Downtown Torrance BID Process
There are aproximately 200 BID’s in California and 2500 across the U.S. currently, that number continues to grow. The reason it does is that BID’s work and it is proven over and over around the world. The Downtown Association began researching BIDs in 2022 after discussing how they could recover from pandemic and make things better for the downtown and it’s businesses. Below is a timeline of that process, where we are today and where we are going. To date there have been no final decisions made on boundaries, programs, budgets or term. There have been discussions among a steering committee of property and business owners, but all discussions have been preliminary and no decisions are final at this time. Those decisions will be discussed further and made final at a subsequent meeting held after the September 11th Community Meeting.
Downtown Torrance Association (DTA) beginslooking into a Business ImprovementDistrict (BID).City of Torrance Economic Development Dept.helps committee research
BID information andfind consultant to help with possible establishment. Steering Committee Meetings are scheduled everyother Monday at 4pm at 1215 El Prado.
BID steering committee discusses issues facing Downtown Torrance and creates priorities list for BID programs or improvements.
Steering Committee presents BID update to Council.
BID Steering Committee interviews Urban Place Consulting Group, Inc., BID Consultant, for establishment.
First community meeting is held with Urban Place Consulting.
Second community meeting was held on September 11th at 6pm at
Ken Miller Auditorium at the Cultural Arts Center.
Petition drive starts. Petition packets mailed to all property owners.
Ballots counted, if ballots of 50.1% of assessments to be paid are returned YES,City Council approves ordinance that establishes district.
Urban Place Consulting submits assessments to the County Recorder.
City presents revitalization plan to DTA and BID steering committee for comments.
BID Steering Committee interviews Civitas, BID Consultant, for possible establishment.
BID Steering Committee interviews NBS, BID Consultant, for possible establishment.
BID Steering Committee and City of Torrance Economic Development Dept. hire Urban Place Consulting Group, Inc.
BID Steering Committee discusses draft boundary, programs, and budget.
Urban Place Consulting writing Management District Plan (MDP) with decisions made by the property and business owners. City to approve.
Petition goal of 50.1% of assessments to be paid has not been met yet. Currently 33.45% have been signed and returned. Steering committee is continuing to reach out to property owners and collect petitions. If 50.1% is reached by Marched 2025, the process will continue and services could begin January of 2026.
Ballots counted, if ballots of 50.1% of assessments to be paid are returned YES, City Council approves ordinance that establishes district.
District services begin.
“...you must give it a try [a BID] and see that to survive in business nowadays, you cannot rely on the city anymore, but you can rely on your neighbors.”