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First public hearing held on proposed downtown Economic Improvement District
Summary
City staff held the first statutorily required public hearing on a proposed Economic Improvement District; downtown stakeholders described coordination between property owners, the chamber and the Albany Downtown Association and staff outlined remonstrance procedures before the May 27 deadline.
The Albany City Council opened the first of two public hearings required under state law on a proposed Economic Improvement District (EID) for downtown.
Staff described the EID proposal as an assessment program to fund downtown services and said ballots and written notices with assessment amounts would be mailed to property owners; remonstrances must be received before the second public hearing date for them to be considered.
Trina Henderson, representing the Albany Downtown Association, thanked the council for ongoing support and said the EID funds stay local and are used for downtown cleaning, business support and activities that go beyond basic city services. Mark Seward, speaking for the economic-development side, asked about coordination with the Chamber of Commerce and visitor organizations; Henderson said the groups are closely networked and collaborate on downtown efforts.
Why it matters: An EID channels assessments from property owners to fund services and marketing targeted at downtown businesses; property owners have a statutory right to remonstrate during the public hearing process.
What’s next: Staff said a second public hearing will be held on May 27 and property owners who wish to remonstrate must submit written comments by that date to be considered.
