Downtown Summit

January 23, 2007

Questions during Q and A period

Q:        Will a Neighborhood Resource Officers be assigned to downtown as a district?

Q:        Will the Police Department get more funding for more police officers?

Q:        Will there be a Police Substation downtown housed out of the new planning office?

Q:        Regarding the redevelopment program, would the City use historic elements of Lawrence to promote the City?

Q:        individual is in the lodging business.  People love the shops.  Redevelopment causes an increase of rents and loss of unique shops.  Can the City level the playing field?  Could there be a tax on volume of sales versus property taxes?

Q:        There was a recommendation [from Chamber – Lavern Squire] to use a tool from other communities – City surplus for use by businesses as loans for building improvements.

Q:        Statement: There should be public restrooms all over downtown.  Can the Farmer’s Market have a permanent covered space?

Q:        Does the City have data to look back at retail sales history in the downtown area?  If so, we can measure results and judge changes?

Q:        Property taxes increase yearly based on the square footage of a building.  Is there movement to tax based on the income profitability of a business?

Q:        What about some type of alternative tax?  Is the State taking revenue sharing focused on income tax? Example given of Mesa, AZ.  There is no property tax, an 8% sales tax and an income tax.

Q:        Smart Code.  Will it be only option or an alternative?

Q:        How is the City addressing Last Call and the Shelter?

Q:        Does the Police Department receive training regarding mental health issues?  Have they looked at the Memphis model for this training?

Audience statement: It isn’t a PD problem, there is no where to take individuals needing mental health assistance

Q:        Did the City approve liquor licenses for Last Call in November?

Q:        Downtown does not get the same benefit as other economic development models used by the City, for example, industrial sites in Lawrence.  For example, the City of Eugene, OR – the development of property for open market.

Q:        Isn’t Last Call a land owner issue and not a Police Department issue?

Q:        If someone has a liquor license, is it forever?

Q:        Is there thought given to a business survey, revenue generation per sq. foot?  Same revenue, but less people so increase ticket costs, but fewer people.  Need information to know what is going on.

Q:        Could the City change things with Last Call similar to Naughty But Nice?

Q:        Were the sidewalks shoveled by City staff on Sunday morning?

Q:        Is parking ticket revenue up?

Q:        How much revenue does the City receive from parking tickets?

Q:        Is the beautification of downtown financed partially by liquor tax?