05/12/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e (II-A-2) e In response to questions from Councilwoman Beal, Mr. Farina said that the EDA was made up of all businesses downtown - professional people as well as retailers _ and that they contributed through ad valorem and business license taxes and through funding of the free parking program administered by the Downtown Develop- ment Board. Also, that professional people involved in the Association included lawyers, doctors, accountants, bankers, etc., who recognized that a strong viable downtown center was necessary for the health of their businesses also. He noted that outlying shopping centers were very rapidly developing office space to accommodate the same type of activities. Mayor Anderson also in response to Councilwoman Beal said that membership of the Mall Commercial Activities Com- mittee had broad community representation - merchants, citizens, University students., etc. Councilman Keller thought there was no question about the difference between Valley River Center and the downtown mall. One of the great differences, he said, was the difficulty of gaining involvement of the varying interests in downtown activities, and he thought the proposed approach would achieve that. He strongly supported the idea, saying it would be worth the effort to try it, recognizing that splitting .of funding and duties would have to be spelled out. Councilman Murray said he supported the idea also but he couldn't understand the difference between one full-time manager as opposed to two half-time positions, taking into Consideration a slight question of co-ordination and workability. He thought trying the two half-time positions for a year would give the experience necessary eo assess the program, with the understanding there would be mutual input with regard to selection of two half-time people. Councilman Williams said one fact had to be added - that there already was $20 million public involvement in the downtown area [urban renewal program]. Trying to promote a healthy downtown was a valid point, he said, but untimely. The question was whether government could properly fund the manager position. He couldn't see the difference in the half-time and full-time positions, assuming the same individual could hold each. Mr. Murray moved that the parks department be encouraged to submit an application to the Room Tax Allocation Committee for a half-time appointment of a person to carry out the functions designated under the job description entitled "Mall activities and special events," and if that is funded that the downtown merchants be actively in- volved in the selection of the individual to fill that half-time position but that the individual will not be the same person to carry out the functions described under "Downtown Association market development." ThC!re was no second. Mr. Murray moved seconded by Mr. Keller to approve the Room Tax Alloca- tion Committee recommendation to allocate $6,000 to fund half the salary of a mall manager. Motion carried, Council members Keller, Williams, Hamel, and Shire~ voting aye; Council members Murray, Beal, and Haws voting no. Comm 4/30/75 Approve Councilman Haws said he would vote against allocation of $6,000 to pay half of the salary of a mall manager because he thought employment for that position should be kept separate from the Downtown Association. He expressed concern about expediture of funds in one particular area but was willing .totest it for a year or so if the posi- tion was under supervision of the parks department. Mr. Haws moved second by Mr. Murray to allocate $6,000 of room tax funds for mall manager salary, the person filling that position to be hired by the city under the supervision of the parks department under guidelines originally set forth, with emphasis on cultural and recreational activities on the mall. ** Councilwoman Shirey said that when she voted in committee she thought she was voting on something t~at would open applications and a mall manager subsequently hired, she was not aware that the person was already picked. She asked correction of April 30 committee 5/12/75 - 11 25<0