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By Jorge Casuso
October 15 -- There’s more than one election coming
up in Santa Monica, and although this one will only have some
230 voters, the results will help steer the Downtown into a new
era.
Bayside District officials last month laid out the process to
select six property owners to a new 13-member board that will
set policy for the new Property Based Assessment District (PBAD).
Property owners were sent the proposal and had until October 3,
2008, to return their forms.
The board – which will help oversee the $3.6 million in
assessments generated by the new district – also will be
composed of six members appointed by the City Council and the
City Manager or his representative.
“We’re anxious to get our new board seated so the
new programs can be implemented and put in place,” said
Kathleen Rawson, executive director of the Bayside District.
Under the guidelines, candidates will run in distinct geographical
areas within the district – Zone One comprised by the Promenade,
Zone Two along 2nd and 4th streets and Ocean Avenue and Zone Three
between 5th and 7th streets.
At least one “zone candidate” will be selected for
a four-year term by property owners in each geographic zone. On
a separate ballot sent to all Downtown property owners, the three
at-large representatives who garner the most votes on a district-wide
basis will start service with two-year terms. Consecutive at-large
board members will serve four-year terms.
A nominee may be a property owner in the district, an authorized
agent of a property owner in the district, or a business owner
whose place of business is located within the district.
The Bayside District will inform all property owners that it is
seeking nominations to the Board of Directors as soon as October
6, 2008. Any property owner can nominate themselves or another
property owner for the board, according to the guidelines.
Candidates must have the signatures of four supporting property
owners on their nomination form, must include a short biography
that does not exceed 500 words and a short description of their
interest and background.
Candidates may declare themselves zone candidates if they are
nominated by a property owner from that zone, or if they own property
and are nominating themselves.
Candidates may declare themselves to be at-large candidates only,
or both zone and at-large candidates. All candidates are subject
to the criteria mentioned above.
Nominations will have a cut-off date.
Candidates who are nominated by a property owner in Zone One shall
be considered a Zone One candidate. The same is true of Zones
Two and Three.
Voting for the initial Board will take place in two steps. First,
each zone will receive a unique ballot with candidates nominated
by that zone. Property owners will be asked to circle one candidate.
The candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.
Next, all the Downtown property owners – regardless of what
zone they are in – will vote on a separate ballot for three
at-large seats. Each property owner will be asked to vote for
two candidates.
The vote for zone candidates are weighed equally – one vote
per building or lot. The weight of the vote for at-large candidates
will be based on the dollar assessment paid annually by the property
owner voting.
Candidates whose terms expire will be replaced by new board members
using the same method used to select the original candidate.
Alternates, defined as those candidates who received the next
largest number of votes, will fill mid-term vacancies.
All board members will serve a maximum of two four-year terms.
Members serving a partial term can serve two four-year terms in
addition to their partial term, as mandated by the City Council.
The new assessments will pump $1.3 million a year for an ambassadors
program, fund $1.2 million in additional maintenance and bankroll
$400,000 in marketing the Downtown.
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