Norfolk Downtown Management Plan

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Norfolk Downtown Management Plan

*Downtown Management Plan Survey Results HERE*

Project Overview

The goal of the Norfolk Downtown Management Plan is to identify community priorities for improving Downtown, including the dynamics of Downtown Norfolk’s economy, environment, and experience. In order to ensure community priorities can be implemented, the Downtown Management Plan will evaluate what funding and management tools are best equipped to meet the unique needs of Downtown Norfolk. This Plan will also explore the feasibility of a business improvement district (BID) for Downtown Norfolk and will identify program priorities for the BID if this option is determined to be feasible.

What is a Business Improvement District?

A business improvement district (BID) is a public/private tool used by communities to manage and improve the physical and economic environment and competitiveness of a defined area, most commonly a business district or downtown. BIDs are funded through a self-imposed and self-governed assessment on property that is paid by property owners annually. Services funded through a BID are intended to enhance, not replace, existing city services. Examples of services provided by BIDs are cleaning, maintenance of existing public spaces like sidewalks, community events and activities, marketing, physical improvements like lighting, landscaping, benches, trash receptacles, and signage, and support for small businesses. BIDs are a tool used by many Nebraska communities, including Hastings, Fremont, Grand Island, Lincoln, and Omaha.

What will the project process include?

The Norfolk Downtown Management Plan will consist of two steps. The first step is identifying improvements for Downtown and determining the feasibility of a BID. Tasks will include a review of past plans and studies, fieldwork to evaluate Downtown improvement needs, engagement with Downtown stakeholders and the community at-large, and a review of best practices from comparable communities. The Plan will include parameters for a potential BID, including the proposed BID’s rationale and objectives, boundaries, service plan, budget, assessment methodology, and governance structure. If the BID idea makes sense for Downtown, the second step would be the legal process to form the BID, which include the necessary legal steps to form the Business Improvement District according to the Nebraska BID statute. An illustrative timeline for the Norfolk Downtown Management Plan process can be found below.

Timeline (Tentative)

July 2022 – City of Norfolk signed consulting agreement with Progressive Urban Management Associates, Inc. (PUMA).

September – November 2022 – PUMA worked on downtown mapping and uploaded the community-wide online survey into SurveyMonkey to identify community priorities for the River Point District (more than 600 responses received). Stakeholder discussions, an open house, and a City Council work session were conducted.

January – December 2023 – Monthly meetings with the steering committee and downtown representatives were held to form an operating plan, identify top priorities, and finalize the budget needed to accomplish goals.

January – April 2024 – Monthly steering committee meetings held to finalize proposed operating plan, fact sheet, job description, and proposed BID boundaries.

April 2024 – BID steering committee representatives met with the Community & Economic Development Subcommittee to provide an update of activities and proposed plan to move forward.

May 2024 – BID stakeholders/steering committee finalized information packet and proposed assessment boundaries.

June – October 2024 – BID stakeholders/steering committee engage with downtown stakeholders to discuss the proposed plan and gather support via petition.

November - December 2024 – If supported via petition response, public meetings will be held to consider the creation of a BID, establish the BID boundaries, consider a special assessment, and establish the BID board.