The Long Beach City Council approved last night the Downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) petition that permits municipal properties, such as the Long Beach Civic Center and main library, to continue to be included in a taxing district administered by the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), amounting to a cost of almost $390,000 to the City.
Kraig Kojian, president and CEO of the DLBA, told the Post, “As one of the largest property owners in the downtown [area], the City of Long Beach has played an active role in the PBID since its inception in 1998, and downtown stakeholders look forward to continuing this relationship to leverage scarce resources and maximize the impact this public-private partnership collectively accomplishes in the community.”
Re-approved for another decade in 2003, the current PBID expires at the end of this year and pays for services which are not covered by the City itself, such as the Clean Team and Safety patrols seen Downtown. Initially, owner-occupied residential buildings and non-profit buildings were exempt from PBID fees. However, in March, the DLBA voted to extend the tax to these areas; property owners in the district will vote later on whether they will pay such fees.
“[T]he benefits received from the programs and services provided by the PBID protects the investments made by all Downtown stakeholders,” continued Kojian. “The City’s contribution to the PBID of approximately $225,000 is based on property it owns within the district and when this is combined with private sector funds, stakeholders are able to leverage their contributions into more than $2 million for these enhanced programs and services dedicated to the Downtown.”
NOTE: This article previously stated “unanimously approved,” and while the author feels that is the case, it should be noted that Rae Gabelich was absent at the vote while Robert Garcia and Gerrie Schipske were recused since they own property within the PBID district.
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