Glendora's Business Improvement District discussed and approved an additional course of action to address dissent amongst its businesses in The Village over what some merchants see little to no benefit in paying assessment fees.
The BID voted 3-0 to recommend an assessment alternative to the City Council
The BID's subcommittee, charged with finding a recommendation on a course of action regarding the BID assessment formula, presented an alternative discussed at the Jan. 9 that adds further reductions to an alternative discussed in December.
Under the alternative discussed in December, the following BID business assessments would be reduced to $0:
Businesses now subject to the minimum $50 assessment
Businesses located in the shopping center at 102-120 W. Foothill Blvd.
Businesses located in the office building at 150 E. Meda Ave.
The apartment building at 175 E. Meda Ave.
The apartment building at 115 E. Meda Ave.
Businesses located between 130 – 180 N. Vermont Ave.
The apartment building at 125 W. Meda Ave.
Businesses located in the office building at 112 W. Bennett Ave.
Businesses located in the office building at 120 W. Bennett Ave.
The apartment building at 122 E. Bennett Ave.
The latest alternative would altering certain reductions under the previous alternative:
All second floor businesses would not pay a “Business Location” component, and would have their “Primary Business” component reduced by $100. This results in a $200 reduction for all second floor businesses.
Businesses with a first floor entrance or storefront, and located with an address on Foothill Blvd. shall have their “Business Location” factor reduced by $100.
Businesses with a first floor entrance or storefront, and located with and address on Glendora Ave. shall pay the same “Business Location” factor as under Alternative 1. Consequently, the assessments for these businesses would remain unchanged.
Businesses that had their assessments reduced to $0 and would like to continue paying the assessment would be given that option, Boyer said.
Many of the proposed reductions came from feedback the subcommittee received from most of the Vermont and Vista Bonita avenue businesses, all of which expressed they do not want to be a part of the BID, said BID member Daniel Boyer.
The original alternative would have cut BID funds from $80,800 per year to 51,300, BID officials said.
Amendments to the alternative would bring in just a little more in revenue to $54,200. Coupled with revenue generated by Taste of the Village, Wine Walk and the Chalk Walk, BID funds would come out to $82,200 annually, BID officials said.
Boyer said the current BID boundaries would not change under any new assessment formula.
John Henny, studio director for Village business Sing, Inc., said alternative three was the most fair and said the assessment paid is a great benefit to the business and for the BID.
"I believe most of us on the ground floor receive an exponential benefit by being there as opposed to being on the second or third floor. I, quite frankly, would have no problem in paying more than the $600 a year," Henny said.
With a recommendation in place, the BID would next present an update to the Glendora City Council in February, city officials said.
