Council renews Downtown Vacaville BID levy, defers extra funding request to March study session

Vacaville City Council on Feb. 20 adopted a resolution authorizing the 2025 levy of assessments for the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District and approved the BID’s 2025 district management plan, while deferring a separate request for additional city funding to a March council priority study session.

Don Burris, the city’s director of economic development services, told the council the BID’s leadership had requested an additional $75,000 for the current fiscal year and an additional $170,000 for fiscal year 2025–26 to stabilize the organization and implement its district plan. Burris recommended extending the existing district management agreement for 90 days so staff could coordinate with BID leadership and bring funding options to the March 28 priority session.

Dina Schwartzfeger, the BID president, and Leslie Silver, the BID executive director, presented the district’s 2024 year‑end report and the 2025 district management plan. They told the council the BID had identified organizational and financial issues — the assessment fee structure has not been adjusted since the district’s formation in 1999 — and outlined a Main Street America‑style approach focused on economic vitality, design, promotion and organization. Silver said the BID currently receives about $55,000 annually in assessments, has 11 board members, two full‑time staff and one part‑time staff member, and that recent efforts included securing 501(c)(3) status and expanding the farmers market reach.

Council members expressed support for downtown revitalization but said they needed more time to consider the requested supplemental funding in light of the city’s ongoing budget constraints. Multiple council members said the March priority session — which will review council fiscal priorities and the 2025–26 budget — was the appropriate forum to consider granting additional one‑time or ongoing funds. The city manager confirmed that the larger $320,000‑plus request for 2025–26 would be evaluated as part of the upcoming budget discussions.

Council moved, seconded and voted in favor of the staff recommendation to: adopt the resolution authorizing the levy and collection of assessments; approve the 2025 district management plan; extend the existing district management agreement for 90 days; and receive the 2024 annual report. The council also directed staff to schedule the BID funding discussion during the March 28 priority session and to return with options for how any funds would be provided and what deliverables the city should expect.

No specific funding was approved at the Feb. 20 meeting beyond the standard assessment levy; staff said they will present the supplemental funding request and related budget options for council consideration at the March study session.