After a last-minute change by lawmakers on Tuesday, a slightly larger version of the Ocean Avenue Community Benefit District (CBD) — the mechanism that funds the nonprofit Ocean Avenue Association — earned enough property owner support for a second 15-year term.
“As we expand the services under this renewal, I know that the CBD will need to strengthen its own capacity,” District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar said at a hearing setting the CBD’s responsibilities before the Department of Elections counted property owner ballots. “We will be there to support you and to make sure that it is a functioning organization that thrives and is connected to the community and addresses the diversity of the many businesses in this corridor.”
The Ocean Avenue CBD, one of many districts across the city that funds cleaning and maintenance, would have expired if property owners did not approve assessing fees on themselves to pay for administrative, cleaning, marketing and beautification services — and the Ocean Avenue Association would have to shut down leaving only the Department of Public Works to provide power washing and litter picking services.
The new boundaries for the Ocean Avenue CBD’s second term, which supervisors approved in May 2024, included Lakeside Village and properties on Geneva Avenue. Assessments would total $515,000 and be directed toward one full-time ambassador and two full-time employees doing office work. For reference, the association’s annual income was $378,342 last year.
District 11 Supervisor Chyanne Chen submitted an amendment to the proposed district’s management and engineer’s report that removed 54 non-commercial parcels along Geneva Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Interstate 280. The move would lower the district’s assessment income from $515,000 to roughly $460,000.
Chen told the board that the removal of these properties would not affect the services being delivered to the rest of the district, but did not explain the rationale. Neither Chen nor her four legislative aides responded to The Light’s request for comment. The supervisors unanimously passed the amendment.
Christian Martin, the Ocean Avenue Association’s executive director, told The Light on Wednesday that including the Geneva Avenue properties was an “oversight.”
“[W]e started hearing from the owners and Sup. Chen and decided to carve them out with her amendment,” Martin said.
The Department of Elections determined 70.41% of property owners in the new district supported the district’s second term.
Over 15 members of the public gave testimony regarding the Ocean Avenue CBD. While two expressed dismay about the care of Ocean Avenue’s trees, only one was highly critical, pointing to the CVS and Walgreens vacancies as indicators of problems among other issues.
Neighbors Kate Favetti and Denise Burns proclaimed their support, noting how the association has made a significant difference along Ocean Avenue with street cleaning and maintenance and with hosting events like the Wine Walks.
“As the Ocean Avenue Association has brought forth not only cleaning and graffiti removal and infrastructure-type things, but it's the community building that again accentuates that, bringing our diverse communities together,” Favetti said.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
