Dear Downtown Berkeley Business and Property Owners:
 
We wanted to inform you that the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday voted to increase parking fees by 25 cents in the Downtown core area to fund their portion of the anticipated Downtown Berkeley Property-Based Business Improvement District (PBID).

As we discussed at our Annual Meeting on May 12th, the City of Berkeley (our largest downtown Berkeley property owner and assessee), is supporting the PBID. However, the City is under extraordinary budget pressure, having to close a $5.6 million budget gap over the next three years. With few alternatives, the City Manager recommended to Council that the City fund its PBID assessment through this 25 cent rate increase. If the PBID passes, parking rates will increase in July from $1.50 to $1.75 per hour at parking pay stations in the premium area of Downtown (as defined in our PBID management plan). The good news is that the City Manager has pledged that this incremental parking revenue will be allocated only to the PBID and/or other Downtown projects, versus the City general fund. Keeping parking revenue in the Downtown is an important precedent.  Moreover, it is worth noting that the City was likely to raise meter rates in the next year or two to encourage more people to park in garages.  You can click here to read more about the increase in meter fees. 

We also want to let you know that our efforts to form the Downtown Berkeley PBID--and create a cleaner, safer, more vibrant and prosperous downtown district-- are proceeding according to plan.   On May 3rd, the City Clerk mailed out ballots to all Downtown Berkeley property owners, providing them the opportunity to vote yes or no to form the PBID. Ballots are due back by 3pm on Tuesday June 28th, and will be counted that evening during a City Council Public Hearing on the PBID.  If a majority of property owners (weighted by assessment) votes "yes", the PBID will be immediately formed to begin operations on January 1, 2012. You can read more details about the PBID and the full Management Plan at our website at www.downtownberkeley.org.

Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions.
 
Regards, John
 
John Caner
Executive Director
Downtown Berkeley Association
2230 Shattuck Avenue, Suite C
Berkeley, CA 94704
510.549.2230 x12
jcaner@downtownberkeley.org