Approve BIA Renewals 2023

Motion 8 · Council Meeting, March 7, 2023

On Consent

Summary

Council is asked to approve the renewal of two existing Business Improvement Areas: the Dunbar Village BIA (3-year renewal) and the Robson Street BIA (5-year renewal).
BIAs are funded through a special property tax levy on commercial properties within their boundaries, with funds granted to the BIA managing society to run business promotion schemes.
In November 2022, Council initiated the renewal process and directed staff to notify all affected commercial property owners and business tenants, giving them one month to file objections.
Notification letters were mailed to property owners, and unaddressed letters were hand-delivered to businesses to account for turnover and ensure broad awareness.
Under the Vancouver Charter, a BIA renewal is defeated only if more than half of property owners (representing more than half of commercial assessed value) or more than half of business tenants file objections; the report analyzes objections received by the January 27, 2023 deadline.
If approved, staff will be directed to prepare by-laws to formally re-establish each BIA, set new funding ceilings, and authorize remittance of levy funds for each BIA's business promotion scheme.