Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes cities and local governments to create community benefit districts.

Highlights:

• Defines “Community benefit district” as a contiguous geographic area with clearly defined boundaries formed (Sec. 1).

• Defines “Participating property owner” as a property owner who is required to pay the community benefit district fee and any exempt property owner who voluntarily enters into binding written agreements to support the district activities (Sec. 1).

• Defines “Community benefit district corporation” as a nonprofit corporation organized to receive district fees, provide district services, and implement the district management plan (Sec. 1).

• Defines “Community benefit district fee” as a payment for services or improvements specified by the management plan (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a community benefit district corporation approved by the state to have the following authority, including, but not limited to the power to (Sec. 2):

• Promote economic development or retaining and recruiting business;

• Design, construct, maintain, or operate buildings, facilities, and infrastructure for public purposes;

• Manage parking, parks, public spaces, community facilities or operate transit services;

• Lease, own, acquire real property, enter into contracts, or sue and be sued;

• Supplement maintenance or security and sanitation;

• Formulate a fee structure, accumulate interest,and incur costs or indebtedness;

• Solicit donations, sponsorships, or grants; and

• Support public art, human and environmental services related to the enhancement of the district.

• Specifies the the organization of a community benefit district will be initiated by a petition of property owners within the proposed community benefit district and will be filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality and with the department of housing and community development (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that each petition shall contain the following, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):

• A list of each property and corresponding property owner within the proposed district;

• A proposed yearly assessment, with a description of the proposed district fee formula and fee collection mechanism;

• The signatures of petition signers, and description of and site map outlining the boundaries of the proposed community benefit district;

• The identity and address of the community benefit district corporation, including a list of the initial set of directors;

• A management plan outlining the services, programs, vision, and strategy for the community benefit district; and

• The criteria for a temporary waiver of the fee and the mechanism for reimbursing the municipality costs incurred in establishing the community benefit district.

• Specifies that each community benefit district corporations shall have a board of directors that will half be composed of participating property owners to oversee its operations to ensure the implementation of the management plan (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that a community benefit district may be dissolved by a majority vote by the corporation’s board of directors (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text