Pomona Council gives OK to downtown business district renewal process

POMONA - Next month downtown Pomona property owners will have a chance to cast votes to determine whether to extend the life of the Pomona Business Improvement District.

City leaders Thursday night voted unanimously to allow the recertification process for the district, sometimes called the PBID, to move forward.

The vote included the participation via phone of Councilwoman Paula Lantz, who was out of town on city business.

The vote was cast after about 20 people spoke in favor of the PBID and three in opposition.

"I'm really touched by the support of the community," said Carolyn Hemming, president of the Downtown Property Owners Association, after the meeting. The association was created to carry out the work of the property-based business improvement district established in 2004.

One after another, speakers said the PBID has played a significant part in the ongoing revitalization of downtown and attracting larger crowds to activities.

Downtown resident A.S. Ashley said after many years of neglect and abandonment downtown is coming back, but it still needs help.

"It's not breathing well. It's on life support," he said.

If the PBID is lost it won't take much for downtown "to fall back into a comma," he said.

Linda Hammill said she participated in the establishment of a business improvement district 14 years ago in Los Angeles but she is not satisfied with this one.

"I believe in quality," she said. "I do not have that."

Her business does not benefit from the PBID and she is unhappy with the assessment rate, Hammill said.

Council members said they realized there may be problems, but nothing so insurmountable to merit eliminating the PBID that has made a difference in the look and feel of downtown.

Councilwoman Danielle Soto said Friday she has some questions about the points brought forward by opponents of the PBID but she intends to talk with the association's executive director about those.

"I think this is an opportunity to work toward solutions," Soto said.

Some problems will be easier to resolve and others will take more time and the involvement of the City Council, Councilman Steve Atchley said Friday.

Overall, "it's pretty clear most of the people involved found (the PBID) to be effective and desirable," he said.

Property owner and businessman David Armstrong said Friday he knew which way Thursday night's vote would go when he saw the number of supporters turn out for the meeting.

Armstrong, who five years ago was in support of the PBID and now opposes it, said more than support for renewal or funds, what the city needs to do is provide a different type of support.

"The city needs to support the DPOA with laws," he said.

The city must crack down on businesses that have customers who leave trash behind in parking lots and private property after events, he said.

Businesses that require more security should be pushed to put it in place, Armstong said.

Once that is done and there is a more equitable distribution of services around all parts of the improvement district, "then I think everybody would be happy," Armstrong said.

Hemming said steps already have been taken to start addressing concerns brought up recently by some property owners.

"I think many of the differences can be worked out," Hemming said.

The association has started working on the matter of trash left behind in city parking lots.

"We're going to do it and settle who's ultimately responsible later," Hemming said. "But for now it'll be done."

As part of the process the City Council will conduct a public hearing July 20 on the PBID recertification, followed by the tally of votes cast by property owners.

Renewal of the PBID requires that property owners representing more than 50 percent of the proposed assessments submit ballots in favor of recertification.

During the meeting Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said she favored recertification but not for 10 years because such a move would lock future councils into the decision.

City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman said Friday the life span of the PBID is a topic for discussion in July.

If the PBID were recertified it would be for 10 years. However, the PBID is reviewed annually and that would be a time the council could express a desire to disband it, he said.

"If at any time the council decides it doesn't want to continue in the business improvement district it could withdraw," Alvarez-Glasman said.