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WE5T SAN LEANDRO SHUTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT FY 2008-09 Lifeline grant from the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (CMA) is pending fmal approval. Should grant funding not be available to support LINKS in the future, the continuation of the BID should be reevaluated and re-establishment of the BID should include a provision as such. 5. Due to the current economic conditions the Advisory Board recommends the FY 2008- 09 BID base fee rate of $25.00 per business and the per-employee assessment rate of $10.88 be maintained. 6. The Advisory Board supports re-establishment of the BID for afive-year period assuming the BID rate remains at current levels. LINKS Shuttle Program History 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 Redevelopment 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 primary purpose of the LINKS is to provide free transportation for employees to the industrial area of western San Leandro. The San Leandro Transportation Management Organization, a 501 C (3) non-profit corporation, was formed to handle the day-to-day operations and to provide operational oversight of the LINKS. The Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, matched by a Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grant from the MTC, provided initial start-up funds for atwo-year trial period to assess the viability of the program. Additionally, the City received a grant from the 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 FY 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 community, grant funding and financial support from the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency on an as-needed basis. For FY 2004-05, the SLTMO asked the City Council to establish a BID to assess the business community served by the LINKS an annual fee to pay for a portion of 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. After completing 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 BID. The BID included a total of 380 businesses within the service area and was projected to generate $135,000 in revenue. The 2004-OS BID assessment was set at a base fee of $25, plus $10.56 per employee. Businesses with five or fewer employees and non-profits were exempt from the BID assessment. 2~~p_~