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Council approves Business Development District ordinance, reaches consensus on 0.5% sales‑tax
Summary
The council approved Ordinance O‑26‑002 (business development district redevelopment plan) and directed staff to post a public hearing for March 16; council discussion produced a consensus to pursue a 0.5% sales-tax for the district rather than a full 1%, with a committee to review grant criteria.
The Bristol City Council voted to approve Ordinance O‑26‑002, adopting a business development district (BDD) redevelopment plan and moving forward with a public hearing scheduled for the council meeting on March 16, in keeping with state posting requirements.
Staff explained implementation requires two ordinances (one to propose the district and one to establish it) and said public notice will include statutory details. Council members debated the appropriate sales‑tax rate to fund the BDD. One councilmember argued that a 1% rate would allow faster and larger investments and make the city more competitive for business recruitment; others urged a more modest approach to balance equity and avoid overburdening residents and local consumers.
After discussion, the chair reported that absent councilmember Hector Gomez favored a half‑percent and the council coalesced around a consensus of 0.5%. Speaker 1 said a committee will review applications and criteria and that final spending of any funds will come back to the council for approval. Council then took a roll-call vote on the ordinance and the motion passed.
What’s next: staff will post the public hearing notice per state statute for March 16, include the proposed rate (0.5%) in the hearing documents, and prepare the application and review materials for the council‑appointed committee to vet applicants for BDD funding.
