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Downtown Public Improvement District (PID)


Managed by the Downtown Austin Alliance

Summary

On April 15, 1993, the City Council created a Public Improvement District (PID) to provide constant and permanent funding to implement downtown initiatives. The PID is a means for the Downtown Austin community to provide adequate and constant funds for quality of life improvements and planning and marketing of Downtown Austin. The creation of the PID was a private sector initiative, and was achieved upon the submittal of a petition with the minimum number of signatures to the City, development of a Service Plan acceptable to Council, and Council's satisfaction that the PID will enhance Downtown Austin. The PID is authorized for a five year period.
The City contracted with the Downtown Austin Alliance in September 1993 to manage the downtown initiative program. The Downtown Austin Alliance (formerly Austin DMO, Inc.) was incorporated in May 1992 to promote growth and revitalization in Downtown Austin. It consists of owners of downtown property, downtown tenants, and other interested Austinites.

Status

On November 21, 1996, the City Council approved the 1997-98 Service Plan and Budget submitted by Downtown Austin Alliance. The approved fiscal year budget is for $887,490. The assessment roll, assessed at a rate of $.10/$100 valuation, was approved two weeks later and bills were sent to the property owners.

Programs

Programs the DAA administers within the PID include:
  • Downtown Austin Rangers
  • Grafitti Removal
  • Litter Removal
  • Destination Downtown Arts and Entertainment Map
  • Downtown Parking Signs and Map
  • Noontime Concerts
  • Great Streets Program

    Downtown Austin Rangers

    In April 1997 the Rangers also received training in the following areas: 1) Customer Service, from ACVB, 2) First Aid training, from EMS, 3) CPR training, also from EMS, and 4) gang awareness training from APD.
    The Rangers serve as eyes and ears for APD and as goodwill ambassadors for the downtown Austin area. The Austin Downtown Rangers dress in easily distinguishable uniforms and carry two-way communication equipment to be in constant contact with Austin Police dispatch. The Rangers were trained by APD in police patrol techniques. The Rangers are not peace officers, do not carry weapons, and do not make arrests. They report situations requiring Police Officer attention to the Austin Police dispatch office.
    Photo: Rangers Assisting Visitors The Rangers are also trained by ACVB in their ambassadorship responsibilities. The Downtown Rangers serve as guides for the public; they are trained to answer questions about points of interest in downtown Austin. They carry maps and other materials to guide guests of our city to their destinations.
    The Austin Downtown Rangers program assists both the Downtown Austin Alliance in implementing its Security Service Plan element, and satisfy a current APD goal to increase the number of women and minorities in its ranks. All of the Austin Downtown Rangers are City of Austin employees, funded by a grant from the Downtown Austin Alliance.
    The principal purpose of the Austin Downtown Ranger program is security. Therefore, the Rangers are directly responsible to the Supervisor of the Walking/Bicycle Beat in Downtown Austin. That Supervisor works closely with the Executive Director of the Downtown Austin Alliance and the ACVB Director to develop the deployment schedules and areas of security coverage throughout the year. This coordination will be on a continuing basis to satisfy the security needs of downtown Austin.
    The Rangers integration into the Downtown Security network has proven to be a slow and tedious process. The immediate role of assuming the "goodwill ambassadors" duties was aided greatly by the training and expertise provided by the Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau (ACVB) staff. The proposed hourly salary increase was approved by the Executive Committee of the Downtown Austin Alliance and became effective in November 1996. This pay increase was designed to attract more experienced, mature and stable Rangers to the program. The '98 budget call for a return to twelve (12) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions. With the addition of more experienced and mature Rangers the two-person patrols have been reduced to one-person patrols, and thereby increasing the coverage of the daily patrols.

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    Grafitti Removal

    Since the City of Austin has assumed responsibility for graffiti removal in the public right-of-way, the Downtown Austin Alliance has re-allocated its resources to private property graffiti removal. The Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with "Off the Wall" Graffiti, Inc. for graffiti removal on private property within the Public Improvement District. Only member parcels for which the Alliance has a signed release of liability are included in this program.
    All graffiti should be reported to the City Graffiti Hotline: 473-4125.

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    Litter Removal

    Photo: Youth Corps picking up litter DowntownThe Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with the City of Austin Youth Corps to perform litter removal from sidewalks, curb, and gutters in the Downtown Austin Public Improvement District. Litter is picked up between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and Sunday mornings. This service is in addition to the city's regular maintenance program, and is not intended to replace them. Since May, 1996, the Youth Corps picked up over 500 bags of trash a month in downtown.
    The areas being cleaned falls within the boundaries of the Downtown Austin Public Improvement District. Within that area, the sidewalks will be cleaned from the private property line to the street curb except that alcoves will also be cleaned (alley cleaning is not a part of this contract).

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    Map of PID Destination Downtown Arts and Entertainment Map

    The Downtown Austin Alliance has produced the Destination Downtown Arts and Entertainment Map in October 1995. The map shows off the many avenues of interest Downtown offers, and promotes Downtown's arts industry. The map is available from the Downtown Austin Alliance. Over 50,000 copies have been distributed since October 1995. This map has been in demand by realty and title companies, Downtown commercial leasing agents and managers, large Austin corporations (for inclusion in their employment relocation packets), tourists, convention planners, and by many Austin arts organizations.
    The map shows around 90 restaurants, 50 performing arts venues, 42 visual arts venues, as well as museums, libraries, parks, hotels and lodging, annual arts events, and University of Texas at Austin facilities. The map also shows Downtown public transportation routes and off-street parking available to the public, including State of Texas parking facilities.
    The Alliance is scheduled to update and reprint the map during summer and fall FY 1997.

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    Parking Sign Graphic Downtown Parking Signs and Map

    The Downtown Austin Alliance has produced the Downtown Parking Map. The map shows the locations of publicly available off-street parking in Downtown, marked with signs provided by the Alliance. The map shows lots and garages containing publicly available parking. The parking facilities have posted signs provided by the Alliance. It is hoped that uniform signage will aid the Downtown visitors searching for parking.
    The map is available from the Downtown Austin Alliance. An initial printing of 8,000 copies is being distributed to hotels, rental cars agencies, Downtown offices and arts venues.

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    Noontime Concerts

    Photo of MariachisThe Downtown Austin Alliance and the Austin Federation of Musicians have co-sponsored three years of free Tuesday noontime concerts. They are held in Spring (April-June) and Fall (September-October).

    The concerts have been held every Tuesday each Spring and Fall since 1994. The Spring 1997 season resumed April 8. Types of music performed in the past include: 60's and Motown, Cajun / Mexican, Urban Folk, Eclectic Bluegrass, Big Band Sound, Tejano / Conjunto, Irish Harp, New Orleans Dixieland jazz, original Austin progressive country, jazz, original soul and top 40 cover tunes, South American vocals and multi-instrumental, and rock-a-billy with a horn section. The April schedule, with concerts held at Franklin Plaza, 111 Congress Ave., is:

    • April 8 - Sticks and Bones (It's Marimba for Lunch!)
    • April 15 - The Maryann Price Quartet (Jazz Vocals and Tunes)
    • April 22 - The Mary Reynolds Band (Folk Music Accompanied by Emily Kaitz)
    • April 29 - Texana Dames (An Austin "Tejana" Favorite!)

    May and June concerts return to Regents Plaza, W. 6th and Colorado, with:

    • May 6 — Rotel & The Hot Tomatoes (3 Beehived Girls singing Fab 50's & 60's Girl Group songs)
    • May 13 — Thomas "Doc" Grauzer (Luck of the Irish Harp and Songs)
    • May 20 — Toy Heinrich (A Little Bit o' Country!)
    • May 27 — "Guitar Jake" Andrews with Tommy Taylor & Jon Blondell (Brothers in Blues)
    • June 3 — Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale (Tony Bennett and Harry Connick Jr. watch out!)
    • June 10 — The Third Degree (High Energy Zydeco)
    • June 17 — Suzy Stern (Austin's Noted Terrific Jazz Singers)
    • June 24 — Darcie Deaville (Contemporary Folk/Cajun Fiddle)

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    Great Streets Program

    The Downtown Austin Alliance, Inc. has established a Great Streets Program. This program has as its mission the improvement of the physical design of Downtown streetscapes.
    Funding for the Driskill corner in now complete. The Alliance is working with the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Driskill on design development of the project. Two new small projects are: 1) the northwest corner of Eighth and Red River, and 2) the Barton Springs / Congress Avenue "triangle."
    At this time the focus of the program is on the completion of existing projects.
    Funding for projects selected as part of the Great Streets program will come from a variety of sources. If parking meter revenues in Downtown increase, the increase will be allocated to the Great Streets program. Other sources of funding, both public and private, are being sought. Possible sources include Capital Metro's Build Greater Austin program, the Historic Landmark Commission's Bricks and Mortar fund, ISTEA, contributions from adjacent property owners.

    Basic Data

    • Project Contact: Dave Kreider, Assistant Director, Planning, Environmental and Conservation Services Department, 499-6381
    • Project Manager: Charles Betts, Executive Director, Downtown Austin Alliance, 469-1766, fax 477-7456, Southwest Tower, 211 E. Seventh Street, Suite 100-L, Austin, TX 78701

    Revised April 7, 1997
    Back to the April 1997 Contents

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