Title: An act relating to parking and business improvement areas.

Brief Description: Making transportation services an authorized purpose for parking and business improvement areas.

Sponsors: Senators Spanel, Oke, Weinstein, Esser and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/1/05, 3/2/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/14/05, 45-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Eide, Esser, Kastama, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: The legislative authorities of all counties and incorporated cities and towns are authorized to establish by ordinance parking and business improvement areas (PBIA). A PBIA is an area within the county, city, or town that has the authority to levy special assessments on the businesses and multifamily residential or mixed-use projects within the area that are specially benefitted by the activities of the parking and business improvement area.

The six activities in which the PBIA may engage are as follows: (1) the provision of parking lots; (2) decoration of a public place; (3) furnishing music in public places; (4) promotion of public events in the area; (5) promotion and management of retail trade activities; and (6) provision of security and maintenance of the common public areas.

Summary of Bill: The purposes for which a PBIA may be established are expanded to include the provision of transportation services for the benefit of the area.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill allows businesses to tax themselves to provide transportation services. PBIA's are an economic development tool that aids property owners to join together and help to fund programs to meet their needs. We would like to be able to tax ourselves to pay for flex passes, vanpools and possibly partner with Metro to provide transportation services to our downtown areas.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Bill Roach, Commute Trip Reduction Task Force; Kate Joncas, Downtown Seattle Association.