Albany City Council agreed on Tuesday night to impose a special rates levy be on CBD properties to enable the Central Albany Business Owners Alliance (CABOA) to try and create a more improved image.

The funds raised from 250 business owners will go towards forming a CBD Business Improvement District Program.

The first move by business owners group will to become incorporated and employ a “street manager” who will have the responsibility of putting more life back into the York Street precinct to attract more people.

BID is a strategy where the business ratepayers can plan and deliver improvements to the precinct that will benefit the business environment and sustain it in the long term

It will look at car parking, transport, street art and family events.

CABOA chairman Davyd Hooper said BID would enable business people to breathe life back into the CBD.

He said the aim was to get locals to spend more time in the area by creating a more dynamic environment.

This would benefit both businesses and the city.