Canoga Park Business Improvement Association, Inc.

Canoga Park Business Improvement Association, Inc.

What is a BID?

WHAT IS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT dba:
THE CANOGA PARK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION?

These Districts provide essential services, such as increased security, landscaping, maintenance, marketing, promotions, advocacy and economic development in addition to those provided by local government. These services are concentrated within a distinct geographic area and are paid for by means of a special property owner assessment. The organization responsible for providing these services is governed by a Board of Directors representing those who pay (i.e. property owners). Many Districts have been formed as a local business community response to declining municipal budgets and services.

Management Districts are proven to work by providing services that improve the overall viability of commercial core business areas resulting in higher property values and sales volumes.

The Canoga park Management District will be formed pursuant to a State Law that took effect in January, 1995.

The "Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994" ushers in a new generation of Management Districts in California by allowing a greater range of services and independence from government. The following are key provisions of the new law:

* Allows Management Districts to undertake services ranging
from security to landscaping to maintenance, advocacy to
marketing, and economic development to special events.

* Allows revenue from services to be raised from assessments
on property.

* Requires petition support from property owners paying at
least 50% of the proposed property assessments to approve
formation of a Management District.

* Allows for the formation of a property and business owner
Advisory Board to supervise District operations and submit
a yearly service plan.

* Requires limits for assessments to ensure that they do not
exceed pre-stablished levels.

* Provides a multi-year life for Management Districts and
requires a new petition process to renew a District. The
Canoga Park Management District will have a five (5) year
term.


CANOGA PARK MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AT-A-GLANCE

LOCATION - Cangoa Park, located on the western entrance of
the San Fernando Valley, within the City of Los Angeles.

CPIA - The Canoga Park Improvement Association is the non-profit corporation which will be established by property and business owners and community members for the purpose of forming and administering the District.

SERVICES - Services to be provided by the District include: security, landscape and general maintenance (sidewalk cleaning, litter and debris control, general maintenance, trash collection of sidewalk receptacles as necessary, tree maintenance, etc.), marketing (banners, signing, promotional events, advertising, etc.), new business attration, advocacy, and other services as approved by the
Canoga Park Improvement Association Board of Directors. The District will not duplicate services otherwise provided and will only provide services above and byond those currently provided by the City.

METHOD OF FINANCING - Services are funded through the benefit assessment of real properties. Assessments will be collected by the County through the property tax bill and used exclusively for District operations. Property and business owners have emphasized that the method of financing be through a formula which is fair, balanced and commensurate with the benefits that each property receives.

BUDGET - The total maximum District Budget for its five (5) years of operation will be a base of $226,363 per year with a maximum of 3% increase per year at property owner discretion.

COST - Annual assessments on property will be a combination of $0.108 (10.8 cents) per square foot of land and $9.00 per linear foot of land along Sherman Way.

CITY SERVICES - Itis anticipated that the City of Los Angeles will adopt a Resolution pursuant to State Law that establishes a policy of maintaining the existing level of services within the proposed District. In addition, the city will pay its fair share of the costs for new services being provided.

FORMATION - Approval of District formation requires submittal of petitions from property owners representing more than 50% of the total assessment. Additionally, the "Right to Vote on Taxes Act" (also known as Proposition 218) requires that more than 50% of the ballots received, weighted by assessment, be in support.

DURATION - Pursuant to State Law, the District will have a set term. The proposed District will have a five (5) years term. After that period, the petition process must be repeated for the District to remain in effect.

Email us
mpaterson@canogaparkbid.com

About our association

Canoga Park's History

HISTORIC OWENSMOUTH / CANOGA PARK

The far west end of the San Fernando Valley of Southern California for hundreds of years was home to the American Indians of both Fernandeno and Chumash tribes. Indian villages were established at each place where a creed emerged from the canyons of the Simi Hills. These inhabitants were the original population of the Canoga / Owensmouth area.

Originally, Canoga Park was named Owensmouth by General H.G. Otis (Owner of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper) because he felt it was the closest town to the outlet for the Owens River Aqueduct.

Owensmouth was founded on March 30, 1912 by the Janz Corporation. People were invited to a Big Barbecue for all prospective buyers of lots, but they left early because of a big dust storm.

Sherman Way was the main street of Owensmouth with tracks down the center for the Pacific Electric Railway and the Red Car. The Red Car was a popular mode of transportation that went down Sherman Way to Van Nuys then continued onto Los Angeles. Owensmouth, an agricultural community, grew slowly into a beautiful town destined for much growth and changes in the future.

On February 26, 1917, Owensmouth was annexed to the city of Los Angeles. With the completion of the Acqueduct in 1913 and the loss of the Owensmouth Water Tower due to a fire in 1915, the town was in need of a water supply, which Los Angeles could offer. Owensmouth now had its own Grammar School, High School and Library. Community groups began to form such as the Owensmouth Women's Club, the Owensmouth Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis Club and Churches. The Owensmouth Women's Club is the group that kept the historical records of the town for many years.

In 1926, the Original Madrid Theatre was built on Sherman Way and opened with Silent Films, but was soon to be replaced by the Talkies. The theater was also the site for many community events, even a High School Graduation after the school burned.

On March 1, 1930, Owensmouth became Canoga Park since some of the citizens did not like its former name. The community continued to grow with its new Telephone Building, Fire Station #72, Library and Pierce School of Agriculture (now Pierce College) opened.

In 1950, Orcutt Park (now Lanark Park) Clubhouse was opened and Guadalupe Youth Center was dedicated for the community.

In 1955, Rocketdyne, a Division of North American Aviation arrived in Canoga Park. This brought many new people to this area. The rocket engines for the Space Shuttle were built here.

In the late "50's", Sherman Way was widened and the tracks along with the Red Cars, were gone, making more room for the traffic traveling along Sherman Way.

In the "60's", two new malls, Topanga Plaza and Fallbrook Mall, were built. Many of the stores along Sherman Way became Antique and Specialty Shops and the area was named Antique Row.

Even with floods, fires and earthquakes, the community continues to grow with new companies, schools, movie studios and other businesses.

The west side of Canoga Park became West Hills in 1988.

After the 1994 Earthquake, there have been many improvements to the downtown area. The "new" Madrid Theatre has been built, the Telephone Building will become a Youth Art Center and the revitalizatin of shops along Sherman Way by the business people (PBID) makes this a great town to visit.

Each year there is a Memorial Day Prade, Job Fair and Street Fair, all presented by the Canoga Park / West Hills Chamber Of Commerce, along with many other community activities. The Canoga / Owensmouth Historical Society has a museum in the original Fire Station #72 that also houses the Canoga Park / West Hills Chamber Of Commerce. The Fire Station is now the Canoga Park Community Center and is utilized by many organizations. The Museum is located at 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303 and is open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month or by appointment. For information, call 818-346-5252

The Canoga Park Improvement Association

The CPIA is the organization, run by volunteer property owners, which administers all the projects of the downtown Canoga Park Business Improvement District.
Our current projects are in the areas of Maintenance, Landscaping/Beautification, Promotion of the businesses and area, and Security.

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