The short-term future of the Ceres Downtown Revitalization Area Board is now in question after the Ceres City Council could not reach a consensus last week to enact assessments on businesses there.

The council was divided in a 2-2 split when Mayor Javier Lopez and Councilwoman Rosalinda voted in favor of establishing the annual assessment levee for fiscal year 2026-27 while Councilmembers James Casey and Cerina Otero voted no. Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez was absent.

A 2-2 vote represents a procedural denial.

The downtown revitalization area includes approximately 44 established businesses. They have been subjected to the same level of quarterly assessments – tied to quarterly gross receipts – since 1988.

Business owner and landlord Shane Parson said he was opposed to the way assessments are tied to gross receipts.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of businesses downtown, and gross receipts aren’t a real fair way to do that, especially for the gentlemen that owns the pharmacy,” said Parson, who suggested a flat $25 per month. He went so far as to say if any of his renters didn’t pay the fee that they would be evicted.

He specifically pointed out that gas stations pay a maximum of $500 per year which doesn’t jive with the gross receipts method of assessments. Parson also noted that some prescriptions at Ceres Drugs are “a thousand dollars a pop” which factors into higher gross receipts with little profit realized.

Parson also continued his push for the city to set up a two-hour parking limit in downtown, noting that some employees and business owners are tying up parking for customers.

Brandy Meyer, owner of three downtown businesses, is not opposed to bringing back the assessments, agreed with Parson that “some of the businesses downtown are paying way more than some of the other businesses, and that’s just not fair.”

She also suggested that the city could do more with the revenue, such as putting lights in the trees, speakers for outdoor music and sponsoring a window decorating contest. She also agreed the parking dilemma needs to be addressed.

“My business can be completely empty, but yet every parking spot is filled and something’s got to give.”

“We’re very, very fortunate to have a downtown right off the freeway,” Meyer told the council. “It can be the heart of Ceres. I’m not saying that all businesses are down there. There’s businesses all over Ceres that should also get noticed by the city but if we’re going to pay into the levy, and we should see a return on that as well.”

Meyer also asked for wayfinding signage and noted how Fourth Street landscaping is routinely littered with trash.

Vierra said she likes the concept of a flat fee for businesses to pay rather than based on gross receipts. She also said city staff is still working on formulating a time limit for parking. She concluded saying she is supportive of bringing the levy back but noted “I would like to see it fair and equal amongst the businesses downtown.”

Otero said she is not necessarily opposed to assessments but she wants to see a committee formed beforehand.

“There’s business owners here tonight who have shared their concerns and their ideas,” Otero shared. “I want to make sure that work actually is being done in downtown, and right now, I don’t actually see that happening. So I think we need to reevaluate, um, this levy assessment and come up with a better plan to collect in the future.”

Had the assessments been approved, CDRAB expected to take in only about $7,000 of which only $2,750 would be spent as follows: $1,500 for electricity and gas; $250 on advertising; and $1,000 for landscaping maintenance, and labor on rotating banners though the year as well as putting season lights on trees. For the most part, CDRAB revenue has been spent on electricity for street lighting and landscaping and other improvements. Without the revenue, the city will have to pick up the costs in the city’s General Fund. Aguirre said since the city suspended the assessments the landscaping appearance was “kind of dilapidated.”

As far as getting a committee together, to highlight the apathy among businesses, Economic Development Manager Julian Aguirre said he tried to get business owners to attend a meeting and out of 44 only four showed up.

“So it will take a while to regain this committee. It will not happen overnight. It’s going to take a process but while we work on getting that process, I would ask the council to approve the levy assessment.”