Title
Resolution to Amend the Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District Boundaries to Add Additional Parcels (Resolution 22188)
Description
Request to adopt a resolution amending the Downtown Enhanced Municipal Services District (Downtown EMSD) boundary to add additional parcels. Further request the resolution exempt Phoenix Union High School District No. 210 of Maricopa County from the Downtown EMSD assessment. There is no financial impact as a result of this action.
Report
Summary
The City Council authorized formation of the Downtown EMSD in 1990 to provide enhanced municipal services, above and beyond the level of services provided in the remainder of the City. The Downtown EMSD is currently generally bound by Fillmore Street, 7th Street, 3rd Avenue, and the railroad tracks south of Jackson Street. The Fillmore Street boundary currently bisects the Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) campus and effectively excludes the northern half of the PBC from the Downtown EMSD. In an effort to maintain cohesiveness for the PBC, the stakeholders in the northern half of the PBC have requested to join the Downtown EMSD. The property being added to the Downtown EMSD is owned or leased by the City of Phoenix, Arizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona (UA), or Phoenix Union High School District and is generally bound by 4th Street, 7th Street, Fillmore Street, and Garfield Street. Existing developments within the expanded area include the Dignity Health Cancer Institute, 850 PBC and the Bioscience High School (Attachment A). No privately owned properties are included in this Downtown EMSD expansion request.
In addition, Arizona Revised Statues 48-575 allows any government owned property owner to be exempt from assessment through a resolution passed by City Council upon finding the property owner is not benefited by being part of the Downtown EMSD. Due to the limited funding the Phoenix Union High School District has available and the limited benefit the school would receive, the school district will be exempt from assessment.
The costs for the Downtown EMSD's services are paid through assessments on property owners within the boundaries of the district. The expansion of the Downtown EMSD boundary does not have any financial impact on the stakeholders in 2024. The City of Phoenix parcels are managed by the Community and Economic Development Department utilizing the Genomic Facilities and Operations Fund to pay for maintenance of the vacant land. Future financial impacts will be presented to City Council for consideration in late 2024 for the 2025 EMSD budget year. Estimated 2025 financial impacts are:
- City of Phoenix - $52,000
- ASU - $76,000
- UA - $56,000
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact as a result of this action.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The item was recommended for approval by the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee at the March 20, 2024 meeting by a vote of 3-0.
Public Outreach
Staff presented to the following organizations:
- Bioscience High School - Jan. 10, 2024
- Phoenix Bioscience Core Stakeholder meeting - Jan. 12, 2024
- Downtown Voices Coalition - Jan. 13, 2024
- Central City Village Planning Committee - Feb. 12, 2024
- Evans Churchill Neighborhood Association - Feb. 14, 2024
Location
The Downtown EMSD is currently generally bounded by Fillmore Street, 7th Street, 3rd Avenue and the railroad tracks south of Jackson Street. The expansion area is generally bounded by Fillmore Street, 7th Street, 4th Street and Garfield Street. The expansion area includes the following parcel numbers:
- 111-46-153
- 111-46-156
- 111-44-145
- 111-44-146A
- 111-44-146B
- 111-44-147
- 111-44-143
- 111-46-081A
- 111-44-104
- 111-44-105
- 111-44-106
- 111-44-107
- 111-44-108
Council Districts: 7 & 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers John Chan and Alan Stephenson, and the Community and Economic Development and Street Transportation departments.