Merchants to interview consultants

Glendale merchants could move closer to forming business

improvement districts Tuesday when they interview five potential

consultants to aid in the process.

Representatives of the Downtown Merchants and Adams Square

Merchants associations and the Redevelopment Agency will meet with

the consultants, city officials said. Funding for the groups will end

in 2006 unless business improvement districts are formed. While

membership in the merchant associations are voluntary, members of a

business improvement district would be assessed a fee.

The consultant will examine the feasibility of establishing the

districts, and make recommendations on their potential size, scope

and the amount of the assessment. The city has set aside $30,000 to

cover the cost of the consultant, city officials said.

Ben Godar