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Welcome to the Downtown Omaha Business Improvement District listing of frequently asked questions. If your question does not appear below, please contact us at odida@ci.omaha.ne.us. What is a BID? Why has the BID been inactive since 1986? When did the Downtown BID become active? Why did the Downtown BID become active? What is the status of the Omaha Downtown BID? What area does the Downtown BID include? How will the Downtown BID board determine what issues need to be addressed by the Downtown BID? Have other cities successfully used BIDs? Who is on the Board of the Downtown BID? What opportunities are there for me to get involved with the Omaha BID? Where and how often does the Omaha Downtown BID Board meet? How can I get in contact with the Board? Where can I access copies of the meeting agenda and minutes? Will the Omaha Downtown BID affect my taxes? How are BIDs funded? Are all property owners in the designated area required to participate in the BID? How much will each Downtown BID property owner and business be assessed? What affect will the assessments have on tenants of assessed properties? What is a BID? A Business Improvement District (BID) enables property owners and businesses within a defined area to pay for necessary services or improvement above and beyond what government can provide. The Benson and Dundee areas are examples of Omaha BIDs. A BID often serves to formalize loosely defined relationships in order to equitably fund and implement improvement area activities. The Nebraska Legislature authorized BIDs in 1967. The Downtown Omaha BID was established in 1986 but became largely inactive. Go to Top Why has the BID been inactive since 1986? The Downtown BID was formed to create a skywalk system throughout the Downtown business district but discontinued the effort. Go to Top When did the Downtown BID become active? The BID was reactivated in 2000 and vacant Board positions were filled by mayoral appointment. Go to Top Why did the Downtown BID become active? As Omaha continued to grow to the west, there was a desire on the part of downtown leaders and businesses to encourage employment and enterprise in Downtown Omaha and to attract patrons from central and west Omaha to Downtown businesses and attractions. Downtown Omaha has a rich and vital history as well as great entertainment and dining. Downtown leaders and businesses are equally excited about the completion of the new arena and convention center and want Downtown Omaha to be presented in its best light for Omaha’s visitors from out‑of‑town. Go to Top What is the status of the Omaha Downtown BID? The Board of the Omaha Downtown BID is in the process of developing recommendations for presentation to the City of Omaha Planning Commission and the City Council for the formal establishment under state law of the BID. The Board has undertaken with the assistance of a consultant a series of public meetings and interviews with Downtown stakeholders to prepare a BID program and budget tailored to the needs of Downtown Omaha, to determine the BID boundaries, to identify the sources of BID funding, including a formula for a special assessment levy, and to propose a method of BID governance. The goal is to complete the BID formation process by early 2006. Go to Top What area does the Downtown BID include? The City Council will fix the Downtown BID’s boundaries by Ordinance. The proposed boundary area roughly is the centerline of 20th Street on the west to the center of the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline of Chicago Street on the north, but including the Qwest Center. Go to Top How will the Downtown BID board determine what issues need to be addressed by the Downtown BID? The Downtown BID board is consulting with as many Downtown property owners, tenants, residents and businesses as possible, as well as such organizations as Downtown Omaha, Inc., the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the Old Market Business Association. The Board has engaged a consultant to assist with public focus groups, forums and meetings and a Downtown‑wide survey, all for the purpose of gathering as much input as possible from Downtown stakeholders. The Board then will develop recommendations for the formal establishment of the BID for presentation in early 2006 to the City Planning Commission and City Council, all in accordance with state law. Go to Top Have other cities successfully used BIDs? There are over 1,000 business improvement districts across the United States. Many great cities have used BIDs to enhance their public places. Some of the most notable and recognizable city areas that employ BIDs include Denver’s 16th Street Mall, San Diego’s Old Towne and the San Antonio River Walk. Closer to home, Des Moines, Lincoln, Wichita, Milwaukee and Kansas City all have active and successful downtown BIDs. Go to Top Who is on the Board of the Downtown BID? Downtown BID Board members, all mayoral appointees, are:
Go to Top What opportunities are there for me to get involved with the Omaha BID? Interested Downtown stakeholders are encouraged to attend the Board meetings and the upcoming forums and public meetings. Volunteers and contributors are needed to assist with the public meetings and related program development activities. Comments, suggestions and questions may be provided at such meetings and via email at the following address: odida@ci.omaha.ne.us Go to Top Where and how often does the Omaha Downtown BID Board meet? The regular public meetings of the Downtown BID Board are at 8:30 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month in the Jesse Lowe Conference Room, Third Floor, Omaha/Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam Street. Go to Top How can I get in contact with the Board? You can reach the Board through the following email address: odida@ci.omaha.ne.us Go to Top Where can I access copies of the meeting agenda and minutes? These documents are located in the Meeting Info section of the site. Go to Top Will the Omaha Downtown BID affect my taxes? State law permits the levy of special assessments against benefited properties within a BID. The BID Board’s recommendations likely will include a proposed levy of special assessments to pay for the BIDs programs. The actual levy would be by the City of Omaha pursuant to an ordinance approving a special assessment formula and levy. Go to Top How are BIDs funded? BIDs receive funds from two primary sources. First, property owners are assessed their respective shares of the annual BID budget. BID special assessments are levied by the City only on those properties and businesses that are located within the BID boundaries. Douglas County’s annual ad valorem tax statements for properties within the BID would show the special assessment as a separate line item. Second, BIDs leverage their assessment revenues through grants and federal funds for specific projects. Go to Top Are all property owners in the designated area required to participate in the BID? Once a BID is formerly established by City ordinance, every property owner within the designated BID area is required to participate. Go to Top How much will each Downtown BID property owner and business be assessed? The formula for the assessments likely will be based on property valuation. The BID Board, pending the planned public meetings, forums and survey, has not yet developed its assessment recommendation. Go to Top What affect will the assessments have on tenants of assessed properties? Property owners are responsible for special assessments. However, most standard leases have pass‑through provisions. In such cases, the tenant would pay that portion of the landlord’s special assessment allocable to the tenant’s leasehold. Go to Top |
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