| My Story I own Tack Warehouse at 917 Main St. The City of Woodland re-development department helped me negotiate for this building as I was renting. I bought it and fixed it up. I have a hair salon next door. I would have to pass on the cost of this to my tenants and they are just getting by. The reasons I feel this PBID is unfair, are: It is based on the ground floor elevation, so people like Tom and Meg Stallard that have 3 story buildings with basements rented for premium dollars only have to pay for the first floor. I do not have tenants on all floors to offset the cost of this. Also, the parking lots are assessed at the same rate as retail rented space. So Bob Gilette is looking at a $7,200 assessment for his dirt parking lot. You are not going to rent it for that, so how many of will be forced to sell? A lot of the small business like card stores, antique stores are feeling the financial crunch from Wal Mart andgas prices. Sales are SLOW! We have had our water rates tripled, the police alarm permit increased, taxes increased, Garbage, PGE increase etc... This figures into our bottom line, and there is not much left. People are hanging on by a shoe string. My buildings assessment is for $1700. My property taxes are $3000 a year. This is a 50% increase! Whoever the committee is will control teh money it is estimated at $200,000 + a year and will increase annually. They have no budget, and have a cost built in for the increase. The city council can vote this in and they have major land. They are supposed to represent us and should not have a controlling vote. FACT: Fact: The mailing list used to send out the assessment ballot was old and did not include current property owners Fact: Many Hispanic business owners claim to not have received the ballot. Fact the City Council told Meg Stallard she could not bring it forward until she had 50% support from property owners, excluding the city. She brought it forward to them and included the cities vote to get the 50% support. Fact: Mayor Dave Flory supports this Un-democratic Assessment Fact: This will come on your property tax bill. If you do not or cannot afford to pay it, you will loose your property. Fact : This can be voted in for 176 property owners by 8 major land owners. Fact: The City will be the deciding vote. This was an underhanded process by the City Council and Meg Stallard, I was at the meeting when the CIty council told Meg to have at least 50% of the property owners support. She came back and it was put through with only 33% and they included the 18% City & 2% county vote. The cCoty Council voted for it at that point. If it is used for a parking area, the developers supporting this can use this as an argument for variances to avoid having to provide their on site parking. Supporters- Meg Stallard , Tom Stallard have received close to $50,000 money from the city to promote and study this little tax. Paul Petrovich- Sacramento Developer bought the Hoblit Haynes 3rd and Main, Corner of East & Main where the Shell gas station was and is a major vote. Tom & Meg who own the building that house Steve's Pizza, All State, Cookie Company, Rose Colored Glass Company, Savory, Unique Salon, Gifted Penguin, Amana Essentials, NVB Bank, Tazinnas Bistro, K& M Floral, Abigales, Next Chapter Book Store Etc... Major vote holder and many of his tenants do not support this as it will increase their rent. Fact: It is a 5 year assessment. With a 3% annual increase. Fact: The City sent out the Assessment ballot votes un-certified, to wrong addresses and not in Spanish. Fact: City Staff Re-development Cyntia Shallot is going around to business, illegally, and soliciting votes by promising light for certain buildings etc... She is also the go to person on this by the city and is coincidentally out of town until July 21st. Fact: City Staff told me to contact Meg Stallard As Cynthia Shallot was out of town regarding questions about this. Fact: Meg & Tom Stallard are also out of town Fact: City Staff could not answer what to do about the property owners that did not receive their ballots. As Cyntia Shallot was out of town persons were told to call Meg Stallard who is also out of town. Fact: They have no real budget |