La Mesa council discusses Business Improvement District proposal

LA MESA In front of a packed crowd that included many La Mesa Downtown Village business owners, a school superintendent and a handful of village property owners, the City Council on Tuesday discussed itself as a property owner in the proposed Property-Based Business Improvement District for the village.

The issue of the citys involvement has many locals concerned. The city of La Mesa is one of the largest property owners in the village. If the proposal passes, the city would act as administrator of the district.

You as a legislative body have the final say, said Ed Henning, the citys hired PBID consultant.

Under the proposal, local property owners would make annual payments to the city to support maintenance and marketing of the village area.

La Mesa City Manager Dave Witt said that in fiscal 2012-13, the impact to the citys General Fund to pay the proposed assessment would be just over $60,000. The assessment could increase as much as 5 percent a year for the first five years of the tax.

The proposed district would be voted on by 133 property owners. It includes 182 parcels, mostly along La Mesa Boulevard and some surrounding blocks.

If approved by the majority of the owners, the initial tax would amount to a total of $378,100. The money would be used to keep sidewalks and streets clean with power washing; for landscape maintenance; and for village enhancement, promotion and marketing. The bulk of that amount, $100,000, would be for marketing.

Some opponents, such as business owners Deena While, Craig Maxwell and Bill Jaynes, wore large stickers that said: No PBID/Save Our Village.

Greg Houska, who owns property at Fourth Street and La Mesa Boulevard, said he would have to pass on the tax charges to his tenants, something he said he did not want to do.

The services you mentioned, I expect that from my city; I dont expect to pay more for that, Houska said. Whats going to help this city is the end of the recession.

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La Mesa council discusses Business Improvement District proposal