Rochester to Hold 2 Public Hearings at Monday Meeting

The Rochester City Council will hold two public hearings —one regarding confirmation of the Principal Shopping District Special Assessment and one about the 2013-14 Fiscal Year Budget—at Monday's meeting.

View the meeting agenda here.

The Principal Shopping District Board recommended to the city a three-year renewal of its special assessment, which expires June 30. 

While the board proposed keeping the rates the same as the existing assessment, the proposed budget marks a decrease in the number of niche events as the board shifts its focus to promoting the district as a whole as a shopping, employment and business destination, according to city documents. It includes $20,000 earmarked toward promoting the new Rochester brand.

The proposed 2013-16 budget includes projected revenue and expenditures each totaling $321,300, according to city documents. 

The assessment has drawn opposition from non-retail businesses.

Pierre C. Atallah indicated in an April 15 letter to the Rochester City Council he feels the assessment offers little benefit to the five businesses with which he owns a stake.

"(The funds are) spent exclusively for the benefit of the retail business sector in downtown Rochester, south of University, despite the fact that my non-retail establishments, north of University are specially assessed to pay for services that do not benefit them," Atallah wrote.

Atallah indicated in his letter he seeks an exemption from the assessment. 

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday at 400 Sixth St.