January, 2013 P.BJ.

l Explor a tory CnrxrnittoELionel Pires

Uoneaires@yahoo.com

Dear Property Owner and Business Professional,

The purpose of this letter is to introduce you to a Property-based Business Improvement District; otherwise known as a PBID. Over the last year, a group of business minded Tulare residents researched if a PBID would be beneficial for Downtown Tulare. Consultations with various local property and business owners have taken place, along with researching communities that already have a PBID district within their downtowns. Our conclusion is that a Property-based Business Improvement District will help bridge the revitalization gaps which Downtown Tulare and its shareholders have experienced in the past.

Patrick Isherwood
patrickish@hotmail.com 559.300.5899

WHAT IS A P BID?
Bob Barnier
bobeIliot@clearwire.net 559.303.8177

Chris Harrell
Deca1952@hotmail.com 559.331.8157

A Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID) is a unique funding tool which allows business district property owners to pool their financial resources by assessing themselves to pay for certain district-wide activities and improvements. A PBID is not a Government program. The PBID is a self-assessment district on individual properties that in turn conveys special benefits to the properties and businesses located within the district boundaries. The International Downtown Association estimates that more than 1,000 property-based business improvement districts (PBID) currently operate throughout the United States and Canada. Since the creation of Californias Property and Business Improvement District Law in 1994, more than 70 new PBIDs have been established in California downtowns, including local downtowns such as Visalia. (https://www.ida-downtown.org )

WHAT DOES IT DO?

The PBID brings everyone together to foster economic vitality for Downtown Tulare. The PBID provides a stable source of funds monitored by a Board of Directors. The PBID is a property assessment, controlled by property owners, to improve our Downtown property. The PBID works like Measure R. It is a self-assessment controlled locally by a district Board of Directors, and the money is only for PBID approved Downtown uses. The annual budget for the PBID is proposed at $200,000 -$225,000. The purpose of the PBID is to provide services and activities through community safety and economic enhancements that are above and beyond what the City currently provides.

WHY HAVE A PBID IN TULARE?

The founding principle for a PBID is to elevate economic investment and vitality within Downtown Tulare. A PBID brings together a unified force of property owners, merchants, City government and the community for overcoming economic barriers and enhancing community participation in our Downtown region. The PBID work plan addresses efforts to outreach with Tenant Services. The goal is to make commerce for entrepreneurs easier. Available options include capitol development leverage funding for site improvements, enhanced safety and security, along with support for parking. The PBID policy and procedures are established in a comprehensive Management Plan.

WHAT E3NE9TS WOULD iH F P B I D CREATL?

A list of benefits was created by surveying local downtown property owners and merchants. Majority of the PBID services are listed below:
Security Detail - Contract with a private security firm to review best practices for improving

a safe and secure Downtown, provide hired security personnel and work with stakeholders to address security issues.
Marketing - Contract with a private marketing firm to provide targeted marketing for

established businesses along with marketing outreach for new investor engagement. Market downtown retail, community functions, professional services, available property and diverse products.
Lighting-- Contract to facilitate increased density of lighting within the boundary area throughout Downtown. Downtown - Community Activities - Support Tulare Downtown Association with Community

Activities
Administration - Self-Funded to support PBID operating costs. Administration includes a

paid Director position, direct and indirect charges, PBID collection and loan repayment, along with a small amount for contingency. The PBID Will Not replace any pre-existing general City services. With the formation of the PBID, The City is requested to participate with support of the PBID requirements. The City of Tulare is requested to partner with the PBID through economic development financial assistance.

How MUCH WILL A PBID COST?

PBID is proposed to replace the current TDA association fees, and the assessed costs will be lower than TDA fees. Property assessments are assessed evenly based off benefits received, and All properties contribute, including the rail-road corporation, vacant lots and vacant buildings. Assessment distribution is based off lot linear footage in ratio to parcels actual benefit received. Per state law, the PBID Assessments must be facilitated by a licensed Assessment Engineer, in order to attain certified assessments. The exact cost analysis will be certified, reviewed and edited by property owners before ballots are initiated.

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How
WILL A PBID IMPACT THE EXISTING IDA?

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The existing Tulare Downtown Association is an already established district and is proposed to remain in place to continue its services and will continue to be managed internally. Cooperation and working relationship with the TDA is needed to make the PBID work successful. Currently, Downtown marketing, special events and other promotional programs are produced by the Tulare Downtown Association. The PBID Board of Directors will work and integrate with the TDA to continue and possibly contract certain agreed services. However, the PBID will replace the TDA assessment charges. Only the PBID property assessment will be charged; not both. The PBID Owners Association will be a new 501 (c) non-profit with a Board of Directors consisting of property owners, merchants and members at large. One proposal is for the TDA to be contracted with the PBID Board; including a paid Director and implement the collaborated goals, administration, marketing proposals, tenant relations and special event programming for the Downtown district. The PBID Board will serve as the main operating structure and source of the financing for the TDA. This final determination will be developed by the PBID steering committee and final PBID Board of Directors.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

The next step by the PBID Steering Committee is to talk with you! Your input is needed. Once a PBID is voted upon and approved, it is not a voluntary program. You will be required to participate and pay the assessment. Your vote and opinion matters! The PBID steering committee is working to secure funding for an Assessment Engineer. Once funding is secured and contract facilitated, the Assessment Engineer will complete the government compliance components necessary for a PBID Management Plan. All property owners within the proposed district will be consulted, informed and provided complete materials regarding the PBID formation and proposed assessments. Would you like to participate? Once the Assessment Engineer completes the certified assessment report and the PBID Management Plan all documents will be presented to all property owners to review. The Management Plan will be voted on by all property owners in the boundary areas. Government agencies in the boundary have a vote as well. This election is facilitated through ballot by the City of Tulare. The goal of the PBID Steering Committee is to contract with Kristen Lowell Inc. in January 2013. Ballot voting will take place in late 2013. If approved, the goal timeline for the PBID assessment is anticipated to be implemented on tax rolls for mid-year 2014.

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION?

After reading this material we hope to have earned your interest in a PBID for Downtown Tulare. Additional materials are prepared to answer your questions. The project is not complete, so dont worry. Your cooperation is needed to put together a comprehensive Management Plan to what exactly the PBID can do to meet the needs of Downtown property owners and final review of the needed budget. This PBID is Downtowns way to Reinvest for Success! Thank you for your time and review. For additional information feel free to give any one of the steering committee members a call or email.
** A supplemental packet is available upon request

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Questions and Answers Q. What is a PBID?

A. A Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID) is a unique funding tool which allows business district property owners to pool their financial resources by assessing themselves to pay for certain district-wide activities and improvements. PBIDs have been found to be the most effective and fair method to fund business district programs.
Q. What is the primary benefit of a PBID?

A. Much more can be accomplished by working together as an organized unit than by working alone. The PBID brings together all property owners and businesses to the table. There is the advantage of group purchasing power for funding area-wide improvements and programs.
Q. Is a PBID just another government program?

A. No. The local government agencys role is to initially approve establishment of the PBID and collect or cause to be collected, the funds from the County Tax Collector. The funds will be used to pay for the programs and activities authorized by the approved Management Plan.
Q. Is a PBID assessment a new tax?

A. No. Taxes go into government agency general funds to be used throughout their jurisdictions as needed. PBID assessments, however, can only be levied and used within the PBID boundaries to fund programs and activities authorized by the approved Management Plan. The PBID must be re-approved after each term that the PBID expires.
Q. Will both PBID and IDA assessments be charged?

A. No. Only the PBID assessments will be charged, not both.

Q. Which properties are assessed?

A. All properties within the boundaries of the PBID will be assessed unless specifically exempted by law. Assessments will vary based on the projected proportionate special benefit to be conferred on each property. Residential property of 6 units or less will be exempted from the Tulare PBID.
Q. How much is each property charged?

A. An equitable formula developed whereby assessments are computed based on a combination of the property size and frontal linear square footage in proportion to the expected level of benefit to be derived from the programs, improvements and activities being funded. Goal of Tulare PBID is for charges to be less than the TDA assessment.
Q. Can the assessment formula or programs be changed in the future?

A. Other than as specified in the Management Plan, the assessment formula and broad programs can only be changed by a process involving notices to property owners and by holding public hearings.
Q. What is required for the PBID to be approved?

A. PBID formation is governed by state law and city policy. All property owners receive a "petition packet" in the mail prepared by the Tulare PBID Steering Committee. Included in this packet is the Management District Plan and Engineers Report, and a preliminary support petition to be signed and returned to the committee. If the returned petitions equal 50% plus $1 .00 of the proposed total PBID assessment, the City will conduct an election of PBID property owners (required by Proposition 218, adopted 11/96). If favorable returned ballots outweigh opposing returned ballots, based on assessment dollars, the City Council can then approve the PBID renewal following a public hearing.
Q. How long will I have to pay the assessment?

A. The proposed PBID will have a 3 year life. The new assessment will first appear on your April 2014 property fax bill, and the last assessment will appear on the April 2016 bill (depending on dates of approval and ratification).
Q. Are PBID documents public information?

A. Yes. PBID documents include a mandated annual report. The annual report, including all expenditures and work completed is provided to each property owner and available to the public.

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4 Proposed Work Plan

PBID Logistics and Services A. PBID Logistics Assessment of all property within the PBID boundary (unless otherwise exempted) > Vote to each property owner being assessed Governed by Board of Directors: property owners, merchants and the City Assessments calculated by licensed Assessment Engineer Assessments collected by County of Tulare Actions and services set by an approved Management Plan PBID services are contracted Annual Report

B.

PBID Services A list of services was created by surveying local downtown property owners and merchants. Security Detail - Contract with a private security firm to review best practices for improving a safe and secure Downtown, provide hired security personnel and work with stakeholders to address security issues. Marketing_ - Contract with a private marketing firm to provide targeted marketing for established businesses along with marketing outreach for new investor engagement. Market downtown retail, community functions, professional services, available property and diverse products. Lighting - Contract to facilitate increased density of lighting within the boundary area throughout Downtown. Downtown - Community Activities - Support Tulare Downtown Association with Community Activities Administration - Self-Funded to support PBID operating costs. Administration includes a paid Director position, direct and indirect charges, PBID collection and loan repayment, along with a small amount for contingency.

C.

City Services The PBID will not replace any pre-existing general City services. With the formation of the PBID, the City is requested to participate and support the PBID with the following incentives: Development Impact Fees - 50% in-kind contribution for Development Impact Fees. Building Permit Fees - 50% in-kind contribution for Building Permit Fees (building rehabilitation and new construction) and additional requirements for meeting required building codes. Faade Program - Continue with the Downtown Faade Program Parking - City staff in-kind contribution to complete a parking strategic plan that investigates parking needs with solutions. Infrastructure - Leverage money to assist with needed city street scape revitalization projects and meeting required City codes (such as sidewalks, streetlights, and utility hook-ups). The City Services are suggestions and have not been approved by the City Council.