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SAN LEANDRO TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION November 19, 2008 City of San Leandro City Council Civic Center 835 East 14th Street San Leandro, California 94577 Subj: Request to Re-establish the West San Leandro Shuttle Business Improvement District Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council: This letter is a recommendation to the City Council to re-establish the West San Leandro Shuttle Business Improvement District (BID) due to expire on June 30, 2009, and for the BID to be reevaluated in FY 20l 3- 14. The SLTMO further recommends that the current BID assessment rate of $25.00 per business and $10.88 per employee be maintained. Businesses with five or fewer employees, property owners, home businesses, and nonprofit businesses not benefiting from the assessment should continue to be exempt from the BID. Re-establishment of the BID would continue to partially fund the West San Leandro LINKS Shuttle Service (LINKS) which provides free and reliable transportation from the downtown San Leandro BART station to businesses in West San Leandro's industrial area. Continuation of the BID is essential to allow the continued operation of LINKS which provides a valuable service to the community. LINKS is an important economic development program as it assists the City in eliminating and preventing blight in the Industrial Area by facilitating employee use of public transportation, and in doing so assists businesses in amacting and retaining employees. The funding model for LINKS includes three interdependent sources: the BID, grant funding and financial support from the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency. The BID funds approximately one-third of LINKS administration and operational costs. The BID is critical as it not only funds the service, but also assists the SLTMO in obtaining grants which offset the cost of service by exemplifying business support for the program. Another benefit of LINKS is that it promotes the use of public transportation and reduces the City's carbon footprint, assisting the City in meeting its 25% emissions reduction goal. Studies show it is often the last few miles of commute that prevent people from using public transit. LINKS, as a reverse commute transportation provider, offers that last `link' which enables employees to use public transportation, thereby easing traffic congestion and improving air quality. The San Leandro Transportation Management Organization strongly recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution of Intention for the City to re-establish the BID. on Management Organization SLTMO 262 DAVIS STREET SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577 • 510-351-1481 nnAiN • 510-351-6740 FAx