Call for nominations to DSBA Board
Four seats on the DSBA's board of directors are up for election Sept. 24. Nominations to fill the seats from any business within the BID can be made by Aug. 30, 2010. Click to read or download the press release, with all details (PDF). Or, to initiate a nomination yourself, click now to download the 2010 nominating petition(PDF).");
document.write("
Item posted Aug. 11, 2010 • Updated Aug. 18, 2010
• • •
Petition to dissolve BID fails, starts again
A nearly three-month petition drive by three businessmen to dissolve the downtown Business Improvement District ended in May, after city officials determined the petitioners had failed to obtain enough valid signatures.
"); document.write("But the petitioners have announced they will try again.
"); document.write("The petition to disband the BID was submitted to the city on April 2, 2010. After evaluating the signatures, City Clerk Maree Peck determined the petitioners had failed to meet the threshhold for valid signatures.
"); document.write("In a May 6 memorandum on her decision, Peck said the petitioners turned in petitions with 205 signatures, of which 17 were not considered because they were from individuals outside the BID boundaries or businesses that were closed or had never been invoiced for BID assessments. There were also 54 signatures on sheets of paper that had no reference to the petition or statement of purpose, were not attached or numbered to in any way to indicate what the signatories were signing.
"); document.write("By Idaho code, the threshold to dissolve the BID is by a petition of businesses paying the majority of assessments within the BID. Peck determined that the valid signers of the petitions represented only 34.88% of the total assessments within the BID -- well short of the 51% required.
"); document.write("\"Based on my review of the petitions... within the concurrence of the city attorney, I have concluded that there were not enough sufficient signatures to disband the Business Improvement District,\" wrote Peck. The entire city memorandum is available by clicking the \"City memorandum of decision\" link below.
"); document.write("The BID was formed in 2000 when a majority of downtown businesses petitioned the city to form it as a means of accomplishing downtown improvements and to promote a healthy marketplace. Three businessmen – Chris Park of Misty Mountain Furniture, Rich Curtis of Exit Realty and Cornel Rasor of Army Surplus – launched the petition drive to dissolve the BID in January, after a similar effort carried out over eight years failed in 2009. They concluded their second drive April 2 when they turned in the petitions.
"); document.write("While the petitioners say they oppose the Business Improvement District, not the DSBA, the DSBA board and officers counter that without the funding provided by the BID the association will not be viable. They point out that two previous business associations that existed in the 1980s and '90s prior to the BID failed due to lack of resources.
"); document.write("\"Unfortunately, there are many claims the petitioners keep repeating that are simply factually incorrect,\" said DSBA President Chris Bessler. “I’m sure some signers of the petition were basing their decision on some of this misinformation.” He referred readers to the \"Petitioners’ letter and rebuttal\" document below, in which DSBA counters some of the inaccurate claims.
"); document.write("In a June 17 editorial in the Daily Bee, Park cited several complaints that the petition was rejected and wrote that \"a new petition will soon be launched.\"
"); document.write("\"That's certainly their right,\" responded Bessler. \"I just hope anyone considering to sign yet another petition will take time to evaluate all the facts about the DSBA before deciding to sign. The great majority of businesses pay either $10 or $20 a month for the BID -- it's a tiny additional cost of doing business, and is the only practical way we can all contribute to improving our downtown. And for that small amount the DSBA actually does get a lot done.\""); document.write("
Following are documents and information pertaining to the petition campaign.
"); document.write("Item updated August 9, 2010
."); document.write("• • •
Archive of DSBA comment letters
DSBA frequently provides comment and advocacy on behalf of downtown business interests. The following archive provides copies of recent letters written by DSBA on issues coming before the Sandpoint City Council, city committees and other organizations:"); document.write("
DSBA always encourages comment from its members on issues affecting downtown; simply click to send us an e-mail. Alternatively, call DSBA's City Manager, Kathleen Hyde, at 208-255-1876.");
document.write("
Item updated July 1, 2010");
document.write("
• • •
More news from downtown...
Sign up for the DSBA newsletter!
Stay up on what's happening within the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association with our monthly newsletter. Click to read most recent issues, below. Want to get it delivered to your e-mail box? Click now to subscribe online with our simple signup form.");
document.write("
• Click to read August 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read July 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read June 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read May 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read April 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read March 2010");
document.write("
• Click to read February 2010");
document.write("
");
document.write("
Be a flower basket sponsor
DSBA has placed 100 flower baskets around the downtown for summer 2010, and that's the limit for our budget. Want to see even more? Then click to sponsor a 2010 downtown flower basket!
Events & Happenings
Now you can see comprehensive calendars to Sandpoint events in our Sandpoint calendars. Choose Entertainment, Civic Calendar, Movies, Sports or our exclusive Business Calendar. Click to check them out!
DSBA Committee Meeting Schedule
Get involved with the DSBA. Click to view the committee meeting schedule.
Downtown Sandpoint Parking Map
This comprehensive parking map for downtown Sandpoint shows zones, public parking facilities and on street parking information (PDF document).
National Main Street Center
Learn valuable information from the National Main Street Center on how revitalization programs work for Main Street cities throughout the United States.