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Local shop owners warn trip‑generation formula could saddle small businesses with large new bills
Summary
Business owners said the ITE trip‑generation method would sharply raise some commercial monthly charges — one owner said her cafe's estimated surcharge would jump from about $11 to over $90 — and urged a phased approach or ballot option instead.
Business owners testified they fear the proposed public safety surcharge — which relies on ITE trip‑generation averages and building square footage — would disproportionately impact small and nonprofit enterprises.
"For my own restaurant, that means from going from about $11.32 a month to over $90 a month," Anna Zegstran, owner of Sweet Beach Station, said, asking staff to publish the data and consider phasing or a ballot levy. Other owners gave examples where square-footage-based estimates did not match their observed customer counts.
Rick Harris, who owns a building with several tenants, said the method assigns trip generation by building square footage rather than actual use and gave examples (large churches with small congregations counted higher due to building size) to show the metric can mischaracterize local activity. Dan Houser of Camelot Theatre urged the city to treat nonprofits differently because theater patrons often generate cross‑visits to restaurants and other businesses.
Business speakers urged the council to publish the methodology and to allow an appeal process for categorizations; Alex said staff will post the methodology and spreadsheets and proposed an appeal mechanism for customers who believe the assigned land‑use category or trip number is inaccurate.
