Westwood Village Improvement Association approves fee increase

The Westwood Village Improvement Association’s board voted 8-1-2 Wednesday to increase the fees businesses pay to support the association by a few hundred dollars per landowner.

The association, also known as the Westwood Business Improvement District, is a nonprofit organization created to provide functions for Westwood Village that the City of Los Angeles does not provide.

This is the first year since the BID was founded in 2011 that board members voted to increase its assessments. The board can propose up to a 5 percent increase in fees each year.

Andrew Thomas, executive director of BID, said most of the organization’s expenses have increased year to year. He added he supports increasing the fee because of rising wages for BID workers and more costly insurance.

The 5 percent increase would amount to almost $65,000 per year, split among about 120 business and landowners who fund the BID. The BID plans to allocate 72 percent of the funds to its “clean, safe and beautiful” programs, which control graffiti and maintain Westwood’s sidewalks. The remainder would be split between its management and communication and development programs.

Several board members said they were concerned that implementing the maximum 5 percent increase would reduce chances that property owners would support BID’s next renewal. Business and property owners will vote to renew the BID’s charter when its term ends in 2016.

Clinton Schudy, a board member and owner of Oakley’s Barber Shop, said prior to the vote that he thinks the BID should focus on getting renewed before asking for the increase.

Steve Sann, chair of the Westwood Community Council, said he disagreed with the 5 percent increase, adding that he thinks the BID should have pursued smaller annual increases instead.

Thomas added that he has seen community members ask for more changes, and thinks they would be supportive of the BID’s efforts to further improve the Westwood community.

BID secretary Christian Irwin asked the BID to explore how it could use its current resources more efficiently.

Members of the BID voted Thursday to add bicycle locks to Westwood parking meters to allow people to securely park their bicycles in Westwood.

Members of the board also heard a presentation by spokespeople from the Special Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles this summer. Though they did not make an official motion to take action, several councilmembers asked to be involved in the planning process.

Thomas also announced that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation postponed the Express Park “smart-meter” program from May to June to address battery problems and other equipment issues.