Board of Aldermen 6-23-2020 Page 9
Alderman Jette
Thank you. | looked at the contract and under what appears to be the scope of work, the number one thing
| see is, “provide strategic advice and assistance with management and execution of Dancing in the Streets
Project”. | am just wondering if there is anyone that can explain with COVID-19, are we actually going to
have a Dancing in the Streets Program and what exactly does that have to do with the Riverfront?
President Wilshire
Anyone want to take a stab at it? Mayor?
Mayor Donchess
Yes, Madam President, | was struggling with the computer again, sorry. Alderman Jette’s question had to
do with the GAD Contract and the Dancing in the Street. So this has been something that has gone very
well, but | think we believe that a change in location would greatly benefit what has been a really high
energy project for the Downtown. Up in Portland at a park called “Congress Square” they run like a
program almost every night or several nights a week. So we were thinking of expanding what we’ve done
and bringing it down to Renaissance Park where it is more in the middle of things in the down. At
Renaissance Park you have a couple thousand people living within you know sight of the park, between the
apartments at, of course, Clock Tower, at Cotton Mill Square and at Loft 34. Maybe it’s not 2,000 but it is
over 1,000 people, we don’t know how many live exactly in each apartment. Therefore, we thought we
could run a very energetic, improved, exciting program of dancing.
Now we are hoping, we don’t - as we have already talked about COVID-19 of course affects everything but
we are seeing more reopening. Depending on conditions, we want to be sensible and safe but given that
these are mostly adults, not you know, small kids or anything. This could be run in a way that enforces
social distancing and still provides people a good opportunity. Masks could be required, things like that, a
good opportunity to enjoy the downtown. So this can be paid for out of the TIF, this would not affect the tax
rate. It can be paid for out of the TIF because this is within the TIF District and activities such as this can be
paid for. So that was the — and Great American Downtown also needs a little bit of a lift financially. So this
was part of the idea in terms of this contract.
Alderman Jette
Ok, thank you for the explanation.
President Wilshire
Are you all set Alderman Jette?
Alderman Jette
Yes | am, thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Any other discussion? The Motion is to accept and place on file and approve the professional
services contract related to the Nashua Downtown Riverfront Project in the amount of $24,000.00 to the
Great American Downtown and to authorize the Economic Development Director sign all related
documents. Alderman Klee?
