1. OTR Special Improvement District
Initial Public Feedback Sessions by the OTR SID Working Group
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2. Working Group Bobby Maly, The Model Group (Co-Chair)
Stephanie Gaither, Al. Neyer (Co-Chair)
Andy Hutzel, OTRCH
Greg Olson, Urban Sites
William Thomas, Mortar
Kelly Adamson, OTR Chamber
Bob Deck, 4EG
Barbara Hauser, Resident
Annette Wick, Resident
Joe Hansbauer, Findlay Market
Staffing support from DCI and 3CDC
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3. BACKGROUND
In 2017 A working group of neighborhood stakeholders began revisiting previous potential for SID creation; created a steering committee to assess viability and is leveraging 20 years of experience from the downtown SID (DCID).
OTR Chamber studied the potential for SID creation 8 years ago, but property values didn’t support its formation at that time.
3CDC +OTR Chamber + private neighborhood partners have been voluntarily funding supplemental services above the level of local government service for the last 7 years, but this has become unsustainable and will end in 2019.
Model, Urban Sites, Western & Southern, 4EG, + Thunderdome
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4. WHAT IS A SID?
A Special Improvement District is a structured method of raising funds in a geographical area in order to manage and deliver critical services above the level of services provided by local government. According to the Urban Land institute (ULI), it:
Is a system by which multiple unrelated property owners cooperate to share the costs of common problems.
Creates a sustainable funding system, making possible multiple year funding plans and budgets.
Is authorized by government through legislation that defines the organization’s purpose, governing structure, functions, and limits.
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5. WHAT IS A SID?
Funded by property owners within the boundary through an assessment (paid bi-annually with property taxes)
Services and SID Boundary to be determined by property owners – outlined in a Service Plan
Service Plan + Assessment must be approved by 60% of property owners per Ohio law (linear front footage)
The downtown SID (DCID) is a 501c3
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6. CREATING A SID a stronger Cincinnati Public Feed-back
Services Plan Proposed
Petition submitted to SID property owners
City Council votes to approve SID authority
Property owners vote on SID board members
CREATING A SID
Must be signed by property owners representing 60% of front footage
Services Plan – must be reviewed by City Council with any proposed amendments before adoption
Petition must be signed by property owners representing 60% of front footage to move forward to City Council
Board of Equalization – hears any property owner objections about assessments
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7. HOW IS A SID GOVERNED?
An independent non-profit corporation is formed to govern
Property owners elect a Board of Trustees responsible for:
Developing a Service Plan
Directing services, usually by hiring a 3rd party provider
Determining the assessment criteria (% front footage + % property value)
100% of the net assessments go directly to the Trustees to fund the Service Plan.
The county auditor charges 3-4% for administration per code.
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8. HOW DO OTHER CITIES DO IT?
In our own city, DCID has been in place for 20 years.
1,000 US cites and towns have Special Improvement Districts
NYC has 74 separate SIDs, including 39 in low to moderate income neighborhoods
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9. DCID Votes
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10. SID IS NEEDED IN OTR
Funding of the current services are privately controlled and unsustainable, and the SID is the best mechanism to replace that funding.
Long term sustainability for services ensures critical services remain in place and are optimized to the needs of residents and business
Geographic expansion
Broad community control vs. private control. Built-in accountability with Trustees to ensure Service Plan is carried out per owners’ vision.
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11. SID IS NEEDED IN OTR
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12. AREA TO BE INCLUDED
Initial analysis supports OTR area south of Liberty, between Central Parkway (West) and Spring Street (East)
There is interest to financially support services north of Liberty until area could support SID inclusion by seed funders
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13. LEVEL OF SERVICE Proposed Service Plan – SAFE & CLEAN FOCUS
Visibility and safety presence in collaboration with CPD
Detailed litter control, power washing and detailed cleaning including weed and graffiti removal
Streetscape beautification (planters)
Snow removal
Social service coordination outreach
Collaboration with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Urban Forestry + Cincy Park Board for beautification projects
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS or REDUCTIONS of Service
Marketing + stakeholder services, Community engagement + social media could be added but would raise the costs of assessments detailed on following slide
Likewise, services could be cut back or eliminated in order to lower the cost of assessment
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14. COST TO PROPERTY OWNERS
3CDC and DCI have estimated a $650,000 budget for SAFE & CLEAN focused services
Basis for assessment 25% front footage and 75% on County Auditor assessed value
Assessment = $2.03 per linear front foot + $1.20 per $1,000 of market value
For example, a condo assessed by County Auditor at $175,000 with 5 linear front footage would pay $214 annually.
A commercial building assessed at $800,000 with 200 linear front footage would pay $1,366 annually.
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15. NEXT STEPS
Public Feedback. OTR SID Working Group is connecting with our property owner neighbors to advance the SID conversation for OTR
What level of services is desired?
What boundaries?
What term of service plan years? (eg. DCID is 4 years)
Working Group Proposes Services Plan.
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16. OTR Special Improvement District
by the OTR SID Working Group
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