The City Council, acting as the Board of Directors for the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District (DSNID), approved recommendations from its Advisory Council on January 27, 2014. This ordinance will effectuate these proposed changes into the Municipal Code and DSNID referendum ordinance. These amendments are:

1. DSNID DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. Reduces the size of the District to 523 acres from 717 acres, by deleting the areas north of Gore Street, East of Osceola Avenue and south of Pineloch Avenue.  A map of the proposed boundaries is attached.

2. DSNID SUNSET DATE & REFERENDUM TIMELINE. Changes to the DSNID referendum ordinance clarify ballot language which sunsets a potential ad valorem tax after 15 years, and sets up a timeline to hold a mail-in referendum which closes 85 days after a resolution is passed by the Council calling for the referendum.

3. OTHER REFERENDUM ORDINANCE CHANGES. Clarifies conduct of the referendum, where a successful referendum passes if approval has been given by freeholders representing an excess of 50% of the assessed value of properties represented by ballots cast. Freeholders wholly exempt from ad valorem taxation may vote in the referendum if the freeholder agrees prior to the referendum by contract to make an annual payment to the District equal to the amount of ad valorem taxes that it would pay to the District if not wholly tax exempt.

Second Reading of this Ordinance would occur on February 24, 2014, along with a potential resolution calling for the referendum; this would allow the potential mail-in referendum to occur between May 5 and May 20, 2014.