A:  A Business Improvement District or "BID" is a geographically defined area within which business and/or property owners may assess themselves in order to fund any number of predetermined business related activities and physical improvements specially intended to benefit the people who pay the assessments.  BIDs are authorized by state law (California Streets and Highway Code Section 36500) and intended to be a self-help funding mechanism to assist downtowns and other business areas to compete more effectively by pooling resources.  Currently, there are more than 200 successful BIDS in California. The boundaries of the South Lake BID are north to Colorado Blvd. and just south of California Blvd.; east to Mentor and west to Hudson.

A:  Generally a non-profit corporation comprised of the people who pay the assessment fees is established or designated as the organization responsible for programs and disbursement of funds.  The South Lake Avenue Business Association was the non-profit designated by the City of Pasadena to manage the South Lake BID.

A:  A BID is formed by the City Council usually at the request of stakeholders in the area and after the required public hearings and resolutions.  The South Lake BID was formed in 1988.  The Council holds a public hearing to review the BID each year.

A.  All Business license holders in the BID are charged an annual fee based on the anticipated benefits received from the BID.  The assessment is paid to the City by the business owner when a South Lake Avenue Business license is applied for or renewed.

A:  While assessment formulae can be complex, most districts operate with some type of composite formula that assesses the expected benefit from the BID.  For example in the South Lake BID, retail pays more than non-retail, large businesses pay more than small businesses.  Please refer to the "Fee Schedule" to view the formula which was deemed appropriate for the South Lake BID and to calculate your own assessment fee.

A:  Although the city collects the funds by law, all monies are passed on to the responsible non-profit corporation, i.e. The South Lake Business Association.  This is done through an annual contract and the funds are to be used in promoting South Lake Avenue.  In this manner, funds paid into the BID come back to the district through programs selected by the BID.  Membership in the Association is open to all businesses in the BID.  The members elect a Board of Directors to determine budgets and programs.

A:  The BID will generate money every year to be used for promoting and improving the South Lake Avenue Business District.  This is important not only for retailers, but to everyone who has an office or works in the area. The City of Pasadena provides a certain level of service permitted by its budget and its overall resources.  These levels of City services are generally provided on an equitable basis throughout the community.  We in the South Lake BID cannot reasonably expect the City to provide our area with some elevated level of service at the expense of other parts of the community.  Hence, in our effort to establish, a "higher" level of service, we need to fund it and support it ourselves.  Furthermore, there are some programs that do not fall under the services that the City provides. The South Lake BID endeavors to make South Lake Avenue more attractive, pleasant and safe for the business owners, clients, customers and employees.

A:  All members are welcome to participate in any of the many yearly programs and activities, join a committee or attend our monthly board meetings.