Neighborhood Improvement Districts

Request for Qualification Statement - Administrative Services Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District

Request for Qualification Statement - Communications Strategies Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District

Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Key Projects

On March 28, 2011, after considerable review and discussion, the Orlando City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the creation of Local Government Neighborhood Improvement Districts in locations that meet specific criteria (see Ordinance No. 2011-3).  A Local Government Neighborhood Improvement District (LGNID) is one of the four types of Neighborhood Improvement Districts authorized by Florida law (see Part IV, Chapter 163, Florida Statutes).

Purpose

A LGNID is a dependent special district established to monitor and advocate for the interests of the business and property owners within a defined area. It is intended to foster communication and cooperation among business and property owners. It may also plan for, construct, operate or maintain physical improvements.

A LGNID has a staff and an Advisory Council. The Advisory Council develops an operating budget, strategic plan, capital improvements plan and financing plan for review and approval by a Governing Board. The Orlando City Council is the Governing Board.

Taxation and Assessments

A LGNID may levy a special assessment of up to $500 annually for each individual parcel of land in the district, if approved by referendum.

A LGNID may also levy an ad valorem tax on real and personal property of up to 2 mills annually, if approved by referendum.

The Orlando City Council has indicated it will not authorize a referendum concerning special assessments or ad valorem taxes in a LGNID until the LGNID has been in place for at least 18 months.

Minimum Requirements for a LGNID

LGNIDs in the City of Orlando must meet specific criteria listed in Section 40.4(3) of the Orlando City Code (see Ordinance No. 2011-3). A LGNID must also comply with Chapter 163, Part IV, Florida Statutes.

Before a LGNID can be established, the Orlando City Council must first appoint an exploratory committee to determine whether the district is feasible and desirable. The exploratory committee must conduct at least four public meetings, gather information, and issue a report concerning the location, boundaries, size, name, goals, purposes, structure and merits the proposed district (see Ordinance No. 2011-3).

Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Exploratory Committee

On June 7, 2010, the Orlando City Council approved a resolution creating the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Exploratory Committee. The Exploratory Committee met four times in 2010 to gather and analyze information relevant to the proposed district. After considering public comments at two advertised hearings, the Exploratory Committee recommended that the City Council adopt two ordinances: (1) an ordinance allowing LGNIDs in the City, and (2) an ordinance creating the Downtown South NID.

Downtown South NID Exploratory Committee

Meeting #1	July 14, 2010 (Wednesday), 10 a.m., Agenda Conference Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall. Agenda - Minutes
Meeting #2	August 9, 2010 (Monday) 10 a.m., Conference Room R, 2nd Floor, City Hall. Agenda - Minutes
Meeting #3	August 26, 2010 (Thursday) 10 a.m., Agenda Conference Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall. Agenda - Minutes
Meeting #4	September 13, 2010 (Monday), 10 a.m., Harvard Conference Room, 9th Floor, City Hall. Agenda - Minutes

Reports and Materials

Downtown South NID Exploratory Committee

Progress Memo, August 20, 2010
Draft Report - September 9, 2010
Final Report - September 20, 2010
PowerPoint regarding Neighborhood Improvement Districts

Orlando City Council

Resolution Creating Downtown South NID Exploratory Committee, June 7, 2010
Workshop Presentation, October 18, 2010
City Council Minutes, October 18, 2010

Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District

On March 28, 2011, the Orlando City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2011-3 allowing LGNIDs in the City. On July 25, 2011, the Orlando City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2011-28 creating the Downtown South NID. Ordinance No. 2011-28 established the Orlando City Council as the Downtown South NID Board of Directors; granted the Downtown South NID all the powers allowed under Section 163.514, Florida Statutes; and authorized a Downtown South NID Advisory Council. The Board of Directors is responsible for “Major Decisions,” such as:

• taxation,
• special assessments,
• financing,
• eminent domain, and
• contracts in excess of $100,000.

Meeting Schedule

The Downtown South NID Board of Directors meets as needed during regularly scheduled Orlando City Council meetings.

Downtown South NID Boundary

The Downtown South NID is depicted on the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Map (figure 40.12-1). This area includes both the Downtown South Main Street area and the South Downtown Vision Plan study area.

Reports and Materials

• Ordinance No 2011-3, Authorizing LGNIDs, March 7 & 28, 2011
• Ordinance No 2011-28, Approving Downtown South NID, July 11 & 25, 2011
• Downtown South NID Bylaws, November 14, 2011 (Amended Nov. 2012)

Downtown South NID Advisory Council

Advisory Council Members

The Orlando City Council appointed a five member Downtown South NID Advisory Council on October 3, 2011. Current Advisory Council members are as follows:

Name	Representing
Rex V. McPherson, II, Chair	Orlando Health
Willam Nassal, Sr.	Industrial Property Owner
Jon Toothman	Downtown South Main Street
Shannon Gravitte	At Large
Mary Hurley	At Large

The Downtown South NID Advisory Council is responsible for “Minor Decisions,” such as:

• preparing an operating budget, neighborhood improvement plan, capital improvements plan, financing plan, and annual report of district activities for review and approval by the Board of Directors;
• applying for and receiving grants;
• monitoring and providing comments regarding planning, zoning and development proposals affecting Downtown South;
• providing recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding “Major Decisions”; and
• contracts under $100,000, subject to the annual budget.

Meeting Schedule

The Downtown South NID Advisory Council typically meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Conference Room on the 2^nd Floor of City Hall. Meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change or cancellation and additional meetings may be added if necessary. 

Meeting Schedule

Agendas & Minutes

Use the following drop-down menus to access Downtown South NID Advisory Council agendas and minutes. All files will load as a PDF.

Agendas

Minutes

Reports and Materials

• PowerPoint regarding the history of the Downtown South NID, November 17, 2011

Downtown South NID Advisory Council Bylaws

• Bylaws - Amended November 14, 2012

Land Use Analysis Maps

• Residential property
• Tax-exempt parcels
• Ownership of four or more parcels
• Ownership of eight or more parcels

Budget

• Adopted 2011-12 Budget (December 12, 2011)
• Proposed 2012-13 Budget (posted August 28, 2012)
• Adopted 2012-13 Budget (by Board of Directors on September 10, 2012)

Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan

The Downtown South NID Advisory Council is currently preparing a Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan to identify services and capital improvements that could potentially be funded through a levy and/or special assessment on property within the district, if approved by referendum. Public input was obtained at the following workshops:

Meeting #1	October 29, 2012 (Monday), 5:30 p.m., Beardall Senior Center. Notice - Agenda - Minutes - Workshop Summary
Meeting #2	November 27, 2012 (Tuesday), 5:30 p.m., Orlando City Hall, 9th Floor Overlook Room. Notice - Agenda - Minutes - Presentation - Workshop Summary
Meeting #3	December 18, 2012 (Tuesday), 5:30 p.m., Orlando City Hall, 9th Floor Overlook Room. Notice - Agenda - Minutes - Presentation - Workshop Summary

***Draft Plan***
Downtown South Safe Improvement Neighborhood Plan (draft) - for discussion at February 13, 2013 Advisory Council Meeting. (104 pages, 26,000 KB Adobe PDF)
(Official document coming soon)

***Frequently Asked Questions***
Click here for a response to frequently asked questions regarding the Downtown South Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan.

Contact

If you have further questions, please contact:

Jason Burton, AICP
jason.burton@cityoforlando.net
Phone: 407.246.3389