Rima Shah
City Council members on Tuesday will discuss expanding the Adams
Square Business Improvement District to include the three businesses
that were left out when the district originally formed in the summer.
The three businesses that have asked to be included are the
Windsor Manor, a religious nonmedical health care institution; the
Chevy Chase Baptist Church; and the Adult Community Training Center,
a part of Glendale Community College that provides job training and
career development.
The California Streets and Highway Code gives cities the authority
to modify the boundaries of business improvement areas.
A business improvement district is similar to a merchants'
association.
But in a business district, the city collects an annual
assessment, instead of dues, which is turned over to an advisory
board.
The district is then able to use the money for advertising and
other promotional events.
Councilman Rafi Manoukian said he expects the City Council to
approve the expansion and said business improvement districts such as
those in Adams Square help not only the local businesses, but also
the city.
"They take away some of these issues out of the government's
hands in promoting and marketing the local businesses," Manoukian
said.
Steve Brown, vice president of the merchants' association, said
the businesses were meant to be in the original districts, but
somehow got left out.
More businesses included in the district means that the district
has more funds available for maintenance, marketing and advertising.
"Instead of one person doing it alone," Brown said, "all of us are
getting together in one big collective team and doing it together."
