The Business Improvement District membership is appointed by the City Council following recommendation from the City's Advisory Committee on Appointments. The members of each BID Board serve staggered terms as designated by City Council.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Each of the City’s four BIDs play an important role in promoting development of business, community events, and access and enjoyment by all to our City’s vibrant downtown business districts. The City’s BIDs enable our business communities to coordinate and contribute funding toward programs and projects that benefit both the business district and the community, such as to encourage development of entertainment, cultural, and civic activities and facilities, to enhance the aesthetic appeal of commercial areas, to promote economic activity and create employment opportunities, and to attract businesses that help to make the City a desirable place to live, work, shop, and be entertained.
Members of the City’s BID Boards include residents of the City and owners/occupiers of commercial properties located within a BID.
BIDs are managed by public boards of the City. A BID, as governed by Wis. Stat. § 66.1109, is a specially designated area that authorizes the City to levy special assessments on commercial properties located within the BID for the purpose of funding the promotion, operation, development, and maintenance of the BID area in accordance with an annually updated Operating Plan and the City’s Comprehensive Plan. City Council has so far approved the creation of four BIDs, each with its own public Board, including the: South Barstow BID, North Barstow/Medical BID, Water Street BID, and West Grand Avenue BID.
DUTIES:
The City’s BID Boards help to direct funding toward programs and projects that enhance the district and provide broad public benefits, such as to encourage development of entertainment, cultural, and civic activities and facilities, to enhance the aesthetic appeal of commercial areas, to promote economic activity and create employment opportunities, and to attract businesses that help to make the City a desirable place to live, work, shop, and be entertained. BID Boards are generally responsible for:
- Submitting the BID’s Operating Plan for City Council approval on an annual basis
- Preparing annual reports regarding the status, revenues, and expenditures of the BID, to be made available to the public
- Implementing the BID’s Operating Plan, which is a plan of work and budget for the BID and its members each year.
