Johnson, president of the Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association, noted that supporters had “worked long and hard on the BID,” educating property owners through extensive outreach stretched out over several years.But, Johnson added, the slim loss could lead to another bid for the BID: “We’re going to regroup and see what we can do. I still feel we have to work as a group and do whatever we can do to bring tourism to Santa Paula and into the downtown business district.”It would be another year to try again, she noted.City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said the timing might have been off with a war looming and the economy tightening as property owners considered the assessment.Support for the BID seemed strong with the latest pre-balloting survey showing that the BID was over the line of victory.But several nonprofit groups showed up at Monday’s council meeting saying they could not afford the BID assessment.
Supporters consider another bid for BID after narrow defeat
March 26, 2003
Santa Paula News
The narrow loss to create a property-based Business Improvement District has not deterred supporters who are considering another try for the assessment to improve business in the historical downtown area of the city.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe narrow loss to create a property-based Business Improvement District has not deterred supporters who are considering another try for the assessment to improve business in the historical downtown area of the city.The votes were tabulated at the March 17th City Council meeting where it was announced that the BID failed by a scant 24.32-weighted votes. In all, 633.46 weighted votes were counted, and the final tally was 304.57 for and 328.89 against. In all, 1085.83 weighted votes could have been cast. There were 153 eligible properties that had weighted votes.Ballots had been mailed out in January asking downtown property owners for the assessment, which depended on the size and location of the property.The BID had a 5-year sunset clause to raise about $75,000 annually to enhance the downtown with the help of a part-time business manager and joint marketing, advertising and promotional efforts.“I was truly surprised by it,” said Debbie Johnson, co-owner and publisher of the Santa Paula Times, located on Main Street.
