The Downtown Business Improvement District of Missoula (BID) was created by the Missoula City Council on April 4, 2005 after being petitioned to do so by a majority of the property owners in the District. The BID is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees and receives its funding through an assessment of the property owners (ratepayers) in the district. The Board of Trustees reports to the Ratepayers in the district and the City of Missoula. There are more than 542 property parcels in the BID boundry and communication with the Ratepayers is essential.