The Glendora City Council will open a public hearing tonight and discuss the intention to levy and collect assessments on Glendora Village businesses.
The purpose of the public hearing at the 7 p.m. City Council meeting is to receive public testimony regarding the proposed assessments for 2015-2016 in preparation for a final vote coming later in May.
The City Council will also consider for approval a Resolution of Intent and Annual Report, which outlines an assessment schedule and program budget.
Assessments levied on the 140 merchants in the Business Improvement District are collected in order to fund the various activities conducted throughout the Village, such as the Chalk Festival, Wine Walk and sidewalk sale events.
The BID expects to collect $56,800 in assessments and $44,500 from event ticket sales.
The BID has determined that assessments, which vary depending on location in the Village, will not change for the approaching 2015-2016 fiscal year. A proposed budget by the BID reportedly exceeds revenue by $5,564, with surplus funds covering the shortfall.
The BID will eliminate the Taste of the Village event, add two additional sidewalk sales and a third event to be announced later, City Staff reported.
Depending on size, type and location, BID businesses can be levied anywhere from $0 to $200.
Those who pay no assessment fees include independent contractors with certain businesses, apartment buildings and BID businesses south of Foothill Boulevard.
The assessment schedule was revised to mostly what is being used after 250 signatures were reportedly collected from merchants in 2013 to dissolve the BID. Some merchants strongly voiced their displeasure with what they felt was a lack of communication and bad management in spending the fees.
A subcommittee formed by BID advisory board members Jana Jones and Daniel Boyer in 2013 devised an alternative fee methodology.
Businesses in the BID will be given the opportunity to vote during the May 26 public hearing at the City Council meeting, where action will be taken on the assessments. If more than 50 percent of the weighted assessed businesses protest the assessments, the fees will not be collected for the following fiscal year, City Staff said.
The BID boundaries cover businesses from Vermont to Vista Bonita avenues, Bennett Avenue to Foothill Boulevard and between Vermont and Glendora avenues and Foothill and Carroll Avenue.
The Annual Report and Resolution of Intent are considered the initial steps of the adoption process before the City Council will open a final public hearing and vote, which is scheduled for May 26.
