As required each year by the Gridley Municipal Code, the Gridley Business Improvement District (GBID) presented their annual report and budget, highlighting last year’s accomplishments and identified activities and improvements to be funded in the new fiscal year with the assessments proposed for the GBID.
With Mayor Jerry Fichter stepping out of the room, due to conflict of interest, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Johnson, ran this portion of the Monday night regular Council meeting.
City Administrator Rob Hickey, explained that the public notice had appeared in the local newspaper as required and recommended action would be to approve the annual report, adopt the resolution declaring it’s intention to levy assessments and set August 3, 2009 at 7 p.m. for the date of the public hearing to accept business’ comments prior to levying the assessment as required.
Hickey explained that if 50 percent or more of the businesses send written protests, no assessment would be levied.
Councilman Bruce Johnson asked if the businesses know that they have this option to which Hickey answered, “That is what tonight is about. The resolution appeared in the newspaper as required.”
Johnson stated he had received phone calls from merchants not wanting to pay.
“I don’t think they understand that if 50 percent or more send letters in, they would not have to pay,” he stated.
City Attorney Brant Bordsen stated it would be a simple majority protest, not a vote.
“In the past, if anyone had sent a letter they would have gone to Brad (Wilkie). I know it has never gotten close or I would have gotten a phone call,” Bordsen stated.
Councilman Owen Stiles asked if this would be the time to look at the three zones and how they are assessed.
Hickey explained it would mean starting all over, because the public notice had already appeared in the newspaper.
Bordsen agreed, stating, “You would have to redo the whole process.”
The BID board recommends the amounts assessed and council approves them.
Councilman Dave Garner asked if the board is happy with the amounts assessed. “If we hear from people who are paying $69, that is nothing,” he stated.
BID board members were in the audience and able to answer questions of council members.
Hickey stated the assessments could be addressed in August at the annual board meeting.
BID President Bob Forde, agreed that the board would like to look a the price structure again. He also stated anyone with questions or concerns could come to their monthly board meeting.
BID board member Kelly Rummelhart, added that merchants could be on the board of BID.
Johnson stated, “You aren’t going to make everybody happy. They ask what they get out of the
BID. You need to ask those who are not happy, why don’t you get involved?”
Rummelhart answered, “Your statement about how does it help me? A lot of people can’t fathom the amount of advertising that is done. If it all ended, they would ask, Where did the Farmer’s Market go? Where did the craft fair go? The billboards? People are not going to understand until it’s all gone.”
Johnson added, “I’ll bet a few people don’t know everything you do and provide.”
Stiles expressed his appreciation for the BID board members who gave a presentation at a 6:30 a.m. Kiwanis meeting recently.
“I was extremely pleased with the presentation. It can’t be business as usual in Gridley. The BID and Chamber of Commerce are both vital organizations,” Stiles stated.
Chamber board member Jeanne Hart said, “Both organizations are very happy. Unfortunately, in a small town there is a lot of crossover. I believe in both.”
Stiles agreed by stating, “I do too. Don’t ever let anybody think differently.”
