02/05/1996 - Work Study - MinutesPort Orchard, Washington
February 5, 1996
Council of the City of Port Orchard, Washington, called to order for Study
Session by Mayor Leslie Weatherill at 7:30 PM at City Hall, 216 Prospect Street.
Council members present: Clauson, Wyatt, Powers, Geiger, and Grable.
City Staff present: City Engineer Curles, City Planner Gross and Deputy Clerk
Hager.
Mayor Weatherill opened meeting by stating the purpose of this Study Session was
to gain some knowledge and understanding of implementing a Downtown Business
Improvement Association.
Mayor Weatherill introduced Mayor Mitchusson, City of Poulsbo and Jack Webb from
the City of Poulsbo's Business Improvement Association and requested City Planner
Gross facilitate the discussions.
City Planner Gross updated the Council and audience on the prior meeting
discussions.
At this time, Mayor Mitchusson distributed literature regarding the formation of
the BIA: (1) meeting minutes from March 10, 1988 regarding the formation of the
Poulsbo Business Improvement District; (2) information sheet and copy of petition
for establishing Poulsbo's Business Improvement District; and (3) City of
Poulsbo's ordinance adopting the Poulsbo Business Improvement District.
Jack Webb, member of Poulsbo's Business Improvement Association, discussed the
procedures City of Poulsbo followed during implementation of their association.
Mr. Webb made the following observations and/or recommendations:
(1) The City needs to decide what part of the town to include in the
Business Improvement District.
(2) There are two ways to form a BIA:
(a) the downtown merchants prepare a petition and present to the
City Council. The City Council prepares an Ordinance for
adoption.
(b) The City Council prepares an Ordinance for adoption.
(3) The downtown merchants need to categorize their business, i.e,
retail business or professional businesses.
(4) The Poulsbo BIA was formulated under the Chamber of Commerce.
(5) The BIA submits a budget to the City once a year. The City reviews
this budget to see if it conforms with State Statutes.
February 5, 1996
Page 2 of 3
Councilwoman Powers asked if the State Statues are strict on how monies can be
spent.
Jack Webb responded state statues are not limiting and the monies can be used for
a variety of purposes such as developing parking lots, beautification of the city
or promotions.
Melodie Sapp, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, asked if their organization
was non profit.
Mayor Mitchusson advised the BIA falls under the same non profit status as cities
in the RCW.
Mayor Mitchusson urged Council to invite business developers from other cities
to analyze the business district and make comments and/or suggestions.
Melodie Sapp, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, asked how the Poulsbo BIA
is governed.
The Poulsbo BIA developed a set of By -Laws with an Executive Board of 7 elected
positions as follows: Chair, Vice -Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 committees:
(a) Beautification Committee; (b) Advertisement Committee; (c) New Business
Development Committee.
Ron Rada, downtown business owners, asked if property owners or business owners
were assessed for the BIA.
Mr. Webb responded the City of Poulsbo assesses business owners and not the
property owners. The BIA assessments are collected by the City along with the
business license tax and if a business owner does not pay the BIA assessment,
they will not be allowed to renew their business license until all delinquent and
current BIA assessments are paid in full. While the BIA assessment is collected
by the City the BIA assessment revenue is distributed and spent within the
Business Improvement Association's budget.
A question was asked how to get property owners involved?
Mayor Mitchusson stated a gathering of downtown property owners and business
owners along with architects and engineers to discuss a theme is usually a good
first step.
Councilwoman Powers asked if establishing a BIA helps stabilize business in the
downtown area.
Jack Webb stated the BIA seemed to stabilize the downtown business district,
however the state of economy and private business practices are the reasons for
many turn overs in small businesses.
Councilman Gieger asked if the BIA does improvements on private property.
February 5, 1996
Page 3 of 3
Jack Webb stated the BIA's budget does not allow for improvements on private
property.
Gene Baker, Harbormaster, Port of Bremerton, asked if any grant or federal monies
were utilized.
Jack Webb advised they did not seek any grant, federal money or low interest
loans.
At this time, City Planner Gross thanked Mayor Mi tchusson and Jack Webb for their
time and expertise regarding the formation of Poulsbo's Business Improvement
Association.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Michelle Hager, Depuq Clerk LESLIE 1. WEATHERILL, MAYOR