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Consultants kick off PBIA evaluation in Olympia, say early outreach to major ratepayers is essential
Summary
Uncommon Bridges began a formal evaluation of Olympia’s Parking and Business Improvement Area, briefing the advisory board on assessment models, benchmarks and a plan to finish by February. Consultants urged one-on-one engagement with major property owners and recommended rethinking rate structure and administration.
Uncommon Bridges began a formal evaluation of the City of Olympia’s Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) at the advisory board meeting on Nov. 5, telling business owners and board members the firm will deliver a report and recommendations by February.
Consultant Brian, lead on the project, said the assignment is to assess the advisory board’s role, the district’s rate structure and ratepayer base, fee collection priorities and how projects are administered. "We were hired to do a parking and business improvement area evaluation," he told attendees and said the consulting team would solicit input from board members, the Olympia Downtown Alliance and major property owners. The firm expects to complete outreach, draft options and return to the board for further discussion within the consulting timeline.
The presentation put Olympia’s current scale in context: the consultant noted the PBIA invoiced about $114,000 in 2024 and that the district’s highest business assessment is roughly $750 — much lower than larger districts in Everett, Ballard or downtown Seattle. Brian said most successful districts tie assessments to observable benefits (cleaning, safety, marketing, programs) and that administration can be significantly more burdensome when assessments are levied on businesses (which lack a public registry) rather than on property owners.
Board members’ comments reinforced several themes the consultants highlighted: past years’ limited visible activity has left some ratepayers reluctant to pay; the board has struggled with staff turnover and unclear communications with the city; and there are recurring tensions and opportunities around the relationship with the Olympia Downtown Alliance (ODA). "We have a lot to say, but we can't talk about it," one board member said of city constraints; Monique Osa, a downtown property owner, said she wants downtown to remain "a safe, inclusive space." These remarks underscored the consultants’ emphasis on one-on-one outreach to major ratepayers and property owners to build trust and support.
The consultants also surveyed successful practices in other jurisdictions, citing sample budgets and operations in Everett, Tacoma and Pioneer Square as reference points for how a PBIA can scale services. Brian said typical nonpayment rates are around 3–5% and that Olympia appears somewhat above that norm, reinforcing a need to revisit administrative mechanisms.
Next steps: Uncommon Bridges will set up stakeholder interviews (ODA, large property owners — several names were suggested by the board — artists and tenant representatives, and port/farmers-market stakeholders) and circulate a draft plan for board review. The consulting team told the board it would reconvene with a progress update in about one to two months and aim to finish the evaluation by February.
