Dear Member,

The BID invoice is based and calculated on your zone location, type of business and amount of employees. To perform this calculation the City of Petaluma used data from the State Employment Development Department (EDD) regarding the number of employees you reported to them. Please be aware that it is very important to check that you are correctly billed for the right amount of employees. Employees are calculated on full time hours, part time employees should be added together to get a full time equivalent. Should you have any questions regarding your zoning or employee amounts please contact The Petaluma Downtown Association with your questions by: fax (707) 762-4317 or e-mail marie[at]petalumadowntown.com (replace the [at] with @), or call at 707.762.9348.

The assessment was established in November 2000, when the Petaluma City Council adopted Ordinance 2104 N.C.S establishing the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). This Occurred at the request of the Petaluma Downtown Association (PDA), after an extensive public hearing process, required by State Law. During the process, local business owners who were to be included in the BID had the opportunity to protest the formation of the district and terminate the process. However, recognizing the utility of the BID, very few chose to oppose the BID and the District was formed. The PDA Board serves as the BID Board of Directors and administers the funds collected from you by the City of Petaluma. The PDA does not have the authority to change this ordinance or grant exemptions.

According to the 2010 Annual Report of the BID, approved by the Petaluma City Council on January, 2011 assessment funds will be used as follows:

Please support the Downtown Business Improvement District and thank you for your continued efforts to maintain an economically vibrant and attractive downtown.