Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA) offers many programs to assist the small business owners in the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District. AABA contracts with the City of San Diego to manage the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District and the Maintenance Assessment Districts around Adams Avenue, administers the Public Right of Way Program (PROW) and Storefront Improvement Program (SIP), and in association with the Business Improvement District Council offers affordable health, dental, vision, and life insurance tailored specifically for San Diego small business owners and their employees.
Business Improvement Districts (BID’s):
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are a type of assessment district in which business owners choose to be assessed a fee, which is collected on their behalf by the City, for use in promoting and improving the business area.
San Diego's Program: The City of San Diego's Business Improvement District (BID) program, the largest in the state of California and one of the most active in the nation, is administered by the City's Office of Small Business. San Diego's program dates back to 1970. Since that time, the small business community and the City of San Diego have created 18 separate BIDs.
By pooling private resources, business owners in BIDs collectively pay for activities which they could not afford on an individual basis. Further, since a BID fee is a benefit assessment and not a tax, BIDs can consistently enact programs and activities without relying on scarce public funding. BIDs are one of the most valuable and effective finance tools available to the small business community. For more information, visit The City of San Diego’s website for BID’s at City of San Diego BIDs
Business Improvement District Council: In 1989, representatives from San Diego’s BIDs formed the Business Improvement District Council (BID Council) to disseminate information, resources, and expertise to its member districts and to improve the overall physical, social, and economic environments of San Diego’s small business communities. San Diego's BID Council is the only municipal-wide coalition of individual business or property-based special district programs in the nation. The BID Council provides additional or value-added activities designed to enhance the effectiveness of its member districts when city or system-wide initiatives or responses are judged to be the most appropriate course of action. For more information on the Business Improvement District Council visit their website at BID Council .
Maintenance Assessment Districts
A Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) is legal mechanism by which property owners can vote to assess themselves to pay and receive services above-and-beyond what the City normally provides. This above-and-beyond service level is called as "special benefit." What the City normally provides is called the "general benefit." In the past, MADs were also known as Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) or Lighting and Landscape Maintenance Districts (LLMDs). Because many districts include more than landscaping and lighting, the name was changed to better represent the nature of the districts.
Beginning in February 2004, the Community and Economic Development Department's Economic Development Division assumed the responsibility for self-managed maintenance assessment districts (MADs). Self-managed MADs utilize a non-profit corporation, such as Adams Avenue Business Association, representing district property owners to be responsible for providing enhanced services to the district. The Economic Development Division manages the City's internal administrative responsibilities and provides professional support from the City Attorney's Office and City Auditor and Comptroller’s Office.
The Adams Avenue Maintenance Assessment District (District) was established as a self-managed District in May 1994 to provide maintenance of street trees and shrubs, sweeping and litter removal along Adams Avenue. More information is available at San Diego MADs .
Public Right of Way Enhancement/ Use Program (PROW)
Merchants with ground-level storefronts in the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District will now be able to use the sidewalks in front of their businesses to place A-frame signs, limited displays of merchandise, and outdoor cafés without railings. The Public Right of Way Enhancement/Use Program (PROW) along Adams Avenue started as a part of the two-year (2004 – 2005) pilot program designed to provide a lively experience for pedestrians and diners and give merchants more leeway to expand their businesses and enhance their income. On March 30, 2006 The City of San Diego’s Planning Commission approved the Business Improvement District Council’s request to expand the program to other Business Improvement Districts, based upon the success of the pilot.
The purpose of the Public Right of Way Enhancement/ Use Program is to optimize the growth and income of retail businesses and restaurants by allowing and encouraging the use of portions of the public right-of-way between the curb and the adjacent property line. The Program will promote an environment that encourages pedestrian traffic. It will also encourage beautification of the streetscape with landscaping placed in planter boxes and pots.
The program's three areas of endeavor are:
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freestanding signs,
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outdoor display areas,
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outdoor dining areas.
A business owner will be allowed to locate these items in the public right-of-way provided he or she obtains approval of the Adams Avenue Business Association which has jurisdiction within the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District and then conforms to the requirements of this program.
It is not the intent of the PROW Enhancement/ Use Program to set aside existing or future City, State, or Federal regulations regarding public health, safety and accessibility in the public right-of-way. Note: Only those businesses fronting on the public right-of-way and located on the first floor may participate in the program.
To review the online document of the PROW requirements visit the City Ordinance site at PROW . Questions about PROW should be directed to Ron Halbritter, City of San Diego Small Business Liaison at 619-446-5211.
The Storefront Improvement Program
The Storefront Improvement Program (SIP) was created in 1986, and is designed to enhance and revitalize commercial neighborhoods throughout the City of San Diego. As part of a comprehensive approach to small business assistance and neighborhood revitalization, the City of San Diego will rebate small businesses or property owners as an incentive to improve their storefronts consistent with design standards for their commercial areas.
The Storefront Improvement Program stimulates private investment and customer patronage in the City’s commercial districts by focusing on revitalizing building facades visible to customers, neighboring merchants, and residents.
Very Important: Applicant must sign an agreement with the City before any work commences on the project.
City of San Diego Storefront Improvement Program
SIP brochure (with application)
CITY CARE BENEFITS
Looking for affordable health, dental, vision, and life insurance tailored specifically for San Diego small business owners and their employees?
Then consider CITY CARE BENEFITS:
- Large group rates and benefits for employers with a City of San Diego business license
- Guaranteed issue for employers with 2 or more eligible employees
- No health questions
- Low employer contribution requirements
- Domestic partner coverage
- Available through your health insurance agent
Please contact Seaman & Company at (619) 741-4146 or info@seamanandco.com regarding the health insurance plan offered by City Care Benefits
SDBizGuide.com is San Diego's most complete online directory featuring more than 70,000 small businesses registered with the City of San Diego. Use this online directory to find businesses by name, location, and/or business category. Small business owners can update information on their business and post special offers. SDBizGuide.com is your best online source for local business information!
