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Downtown PBID renewed for 10 years after weighted ballots return 81.5% yes
Summary
After a public hearing and weighted ballot tabulation, Berkeley’s City Council reestablished the Downtown Property-Based Business Improvement District for a 10‑year term and authorized a contract with the Downtown Berkeley Association to administer cleaning, hospitality and marketing services.
The Berkeley City Council certified weighted assessment ballots on May 19 and voted to reestablish the Downtown Berkeley Property-Based Business Improvement District (PBID) for a 10‑year term through 2036.
Eleanor Hollander, manager of the Office of Economic Development, told the council the DBID provides downtown cleaning, hospitality and marketing services and that the renewal was the third renewal since the PBID’s establishment in 2011. The renewal required a public hearing and ballot tabulation; staff said ballots are weighted by each property’s proportional assessment obligation.
After ballots were counted and certified, the city clerk reported 170 valid ballots with a weighted tabulation of 81.53% yes and 18.47% no. The council then voted to adopt the resolutions reestablishing the district and authorizing the city manager to execute a 10‑year contract with the Downtown Berkeley Association to implement the management district plan.
Property owners and DBA representatives testified in favor of renewal, citing maintenance and safety benefits downtown; some speakers asked the council to consider a shorter term than 10 years. One long‑time property owner said he would opt out if the term remained 10 years because he prefers a five‑year renewal period.
The council closed the hearing after receiving public comment, sent ballots to the gym for tabulation where the public could view the process, and reconvened later for certification. The vote to reestablish the PBID passed on roll call with all recorded council members voting yes.
What the renewal means: if implemented, the DBA will continue to levy and collect the assessment and provide services financed by downtown property owners. The city will return to council with the executed contract and oversight provisions for implementation.
