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File Number: 14-461 <br />After extensive outreach to businesses and in-depth work with transportation experts, City <br />staff and the SLTMO propose to divide the LINKS route into two distinct loops. The north and <br />south loops will shorten headways to 15 minutes and reduce the round trip to about 30 <br />minutes. The result will be a much quicker trip to and from the BART station. Proposed <br />service enhancements include new service to Marina Boulevard, more frequent service with <br />shorter headways, and reduced time required for a round-trip ride. The SLTMO is also <br />working on other enhancements to assist riders including updated signage, benches and bus <br />shelters and offering Wi-Fi and NextBus access. <br />Re-authorization of the BID will also help businesses in the BID area to comply with new Bay <br />Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) requirements. Beginning in 2014, the new <br />Commuter Benefits Program requires all employers with 50 or more full-time employees to <br />provide commuter benefits to their employees. To comply with the Program, employers must <br />select one of four commuter benefit options and register with BAAQMD. BAAQMD has <br />confirmed that participation in the LINKS shuttle BID satisfies Option 3 (“Employer Provided <br />Transit”) under the new BAAQMD program. Staff believes that the LINKS BID offers these <br />companies an easy, cost-effective option for complying with this new regulation. <br />Proposed BID Assessment <br />The proposed BID assessment has been simplified from past years. The proposed BID is a <br />simple fee of $21 per employee, per year and the current base fee will no longer exist. If <br />approved, the BID will include businesses within one-quarter mile of the proposed LINKS <br />route. Businesses within one-half mile of the San Leandro Downtown BART station will be <br />excluded from the BID (see the attached map.) The proposed assessment would also exclude <br />businesses with three or fewer employees, landlords, non-profit businesses and home based <br />business. <br />There are slightly more than 600 businesses within the BID service area that would be subject <br />to the BID assessment. As before, the assessment would be collected along with the City’s <br />Business License tax. Annual assessments may be increased in an amount up to the <br />increase, if any, of the Bay Area Cost of Living Index. The proposed term of the BID is fifteen <br />years. <br />Following is a sample of the proposed BID fees: <br />Number of Employees Current Proposed <br />5 $0 $105 <br />10 $143 $210 <br />50 $608 $1,050 <br />Funding for LINKS <br />Funding for LINKS comes from grants, the City of San Leandro and the Business <br />Improvement District. The re-established BID would cover approximately 50% of the total <br />operating budget. LINKS currently has a Federal Lifeline Grant aimed at improving <br />transportation accessibility and job access to low-income residents and a Bay Area Air Quality <br />Management District Transportation Fund for Clean Air grant targeted at reducing vehicle <br />emissions. Earlier in 2014, the City Council approved a commitment of $50,000 for Fiscal <br />Page 3 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/14/2014