Assessment

with 125 businesses along Fourth Street between Lincoln Avenue and E Street. In 2013, the City Council approved an expansion to the West End and some side streets, growing the membership base to about 700.

Earlier this year, the pandemic-strained district was thrown a lifeline as it was facing a potential third year of revenue losses. The City Council voted unanimously to approve a two-year contract with the Chamber of Commerce to help re-energize the district.

The city also approved an economic development strategy that focuses on business expansion, attraction and retention. One of the plan's objectives is switching to a propertybased assessment fee to engage the landlords and generate more revenue toward improving the downtown corridor.

Tipple, whose position is part time, said the district cut costs and increased fundraising through marketing and events.

The district hired

a

part-time social media director to grow followers and increase its digital reach by more than 200%, Tipple said.

The district-sponsored May Madness car show netted more than $18,000 in profit, and the Hops and Vines Stroll event cleared $4,000.

The district also launched a few new initiatives, including a “downtown eats passport,” in which participants collect stamps via a smartphone app on a digital passport by eating at participating restaurants, Tipple said. Those who filled out their passports were eligible to enter to win a $100 gift card.

“It's been a pleasure watching the BID expand and make such a difference in downtown San Rafael,” Councilmember Maribeth Bushey said.

“The BID is integral to have a successful downtown business,” Mayor Kate Colin said. “It's both the dollars that are raised but it's also the community that's built among the business owners.”

“Having the BID in the chamber, a union as it were,” Colin said, “will enable holistic decision to be made going forward.”