S.A.M.B.A.'s speaker gets (deliberately?) misquoted.

[fsu813]

Springfield has an alley task force, organized by SPAR, that is working with the city and JEA in connection with the alleys.  

Last week I independently contacted my city councilman and was emailed a copy of a florida statute related to dedication of alleys that his aide used to defend the position that the city had no responsbility to maintain the alleys.  The aide explained that the city believes adjacent landowners should maintain the alleys.

I guess I spoke too soon. The local neighborhood organization is already pursuing it.

They really do need to do a better job publicizing what they contribute, i didn't even know that one.

I'm sure they could use other people's help that are passionate about this issue.... 353-7727

[uptowngirl]

working to keep them open and lighted? Not closed like several others right?

[thelakelander]

Has there ever been discussion about setting up a BID (Business Improvement District) for the community to help fund and deal with issues like this?  If so, what was the response?

A business improvement district (BID) is a public-private partnership in which businesses in a defined area pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. BIDs may go by other names, such as business improvement area, business revitalization zone, community improvement district, special services area, or special improvement district. BIDs provide services, such as cleaning streets, providing security, making capital improvements, and marketing the area. The services provided by BIDs are supplemental to those already provided by the municipality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_improvement_district

[cindi]

Has there ever been discussion about setting up a BID (Business Improvement District) for the community to help fund and deal with issues like this?  If so, what was the response?

A business improvement district (BID) is a public-private partnership in which businesses in a defined area pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. BIDs may go by other names, such as business improvement area, business revitalization zone, community improvement district, special services area, or special improvement district. BIDs provide services, such as cleaning streets, providing security, making capital improvements, and marketing the area. The services provided by BIDs are supplemental to those already provided by the municipality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_improvement_district

lakelander, IMHO the issue isn't the who's going to pay for the lights - it is the fact that they (JEA) will not maintain them OR let us pay to have them maintained.  that is my issue with it.  uptowngirl, yes, open and lighted - if they don't give us the lights then shut them down completely.

[thelakelander]

I'm talking about more than JEA and alleys. There are so many issues the neighborhood needs to address.  A well run BID could handle trash issues on Main, enhance public transit offerings in the area, maintain parks and alleys, plus market the area.  Anyway, just wondering if its ever been considered.

[fsu813]

I think you're the man for the job!

[thelakelander]

Its more than just being the right  man or woman.  Basically, the community as a whole would have to be willing to tax themselves more, with the understanding that the additional money generated would go to fund identified neighborhood programs and capital projects.

[Miss Fixit]

working to keep them open and lighted? Not closed like several others right?

Yes, absolutely.  Working very hard to keep them open and lighted.  Have already successfully reopened a number of alleys that were closed by adjoining neighbors.  Still working to open more of the closed alleys.

[Miss Fixit]

Its more than just being the right  man or woman.  Basically, the community as a whole would have to be willing to tax themselves more, with the understanding that the additional money generated would go to fund identified neighborhood programs and capital projects.

And that's the challenge.  While it's a great idea and worth pursuing, businesses are already struggling, and additional taxes may keep new businesses out of the district.    Something for SAMBA to discuss, I think

[uptowngirl]

I, and many others will not support closing them even if they are not lighted. Hampsterdam is an exception to the rule. We do not have the same issue over here, and btw- these are historic and by closing ONE, we are distrubing the historic fabric of our neighborhood.

[strider]

Yes, a bad time to ask businesses to shoulder additional burdens from extra taxes.  Certainly when part of what the extra is supposedly for is stuff the city is more or less supposed to provide anyway.  You would have to convince me that it would actually generate substantially more foot traffic to be worthwhile.  A larger lunch crowd would not do it, for instance.  

The worst entry I have seen for a while on our part of Main was mostly because the trash can was in that entryway. But I really only go down the 1700 block most of the time.

The city has closed alleys themselves and I am actually surprised that there is a SPAR Council alley task force. SPAR Council has been credited in the past for letting some alleys get closed. Good to hear that some are working to open them back up and working to keep all of them open.  

In the for what it's worth department, yes, the growth and trash in the alleys are indeed the responsibility of the adjacent home owners.  You used to get cited for letting it go too long. The pavement, if any, and the right of way and even lights were supposed to be the responsibly of whomever owned the poles and any cables running through the alleys.  At least that is what we were told 7 to 8 years ago.  JEA would actually come through our old alley and trim, cut, etc and the light was kept working.  I suppose if you weren’t lucky enough to have active cables in the alley behind you, nothing got done with them.

I asked once if Weed and Seed (or similar) could be used for alley lighting as it is a huge determent to crime in the alleys, at least most of the time.  I got told nope, even though every time I've heard police speak about crime in a certain area, lighting the area up is always mentioned.  Seems like at least in a few high crime areas, the lights need to be the city’s or JSO and JEA's shared responsibility. At the very least, JSO needs to help get JEA back on track and let home owners pick up the tab if they so chose to do so.

[thelakelander]

The alleys are all over Springfield.  The various issues also cover the entire neighborhood.  Thus the business owners should not be soley financially responsible for a BID. It would work better as a CID or Community Improvement District.  A CID is exactly like a BID, except the entire community participates.

[cindi]

perhaps i am not being clear about what one of the biggest issues in regards to the alley is.  we are willing to pay for the lights etc - we are being told that is NOT an option.  i understand the importance of the alleys when it comes to the historic fabric of springfield.  i am all about the historic - until it becomes a safety issue.  jso won't walk down our alley at night without backup - and that is with the very dim lights that we do have on - that might be the first clue that no lights would become a HUGE problem.

[strider]

Yep, Cindi, and that is why I thought Weed and Seed should help with that....worth asking someone else with Weed and Seed? If no dollars, then perhaps the needed influence to get JEA back with the program and the neighbors can share costs. 

[sheclown]

http://myspringfield.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2240#p2240

jbm32206 has some info and it is posted in the above reference thread: