Board of County Commissioners March 24, 2015 Neighborhood Improvement Districts Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Proposed Changes Future Redevelopment

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Proposed Changes Future Redevelopment

Background Also called “Safe Neighborhood Improvement District” Special district - Chapter 163 Fla. Stat. Located in area in which: More than 75% of land is residential use, or More than 75% of land is commercial, office, business or industrial use and Area is subject of a crime reduction plan May not overlap boundaries of municipality and county except by interlocal agreement Neighborhood Improvement District

Background State website lists about 26 NIDs in Florida 20 in South Florida municipalities Two in Orange County – OBT and Pine Hills City of Orlando- Downtown South One each in Volusia, Hillsborough, Sarasota & Gadsden Neighborhood Improvement District

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background An NID is a special district created to promote redevelopment in a designated area –Focus on crime prevention and beautification –Monitor and advocate for the interests of the business and property owners –Plan, construct, operate and/or maintain physical improvements –Funding can be generated by a special assessment and/or an ad valorem tax

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Ordinance to create an NID adopted in 1990 –Orange County Code Chapter 33, Article VII Two NIDs in unincorporated Orange County –Orange Blossom NID 1990 –Pine Hills NID 2011

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Orange Blossom Trail Neighborhood Improvement District

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Funding sources for an NID –Crime Prevention Fund $125K annually each district –Referendum Annual assessment of up to $500 per parcel and/or Ad valorem tax up to 2 mills –Requires a petition –Must be approved by the BCC –Then approved by special referendum –State and federal funding

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Proposed Changes Future Redevelopment

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Proposed changes to Orange County Code Chapter 33 Article VII –Revise environmental conditions required to create an NID –Amend the referendum procedure to levy an ad valorem tax and/or special assessment –Amend the Pine Hills NID code to utilize the revised referendum procedure to levy an ad valorem tax and/or special assessment

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Current Conditions Required BCC must find the area is affected by a proliferation of crime and at least 3 of the following conditions : –Automobile traffic flow strangled by outdated street patterns –Unsuitable topography and/or faulty lot layouts –Fragmentation of land uses and parking areas necessitating frequent automobile movement –Lack of separation of pedestrian areas –Lack of separation of vehicle traffic and railroad traffic –Excessive noise levels from automobile traffic

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Proposed Change BCC must find the area is affected by a proliferation of crime and at least 3 of the following conditions: Areas in which parcels or tracts are difficult to develop or redevelop Properties suffering from economic decline, significant flight or loss of business Lack of public infrastructure and/or utilities Existence of negative public perceptions related to crime or blight Partial or entire designation as a blighted or slum area, CRA, Enterprise Zone, or Brownfield Presence of areas with poor mobility for vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists Significant levels of poverty

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Current Requirements to Impose an Ad Valorem Tax or Special Assessment 1.Petition signed by - 20% of property owners in a business NID or - 40% of the electors in a residential NID 2. Unanimous approval by BCC 3. Referendum Election - Managed by the supervisor of elections - Not required to be tied to a general election

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Proposed Changes to Procedure for Imposing an Ad Valorem Tax or Special Assessment 1. A petition signed by either 20% of the property owners in a business NID or 40% of the electors in a residential NID 2. Super majority approval by BCC 3. Referendum Election

Neighborhood Improvement Districts Background Proposed Changes Future Redevelopment

Neighborhood Improvement Districts NIDs are special districts created to promote redevelopment –Allows for direct targeting of redevelopment –Layer with state and federal designations –Allows property owners to participate directly in improvements –Accept grants, gifts, and donations –Acquire, own, convey, lease, construct, manage property –Improve streets, lighting, parks, streets, drainage, utilities, etc.

Potential New NID

Board of County Commissioners March 24, 2015 Neighborhood Improvement Districts Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division