Fact Sheet

2012 September ---|||--- Get PDF version

North Shattuck Business Improvement District Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND:

There are several BIDs in Berkeley and they have been formed in most major cities in California and the US. BIDs are an organizational and funding tool for business communities to undertake economic and community development. The purpose of a BID is to provide a business area with the resources to develop marketing and promotional campaigns, undertake a range of events, attract new business, monitor and provide input on business regulations, provide services such as sidewalk cleaning and landscaping maintenance, and complete pedestrian streetscape, parking and other public improvement and beautification projects in partnership with the City and other agencies. Services provided by BIDs are supplemental to those already provided by the City, and all property owners and businesses operating within the district are members of the BID. The 10-member BID Board of Directors includes 7 property owners, 1 property owner/business, and 2 business members.

LAWS REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATIONS:

In California BIDs are authorized under the Streets and Highways Code, and Charter Cities such as Berkeley are enabled in Section 33603 to adopt ordinances to form BIDs for a range of purposes, including district marketing and maintenance. The City of Berkeley has done this and the Municipal Code Section 7.84 lays out the process for establishing districts, including a public hearing process, reporting requirements, and assessment validation and collection. Section 7.84.040 defines activities as including, but not limited to promotion of public events, furnishing of music in public space, and activities which benefit businesses located or operating in the area.

NORTH SHATTUCK BID FORMATION/RENEWAL PROCESS:

The North Shattuck BID was formed in 2001 for a 10-year period by a majority vote of the commercial property owners within the boundaries of the district, which runs along Shattuck Avenue from Delaware to Rose St., and also along Vine St. from just below Shattuck Ave. to Walnut St., taking in Walnut Square. The BID was renewed last year by City Council Resolution with over 80% of the district properties owner in a weighted vote. The North Shattuck BID was formed and renewed in accordance with all legal requirements, including noticing, a vote of the affected property owners, and development of a Management Plan which outlines the assessment criteria (each property is assessed according to size, street frontage, and use) and the uses and distribution of the approximately $160,000 annual budget. The Management Plan is organized around the following areas: Sidewalk Operations/Maintenance & Beautification, Marketing & Promotion, and Organization & Advocacy.

NORTH SHATTUCK BID OPERATIONS AND REPORTING:

The BID operates under a contractual agreement with the City of Berkeley and prepares an Annual Report to the City detailing the activities and finances of the BID, and laying out the goals for the next year. Our Annual Report was reviewed and approved, and a Resolution of Intent to levy the assessment was passed unanimously at the July 17th Council Meeting.

PUBLIC REVIEW OF BID PROJECTS:

The various projects and programs of the BID are reviewed by the public through the procedures set forth by the City, including our annual report, noticing for public events and music, and through various boards and Commissions. We also hold also quarterly GeneralMeetings with all merchants and propertyowners.

Vine Street Bike Shelter Project and Virginia Street Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing

DESCRIPTION & FUNDING:

The Vine Street Bike Shelter Project places a prefabricated bike shelter and racks on the “bulb” area at the northeast corner of Shattuck and Vine St. The project is funded by the a Grant to the City from the Safe Routes to Transit program to facilitate walking and bicycling to regional transit. The program is funded by Regional Measure 2 which received Bay Area voter approval in March 2004, and it is administered by TransForm and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.

The Virginia Street Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing/Bulb-Outs Project creates a system of extended sidewalks at the Virginia St. and Shattuck intersection and a pedestrian activated crossing beacon. It is funded through the Safe Routes to Schools program funded in part with Measure B funds -Alameda County’s half cent transportation sales tax and other funders: Kaiser Permanente, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Laurel Foundation and Caltrans.

PROJECT BENEFITS:

The Safe Routes to Transit project improves the safety and convenience of biking and walking to regional transit, giving commuters the opportunity to leave their cars at home, and reduce congestion on Bay Area bridges. The Vine St. shelter is located adjacent to the AC Transit tran-bay bus stops.

Safe Routes to Schools programs are designed to improve safety for pedestrians and school children, decrease traffic and pollution and increase the health of children and the community by promoting walking and biking to school. The Virginia St. project will improve the safety of crossing at the primary crossing for Berkeley Arts Magnet students by reducing the crossing distance, improving visibility of pedestrian at the intersection. The project should also serve to calm traffic which is needed as the crossing has also been the site of several pedestrian related accidents due to speeding traffic.

PROJECT INITIATION:

The projects at the Vine (Bike Shelter) and Virginia Street (Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing) intersections were initiated by the City as part of citywide plans for increased pedestrian safety and bike facilities outlined in the City’s Pedestrian Plan. The Association was approached several years ago about the availability of grant funds and agreed to support the City’s efforts to win the funds.

PROJECT REVIEW:

The City’s Public Work staff are responsible for overseeing the design, review, and construction of the projects in accordance with all streets and ADA requirements. In the past year, we held several meetings with City staff and nearby merchants to finalize the designs for the projects.

TIMELINE:

The Bike Shelter is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, while the Virginia Street improvements are due to be completed by the fall of next year.

NORTH OF VINE STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Parking Reconfiguration, Median Break and Bollards

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The project involves a reconfiguration of the north/south couplet of Shattuck Ave. between Shattuck Place and Rose St. to a diagonal layout through restriping, along with construction of a break in the median separating Shattuck Ave. from the service road at approximately mid-block . Moveable bollards would allow this break to be opened and the upper portion of the road to be utilized for events, providing a flexible use of the space. Phase 2 includes extension of the system of bollards to enclose the current Farmer’s Market area, and the installation of bio-swales – landscaped areas adjacent to the diagonal parking created in Phase 1.

BENEFITS:

The parking reconfiguration project increases parking in the district by 10 spaces, including the addition of a handicapped parking space. The median break along the service road provides more room and flexibility to the Farmer’s Market and other events held in the area, whereby parking and access to the shops at the southern end of the road is maintained. The bollards improve safety for pedestrians and visually improve the events by serving as a replacement for the construction-type barricades now being used.

PROJECT INITIATION:

The “North of Vine” project was conceived as the Association was looking for ways to increase parking in the district, and while increasing pedestrian safety at the Farmers Market and other events held in the area. We had an initial meeting with City’s Transportation Department about the project and to determine if there was enough roadway in the “Y” area of Shattuck to go to diagonal parking. We were told we would need to draw up the plans for City review, and pay for the costs of any improvement.

REVIEW PROCESS:

A concept plan for the proposed project was presented to the Transportation Commission in June 2010. The Commission did not take a formal vote, but approved of the concept. We were directed by staff to develop a more detailed drawing using state and city transportation standards that has been presented to staff for review. The plan is being reviewed for accordance with all traffic engineering and ADA requirements. The plan has also been reviewed at several meetings of our membership and we have regularly updated our City Council representatives on proposed actions.

COSTS:

The costs of the project will be funded through BID funds, and for Phase 2 grants will be investigated. The costs include the restriping (Approx. $3,000) installation of 4 new meters along the Shattuck Square frontage (Cost TBD), construction of the median break and bollards (Approx. 30,000) and Phase 2 (Cost TBD) The BID will pay for City staff to complete the parking changes and meters and for any review and permitting for construction related to the median break and bollards. Funding for the actual construction of the break and installation of bollards will also come from the BID.

Parklets Projects

DESCRIPTION:

Parklets are a privately funded, publically accessible temporary use of parking space for a pedestrian and bike oriented public outdoor space. Each parklet is different, but they consist of a platform located level with the sidewalk, and include seating areas, landscaping/planters, art elements, and bike parking.

Parklets are also seen as a way to aesthetically enhance to commercial areas and enliven the pedestrian environment on the street. Because they are located in the public right-of-way, parklets require fees and permits from the Department of Public Works and Planning, and also a review for safety and disabled accessibility. Parklets programs have been successfully instituted in San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago and Los Angeles with strict standards for design, traffic safety, and accessibility. These programs and the resulting projects have served as models for concept drawings have been created by a volunteer designer working with neighboring businesses for several projects along Shattuck Avenue where there is a large amount of pedestrian traffic and additional bike parking needs.

BENEFITS:

Parklet create additional public open space, available to everyone to use, but sponsored and maintained by a nearby business and/or business organization. Because they leverage private resources to build, maintain, and steward the space, they can create improvements much faster and cheaper than traditional sidewalk widening. They are also temporary, and can be removed for storage (during winter months, for example) or entirely based on the outcome of the project. Parklets create a more vibrant street life and new pedestrian and bicycle amenities, supporting local businesses. Parklets build public engagement and community – a place to meet, and gather.

PROJECT INITIATION/REVIEW:

The idea for parklets along Shattuck Ave. was conceived of by the Association’s Board of Directors based on our experience with hosting temporary parklets during the Park-ing Day and Spice of Life Festival and as we saw the success of the San Francisco program over the past year. The concept was presented to our membership in March and several businesses were interested in participating in a pilot program as a way to provide additional seating and bike facilities near their businesses. They agreed to share some of the cost and maintenance, and monitor and clean the spaces on a daily basis. We approached both of our Councilmembers and encouraged them to view the projects in San Francisco and asked them to support our efforts. We also met with the City Manager and Transportation staff to assess the feasibility of the completing one or more projects as a pilot program for Berkeley. A request for approval of a pilot program and waiver of parking replacement fees was put forward by Councilmember Capitelli but withdrawn because the City decided to develop a more complete program available which would be available to all areas of Berkeley. We are now waiting for them to clarify a process for parklets which will include requirements for City and community review, permitting, and fees.

COSTS:

If the program developed for Berkeley is based on the programs in San Francisco and Oakland, the Association would serve as the sponsor of a project and would coordinate the permitting and insurance while host businesses would agree to assist in the maintenance of the parklet, and possibly contribute to construction costs if the application is approved. Costs for construction of a parklet range between $5,000 and $20,000. Costs could be offset through the use of donated labor and materials, and by launching a “Kickstarter” type program for funding.