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nationally franchised businesses. <br /> The argument being that the Loop is a <br />destination for the region. If we homogenize our businesses with every other <br />retail area, we lose our character and our viability as a destination district. The <br />building owners are also meeting in relation to the topic and while the two <br />constituencies are clearly linked, they appear to have varied views on the topic. <br />This is an important issue for the residents in the community as well. The Loop <br />is more than just our shopping district; it is our downtown, a gathering place and <br />symbol for our community. Please find a staff report on the issue of “formula <br />businesses” attached. The primary concern is first floor Delmar frontage. The <br />report identifies a few potential solutions as a starting point; the available models <br />are varying in complexity and scale and could be something as simple as <br />establishing a regulation under Conditional Use permits for businesses with more <br />than three locations in the region. The LSBD has committed to providing a <br />recommendation after their April meeting. <br /> <br />Flower Planters <br />2. –The planters have been an ongoing issue for the LSBD. <br />The difficulty with the planters is with the volume. There are 150 planters in the <br />Loop and no plan or funding to maintain them. With the fabulously organized and <br />generous coordinators of U-City in Bloom, we have a plan to reduce the number <br />of planters in the Loop, relocate the remaining planters, and most importantly, to <br />prepare and maintain them through the growing season. The square planters will <br />be turned parallel with the street and spaced out roughly three to a block. For <br />merchants wishing to have additional planters we will relocate the round planters <br />for their use. U-City in Bloom will only be responsible for the square planters. <br />The roughly 30 planters, which will be removed, have been offered to the Olive <br />Business Association or will be stored by Parks. The City offered to match a <br />$5,000 commitment by the LSBD. Even with a $10,000 commitment it is a <br />generous offer on behalf of U-City in Bloom to complete the work. <br /> <br />pedestrianlights <br />3. The decorative are on schedule. The light locations will <br />be marked sometime next year in advance of their placement for final review. <br /> <br /> graffiti <br />4. The LSBD is interested in City assistance with the removal of . <br />Almost all the merchants there said graffiti removal on private property is a <br />problem for them. The merchants are receiving a quick response from private <br />companies, and the removal process has damaged their buildings. The LSBD is <br />interested in calling one number to have graffiti removed quickly and to ensure <br />that buildings are not damaged by the removal process. Staff is looking into the <br />cost of having graffiti removed by private contractors -- the merchants could <br />choose to use or not, the city would look at possible vendors and maybe consider <br />bidding out each year, on behalf of the owners. <br /> <br />Solar Powered Holiday Lights <br />5. - Loop did consider the lights, but at this <br />time, as the background information showed, there may not be enough light to <br />power the solar panels due to buildings and trees blocking sunlight and no <br />commercial application to date. <br /> <br />