Our downtown is truly the heart of the city. Many hours have been spent in defining the issues and reviewing reports. Still more needs to be done.
We have a jewel in the city. The heart of our value system is within the downtown. As a successful and interactive city, we need to capitalize on this important commodity. True, we have had numerous scoping sessions and a consultant, but many critical elements need to be addressed. Crime in the area is of major concern to the property and business owners. This can be addressed in a few ways. Increased patrols in the area from Tracy's Finest will help to do the trick, but active and proactive code enforcement will also need to be approved to help provide an atmosphere conducive to retail, and to provided safety and stability to our patrons and business owners. We also need to work with the owners in helping them to utilize the funds available for facade improvements. These funds are ready and available to use, but are confusing in how to deal with all the strings attached in their application. While on the council, I will work as an intermediary between the administrative staff and the property owners to utilize these funds to their highest potential. I look forward to maximizing this very valuable resource. The downtown is an integral part of our overall economic development package.
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