City Council received a recommendation to approve a permanent entertainment district for downtown at Monday night’s meeting. Alderman Bob Thomas read the committee’s recommended parameters but said that the committee originally provided a recommendation for a temporary downtown ED that he said, “The mayor pulled.”
Therefore, in response to denial to the temporary ED, the committee provided the following request to council for a permanent ED that would operate seven days a week from 1 to 10 p.m. from 173 S. Main (Red’s Pizza) to 82 Armstrong (Cathouse) and parts of Main, Spring and Center Streets.
After Thomas submitted these proposed district parameters he said he understood that Mayor Butch Berry has his own recommendation to council.
ED committee member Damon Henke reminded council, “This committee was originally set by the mayor to talk about a permanent district.” Kendra Hughes, also on the committee, said she and other members have contributed two hours a week for eight weeks working on the recommendation as requested by the mayor.
Mayor Butch Berry said his recommendation is to reduce the days from seven to three a week, add a sunset clause as of the end of February 2020, and adjust the downtown district location, but he did not disclose where.
Alderman Mickey Schneider asked, “What’s the rush?” Schneider said she thought the plan was to have more practice with the temporary EDs before venturing to a permanent ED. “We’ve had two temporaries so far,” she said. Hughes also said there was no rush.
Alderman Harry Meyer said he believes it’s time to hold public hearing at the Auditorium to discuss a permanent ED, “and listen to what the public has to say before we go any further with an ordinance.” Alderman Melissa Greene agreed saying, “I think it’s something we should explore.”
Schneider asked again, “What’s the rush?” questioning why the city would want to promote alcoholic drinking to increase revenue downtown. “I’m sorry, I don’t like using booze to make sales,” Schneider said. “That’s ridiculous and asinine.”
Thomas recommended and made a motion that council authorize City Attorney Tim Weaver to write an ordinance for a permanent ED as proposed by the committee to discuss at open public hearings before voting. After extensive discussion, with Meyer and Schneider opposed, the mayor voted Yes making the vote in favor 4-2 to pass.
Norris St. house to stay with hospital
The mayor said no bids were received on the 25 Norris St. across from the hospital. He said the Hospital Commission would like to keep this property as part of hospital facilities. Schneider said the commission’s request made sense and made the motion to accept it, and that motion passed.
Olio orts
- Free two-hour parking on Spring and Main Sts. for the month of December was unanimously approved.
- Berry said that on Dec. 19 the city will receive open bids to remodel the basement of the Auditorium complete with ADA bathroom and ADA elevator. On Dec. 23 the bids will be announced.
- Council unanimously approved the proportionate share agreement for the District Court Judge.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25 in the Auditorium.