External review of downtown Huntington Beach group recommends hiring a CEO

The Huntington Beach Downtown Business Improvement District should hire a chief executive and be more “nimble and quick to respond to issues affecting downtown,” according to an external review meant to improve the organization’s business practices.

The findings will be presented to the City Council at its meeting Monday.

The review was conducted by the International Downtown Assn., which provides studies and recommendations to business improvement districts worldwide. The BID board approved the review in late April after the City Council requested it.

A business improvement district is a public-private partnership that aims to revitalize a commercial neighborhood. Huntington Beach has three: the Downtown BID, Auto Dealers BID and Hotel/Motel BID.

The IDA conducted background research, held more than 50 interviews with community members and analyzed downtown documents to create a list of short- and long-term recommendations for the Downtown BID, according to a city staff report.

They include hiring a CEO with downtown management experience for a one-year contract of up to $100,000 to aid the organization’s evolution.

The BID has a board of directors and usually a staff of three. It does not have a CEO.

The IDA also recommends that the group be more proactive.

“Be hands-on, nimble and quick to respond to issues affecting downtown,” the report states. “If the downtown will benefit from immediate, small and actionable adjustments, make them happen. Determine the specific improvements needed in the downtown to support the vision and serve the local businesses.”

The City Council will choose whether to support the appointment of the CEO and establishing a city BID review committee to help implement the recommendations.

BID board President Steve Daniel said Friday that, though he doesn’t agree with everything in the IDA report, he viewed it as positive for the BID.

“Anything that makes [the BID] better is good,” he said. “As long as we have a thriving downtown.”

The review came on the heels of months of increased scrutiny of the BID.

In February, a petition signed by about 100 downtown Huntington Beach business owners demanded the removal of the BID’s nine board members.

The petition’s validity was later called into question by some of the business owners whose names were on it.

The city Finance Commission conducted a review of the BID to address potentially improper use of funds or assets but found no evidence of wrongdoing upon concluding its analysis in late March.

In July, BID manager Susan Welfringer resigned. Mary Ann Senske has temporarily taken over the position, Daniel said. Senske has been serving as manager of Surf City Nights, a free street fair presented by the BID every Tuesday night.

Monday’s council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilot