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WEST SAN LEANDRO SHUTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT FY 2011 -12 <br />LINKS Shuttle Program History <br />In 2001, in response to a shortage of public transportation in San Leandro and an expressed <br />desire for adequate public transportation by the West San Leandro business community, the <br />Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro (Agency) partnered with the Chamber of <br />Commerce and the San Leandro Industrial Roundtable to provide a shuttle service, known <br />locally as LINKS. The primary purpose of LINKS is to provide free transportation for employees <br />to the industrial area of western San Leandro. The San Leandro Transportation Management <br />Organization ( SLTMO), a 501 C (6) non - profit corporation, was formed to handle the day -to -day <br />operations and to provide operational oversight of LINKS. <br />In early 2004, during preparation of the FY 2004 -05 budget, the SLTMO proposed a long -term <br />revenue plan to provide sustainable ongoing funding for the LINKS. The funding model included <br />contributions from the business community, grant funding and financial support from the <br />Agency on an as- needed basis. For FY 2004 -05, the SLTMO asked the City Council to establish <br />a BID to assess the business community served by the LINKS an annual fee to pay for a portion <br />of operating costs. With this guaranteed revenue source, the SLTMO would continue to seek <br />grant opportunities to fund the remainder of the LINKS budget. <br />After completing appropriate notices and public hearings as required by State law, on June 21, <br />2004, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2004 -013 establishing the BID. The BID included <br />a total of 380 businesses within the service area and was projected to generate $135,000 in <br />revenue. The FY 2004 -05 BID assessment was set at a base fee of $25, plus $10.56 per <br />employee. Businesses with five or fewer employees, landlords, and non - profits were exempt <br />from the BID assessment. The BID assessment imposed by the ordinance was to sunset after four <br />years and expired on June 30, 2009. <br />During FY 2004 -05, the SLTMO and the City continued to pursue all available grant <br />opportunities to support the shuttle program. The City was successful in obtaining a grant from <br />the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD); and the SLTMO, in partnership <br />with the Davis Street Family Resource Center ( DSFRC). Since the LIFT grant from MTC was <br />provided to fund transportation for DSFRC clients, the SLTMO expanded the LINKS route in <br />January 2005 to include the DSFRC, located on Teagarden Street. The change in the service <br />route to include DSFRC required the original BID to be re- formed to include additional <br />businesses that lie within one - quarter mile of the expanded service area. <br />In FY 2008 -09, anticipating the expiration of the BID, the BID Advisory Board and the SLTMO <br />recommended that the City Council re- establish the BID for another five year period. Similar to <br />the process in June 2004, notice was sent to over 380 businesses within the BID service area and <br />a public hearing was held as required by State law on April 6, 2009. After the public hearing, the <br />City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2009 -002 re- establishing the BID. The employee- weighted <br />votes to oppose the BID were less than 50% of possible number of votes, thus providing the City <br />Council discretion to approve the Ordinance and re- establish the BID. <br />21Page <br />