OTR Special Improvement District

1. OTR Special Improvement District Initial Public Feedback Sessionsby the OTR SID Working Group a stronger Cincinnati

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 a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

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 a stronger Cincinnati

6. CREATING A SID Must be signed by property owners representing 60% of front footage a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

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 a stronger Cincinnati

9. DCID Votes a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

11. SID IS NEEDED IN OTR a stronger Cincinnati

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 a stronger Cincinnati

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 a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

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. a stronger Cincinnati

16. OTR Special Improvement District by the OTR SID Working Group a stronger Cincinnati