Boards & Commissions

East Sprague Parking and Business Improvement Area

Authorized by and Date: Chapter 35.87A RCW and Chapter 04.31C SMC. Approved by Ordinance C35377, on April 18, 2016.

Mission Statement/Purpose: The East Sprague Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA), commonly referred to as the East Sprague Business Improvement District (BID) or the Sprague Union District, is a self-taxing financing mechanism which supports economic development and neighborhood revitalization. The East Sprague BID coordinates the cooperation of businesses, commercial property owners, and residential property owners in the pursuit of economic development. The BID centers on Sprague Avenue from Hamilton to Smith Street, and the area is being revitalized as a hub of neighborhood commercial activity with local businesses while enhancing the resident and visitor experience.

The East Sprague BID is managed by the East Sprague Business Association. You can find information on BID programs and more on the Sprague Union District website. The East Sprague Business Association is directed by the Ratepayer Advisory Board, made up of property owners and businesses from the business improvement district.

East Sprague Ratepayer Advisory Board

Membership: East Sprague PBIA advisory board with a minimum of five members or a maximum of seven members, to be known as the “Ratepayer Advisory Board”. Board positions are designated by geography, business, and property type to ensure that the PBIA’s interests are well represented and served. To the extent individuals are willing to serve, Ratepayer Advisory Board positions consist of at least one individual representing properties in each of the areas, one through three, and should include property owners or owner’s designated representative or managers of real property and representatives of commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, residential or mixed-use property, and one current officer of the East Spokane Business Association. One representative of the program manager shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the ratepayer advisory board. The program manager shall provide administrative staff to the ratepayer advisory board.

Terms: The initial membership of the ratepayer advisory board shall be nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the City Council; three of which shall serve a two year term and two of which shall serve a one year term. Subsequent appointments shall be made consistent with this subsection Each member of the ratepayer advisory board will be elected by property owners, an owner’s designated representative, or managers of real property within the PBIA for a term of two years from the date of election (unless such member is appointed by the ratepayer advisory board to fulfill the remaining unexpired term of a prior member).

1. A subcommittee of ratepayer advisory board members will receive nomination applications and will select a slate of candidates for open ratepayer advisory board positions to be presented at the annual meeting.
2. New ratepayer advisory board members will be elected by a majority vote of ratepayers in good standing who attend the annual meeting. Ratepayers can vote by proxy if they are unable to attend the annual meeting.

City Liaison
Amanda Beck, AICP
Planner II
abeck@spokanecity.org
509.625.6414

To learn more about becoming a board member please contact LaVerne Biel, Sprague Union District Executive Director.

Meeting Information

Date: 3rd Wednesday of each month. The annual ratepayer meeting is held in December.
Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m., Pacific Time
Location: Sprague Union Terrace, Community Room, 1420 E. Sprague Avenue
Annual Ratepayer Meeting: 3rd Wednesday of December

What is a Parking and Business Improvement Area?

A parking and business improvement area (PBIA) is a local funding mechanism that allows business owners within a defined area to establish a special assessment district. The establishment and use of PBIA is authorized under State Law – Chapter 35.87A RCW. Funds raised can be used to provide management, services, facilities, and programs to the district. The goal of PBIAs is to aid general economic development and to facilitate merchant and business cooperation.

Activities are financed through a special assessment that is imposed on businesses, multifamily residential developments, and mixed-use developments located within the geographic boundaries of the PBIA. The assessments can be used to finance: construction, acquisition, or maintenance of parking facilities in the area; decoration of public areas; promotion of public events in public places in the area; furnishing of music in any public place in the area; provision of maintenance and security of common public areas; or management, planning, and promotion of the area, including the promotion of retail activities in the area.

Management Plans

Agendas

Minutes