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<br /> <br />Gregory Pace, 7171 Westmoreland <br />Mr. Pace said even though Council authorized a contract, Council can still say no <br />at this point and time. He said the request for funds should be denied when it <br />sounded like property owners have not been contacted and there was no clear <br />direction that the money would benefit University City. Mr. Pace noted in the <br />Council packet, there were some illusions as to how University City would benefit <br />from a C.I.D. He said if a not-for-profit was set up, they cannot authorize a sales <br />tax as there was too much sales tax now in the Loop. Mr. Pace said a business <br />owner would need a C.I.D. and let it be funded through property tax assessment. <br /> <br />Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel <br />Ms. Glickert spoke in opposition to funding of the C.I.D. district as it only benefited <br />the property owners; not University City. She stated the Loop businesses should <br />pay for their own legal fees and there was no justification to use the Economic <br />Development Retail Sales Tax money for legal fees for the Loop property owners. <br /> <br />Joe Edwards, 6509 Delmar <br />Mr. Edwards agreed with no additional sales tax. He said the goal of hiring an <br />attorney concerning the formation of a C.I.D. was to get the expertise to bring all <br />the property owners together and find the right balance to improve the Loop. He <br />noted that the money was already approved by Council. Mr. Edwards stated there <br />comes a time when the Loop’s needs are greater than their budget, so items <br />remain on the agenda month after month. He stated everyone in the Loop is very <br />aware of the benefits of a C.I.D. and hoped that people will consider voting yes, as <br />it was just for a study. Mr. Edwards stated there are so many questions to be <br />answered, the law firm has been chosen and every day that passes, we lose an <br />opportunity to go forward and compete with other areas. <br /> <br />Mr. Kraft stated his understanding was the City could structure this as a loan and <br />if the City spends a little money and decided that nobody wanted it, then that will <br />be the only amount of tax money used. Mr. Kraft asked to verity if Council <br />decided to agree to the legal work, for a potential C.I.D. and was there a way to <br />repay the money used for this work was part of the C.I.D. formation, they would be <br />required to repay once they had money of their own. <br /> <br />Mr. Walker stated that was correct. <br /> <br />Mr. Price asked the City Manager if the $40,000 was already allocated; then why it <br />would need approval now. <br /> <br />Mr. Walker stated Council approved the $40,000 appropriation but this item was <br />for the authorization for the City Manager to enter into a specific contract to <br />expend that money. <br /> <br />Mr. Price asked what would be the implication if it was voted on 16 days from <br />now. <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br /> <br />