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9.B. - Page 1 <br /> REPORT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> March 10, 2014 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> Ordinance Establishing Community Benefit Improvement Districts in the City of <br /> Redwood City <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Approve a new ordinance allowing for the creation of Community Benefit Improvement <br /> Districts. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> Over the last few years, the City of Redwood City and its former Redevelopment <br /> Agency have made significant investments exceeding $64 million dollars in aggregate in <br /> Downtown Redwood City. Major capital improvement projects include the creation of <br /> Courthouse Square, (including a new public plaza, a new 20- screen movie theater, a <br /> parking garage, beautiful streetscaping, and space for shops and restaurants), <br /> Downtown Season Banners and Decorations, Gateway and Directional Signs, as well <br /> as other planning activities. The Redevelopment Agency also provided on -going support <br /> to the Downtown in numerous ways including marketing and events, maintenance, <br /> security and financial assistance to businesses for facade improvements. <br /> Additionally, the City spearheaded the following marketing campaign and efforts to <br /> revitalize Downtown by attracting people to its core: <br /> • In 2007, the City completed a major renovation to its downtown core, but the foot traffic <br /> remained extremely light. Redwood City had given its Downtown a facelift, but residents <br /> were so used to Downtown being vacant and less- than - inviting, that they were still not <br /> visiting. <br /> • The Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department came forward to <br /> help lead the effort of increasing business in Redwood City's Downtown. Seeing an <br /> opportunity to make a difference, PRCS presented an economic impact plan to the City's <br /> Redevelopment Agency (RDA) detailing how they could bring large numbers of people <br /> Downtown through programs and events. <br /> • The plan would demonstrate success by comparing with past measures of community <br /> special events, and would take advantage of the infrastructure already in place within the <br /> Department to support events. Based on this, the RDA agreed to support its efforts in <br /> 2008 with $381,000 in funding, including adding a Special Events Coordinator, a <br /> Marketing Manager, and casual staffing. With this unique collaboration, the Department <br /> Page 1 of 9 <br />