City Council Meeting: April 14, 2009

Agenda Item: 8-A

 

To:                   Mayor and City Council

From:              Andy Agle, Director, Housing and Economic Development

Subject:          Approval of Bayside District Corporation Amended and Restated Services Agreement and Amended By-Laws

 

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Services Agreement with the Bayside District Corporation (BDC) and approve the BDC’s Third Amended and Restated By-Laws.

 

Executive Summary

Staff is presenting to Council an Amended and Restated Services Agreement for approval, which reflects the new roles and responsibilities to be delegated to the BDC following the establishment of the Downtown Santa Monica Property Based Assessment District (PBAD). Modifications to the Agreement include updated indemnification provisions, description of the base-level of services to be provided by the City, and standards relating to the functions and oversight of private contractors. In addition, Council is asked to approve BDC’s Third Amended and Restated By-Laws clarifying eligibility of members to serve on the BDC board. The Restated Services Agreement and modified By-Laws were approved by the BDC Board of Directors on March 26, 2009.

 

 

Background

On March 25, 2008, the Council approved the Bayside Downtown Management Framework which described the method for assessing property owners within the Downtown area, for using the estimated $3.5 million to fund enhanced services, including enhanced maintenance and ambassador service, and to reorganize BDC’s board of directors.  On July 24, 2008, Council established the Property-Based Assessment District by Resolution No. 10336.

 

On January 13, 2009, Council approved amended by-laws for the BDC, and appointed six members to serve on the Board. In addition, Council provided direction to staff on terms and conditions to include in an Amended and Restated Services Agreement with the BDC.  

 

The Amended and Restated Services Agreement enumerates additional BDC responsibilities to be  funded through the Property-Based Assessment District (PBAD),  In coordination with City staff, these additional responsibilities include BDC oversight of  vendor contracts to provide enhanced maintenance of public areas, Ambassador services, and homeless outreach.

 

Upon execution of the Amended and Restated Services Agreement, the City will   transfer the PBAD funds and Mall Assessments to the BDC and the BDC shall begin implementation of its enhanced services and programs.

 

Discussion

As with the previous Services Agreement last amended on October 26, 2004, the Amended and Restated Services Agreement retains BDC responsibilities to provide advice and recommendations to the City regarding long term planning and development strategies; to assist new businesses by providing information; to advise the City on operational issues related to the Downtown; to coordinate with the City on filming, photo shoots and special events and collect Film and Special Event Charges, as approved by the City; to manage the street performer program; and to serve as a liaison to the City and other governmental entities.

 

The significant modifications in the proposed Amended and Restated Services Agreement from the previous Agreement are summarized as follows:

 

TERM            

·        The initial term of this Agreement shall be for a period of ten (10) years and may be renewed for one additional ten (10) year period provided that a majority of property owners vote in favor of an extension of the PBAD.

 

 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·        BDC shall prepare annually a Work Plan and Budget for submittal to the City Manager in coordination with the City’s Community Maintenance Department. The annual work plan shall describe in detail the services to be provided by the City and the enhanced services for the upcoming year to be provided by BDC. 

 

·        BDC shall manage an ambassador program to provide information to visitors about activities, sites and points of interest within the Downtown, and to monitor public facilities within the Downtown. Ambassadors shall not be portrayed as representatives of any law enforcement agency of the City, and shall not assume any law enforcement responsibilities.

 

·        BDC shall ensure that its Ambassador Program shall comply with the City’s Living Wage Ordinance and maintenance/custodial contractors shall adhere to the same standards of sustainable maintenance practices as are followed by City maintenance.

 

·        City shall be obligated to continue to provide maintenance-of-effort and base level services as described in Exhibit C of the Agreement.


PAYMENT

·        City shall pay to the BDC all funds received from the PBAD, Mall Maintenance Charge, and Central Business District less an administrative charge to be retained by the City to cover City’s costs in administering and collecting the assessments.  The Administrative Charges Schedule shall be:

 

·        PBAD

The City will retain an administrative charge of $65.02 per parcel, to be adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index. The annual adjustment will be no less than 2%, and no greater than 5%. This rate was established based upon the cost of service/charge analysis of an independent consultant. This will generate $28, 349. .

 

·        Mall Maintenance Charge

The City will retain an annual administrative charge of 1.27% of assessments collected. This rate was established based upon the cost of service/charge analysis of an independent consultant. The Administration fee is estimated to generate $14,344.

 

·        Central Business District Business Improvement Area (CBD)
The City will retain an administrative charge in an amount equal to five (5%) percent, or approximately $10,000, until the CBD is terminated.

 

 

 

INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION

·        BDC’s commercial liability insurance limits have been raised to reflect its expanded roles and responsibilities under the Agreement.

 

·        BDC shall indemnify and defend the City and its insurance will be primary in connection with indemnified claims.

 

TERMINATION

·        Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately if the Santa Monica PBAD is disestablished pursuant to applicable state law, or may terminate with cause after proper notice and cure periods. BDC may terminate with or without cause with six months written notice.

 

BY-LAWS

·        BDC shall amend its By-laws to provide that Directors be current in their payment of special or general assessments, fees or licenses imposed within the Bayside District. 

 

Council is also asked to approve the addition of this provision to the BDC’s Third Amended and Restated By-Laws.

 

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

Approval of BDC’s Amended and Restated Services Agreement and Amended By-Laws has no financial impact on the City, as the City will recover administration charges for the collection and distribution of the property and business based assessments, estimated to total $52,693.

 

Prepared by:

Elana Buegoff, Senior Development Analyst

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Agle, Director

Housing and Economic Development

 

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager

 

 

Attachments:

Attachment A:  Amended and Restated Services Agreement

Attachment B:  Third Amended and Restated By-Laws