Consultant retained to explore downtown BID
by Kevin Cody A Business Improvement District (BID) consultant has been retained by the City of Hermosa Beach to gauge support for a downtown improvement district, Senior Planner Christy Teague told the City Council at its Tuesday, January 24 meeting. The consultant is expected to meet with downtown business and property owners in March or April. Exploring formation of a downtown BID was one of 10 priorities identified by the council when it approved a 10-year Hermosa Beach Economic Development Plan last July. Approval of a downtown BID would require businesses, and possibly property owners, to vote to tax themselves to pay for downtown improvements. In response to questions about who would appoint BID committee members, and who would decide how BID funds are spent, City Manager Suja Lowenthal wrote in an email, “When it comes to City Council, the advisory board would be proposed by the business group, and the Council would confirm the Board. At that time, the City Council would approve the budget estimate and categories of spending planned by the formation committee/advisory board. Downtown Manhattan Beach, and North Manhattan Beach, have had BIDs for over a decade. Manhattan’s…
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