Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

Director of City Plans

SUBJECT:

Approval of Council Initiative - Kerrisdale BIA Renewal

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Council policy for the renewal of a BIA was approved on July 30, 1992 as follows:

A BIA is renewed (re-established) by Council Initiative process; property owners and commercial tenants receive notification of the Initiative, and the renewal will not be approved if one third or more of the owners, representing one third of the assessed property value, or one third of the tenants, counted separately, are in opposition. An outline of the process is attached as Appendix A.

Section 462 of the Vancouver Charter was amended on September 23, 1998 to permit BIA renewal terms of up to 20 years. Council has exercised its authority under the amendment by approving ten year renewal terms for the Mount Pleasant and Downtown Vancouver BIAs.

PURPOSE

The Kerrisdale Business Association (KBA) has completed the first step in the BIA renewal process. The purpose of this report is to commence the second step, which is to re-confirm the KBA as BIA sponsor, to approve a Council Initiative to renew the BIA, to forward the renewal application to the Court of Revision, and to approve the proposed 5 year funding ceiling.

BACKGROUND

The Kerrisdale BIA is one of the City's 5 oldest BIAs. It's first 5 year term commenced in April 1991. On November 16 1995, Council approved a five-year renewal term for the BIA, commencing April 1 1996. On February 16 1999, Council approved a modest boundary expansion and a mid-term funding-ceiling increase.

The current renewal term will expire March 31 2001. The Kerrisdale Business Association wishes to renew the BIA for a third 5 year term (April 1 2001 - March 31 2006). No new boundary changes are proposed at this time.

DISCUSSION

The BIA boundary comprises the five blocks of 41st Avenue between Maple, on the east, and Larch, on the west; and a portion of West Boulevard between 39th and 42nd Avenues. A map of the boundary is attached as Appendix A.

The KBA proposes a Year 1 renewal budget of $225,000.00, representing an annual levy rate of $1.45 per $1,000.00 of assessed property value. The proposed budget for Year 1 is the third column in the 5 year budget spreadsheet attached for information as Appendix B. In the event that Council approves the BIA renewal at the Court of Revision, staff will report back for approval of the Year 1 budget along with all of the other BIAs' 2001 - 2002 budget requests. The proposed 5 year funding-ceiling of $1,225,000 reflects an average 4% annual budget increase after Year 1, and is the sum of the projected annual budgets over 5 years.

Membership Outreach Activities

Outreach to the BIA membership commenced with a lead article in the July/August 2000 KBA newsletter featuring the renewal and the BIA's accomplishments in key areas including public realm enhancements, partnership, security and special events. The newsletter is distributed to all property owners, business owners and their managers.

The July/August newsletter also incorporated a one page survey asking recipients to indicate priority initiatives over the proposed 5 year renewal term. The August/September newsletter featured a spreadsheet outlining the proposed 5 year renewal budget and a prominent notice for the September AGM.

In August, the KBA re-distributed 220 copies of the `newsletter' survey door-to-door to maximize the return rate and raise awareness about the upcoming renewal. Ultimately, the KBA received back 70 responses, all indicating support for the renewal, with a majority being `very pleased' with the efforts of the KBA.

Two AGM notices, dated September 7 and 12 respectively, were hand-delivered to local businesses in the first and second week of September. The notices clearly indicated that BIA renewal would be an agenda item at the AGM. Twenty-five voting members attended the AGM on September 27, 2000. At that meeting, the members present unanimously approved the proposed BIA renewal, the 5-year budget, and the annual budget for 2001-2002.

Based on the AGM results and member input received to date, the KBA is confident that the proposed 5 year renewal and budget are generally supported. The KBA formally applied to the City for renewal of its mandate on December 4, 2000. A copy of their application letter and documentation of outreach material, is attached as Appendix C. A copy of the KBA AGM minutes, showing membership approval of the renewal is attached as Appendix D.

Staff Comments - Membership Outreach and Support

Staff are satisfied that the KBA has notified all commercial property owners and tenants within the proposed renewal area.

The KBA was able to generate a fairly high a rate of return (32%) on the renewal survey. As all of the 70 respondents indicated support for the BIA, it is likely that there is general support for the renewal. Also, the proposed renewal was unanimously approved at the AGM. Only about 11% of the BIA membership attended the meeting; although this is typical for many BIAs, the AGM results would carry greater weight if attendance had been better.

The KBA reports that, as of the date of this report, no property owners or businesses have contacted the BIA to express opposition to the renewal proposal. As of the date of this Report, staff have received no telephone calls or correspondence from individuals expressing opposition or concern regarding the renewal proposal; however, the City's BIA Coordinator was not listed as a contact in the KBA's literature.

CONCLUSIONS

The Kerrisdale Business Association is requesting that Council consider approval of its proposed 5 year renewal term and 5 year funding ceiling of $1,225,000, and has asked that their application be forwarded by way of Council Initiative to a Court of Revision. The results of KBA outreach activities indicate no opposition at this stage in the process.

ATTACHMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC COPY ARE AVAILABLE ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE

* * * * *

Comments or questions? You can send us email.
[City Homepage] [Get In Touch]

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver