Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 08 Ceres Downtown Revitalization Area

The City Council of the City does hereby establish a downtown parking and business improvement area pursuant to the provisions of the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1979, which area shall be designated as the "Ceres Downtown Revitalization Area."

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

The boundaries of the "Ceres Downtown Revitalization Area" shall include all that area bounded by Sixth Street on the east, El Camino on the southwest, and Magnolia on the north to depth of 150 feet of the north of the center line of Magnolia, all as shown on the map attached to Ordinance 88-708 as Exhibit A, the legal description of which is as follows:

All that certain real property situated in a portion of the southeast ¼ of Section 14, Township 4 South, Range 9 East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, City of Ceres, County of Stanislaus, State of California described as follows:

Beginning at the northwest corner of Lot 13, Block 22, of the City of Ceres, as shown on the map filed in Volume II of Maps, at page 1, Stanislaus County Records; thence northerly along the prolongation of the west line of said Lot 13, a distance of 15′ ± to the true point of beginning; thence easterly along a line which is 150′ north of the parallel to the centerline of Magnolia Street a distance of 1995′ ± to the centerline of Sixth Street; thence south along the centerline of Sixth Street a distance of 1840′ ± to the centerline intersection of Park Street; thence west along the centerline of Park Street and its prolongation a distance of 500′ ± to a point on the southerly prolongation of the westerly right-of-way line of El Camino Avenue; thence northwesterly along the westerly right-of-way line of El Camino Avenue and its prolongation a distance of 2220′ ± to a point on the southerly prolongation of the west property line of said Lot 13; thence north along the west line of said Lot 13 and its prolongation a distance of 210′ ± to the true point of beginning.

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

Some of the proposed uses to which revenues generated from the area shall be put are as follows:

A. Replacement of selected curb, gutter and sidewalks;

B. Landscaping and beautification of the area, including installation of planters, benches, landscaped islands, irrigation, lighting and other related improvements;

C. Installation of colored crosswalks at selected intersections;

D. Reconstruction of alleys within the area and onsite paving behind businesses to provide additional parking;

E. Provisions of street fixtures and furniture to the downtown area, landscaping and irrigation to the downtown area, installation of colored sidewalks in the downtown area;

F. Provisions of low interest loans and/or grants to merchants to complete facade improvements and provide additional off-street parking; and

G. Other projects, programs and/or improvements, the purpose of which is to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Ceres.

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

The system of assessments or charges which will be used and the businesses upon which the levy will be made is as follows:

A. Assessments and charges will be made only against businesses located within the area. The aggregate or combined receipts shall be used for all businesses owned by the same party or parties that are located at the same address.

B. All assessments will be made on a quarterly basis and will be due at the end of each quarter.

C. All businesses within the area whose gross receipts are $50,000.00 or less for any quarter shall be assessed $30.00 per quarter.

D. All businesses within the area whose gross receipts are greater than $50,000.00 but less than $200,000.00 for any quarter shall be assessed $75.00 per quarter.

E. All businesses within the area whose gross receipts are $200,000.00 or more for any quarter shall be assessed $75.00 per quarter plus one mil (.001) on all gross receipts exceeding $200,000.00, computed on a quarterly basis.

F. Banks and savings and loan institutions within the area shall be assessed a flat fee of $500.00 annually.

G. Gasoline service stations with gross receipts from the sale of gasoline which exceed $800,000.00 or more per year shall be assessed a flat fee of $500.00 per year plus $75.00 per quarter.

H. Gasoline service stations with gross receipts from the sale of gasoline of less than $800,000.00 per year shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of C, D, and E as set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

All businesses lying within the area established by this chapter shall be subject to any amendments to part 6 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (section 36500 through 36551).

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

The assessments made against businesses lying within the area shall commence and be effective beginning January 1, 1989.

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)

The City Manager shall have sole discretion to expend the revenues derived from the assessments or charges imposed and collected pursuant to this chapter for those activities, projects, and programs identified in the annual report approved by the City Council. The City Council may, by resolution, establish and create an advisory board or commission to make recommendations as to the expenditure of such funds, and the City Council may limit the membership of such advisory board to persons or entities paying the assessments or charges pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2020-1058, § 4, 3-23-2020)