INFO

FAQ

  1. What is the Business Improvement District?
  3. What is the Business Improvement District?
  4. What is the Sunset Strip Business Association (SSBA)?
  5. What are the SSBA's goals?
  6. What areas does the District encompass?
  7. How does the SSBA operate?
  8. What businesses are members?
  9. Do other cities have BIDs?
  10. Why can't the city pay for these programs?
  11. If I do not want to be a part of the BID, do I have to pay my assessment?
  12. What is the annual budget of the District and how is it broken down?
  13. I have been in business for one month. Do I still have to pay the 2006-07 assessment?
  14. How do I get involved with the BID?
  15. How do I contact the SSBA?
  1. What is the Business Improvement District?
    Created in 2001, the Sunset Strip BID is an assessment district that aims to improve the business and neighboring residential environment on Sunset Boulevard by using private funding to add needed services not provided by the public sector. A BID is established by a coalition of business owners willing to form a benefit assessment district, with the understanding that all funded services will be in addition to the public service level already provided, such as security and maintenance.

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  2. What is the Sunset Strip Business Association (SSBA)?
    The SSBA is a private nonprofit corporation run by Sunset Strip business owners in West Hollywood with approximately 200 members comprised mainly of businesses in the hotel, restaurant, retail, valet/parking and nightclub areas. Created in 2002, its directive is to manage the Sunset Strip Business Improvement District (BID), created in 2001, under contract with the City of West Hollywood. The goal of the Association is to provide the following:
    • Security
    • Street maintenance
    • Public outreach
    • Marketing the Strip

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  3. What are the SSBA's goals?
    1. Provide Private Security (Ambassadors) to The Strip; The SSBA has contracted with the highly regarded Block by Block security company. The security team is a visible force on the corridor working closely with business security guards and Sheriff’s deputies from the West Hollywood station. In addition, they are ambassadors to the Sunset Strip providing information, directions and answers to questions for the many visitors of The Strip.

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    2. Provide Increased Street Maintenance Presence; The SSBA has contracted with Social Vocational Services (SVS) to supply additional cleaning and maintenance services to the District. It serves Sunset Boulevard from the district’s west to east boundaries and the residential neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the Sunset Strip. SVS staff are on the job five days a week, from 6am to 2pm.

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    3. Coordinate Public Outreach Activities; It is the goal of the SSBA to engage residents and businesses in a constructive dialogue to address and solve issues together that affect the Sunset Strip and its neighborhoods. All members are encouraged to attend and participate at the SSBA’s monthly Board meetings. These meetings are announced publicly, but members are asked to provide the SSBA their contact information (email and/or fax), so that they may receive meeting notices directly.

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    4. Market the Sunset Strip as a Premier Destination; In the coming year, the Sunset Strip Business Association will mount an all around effort toward promoting “The Strip” – the businesses themselves, the energy of the area, the sense of being at the center of the entertainment world -- by conceptualizing, developing and implementing a targeted marketing campaign and program to promote it.

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  4. What areas does the District encompass?
    The district is bound by the City of Los Angeles to the east, north, and south and by the City of Beverly Hills to the west. The Sunset Strip Business Improvement District is primarily centered along a 1.3-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard from ½ block west of Doheny Road on the west to ½ block west of Havenhurst Drive on the east.

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  5. How does the SSBA operate?
    The SSBA is a non-profit 501(c) 6 organization. The Association is governed by a Board of Directors that meets monthly to discuss the progress of the Business Improvement District.

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  6. What businesses are members?
    There are approximately 200 member businesses of the Sunset Strip Business Association, comprised mainly of hotel, restaurant, retail, parking/valet and nightclub businesses.

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  7. Do other cities have BIDs?
    Over the past several years there has been an explosion in the number of BIDs established nationwide and throughout Southern California including Pasadena, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Burbank, Long Beach and Santa Monica.

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  8. Why can't the city pay for these programs?
    The City funds a wide variety of programs in the District, including the essential services and infrastructure such as police, fire, and sanitation. However, Business Improvement Districts provide cities with a unique way to raise funds for specially targeted districts. BIDs are established under the Parking and Business Area Law of 1989, which allows a municipality to enable businesses to assess themselves to accomplish mutually beneficial goals. By law, funds from a BID may only be spent in the designated district(s) and for the purposes defined each year in the annual work program. The BID allows businesses to target their own expenditures for programs that they want, whether it be a regional wide marketing campaign, additional street improvements, or security.

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  9. If I do not want to be a part of the BID, do I have to pay my assessment?
    Payment of the assessment is mandatory. All eligible businesses in the District are required by law to pay. Each July the City must renew the BID.

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  10. What is the annual budget of the District and how is it broken down?
    The total assessment of the District for the 2006-2007 fiscal year is $591,500. The money comes from businesses paying into the District anywhere from $250 to $35,000. About 70% of the funds are earmarked for security services, while 7% go toward cleaning services and the remaining 23% toward administrative and public outreach functions.

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  11. I have been in business for one month. Do I still have to pay the 2006-07 assessment?
    Businesses that have opened after January 1, 2007, are exempt from the 2006-07 assessment but will be part of the 2007-2008 assessment. Businesses in operation on or before December 30, 2006 are part of the 2006-07 BID and are required to pay the assessment.

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  12. How do I get involved with the BID?
    The BID Advisory Board is very active and meets once per month. Participation from Sunset Strip businesses is encouraged and is essential to the success of the BID. For a schedule of Sunset Strip Business Association BID Board meetings or to discuss other ways of becoming involved contact the office at (310) 659-7368 or info@thesunsetstrip.com

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  13. How do I contact the SSBA?
    The SSBA offices are open M-F 10am to 6pm and every night of the week 8pm to 4am. To reach the office by phone, call 310-659-7368, by fax dial 310-659-7364, and by email at info@thesunsetstrip.com. The Association’s mailing is 9040 Sunset Blvd., Suite 212, West Hollywood, CA 90069.