Post Date:   September 5, 2023

Feasibility Study;

Presentation of the Feasibility Study, Final Report:

The date for the final presentation of the feasibility study to the City Commission has changed from September 19, 2023 to October 3, 2023 at the City Commission's Conference Meeting. 

New date and time:    October 3, 2023 at 1:30 PM
Location:                      Broward Center for the Performing Arts
                                       Mary N Porter Riverview Ballroom
                                       201 SW 5th Avenue
                                       Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Background

The Beach Business Improvement District (BBID) was created in 2006, via Ordinance C-06-34,  when the Fort Lauderdale Beach was in an on-going transition to become a world class destination.

The district was created to assist the City in:

• Establishing Fort Lauderdale Beach as a premiere destination;
• Significantly increase tourism in the area;
• Expanding business revenue and increasing economic growth; 
• Enhancing the physical appearance and increasing the attractiveness of the district;
• Developing pedestrian friendly sidewalks;
• Creating a unique sense of place for visitors to enjoy; and
• Improving the overall image of the beach.

In 2007 the Beach Business Improvement District Advisory Committee was created via resolution to monitor the progress of the Beach Business Improvement District, to make recommendations about services, enhancements, and special programs and events.

BBID Boundary and Members

The current BBID members consist of commercial properties only within the general boundaries along State Road A1A between Sunrise Boulevard to the north and the east/west portion of Holiday Drive to the south. 

The area has evolved since 2006, and the BBID advisory committee with the City Commission’s support, has initiated a feasibility study to evaluate expanding the boundaries and include more members in the BBID. 

The expansion will add the commercial properties in the area that both contribute to the success of the district and gain the benefits from BBID funded and supported initiatives. Including additional properties will allow the BBID to expand and diversify initiatives that enhance visitors’ experiences, which in turn will benefit the businesses and further improve the district. 

The BBID properties are subject to a non-ad valorem special assessment,  currently $0.8525 per $1,000 of the property value, imposed by the City Commission, collected on the tax bill, (pursuant to the Uniform Assessment Collection Act), and redistributed in its entirety to fund services in the district.

Steps to Expansion

The imposition of assessment on more properties or to expand the boundaries to include more properties is regulated in the home rule Ordinance C-06-34. According to the Ordinance it is necessary to illustrate that payers within the assessed area are benefitting from the imposed assessment. The steps to expansion are:

1. Identify the properties and define the geographical area to be included in the proposed expansion.
2. Conduct a study that evaluates if the beach improvement services, facilities, and programs provide a special benefit to the assessed properties. The legislative determination of the special benefit is outlined in section 1.04:
   
   

   “It is hereby ascertained and declared that the beach improvement services, facilities, and programs provide a special benefit to business property located within the beach area that is used for commercial purposes based upon the following legislative determinations:

    (A) Beach Business Improvement services possess a logical relationship to the use and enjoyment of improved property by: (1) producing a clean, safe and more attractive business environment (2) increasing the number of visitors, (3) increasing commerce and investment (4) increasing property values.

3. Prepare a fair and equitable assessment methodology to the benefiting property owners.
4. Adoption of Assessment Resolution
5. Preparation of Assessment Roll
6. Notice by Publication and Mail
7. Adoption of Final Assessment Roll 

Completed Activities

• Identified the properties and defined the geographical area to be included in the proposed expansion.
• Completed a solicitation and awarded the contract to conduct the feasibility study to Carras Community Investment Inc. The study will be conducted in the summer of 2023. It will evaluate if existing and future beach improvement services, facilities, and programs provide a special benefit to the properties identified in the expansion area.  
• Conducted a kick off meeting for the feasibility study on June 12, 2023 at the monthly BBID Advisory Committee meeting. The Beach Business Improvement District's background, the process, requirements, and factors that will be evaluated in the feasibility study was discussed. The presentation can be reviewed here: Expansion Study Kick Off Meeting June 12, 2023 .
• Assessed the need for improvements and enhancements within the existing and proposed districts.
• Reviewed and evaluated existing and past BBID funded services and activities. Developed recommendations for services, activities, and programs that will best serve BBID's operation.
• Prepared a projected BBID budget based on the assessment scenarios.
• Conducted a public meeting and presented a draft results of the study on August 14, 2023 at the monthly BBID Advisory Committee meeting.
• Concluded the outreach and interviews with key stakeholders and property owners.

Upcoming Activities

• Finalize the report and present the findings to the City Commission (September-October)

For more information or questions, contact:

Von Howard, Public Affairs Administrative Assistant
954-828-6657 or VHoward@fortlauderdale.gov