(Columbus, Neb.) - The proposed Downtown Business Improvement District held a town hall meeting on April 18th at the Columbus Innovation Center to update the public on the progress of establishing a Downtown Business Improvement District (DBID). This type of district imposes special assessments on real estate located within its boundaries to collect funds for improvements.
Photo Courtesy Hannah Schrodt, Columbus Telegram
Other cities in Nebraska, such as Hastings, Fremont, Grand Island, Lincoln, and Omaha, already have such districts. The Columbus City Council passed a resolution in February expressing its intention to create a DBID and appointing a board to lead the effort. Since then, the board has met several times to consider feedback and work out details. The town hall provided an opportunity for the public to hear about the progress and offer input.
According to Josh Johnson, the DBID Board Chairman, the proposed district boundaries have been reduced to a smaller area. The new boundaries exclude owner-occupied single-family homes and tax-exempt properties like churches. The revised boundaries now include the 11th Street alley from 23rd Avenue to 33rd Avenue, 33rd Avenue to the 13th Street alley, north on 30th Avenue to the 14th Street alley, the 14th Street alley to 23rd Avenue, and 23rd Avenue to the 11th Street alley.
The assessment amount will still be calculated based on $200 per $100,000 of the property's assessed valuation set by the county. However, the maximum amount a property owner would pay per property is now $750. The board considered other assessment calculation methods such as a base assessment but found that it would generate significantly fewer dollars.
If the DBID is approved, it will be in place for five years and will have a sunset clause to review its effectiveness.
The aim of establishing the Business Improvement District is to finance smaller downtown projects, such as new signage, banners, and Christmas lighting. The DBID Board would recommend how the funds should be used, and the Columbus City Council would grant final approval.
According to City Administrator Tara Vasicek, previous BIDs were one-time, temporary initiatives that funded larger projects like sidewalk improvements. However, this current effort intends to finance smaller projects for a more extended period. Business owners and property owners would determine the allocation of the permanent funding.
Vasicek mentioned that during the downtown revitalization plan process, community members expressed a desire for these kinds of projects and highlighted other Nebraska cities with more downtown features than Columbus. Vasicek also noted that all those communities had Business Improvement Districts.
The purpose of the proposed Business Improvement District (DBID) is to allocate funds for smaller projects, including banners, signage, and Christmas lighting in downtown Columbus. The DBID Board will recommend how the funds will be spent, with the final approval from the Columbus City Council. The DBID budget includes several items, such as banners, billboard advertising, directional signage, Christmas lighting at Frankfort Square, planter boxes, trash receptacles, phased-in replacement of Christmas decorations, and an additional $10,000 based on public input.
The DBID aims to increase foot traffic to downtown and beautify the area. However, some property owners within the district, including Jon Kaiser, William Kurtenbach, and Joe Marksmeier, expressed concerns that the DBID might not benefit their businesses, and Marksmeier noted an increase in taxes over five years. On the other hand, Kylie Sedlacek of Salon.cek Hair & Spa suggested using marketing dollars for digital efforts and creating a downtown business website instead of spending $30,000 on banners.
During a town hall meeting, attendees discussed the need for public restrooms downtown and the possibility of offering tax breaks for property owners who improve their buildings. The city administrator, Tara Vasicek, noted that municipalities cannot grant tax abatement. The DBID Board will take the feedback from the meeting and decide when to present the ordinance to the city council for approval. Property owners will be notified of the meeting and can file an opposition against the measure if they choose to do so.
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