8C Consent 2006 1218 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WEST S^N LEANDRO SIHJTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTIUCT ...-- ,.- ANNU^L REPORT FY 2006-07 --..- '''..- ...._~- 5. The BID asseSSlnent shall be evaluated by subsequent Advisory Boards on an annual basis and, based on the financial health of the LINKS, the BID shall be reduced when possible. If additional grant funding is secured, the priority shall be given to reducing the BID in subsequent years. LINKS Shuttle Program Historv In 2001, in response to a shortage of public transportation in San Leandro and an expressed desire for adequate public transportation by the West San Leandro business community, the RedeveJopll1ent Agency of the City of San Leandro partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and the San Leandro Industrial Roundtable to provide a shuttle service, known locally as the LINKS. The purpose oC the LINKS is to provide n"ee transportation for employees to the mdustrial area of westem San Leandro. The San Lcandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO), a 501 C (3) non-profit corporation, was formed to handle the day-to- day operations and to providc operational oversight oCthe LINKS. The Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, matched by a Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation COlnmission (MTC), provided initial start-up funds for a two-year trial period to assess the viability of the program. Additionally, the City received a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to provide additional funding for the LINKS. Over the two-year trial period, there was a steady increase in ridership for the LINKS, and the program proved to be a benefit to the community. In early 2004, during preparation of the budget for Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO proposed a long-term revenue plan to provide sustainable ongoing funding for the LINKS. The funding model included contributions from the business cOlnmunity, grant funding and financial support fi"Onl the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency on an as-needed basis. For Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO asked the City Council to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) to assess the business community served by the LINKS an annual fee to pay for a portion of the LINKS operating costs. With this guaranteed revenue source, the SLTMO would continue to seek out grant opportunities to help fund the remainder of the LINKS budget. Aner cOlnplcting all appropriate notices and public hearings as required by State law, on June 21, 2004, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2004-013 establishing the West San Leandro Shuttle Business Trnprovement District (BID). The BID included a total of 380 businesses within the service area and was projected to generate $135,000 in revenue. The 2004-05 BID assessment was set at a base fee of $25, plus $10.56 per employee. Businesses with five or fCwer employees and non-profits were exempt hom the BID assessment. During Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO and the City continued to pursue all available grant opportunities to support the shuttle program. The City was again successful in obtaining a grant [ronl the BAAQMD and the SLTMO, in partnership with the Davis Street Family Resource Center (DSFRC), obtained a second two-year LIFT grant in the amount of