Board of Aldermen 03-09-2021 Page 20
So | do agree with Alderman Clemons putting it off to the 2022 and towards the end there in making sure we
have this and knowing we can change it if we want to. | think it’s a good idea to have this intent. The
Downtown Improvement Committee has supported different types of ideas that have come up at the last
moment when the City doesn’t have to necessarily put money out for it. They have been there to support
downtown; they don’t just make it look pretty. They are there to help. And they have been so supportive to
businesses, to everything else like that. | think we need to show our support and yes, whether we are going to
pass this or not with the barriers, or whether we are going to do this as a future endeavor every year. It is
something that we know is going to be hitting those parking meters. So | think we need to have some sort of
alternative plan and if we don’t need it at the last minute, so | too will be supporting this. And | have been
supporting this Ordinance as a co-sponsor. | think it’s a good idea and it is well planning for the future. Thank
you.
President Wilshire
Anyone else? Alderman O’Brien?
Alderman O’Brien
Thank you, Madam President. | too, | appreciate the comments and well thought process of Alderman Jette,
but | am also very proud to sponsor this bill with Alderman Clemons and, of course, | am definitely going to
support it. | want to have the public remember exactly next Tuesday is when the Governor came out with his
Proclamation that basically shut down the United States to some degree because of COVID. We took very
radical measures, the thing is — look what we did as far as putting the barriers up and extenuating the outside
dining to meet the safety needs, yet trying to do something to keep our businesses downtown vibrant. And it
has worked. It has worked. | think every single Alderman should take their hand and stretch it out and pat
themselves on the back. We did a very good job with that. We even beat Manchester, which sometimes can
be difficult but anytime we can pull the wool over those guys, | like it, you know?
But the thing is it is the radical thinking or the out-of-the-box thinking that has been done by this Board and
although | take into account Alderman Jette’s, | am a proud sponsor. | hope everybody passes this because
this is part of the piece of the puzzle to help us get through to 2022. 2020 | am writing off the books, 2021 let’s
get by this folks and let’s march on a try to make the City better. Thank you, Madam Presidert.
President Wilshire
You're welcome. Anyone else? Alderwoman Lu.
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you, Madam President. | think that Alderman Laws is the liaison with the Downtown Improvement
Committee. | wonder if he or Alderman Clemons can tell us how much typically the Downtown Improvement
Committee get into their coffer per year under ordinary circumstances.
President Wilshire
Alderman Clemons?
Alderman Clemons
| would say, | don’t have the exact figure, but on average it is about $100,000.00. In year’s past, it has been as
low as $60,000.00; in other years it has been as high as $140,000.00. It depends on how much traffic there is
downtown and that kind of thing and how much revenue we are collecting, but | don’t have an answer to that.
Maybe Alderwoman does because her hand is up. But it is approximately $100,000.00.
