1.    What is a PBID? Why Fresno?

A property-based business improvement district - a public/private partnership for revitalizing Downtown Fresno. Property owners, along with a PBID formation consultant, figure out details of the district:

Strategic action plan, including services

Assessment levels and budget

Boundaries of the district

2.    Speaking of assessments, what will our assessments be?

That’s part of what is determined in the formation process. To get an idea, in the K Street Corridor of Downtown Sacramento the rate is .138 per square foot of lot and .069 per square foot of building. Other zones have different assessment rates. In Long Beach, the standard rate is $.03893 per square foot of lot plus building and 8.25545 of linear front.

3.    What about City services like maintaining Fulton Mall and the Downtown Bike Unit? Is the PBID assessment used to replace these services?

No. The public/private partnership includes an agreement that City services maintain at the existing level. If budget cuts are made, the agreement stipulates that services are reduced proportionately through the City. At no time will normal City services be reduced in Downtown Fresno in response to private funding.

4.    Who decides how the assessments are used?

The property owners, by their approval of the strategic action plan, determine the services for the duration of the district. They elect a board that oversees the operation of the district. Clean and safe programs are common, along with marketing and advocacy.

5.    Duration? What does that mean?

Initially, a PBID is formed for 5 years. Renewals can be created for up to 15 years. For instance, Downtown Long Beach formed their original PBID for 5 years in 1998, and renewed in 2003 for 10 years.

6.    How does all this happen?

With the help of the PBID formation consultant, property owners and the PBID formation committee talk to individual property owners and to groups of property owners. They also survey all property owners. Through this process, the boundaries, assessment levels and strategic plan are determined.
When those key features are decided, property owners sign petitions requesting the formation. Fresno City Council approves an ordinance establishing the district and sends out ballots seeking property owner approval.

While not a tax, the assessment is collected through the property tax process. The goal is to form the Downtown Fresno Partnership district by July 2009.
But the bottom line is that none of this can happen without exceeding 50% approval of all property owners by petition and by ballot. And that takes you.