By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

November 8, 2011 -- The Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) offered the City Council last week several goals to help keep Santa Monica's small businesses afloat as they embark on the road to recovery from the recent economic downturn.

The recommendations included streamlining the permit process, alleviating the parking crunch and beautifying the districts with art.

“Until tonight, we didn't know what the priorities were for the Business Improvement Districts,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis.

“It's not a question of what's good for the businesses versus what's good for the residents," she said. "It's a question of what's good for the community as a whole” because the interests of the business and residents overlap.

Santa Monica has experienced six consecutive quarters of growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as retail sales, consumer spending and consumer confidence increase, but there are still major obstacles to overcome, including a 10.5 percent unemployment rate, according to the staff report.

Although there has been some economic improvement in Santa Monica, Andy Agle, the director of Housing and Economic Development said that “with the exception of the Third Street Promenade, none [of the business districts] have reached the level of 2006-2007” economic performance.

One of the major recommendations the BIDs offered the council was to streamline the process small businesses have to go through with the Building and Safety departments.

Gary Gordon, executive director of the Main Street Business Improvement Association (MSBIA), said that small businesses that have to remodel are sometimes confronted with costly delays, which could prove disastrous for owners.

“They don't have deep pockets,” Gordon said.

Council member Kevin McKeown pointed out that a lot of the red tape that slows down this process could be alleviated by better coordination with the County offices.

Robert Kronovet, who chairs of the Pico Improvement Organization (PIO), said that the business districts are looking for “small, manageable adjustments” including the creation of a position in the City Manager's Office that would be a direct liaison to the four BIDs.

Kronovet also explained the PIO's vision for remaking the Pico neighborhood into Santa Monica's art district, including putting art galleries in every vacant store, art in public places and introducing “pocket parks” as a way to beautify small, vacant lots and help enliven the streets.

Davis liked the idea, adding that she thinks that all the BIDs should consider how to improve public art in their areas in a way that creates a “cohesive presence.”

Perhaps the squeakiest wheel was the Montana business district.

“Our parking situation is getting worse,” said Mark Wayne Chairman of the Montana Avenue Merchants Association (MAMA), a sentiment that was echoed by every other BID.

Council member Kevin McKeown said that the city needs to encourage more pedestrian traffic and less vehicle traffic as a way to deal with the parking issues.

Mayor Bloom noted that the City just bought 6,000 parking meters to help ameliorate some of the parking problems.

Parking wasn't the only concern for MAMA.

“Our infrastructure is decaying,” Wayne said. He also pointed out that accidents involving cars are increasing and “our sidewalks are cramped and not very well kept up,” calling on the city to address these issues.

Bloom agreed.

“I think residents and merchants should be thinking about removing parking from the street and widening the sidewalks,” he said.

The Council directed staff to draw up a comprehensive check-list based on the concerns raised by the BIDs for further discussion.