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File Number: 14-461 <br />public hearing to do so. An updated notice of the public meeting and public hearing will be <br />mailed to all businesses on October 21, 2014. <br />The current BID, which partially funds the LINKS Shuttle, expired June 30, 2014. In <br />anticipation of the need to re-authorize the BID, City staff and the San Leandro Transportation <br />Management Organization (SLTMO) engaged in an extensive process of re-evaluating the <br />service to determine what changes are needed to ensure that it best meets the needs of the <br />West San Leandro industrial area. The proposal for re-authorization of the BID adjusts the <br />BID rate and BID territory to match the plan for enhanced services that was previously <br />presented to the City Council and the San Leandro business community. <br />The Resolution of Intention (ROI) would re-establish the BID at the rate of $21 per employee, <br />per year. If approved, each business within one-quarter mile of the LINKS Shuttle route would <br />pay the fee as part of its annual Business License renewal process. Nonprofit entities and <br />businesses with three or fewer employees would be exempt from the BID. The proposed <br />duration of the BID is 15 years. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Since 2001, LINKS has served San Leandro businesses by providing a free transportation link <br />between places of employment and the Downtown San Leandro BART Station. LINKS is <br />managed by the San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO) through a <br />board of local volunteers from the business community and City representatives. Funding for <br />LINKS comes from grants, the City of San Leandro, and a BID that was formed by businesses <br />within one-quarter mile of the shuttle route. The BID expired this year and must be <br />re-authorized through a ballot of the participating businesses. To ensure no interruptions in <br />the LINKS service, the re-authorization must be completed by the end of 2014. <br />Analysis <br />Opportunity for Service Updates <br />Thirteen years have passed since the original route was created and the timing is right to <br />consider service enhancements during the upcoming BID renewal period. In 2014, several <br />factors led the SLTMO to explore options for enhancing and updating the Service: <br />·New growth and development in West San Leandro: The opening of the Kaiser <br />Permanente Medical Center, and general economic recovery warrant revising LINKS to <br />ensure the service meets current and future needs. <br />·Next Generation Workplace District: Businesses within the industrial area ranked <br />LINKS #1 out of 17 potential implementation initiatives under the Next Generation <br />Workplace District Study, an innovative and ambitious plan to support development of <br />San Leandro’s industrial areas. <br />·Reductions in AC Transit service to West San Leandro: LINKS plays a critical role in <br />filling the transportation gaps left by AC Transit service cuts. <br />·Increasing Transit Ridership: Younger workers are driving less, preferring transit and <br />biking. Successful repositioning of the industrial area requires transportation <br />opportunities that appeal to the next generations of workers. <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/14/2014