San antonio Report
by Shari Biediger
City Council has renewed for another decade an ordinance that helps fund the cleanup of downtown San Antonio.
In re-establishing the downtown public improvement district (PID), a .8-square-mile area of downtown, it’s also changing how the area’s condo owners are assessed and the scope of services provided by Centro San Antonio, which contributes to upkeep of the district.
Established in 1999 and renewed in 2004, 2009 and 2013, the downtown PID provides supplemental services beyond that of existing services. Set to expire at the end of September, it will now continue through 2033.
“The extension of the PID and the contract with Centro will further establish our downtown as one of the premier destinations for conferences and leisure travel and will facilitate more residents in downtown San Antonio,” stated Lori Houston, assistant city manager. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Centro.”
The city contracts with Centro to provide those supplemental services through a service and assessment plan valued at just over $7.1 million.
In addition to custodial services, Centro provides beautification and landscaping work in the urban core, oversees a hospitality ambassador service, and promotes and supports downtown events and businesses.
The service plan is funded by private property owner assessments totaling $5.6 million and by the city’s contribution of $600,000 based on assessments of city-owned property in the PID. Another $64,000 comes from a voluntary contribution by CPS Energy and almost $300,000 from VIA.
As in previous years, commercial property owners in the PID will be assessed at a rate of $0.15 per $100 value of their property.
But the city has changed how it levies assessments on residential condo owners in the PID, reducing the burden for people who use the condo as their primary home.
Residential condos in the PID that do not have a homestead exemption will be assessed at a rate of $0.09 per $100 value, while those that do have a homestead exemption will be assessed at $0.045 per $100 value.
Councilwoman Sukh Kaur (D1) said she is pleased that this year’s assessment provides the rate reduction for such downtown residents.
Kaur also praised the work of Centro, which is funded through the PID, in ensuring “our downtown” is a vibrant and welcoming place for locals and visitors.
In extending its contract another year with Centro, the city also increased the scope of services the nonprofit provides to include the upkeep of Main Plaza, Treviño Alley and the River Walk portals.
For the River Walk cleaning services, the city will pay Centro an additional $540,000, and for Main Plaza and the alley, an added $168,000. Another $272,460 will go toward pressure washing services.
Trish DeBerry, a former county commissioner named CEO of Centro in May, said the organization will hire 10 more quality-of-life ambassadors and increase the hourly pay from $15 to $18.
DeBerry said she is excited the city reauthorized its contract with the organization because it’s important for the future of downtown.
“We’ve got major catalytic projects coming on board — the opening of [Civic Park in] Hemisfair next week, the Alamo and the transformation of that as it comes online in ‘24, not to mention the fact you’ve got UTSA and their Data Science building.”
DeBerry also pointed to UTSA’s expanding footprint downtown, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park and the potential for a future sports district if a new arena and stadium are built downtown.
But the work to improve downtown San Antonio should remain a priority for the city, she said.
“When you look at cities of comparable size, whether that’s Nashville or Charlotte, they never stop evolving and investing in what they think downtown can be,” DeBerry said.
“Although I’m grateful for the ‘Decade of Downtown’ … I don’t want people to think that investing in downtown’s ever over. It doesn’t just happen in a decade. It has to continue.”