Council OKs Plan to Revitalize Downtown
The City Council this week moved toward establishing a downtown business improvement district, which would move the responsibility for marketing a revitalized downtown away from city officials to downtown business owners.
On Monday, the council unanimously approved a resolution to introduce an ordinance that would create a business improvement district between Duquesne Avenue and Robertson Boulevard along Culver and Washington boulevards, said Jerry Ichien, city redevelopment project specialist.
Under the program, about 150 businesses in the district would be assessed $100 to $1,000 annually to pay for some expenses--such as marketing--that have been borne by the city, Ichien said.
Rob Barber, president of the Culver City Downtown Business Assn., said the proposed ordinance has widespread support among business owners, who understand that the city won’t keep paying to promote downtown’s rebirth forever.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the council meeting Sept. 14.
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