Downtown Yakima, Washington - Operation Downtown Renaissance

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On September 9, 2008, the new Downtown Yakima Business Improvement District (DYBID) went into effect. The DYBID was formed to promote an attractive and economically viable downtown that is high quality in appearance and safe and attractive to residents, tenants, business people and visitors. The project does not replace City of Yakima services, but simply enhances them by adding thorough maintenance and safety services to the mix. The DYBID is a three-year assessment district will sunset on September 8, 2011 unless the property and business owners renew it.

The DYBID will be billed by the City of Yakima. Property owners will be billed quarterly for their assessment beginning in fall of 2008 and will continue on a quarterly basis throughout the three year term of the district. Business owners will be billed annually for their $100 business license fee in January of each year. If you have any questions about the content of your bill, please contact Christina Payer, Finance Specialist at the City of Yakima, at 509-576-6643.

While the DYBIB ambassadors will be dispatched daily to cover routes that will touch the entire district, we certainly need your help to make downtown a clean and safe environment. If you see trash or weeds that need to be cleaned up, spot a new piece of graffiti or are facing some cleaning issues that need to be addressed please contact one of our staff members:

  1. Matt Klaus - Maintenance Supervisor, Committee For Downtown Yakima - 728-6802 - Matt is on the streets daily and can quickly respond to maintenance needs
  2. Jamie Lee Stickel - Committee For Downtown Yakima - 225-2485

The DYBID will be billed by the City of Yakima. Property owners will be billed quarterly for their assessment beginning in fall of 2008 and will continue on a quarterly basis throughout the three year term of the district. Business owners will be billed annually for their $100 business license fee in January of each year. If you have any questions about the content of your bill, please contact Christina Payer, Finance Specialist at the City of Yakima, at 509-576-6643.

Services of the DYBID

The DYBID was formed to promote an attractive and economically viable downtown that is high quality in appearance and safe and attractive to residents, tenants, business people and visitors. The project does not replace City of Yakima services, but simply enhances them by adding thorough maintenance and safety services to the mix. The DYBID is a three-year assessment district will sunset on September 8, 2011 unless the property and business owners renew it.

The DYBID employs two full time maintenance and safety ambassadors and an executive director for the overall program. From March until November, there will be an additional five safety and maintenance team members that will work daily, seven days a week. The crew is easily visible in their purple shirt uniforms and bright orange safety vests. Please stop them at anytime if you have questions or need assistance with something.

Clean Services include:

  1. Daily litter and trash pickup throughout the district
  2. Graffiti removal on both private and public property - the cost for this service is included in your DYBID fee. Call to arrange removal.
  3. Pressure washing of sidewalks
  4. Landscaping work
  5. Flower basket maintenance
  6. Weed abatement
  7. Ensuring cleanup after special events
  8. Special projects as needed

Safety Services include:

  1. Assistance with homeless and vagrant issues - please call if we can help address a homeless or vagrant issue effecting your property or business
  2. Working with the homeless to direct them to places they can receive help and assistance
  3. Seasonal bike patrol to provide extra security presence during the warm months of the year and on special occasions

Economic Development Services include:

  1. List your available property or available rental space on downtownyakima.com
  2. List your business or organization on downtownyakima.com
  3. Attend monthly merchant meetings - we host monthly merchant meetings who create the Committee For Downtown Yakima's annual marketing plan and advise on other projects
  4. Consulting services - we are available to meet with new businesses / tenants or existing businesses to find ways to help you grow
  5. Media relations - got ideas to generate publicity? Let us help.

If you have any questions about the DYBID or want to get your information placed on our website, please contact the Committee For Downtown Yakima, at 509-225-2485 or by email at info@downtownyakima.com.

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