Notice of Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3230, 2022

Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area – Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3230, 2022

The Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area Society (DDBIA) has asked the City to renew and expand the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for a five-year period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2027. The proposed BIA bylaw will allow the City to apply a levy on Class 6 (business and other) properties included in the former Fee Structure One BIA and former Fee Structure Two BIA, as well as additional properties. 

The City collects the BIA levy as part of annual property taxes, then forwards the money to the DDBIA. The DDBIA uses the funds for various programs and projects that improve and promote the downtown area, including hosting events, marketing, and undertaking beautification initiatives, as well as advocating with community stakeholders.

The Community Charter provides that a Business Improvement Area will not proceed if, within the 30-day notice period, more than one-half of the property owners in the area, representing more than one-half of the value according to the last property assessment, give notice in writing that they object to the Business Improvement Area.

BYLAW INFORMATION

Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3230, 2022 will authorize the City of Duncan to charge the owners of Class 6 (business and other) properties in the BIA a levy on behalf of the DDBIA. There will be a single rate for all the properties included in the “Downtown Business Improvement Area” as indicated on the map.  The properties included in the current Fee Structure One Business Improvement Area (green) and Fee Structure Two Business Improvement Area (blue) and the additional properties proposed to be included are crosshatched.

The annual cost of the business promotion scheme shall be recovered from the owners of the taxable Class 6 (business and other) and provided directly to the DDBIA. Based on the 2022 taxable assessed value of the proposed area, the estimated annual levy rate per $100,000 of assessed value for the next five years would be:

PUBLIC NOTICE
Notices of intention, as required under Section 213 of the Community Charter have been mailed to all owners of property that will be impacted by the Business Improvement Area.  Affected property owners are now given notice and have an opportunity to respond to the proposed renewal and expansion of the Business Improvement Area. 

Unless more than one-half of the property owners in the area, representing more than one-half of the assessed value, object in writing, the City may proceed with adopting the Business Improvement Area Bylaw.

Affected property owners against the renewal and expansion of the Business Improvement Area must submit original copies of their signed petition to City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3 by mail, email, or fax during the 30-day petition period, commencing at 8:30 am on Friday, October 28, 2022, and ending 4:00 pm Monday, November 28, 2022. 

Petition forms and a copy of the bylaw are below, at City Hall, 200 Craig Street, between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays, or may be requested by email at duncan@duncan.ca

TIMELINE

• October 3 – Council gave three readings of the bylaw, and approved the counter petition process
• October 20 & 27 – Advertise petition against process (newspaper, website, social media)
• October 20 – Distribute notice to all Class 6 properties in BIA 
• October 28 – Petition against process commences
• November 28 – Petition against process concludes
• December 12 – Council meeting to consider certified results and adoption of the bylaw

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Corporate Services at 250-746-6126 or duncan@duncan.ca.

For questions and further information about the DDBIA, visit www.downtownduncan.ca; phone 250-715-1700; or email ddbia@downtownduncan.ca.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3230, 2022.pdf
• BIA Letter to Property Owners.pdf
• BIA Proposed Area Map.pdf
• BIA Petition Form.pdf
• BIA Bylaw Information Sheet.pdf
• 2022-08-11 DDBIA Levy Renewal Request Letter.pdf
• 2022-09-06 Business Improvement Area Renewal Process RFD.pdf
• 2022-10-03 Business Improvement Area Bylaw No. 3230, 2022 RFD.pdf