[Vision2020] B.I.D.

[Mark Seman]

Phil,
I think I can understand your frustrations.  I'm sure there have been many
past efforts that have been a waste of money.  Efforts have only gone so far
then fizzled.  There is no guarantee that the new BID proposal will succeed
either.

I view this BID as another chance to develop convergence and unity amongst
the downtown business owners.  The petition needs to have >50% buy-in, with
a target of 80% makingit more viable.  Unlike political campaigns, there's
not much sense in pursuing a BID victory with 51%.  There needs to be
significant agreement that this is a good thing, or else it will go the way
of other failed attempts.

I encourage you (and anyone else that is interested) to come to the Moscow
Civic Association's meeting 2/15/05 @ 7:30p 1912 bldg. concerning this very
topic.  I don't know the specific format of the discussion, but there will
be a panel there to answer questions about the proposed BID.

The only way for the BID or any other form of unification to work is for
there to be popular support.  If there is a visioned benefit, then the
easier support can be garnered.  The benefit from the BID is most entirely
determined by the entities paying into it (likely, the property owners.)
This does beg the question of how will business owners benefit (since they
may often not be the property owner)?  I don't know how this gets resolved,
except over time with continued discussions to look at options.

As a co-chair of the Chamber's Community Development Committee, I feel the
concept is good.  If the specifics can get worked out and significant
concensus developed, that has great worth in, if nothing else, demonstrating
a level of cohesion this community sorely needs.  But getting people to
agree to it is just an ealy step, there needs to be more planning and
follow-through.  Let's see how far it gets.

Mark

Full Circle Studios
Mark Seman, Architect
Heather Seman, Landscape Architect
1404 East 'F' Street  Moscow, Idaho 83843
v 208-883-3276 / f 208-883-0112



-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of cjs
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 2:57 PM
To: Vision2020 at moscow.com
Cc: jpierce at dnews.com
Subject: [Vision2020] B.I.D.


Bad - Idea - Deal.

1)  Double taxation?

2)  Isn't Friendship Square a park? If so, where are the restrooms that all
of our tax dollars are to buy? Aren't all "parks" supposed to have
bathrooms?

3)  Isn't the city supposed to maintain "all" the sidewalks? They do it in
front of residential and the malls and the strip centers? Oh yeah - they
maintain the parks too, and what about the public parking facilities? So -
what is different about down town? Nothing! Granted they passed the snow
removal part on to the owners. Only in front of your property though. That
is residential and commercial. That is equal.

4)  The city owns the trees downtown. How I know this is that I was trimming
some branches that were beating my sign to death and the city was going to
fine me. Remember the fiasco at the mall when the mall removed some trees?

5)  If you wish to improve business in a certain zone or area it is a proven
fact that reducing the tax burden on those in that area has "always" spawned
prosperity and improvements to the buildings and structures that exist
there. Not "more" taxes. That will surely cause the death and devastation of
downtown. Or is that somebody's agenda?

6)  Who is "thriving" in the downtown corridor? Oh - wait...... N.S.A. Why -
TAX BURDEN RELIEF!!!

7)  We do not need a B. I. D. or anything of the sort. It has been done here
a couple of times with the same outcome. Remember Alive After Five? Dead on
arrival. There should not be a cost if the city is doing it's job and
maintaining the district. Isn't the downtown district a benefit to the
entire community? If so, the burden should be shared by all. Equally! Just
like the sidewalks in front of your homes.

8) Parking. I think all of us spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on a
piece of paper called, "The Downtown Revitalization Plan."  Why aren't we
following it? It speaks of the city aquiring property at the north end of
town basically for parking.  Anybody can get a copy of this expensive piece
of paper that reads like it is mass produced for all small communities, at
the building department. Why would we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars
on a plan we are not implementing? And you want to do it again?
Heeeellllllooooooooo!!!!!!

In summary.........  there should be a special tax district for landlords in
the downtown corridor that gives them a substantial discount. For they will
re-invest those dollars in their buildings. Hence, maintaining and making a
thriving downtown district. This has been proven over and over accross our
country and the rust belt is the biggest example.

If this B.I.D. thing is to go thru I think there should be a minimum
qualification that the person must have created from scratch numerous
businesses and made them successful. I want my tax dollars going to a
competeant individual(s). How about you?

Phil


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