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Council approves Studio City business improvement district after heated public hearing over assessments
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council approved formation of the Studio City property/business improvement district following a public hearing in which property owners and tenants clashed over assessment formulas and notice. Supporters said the district had broad coalition backing; opponents argued assessments were inequitable and process communications were insufficient.
The Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a proposed Studio City business improvement district on May 4 after a lengthy public hearing that featured both organized support and pointed complaints from property owners.
Supporters including the Studio City Residents Association, the Studio City Chamber of Commerce and the president of CBS Studio Center urged the council to approve the district as a locally funded way to repair sidewalks, improve streetscape and enhance safety. Michael Clansman, identifying himself as president of CBS Studio Center and president‑elect of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce, said the proposal “is an improvement in the Studio City area” and urged the council to “give the democratic process a chance to operate.” Gloria Carbone Mitchell of the Studio City Chamber said the chamber and property owners had “stepped up to the plate” and urged approval.
Opponents told the council the assessment method treated dissimilar properties the same and that some owners had seen large increases in proposed charges. Raphael Franco, who identified himself as a local resident, said he first learned of the district only when he received an assessment ballot and asked the council to exercise oversight and consider boundary or allocation changes. Jack Gumbinder argued that the organizers had “carved out” the district to secure a 50% favorable vote and applied the highest assessment to properties not in the prime block. Property owner Jeffrey Fiser told the council his assessment increased sharply from prior notices and asked the council to delay adoption until assessments could be rechecked.
Council members asked clerks and staff whether mailed assessment notices reflected the management plan and assessments. The clerk confirmed formal assessment notices are sent by the city and suggested some earlier figures referenced by opponents likely came from organizers in preliminary stages. Council members emphasized that boundary adjustments and some rate questions can be addressed administratively or in follow‑up if inequities are demonstrated.
The council recorded the vote on the matter during the afternoon session and moved to approve the item as part of a slate of business improvement districts. The clerk announced the approvals for the relevant items with recorded tallies and the council closed the public hearing on the Studio City item.
The council’s approval does not itself set final micro‑level adjustments to assessments; several council members and staff said the city and the advisory board could consider boundary or rate adjustments where appropriate. The action is expected to let the district proceed to implementation steps overseen by the board of the new PBID.
