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Project Description
A Community Benefits District (CBD) is made up of:
Neighbors who come together to improve and invest in their neighborhood to make it cleaner, safer and more appealing for local businesses, employees, residents and visitors.
CBDs are successful throughout the Nation and have proven to:
Reduce crime rates in the neighborhood (graffiti, drug dealing, etc.)
Create a cleaner, safer and more beautiful environment for visitors and residents.
Increase business and retain customers for local merchants.
Increase community involvement.
Increase property values while retaining a vibrant residential community.
A CBD will be managed by:
A nonprofit management corporation formed specifically to allocate the CBD funds for desired services.
A Board of Directors elected by local stakeholders, residents and merchants
A CBD is Formed in Two Phases:
Phase 1 Determining Feasibility of Forming CBD (April-December 2004):
Public informational meetings are held to educate the neighborhood about CBD benefits and process.
A survey is conducted of tenants / merchants / property owners to assess their needs.
If there is sufficient community support to establish a CBD, this would trigger a mail ballot process in Phase Two.
Phase 2 Formation of CBD (January-December 2005):
Public meetings are held to review survey results to determine improvement priorities for the CBD neighborhoods.
Interested groups work together to campaign, build coalitions and negotiate CBD operating terms in preparation for the final vote of all the property owners in the neighborhood district.
Based on improvement priorities selected by the neighborhood CBD, costs to provide these services are determined.
Then several assessment models are reviewed with property owners/merchants and tenants to determine a fair and proper self-assessment methodology for the neighborhood.
A final management plan needs to be signed by 30% of the CBD Property owners to trigger the mail ballot process.
The San Francisco Department of Elections mails ballots to property owners within the district.
50%-plus-one majority of property owners within a district is needed to form a CBD. Votes are weighted based on the amount of the assessment to be levied on each parcel.
The Board of Supervisors votes to approves the self-assessment
The assessment then appears as an annual line item levy on all properties within the district for 15-year funding mechanism. (This assessment may be passed through to commercial tenants and potentially residential tenants, should the landlord decide to apply for an exemption.)
Various Services That a CBD Can Provide:
Sidewalk Maintenance (Public Rights of Way which are not City Owned and Maintained)
Power washing
Graffiti removal
Tree trimming
Trash & gum removal
Poster & sticker removal
Security
Ambassadors: the eyes and ears of the street. Interface with tourists, residents and Police.
Crime and Loss Prevention
Marketing & Promotion
Website management
Community events
Banner program
Directories
Historic tours
Newsletters
Membership drives
Business Development
Database of neighborhood businesses
Membership organizing
Brochures of local businesses
Market the district to Chamber, and other business development agencies
Parking & Traffic Management
Traffic control
Transportation management (MUNI, Automobile, Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues)
Disseminate parking information
Parking analysis and advocacy
Capital Improvement
Façade Improvement programs
Landscaping
Lighting and other streetscape architecture
Flowers
Public Space Regulation
Processing code violations through City departments i.e. potholes, sidewalk defects, public hazards, etc.
Illegal venders, billboards, etc.
Restaurant patio street build outs
Urban Design
Established design guidelines for new construction with the district
Works with Planning Department on zoning plans ( such as SF Better Neighborhoods Program)
Social Services
Goodwill Ambassadors trained to deal with homeless/mental illness/alcohol and substance abuse issues by better accessing City funded social services (such as homeless outreach coordinators) |
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