(a) The Legislature makes the following findings:
(1) That patterns of urban development have had substantial adverse impacts upon downtown and community business districts vital to the economy of the State of Alabama.
(2) That the public interest would be advanced by authorizing the creation of self-help business improvement districts and district management corporations to assist any Class 2 municipality in promoting economic growth in business districts.
(3) That the public interest would also be advanced by authorizing the creation of self-help business districts for the promotion of tourism that include businesses of a designated class and funding supplemental business services through the levy of assessments on businesses of the designated class that receive benefits from those supplemental business services.
(4) That a district management corporation representing real property owners, or in certain cases, owners of a particular class of business, within self-help business improvement districts can assist any Class 2 municipality in promoting economic growth and employment within business districts.
(5) That any Class 2 municipality should be authorized to create self-help business improvement districts and designate a district management corporation to execute self-help programs to improve the local business climate.
(b) The Legislature further finds that it is the public policy of the State of Alabama to permit any Class 2 municipality to protect the public welfare and the interests of the public in the safe effective movement of persons, to encourage healthy economic development, to promote jobs, and to preserve and enhance the function and appearance of business districts located within any Class 2 municipality through the adoption of ordinances as authorized by this article.
Last modified: May 3, 2021