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Council briefed on proposed Central Business Improvement Area (CBIA 25) ahead of formal vote
Summary
Economic Development staff presented a renewal ordinance for the Central Business Improvement Area (CBIA 25); assessment would fund downtown programs (promotion/operations and holiday lighting) and is projected to raise nearly $6 million over three years.
Economic Development staff briefed the council on April 1 about an ordinance up for a formal meeting vote that would reauthorize the Salt Lake City Central Business Improvement Area (CBIA 25) and levy special assessments to fund downtown promotion and holiday lighting.
Lorena Rifo Jensen, director of economic development, and Peter Minkowski, assistant director, said the renewal process has been underway since February 2024 and includes a board of equalization review. The proposed assessments would fund programs managed largely by the Downtown Alliance — street ambassadors, the Downtown Farmers Market, 730 banners and four Main Street kiosks — and downtown holiday lighting. The staff report projects the assessment will raise nearly $6,000,000 over the CBIA’s three‑year period.
Andy Feldman, the city’s SAA program manager, told the council the base boundary and lighting map remain unchanged from the prior authorization and noted the board of equalization heard from 11 property owners about 21 parcels during its meetings; staff summarized recommended adjustments in the staff report. Feldman said parcels with non‑functioning outlets were removed from the lighting assessment and the program will prioritize infrastructure review to improve reliability.
Staff said the CBIA covers about 2,500 businesses and applies only to commercial property (residential parcels are exempt). The council will consider the ordinance at its formal meeting that evening; the CBIA renewal is the final local step in the special assessment process.
Ending: Council members raised broader questions about future boundary expansion, possible inclusion of certain mixed‑use ground‑floor commercial/residential parcels under updated state statute, and timing for the next authorization (the process would begin in 2027 for the 2028 election cycle). Staff offered to work with council and the Downtown Alliance on outreach and legal steps if the council wishes to consider boundary changes in the next cycle.
