Title
***REQUEST TO ADD-ON (SEE ATTACHED MEMO)*** 2025 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District Estimated Assessments Public Hearing Date (Resolution 22265) - Districts 7 & 8
Description
Request City Council set the date of December 18, 2024, for the Public Hearing on the 2025 Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District (EMSD) estimated assessments, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes 48-575. The General Fund estimated annual expenditure for this program is $443,389.
Report
Summary
The City Council authorized the formation of the Downtown EMSD in 1990 to provide enhanced public services above and beyond the level of services provided in the remainder of the City. Costs for the Downtown EMSD’s services are paid through assessments on property owners within the Downtown EMSD boundaries. The City contracts directly with Downtown Phoenix, Inc. (DPI) to implement the work program, as described in Attachment A, of the Downtown EMSD. The Downtown EMSD is generally bounded by Garfield Street, 7th Street, 3rd Avenue, and the railroad tracks south of Jackson Street.
2025 Downtown EMSD Approved Budget
The work plan and budget for Calendar Year (CY) 2025 provides a variety of enhanced services in the Downtown core, including business improvement services and overall business development.
In June 2024, the Downtown EMSD Board of Directors, which includes representatives of the City and other Downtown EMSD property owners, approved the CY 2025 Downtown EMSD budget of $4,990,256. Attachment B includes a breakdown of the expense categories. Included in the approved budget is $167,222 for streetscape maintenance expenses, which are paid only by property owners and tenants adjacent to the Streetscape Improvement District. The Streetscape Improvement District includes certain portions of Monroe Street from 3rd Avenue to 7th Street; Adams Street from 2nd Avenue to 2nd Street; 2nd Street from Jefferson to Van Buren streets; and 3rd Street from Monroe to Van Buren streets.
The approved CY 2025 Downtown EMSD Budget of $4,990,256 represents an increase of $284,000 over the CY 2024 Downtown EMSD Budget. The increase results from a combination of growing non-assessment revenue through downtown partnerships leveraged by the district, and increased assessment revenue from the expanded boundaries. The CY 2025 assessments for the Downtown EMSD will be levied after the required Downtown EMSD approval process has been completed. Assessments are determined in proportion to the benefits received by each parcel. The proposed assessments and 2025 Downtown EMSD Diagram are based on the estimate of expenses and property data available as of April 19, 2024.
- Estimated CY 2024 District Budget: $4,990,256
- Estimated CY 2024 Assessment Revenue: $4,740,256
- Estimated CY 2024 Non-assessment Revenue: $250,000
Public Hearing Date
It is requested that the City Council set the date of December 18, 2024, as the date for the Public Hearing on the 2025 Downtown EMSD assessments.
Financial Impact
The City's total estimated annual expenditure for this program is 1,290,391, which includes:
- $443,389 from the General Fund (approximate $4,266 increase from 2024);
- $632,648 from the Phoenix Convention Center;
- $151,673 from the Sports Facilities Fund; and
- $62,681 from the Phoenix Bioscience Core.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee recommended approval of the 2025 Downtown EMSD work plan and budget on September 11, 2024, by a vote of 3-0.
On October 2, 2024, the City Council approved:
- The 2025 Downtown EMSD Budget, Assessments and Set Public Hearing Date of November 13, 2024, for the hearing on the estimated assessments; and
- The 2025 Downtown EMSD Assessment Diagram.
On November 13, 2024, the City Council authorized the City Manager, or his designee, to pay all invoices received from DPI through the Phoenix Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District.
Public Outreach
A Public Hearing will be held for property owners to discuss the proposed assessments, costs, and services provided in connection with the Downtown EMSD. If this request is approved, the public hearing would be set for December 18, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., in the Phoenix City Council Chambers. All property owners are notified by mail of their annual assessment costs by the Street Transportation and Community and Economic Development departments no fewer than 20 days prior to the public hearing. Notice of the public hearing will also be published in the Record Reporter. No further notification is required after the public hearing.
Location
The Downtown EMSD is generally bounded by Garfield Street, 7th Street, 3rd Avenue, and the railroad tracks south of Jackson Street.
Council Districts: 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers John Chan and Inger Erickson, and the Community and Economic Development and Street Transportation departments.