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WEST SAN LEANDRO SHUTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT FY 2012-13 <br /> <br />2 | Page <br /> <br /> <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 /> <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 /> <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 /> <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 for the five year period of <br />July 2009 to June 30, 2014. The employee-weighted votes to oppose the BID were less than 50% <br />of possible number of votes, thus providing the City Council discretion to approve the Ordinance <br />and re-establish the BID. <br /> <br />Following the BID reauthorization, the BID assessments remained at the FY 2005-06 base fee of <br />$25, plus $10.88 per employee. Businesses with five or fewer employees, landlords, and non- <br />profits were exempt from the BID assessment. In FY 2011-12, the assessment for the base and <br />per employee fees was increased for the first time using the CPI factor as authorized in <br />Ordinance No. 2009-002. <br /> <br />LINKS Shuttle Ridership <br /> <br />LINKS ridership in FY 2011-12 totaled 125,990 (see attached, Exhibit A). Ridership increased <br />by 25 percent in FY 2010-11 and dropped by 29 percent in 2011-12. It is assumed that ridership <br />spiked in 2010-11 when AC Transit bus service was reduced to the West San Leandro area. The <br />ridership decrease in 2011-12 coincides with the Kaiser construction and the related street work