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1 i I Session 1514, Minutes Page 3 March 12, 1990 of bringing the issue to a vote. He said Gramex would like to see more even- ing business, and anything that can be done to maintain or improve the store- fronts along Olive would be welcome. Dr. Warren Green, 8356 Olive, said the type of businesses along Olive were not } conducive to pedestrian shoppers, and there was no need for as much landscap- ing as shown in the proposed plan. He said owners could make vacant buildings attractive by strictly following the City Code. He felt that parking areas x should not be screened by landscaping since visibility deters crime; also, the street lighting on Olive was poor and should be upgraded. He said business license fees are already too high; the proposed fee structure is inequitable and should be based on profit rather than income. Lastly, he felt the City should try to create an image of efficiency and correctness which he felt was lacking, calling attention to a business license application letter that had several grammatical and spelling errors. He suggested abandoning the special business district plan and said the City should enforce its current laws. Mr. Francis H. Phelan, 8021 Olive Boulevard, said a number of citizens have met for months on this matter, and Cou ncilmember Schoomer, the City Manager and others have addressed the owners regarding the possibility of establishing { this business district. There were opinions on both sides of this issue, he said, but a vote should be taken to determine the will of the electorate. Mr. Lester Schragin, 8227 Olive, said he saw no need for a special business district and that there was too much emphasis on landscaping. He said parking was more important, and an advertising campaign was needed to give the area an image and bring more people to it. He felt a neighborhood organization could raise funds with voluntary contributions, and raising taxes was unnecessary. s` Mr. Elliot Rich, Central Service Company, 8041 Olive, did not sPe the need for a special business district, suggesting what people need and want is known and there should be a plan to decide what needs to be done. The City should en- force current ordinances making businesses maintain their property, and taxes should not be assessed to upgrade private business property, he said, although w` agreeing there should be some beautification of the area. Mr. Charles Klotzer, 884 Berick, whose office is at 8380 Olive, said his prop- erty taxes had greatly increased over the last five years, and he did not see F' any direct benefit to his non-retail business, nevertheless, he was strongly in favor of establishing the new district. Improvements cost money, but he did not feel the proposed expenditures would be excessive. He said the area could be updated and a strong identity created, and that retail businesses es- pecially would benefit. He could not understand that businesses did not see the advantage of this kind of district, noting that a better environment re- quired spending money for improvements. Mr. Joe Hahn, operator of Norge Village, 8500 Olive, was in favor of the busi- ness district, and he urged the Council to see that this matter was put to a Ar vote. He thought perhaps scene of the business owners did not understand that Ihme the money generated from a special district would be used wholly within the district and that the district itself (not the City) decided had the money would be spent through its representatives on the commission. Mayor Majerus i