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PBID Newsletters

The Sparkler, Spring 2009

For all issues of The Sparkler click here

Property Business Improvement District (PBID)

A vote of property owners, with 90 percent in favor of forming the Property-based Improvement District, was tallied by the San Jose City Council on Aug. 7, 2007.

The San Jose Property Owner's Association (POA) officially formed Sept. 28, 2007 and its board met for the first time Oct. 2. The inaugural 11-member board, which represents about 600 property owners, includes:

Executive Committee

President: Chuck Hammers, Pizza My Heart (business representative)
Vice President: Dean Munro, San Jose Redevelopment Agency
Secretary: Elizabeth Mattson, San Jose Downtown Residents Association (resident representative)
Treasurer: Randy Knox III, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Members 

Richard Berg, SoFA Properties
Roger Burnell, Arnell Enterprises
Susan Gallagher, Legacy Partners Commercial, Inc.
Cyril Isnard, Fairmont San Jose
Jim Ortbal, City of San Jose
Bill Ryan, Barry Swenson Builder
Richard Utic, Saratoga Capital

PBID Funding and Budget

Downtown property owners agreed in 2007 to assess themselves up to 7.5 cents per square foot to make downtown San Jose sparkle. By improving the downtown environment in which people live, work and play, property owners believe more visitors, customers and investors will be attracted to downtown San Jose. This coordinated effort by the newly formed San Jose Downtown Property Owners' Association shows how much property owners are involved in making downtown better, and ensuring its success as the arts, culture and business center for the entire region. They hope that as downtown becomes more vibrant, the value of their investment and property increases.

The funds collected enhance the level of cleaning that the city already provided. This is an example of a public-private partnership that is successful in other cities around the country. Like the property owners, the city has invested billions into the downtown. Everyone has a vested interest and is doing their part to ensure success of the Property-based Improvement District. The city believes the San Jose Downtown Association, which now has oversight of cleaning and ambassador services, is bringing a new level of cleanliness and friendliness to downtown San Jose. 

Budget: Almost $2 million for 2008, including $1.6 million from property owner assessments plus $335,000 from the city's prior baseline services.

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Help make downtown sparkle: For Groundwerx Ambassadors and Clean Teams Services, call 287-1520.  If you have a comment or see that something's off, call Groundwerx Operations Manager Eric Hon at (408) 590-0241 or email ehon@sjdowntown.com.             

Groundwerx Program Info

Mission

Groundwerx provides enhanced cleaning, ambassador and image enhancement services resulting in improved vitality and increased property values in downtown San Jose.  Service commenced Jan. 28, 2008.   Download the Groundwerx Brochure

Objectives

• Create a sparkling and friendly environment for those who live, work and play here.
• Increase property values by improving the overall perception of downtown San Jose.
• Provide private-sector control and accountability.

Principle Duties

• Groundwerx clean & green teams use state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly equipment to clean and maintain sidewalks and pedestrian areas.
• Provide basic and premium levels of cleaning services. Premium services will be twice that of the basic services.  See map.
• Serve as "eyes and ears" on the street and assist in the deterrence of nuisance crimes, such as graffiti, loitering and panhandling.
• Develop and enable image-enhancing streetscape improvements within the district

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Groundwerx Ambassadors

Ambassadors begin their day surveying the landscape and reporting anything out of the ordinary. They are also on hand during peak entertainment hours on weekends and special events, providing assistance to those in need and offering a friendly smile to everyone.

The people who visit -- whether regularly or for the first time in a while – will be impressed with not only how clean downtown is, but how friendly it is. As part of the enhanced services within the district, the ambassador program provides hospitality and concierge services throughout downtown.

Men and women in distinguished uniforms provide daily assistance to residents, businesses and visitors alike. Each of these highly trained individuals provide assistance in a variety of ways, such as giving directions, pointing out fun events and attractions and providing transportation information. Ambassadors can even be called upon for umbrella service during rainstorms or to accompany someone to their car after hours.

Ambassadors make their presence known. These individuals have been trained to serve as additional "eyes and ears" on the streets. The Ambassadors know what to look out for and where to get help. 

Groundwerx Clean Team and Equipment

Groundwerx Environmental Commitment: Whenever practical, Groundwerx provides services using equipment and products that have a lesser impact on people and the environment.

• Use products that contain the highest percentage of post-consumer recovered material, the highest percentage of total recovered material available in the marketplace, and reduce waste in the manufacturing and use of products and packaging purchased.
• Procure environmentally preferable goods and services where environmental criteria have been established by governmental or other widely recognized authorities.
• Address water conservation requirements: utilization is not to exceed 30% beyond usage levels documented for 2006.

The days of noisy leaf blowing are over. The Groundwerx clean teams, under the direction of the PBID's primary vendor, Service Group, Inc., use versatile Applied Green Machines to sweep the streets. These people-friendly sweepers use only two gallons of gas per day while producing unequaled, quiet vacuum power, and virtually no dust.

The Tenant M20 scrubbers provide a level of environmentally conscious deep cleaning that leads its industry. The M20 recycles the cleaning solution and uses less water, which results in less waste. The unit uses a NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute) certified Foam-activated Scrubbing (FaST) system that leaves sidewalks virtually dry after each pass. The scrubbers and sweepers will make an immediate impact, but the real proof will come over time as downtown sidewalk surfaces reach a new level of cleanliness.

Grafitti

The Groundwerx teams augment the Redevelopment Agency and Anti-Graffiti program efforts in the downtown core. Ambassadors are trained to report instances of graffiti to the Anti-Graffiti program, thus enabling the city's graffiti-abatement program to improve responsiveness. In addition to reporting graffiti, the clean team members cover up the smaller graffiti, which allows the Anti-Graffiti program to focus on larger issues. This type of coordinated effort results in a more efficient approach to solving the graffiti problem.

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Links

Bylaws of San Jose Downtown Property Owners' Association

San Jose Downtown Property Owners Association Financial Statements

Jan. 28, 2008 - Transcript of Opening Day press conference

April 29, 2008 - Request for Qualifications - Streetscape Beautification Plan

May 12, 2008 - Responses to Questions - Streetscap Beautification Plan

PBID management plan