CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County Board of Supervisors last month voted for the five-year-old Carmichael Property and Business Improvement District to continue for a further 10 years.

Started at the instigation of Carmichael Corridor businesses, the PBID is one of 17 similar agencies established throughout the County in recent years. These groups aim to improve day-to-day merchant operations in their districts. The Carmichael fiefdom extends through three miles of Fair Oaks Boulevard and surrounding streets. Property owners are assessed to provide a PBID budget: this will reach $500,000 next year.

“In renewing our entity, we had the opportunity to expand our boundaries,” explains the group’s Executive Director Rachael Taylor. “By January next year, we’ll have a larger footprint, including businesses around Winding Way and on El Camino Avenue. Our increased budget will allow more security, beautification and maintenance services.”

Tenure renewal followed many months of hard campaigning by Taylor and volunteer directors. Under California law, new PBIDs have five years to achieve objectives and gain stakeholder support. “Sixty-six percent of members voted in favor of our renewing and expanding,” reports Taylor. “We felt it was a great result. It indicated property owners like what we’ve done.”

Moving forward, Beautification is a high priority. Hopes for 2022 include improvements to the Fair Oaks/Marconi region, as well as the challenging “Y” intersection of Fair Oaks and Manzanita. PBID Chair Nick Bloise projects a coalition with Carmichael Water District and horticultural experts to establish desert-style greenspaces. Known as xeriscaping, the trend requires minimal maintenance and water. Lawn is replaced by rocks and mulch; plant species are selected to endure without irrigation. “It’s our goal to lead the way in making a beautiful landscape without a need for water,” says Bloise. “We also feel xeriscaping discourages illegal campers.”

During its first five years, PBID effort has focused on weighty community issues. Its budget enables seven-day-per-week mobile security, that counters trespassing and illegal camping. Under PBID aegis, 12,000 cubic feet of trash have been hauled from the corridor. More than 1200 abandoned shopping carts have been returned to businesses.  Taylor and co recently helped the Sheriff identify a graffitist whose persistent scrawling required many thousands of dollars in vandalism repair.

The District last year provided a series of $1000 “micro grants” to help small merchants pivot to survive COVID shutdowns. “We recognize the difficulties people are experiencing in making ends meet during unusual times,” says Taylor. “Next year we’ll have more muscle as a steward organization for the community. We’re here to serve and to make Carmichael a more prosperous place.” 

Carmichael PBID meetings are open to the public via Zoom.  For information, visit www.dsicovercarmichael.com