City of battle creek

10N.DivisionStreet,BattleCreek,MI49014 Taxpayer AddressBlock Owner:Owner_Name July15,2013 AsapropertyownerlocatedintheColumbiaAvenueBusinessImprovementDistrict(BID),youarebeing notified that the Board of Directors is seeking renewal of the special assessment for a new fiveyear term.ThefollowingprovidesinformationrelativetotheBID,theprocessinvolvedwiththerenewal,and how you can provide input. Additionally, a survey is included that provides you the opportunity to offer yoursupportoroppositiontotheBIDspecialassessmentrenewal. WhatisaBID: A Business Improvement District (BID) is an economic development tool which allows commercial or industrial property in a defined area to make a collective contribution via special assessment to the development and improvement of their commercial area. The BID is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the legislative body of the local government and is comprised of a representative of the localgovernmentandtheremainderbypropertyownersand/orbusinessesownersinthedistrict. The BID provides enhanced services within the district including streetscape maintenance and beautification, marketing and branding, events promotion and coordination, and internal and external communications. HistoryoftheColumbiaAvenueBID: The Columbia Avenue Business Improvement District, which includes properties located on Columbia Avenue located between M66 to 20th Street, was approved by the Battle Creek City Commission in 2008. At that time, a special assessment was also approved for a period of five years. The original budget for the five year period was approved at $809,000 with $150,000 provided by the Battle Creek Downtown Development Authority and the rest ($659,000) coming from special assessment of properties in the district. A marketing and development plan for the corridor was developed in 2008, and in conjunction with this plan, funds have been spent on marketing and beautification efforts. Planning is underway for infrastructure projects including storm water retention to alleviate flooding concerns,andsidewalkstoprovideconnectivityalongthecorridor.

Page2 FutureoftheColumbiaAvenueBID The original term of the special assessment was five years, from 20082013; if not renewed, the special assessment would expire. The BID Board of Directors has expressed interest in continuing the BID, and as such, at their May 30, 2013 meeting, approved a proposed budget for a $300,000 fiveyear budget if the special assessment would be renewed. This reduces the budget by more than half the original budget, and takes into consideration thoughts and opinions of property/business owners along the corridor. ProcessforRenewal The process for the renewal is the same as the initial special assessment, and requires the approval of four resolutions by the Battle Creek City Commission. Please be advised that a resolution must be approved by the City Commission in order to advance to the next resolution. If a resolution is not approved,theprocessfailstoprogress. FirstresolutiondirectstheCityManagertoprepareplans,specificationsandcostestimatesfor the2013ColumbiaAvenueBusinessImprovementDistrictproject. SecondresolutiondirectstheCityAssessortoprepareaproposedspecialassessmentroll. Thirdresolutionsetsapublichearingontheissueforafuturedate. FourthResolutionafterpublichearing,approvesthespecialassessment.

OpportunityforPublicInput A survey is included with this letter that states the 2008 special assessment amount for your property. Please note that as the proposed budget has been reduced to $300,000, any new assessment will be on average a 40% 60% reduction from the amount listed on the survey. Please return the completed survey using the enclosed selfaddressed stamped envelope declaring your support or opposition to the specialassessmentrenewal. Additionally,thereisanopportunityforpubliccommentattheCityCommissionmeetingswhereeachof the above referenced resolutions will be considered. The first of these resolutions is scheduled to be on theAugust6,2013CityCommissionagenda. For more information about the process for the renewal of the special assessment, please contact the CityAssessorsOfficeat(269)9663369.