Downtown Business Improvement District on Edmonds City Council Agenda

A proposed Business Improvement District for downtown Edmonds that would let businesses assess themselves to pay for some of the area's needs is the subject of a public hearing at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

The public can comment on the proposal during the regular meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Ave. N.

The council in December approved a resolution declaring the city's intent to establish a business improvement district, and set Jan. 15 as the public hearing date.

Under the plan, "business owners pool their money to do things they want to do and that are best done collectively," according to background documents on the city's website. "Funds collected are used to provide services for the mutual benefit of businesses and/or properties being assessed and can be used to provide marketing, public area maintenance, security, parking, streetscape improvements, and professional management/services. Each BID typically has a member advisory board made up of members within the BID boundary."

According to the BID Committee, multiple cities in Washington have parking and/or business improvement districts: Olympia, Poulsbo, Richland, Seattle (eight currently active), Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima, Auburn, Everett, Burien and Port Angeles. Longview is collecting signatures.

Businesses in the district would pay from $10 a month up to $50 a month, depending on the type and size.

Background materials on the project are posted on the city's website and on the BID group's website. You can also view the proposed boundaries and memo from the BID Committee in the PDFs attached to this story.