Rick Ford introduced the manager of Chaska’s Special Service District – Michael McLaughlin, the president of Urban Works. A Special Service District allows business owners in a defined area to collectively fund enhanced services and special amenities to the high standards of the private sector. These services typically include safety services, district cleaning, sidewalk snow and ice removal, landscape maintenance, marketing and promotions, seasonal decorations, and other maintenance of public spaces. Special amenities often include distinctive streetscape fixtures and street furniture. These enhanced services and special amenities and are over and above what a municipality ordinarily provides. Funding for the services is assessed by the city and collected through commercial property taxes. Michael showed a map of the downtown District and its business members.
Twelve cities in Minnesota have established Business Improvement Districts, and Minneapolis has 17 smaller districts that have been formed to attract and retain customers and increase business incomes. Web and media marketing promote all the district’s businesses and city events and Urban Works goal is to help create a unique and attractive identity for our city. Chaska’s yearly budget for these efforts to create a downtown identify is $44,000.
To contact Michael: phone 612-280-2582, email [email protected] and www.UrbanWorks.com
