendation of support for the DID proposal following a briefing from the Downtown Olympia Alliance
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Strategic Projects Manager, Community Planning & Development,
360-570-5847
Presenter(s):
Todd Cutts, Executive Director, Olympia Downtown Alliance
Amy Buckler
Background and Analysis:
Downtown property owners are exploring the notion of a Downtown Improvement District (DID), which would be a property-owner based assessment in downtown Olympia. The Olympia Downtown Alliance (ODA) is helping to facilitate this process. A petition drive and City Council decision on whether to adopt the DID are anticipated in 2020.
The City Council would like the PBIA to provide a letter of recommendation about whether the City should pursue adopting the DID. The ODA has asked the PBIA to provide a letter of support.
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL
Mr. Cutts will provide an overview of the DID proposal, including some elements which have changed since the PBIA's last briefing.
A draft operational plan and FAQ's are attached.
PROCESS/TIMELINE
The DID was initially proposed in 2019. The ODA has been conducting outreach for many months, and met with the PBIA Board to discuss an initial proposal on May 7 and June 26. The Olympia City Council held a study session on Aug 13. And the ODA and City held a joint public information meeting on Sept 16. Since then, a small work group with two City Councilmembers, City Staff and DID steering committee members met to gain clarity on the proposal and lay out a process for bringing it forward to the City.
Under State law, establishing a DID requires a petition process, with support required from property owners representing more than 60 percent of the total assessments to be paid in the district. The petition drive is anticipated to start in February. Once petitions are verified, the Olympia City Council would hold a public ...
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