Since 1991, the Neighborhood Business District Program has been part of Tacoma. According to the City of Destiny’s official Web site, the goal of the program when it started was to “bring positive growth and sustainable improvements to the business communities.” Since livable and sustainable neighborhoods depend on their businesses for said livability and sustainability, it’s an idea that makes sense. Most seem to believe creating a bridge and working relationship between the City of Tacoma and local businesses has proved helpful.



Take a look at Tacoma’s 14 Neighborhood Business Districts — from the Dome District to the Oakland Madrona District to even the Lincoln International District — and you’ll see the program’s successes. While the Neighborhood Business District Program isn’t a catchall silver bullet — something that will easily solve the problems and obstacles many businesses in Tacoma face — there are good reasons to believe the program is a step in the right direction.



Still, there’s always room for improvement. That’s exactly the goal of Tacoma City Council ordinance 27737, which received its first reading Tuesday, Aug 12. According to the language of the ordinance, it’s designed to “formalize” the nearly 17-year-old program and “establish the roles, responsibilities, and procedures governing” the Neighborhood Business Districts. If passed, the ordinance will also establish criteria for what it takes to create a new business district, and create guidelines for how Tacoma funds are allocated. Rather than dealing specifically with Tacoma’s individual business districts, the ordinance creates a clearly defined relationship between Tacoma and the overarching Cross District Business Association, which acts as a peer advisory group for the city’s individual business districts and includes representatives from all of them.



According to Marty Campbell, a small business owner and chair of the Cross District Business Association, the ordinance represents a much needed chance to improve an already important program.



“By having it in ordinance, it sets the standards,” says Campbell. “I think a lot of the Business District Program has been kind of informal.”



“(Ordinance 27737) sets up the roles and expectations. What can the districts expect from Tacoma, and what responsibilities does a business district have?” says Campbell. “It goes both ways.”



“There’s been a need for this for years,” says Carol Wolfe of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department — the department that worked to craft the proposed ordinance. “The ordinance clarifies the benefits of being a business district, and also the requirements. From a city standpoint, when we’re dealing with people competing for resources, it gives staff criteria for how to spend those resources and what the city’s priorities are. It should carry the city dollar further.”



“This makes everything open and transparent,” says Wolfe. “That’s huge for us.”



Campbell — who as leader of the Cross District Business Association seems to be on the same page as City Hall — is quick to point out that Tacoma receives the bulk of its tax revenue from B&O and sales taxes, and says, “Healthy business districts contribute to a healthy Tacoma.”



He just may be on to something, and it seems the City Council agrees. Currently, ordinance 27737 has received a “do pass” recommendation from the City Council’s Economic Development Committee and is scheduled for a final reading and a vote Aug 19. While we’re not gamblers here at the Weekly Volcano, it seems safe to say this ordinance will soon be etched in Grit City stone. Clarity and defined expectations will likely ensue.



We’ll keep you posted.