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Session 1514, Minutes Page 4 March 12, 1990 said that was corrt L, noting that the three people sworn in earlier were mem- bers of the Loop Special Business District Comission, and those elected mem- bers control how the District's money is spent. Ms. Barbara Romero, Katcher Picture Framing, 8354 Olive, agreed with the com- ments of Mr. Hahn regarding negative remarks heard earlier from those who did not attend most of the meetings that were held. She said she strongly support- ed the Special Business District and would like to serve on its commission. Ms. Aleene Schneider, 8301A Olive, said she was upset last fall when there was a problem with the lights on Olive. She wanted to see something done about lighting before starting a special business district. She said she was not opposed to the district, and thought a vote should be taken. Ms. Donna Kessel, 8340-42 Olive, supported the establishment of a special bus- iness district, and said one gets from the community what one puts into it. She noted that most of those supporting the district have already done much to improve their properties. She felt that if those either against or undecided about the district would support it, they would eventually see the whole area turn around, and all would benefit greatly. Mr. Robert J. McGowan of Cummins, McGowan and West, 8668 Olive, said he did not attend all the meetings, but felt that the tax funds would be unevenly distributed and used rather nebulously. He also thought the formula for as- sessing the tax was unfair. He said a vote should be delayed until more in- formation could be disseminated because he felt many of the business owners did not understand how the district would work. Mr. Klotzer returned and suggested a change in the tax assessment formula that would make it fairer and more gradual and should alleviate business owner con- cern. He also noted that funds allocated to private property would not be to- tal payments, but enticement payments (a portion of the total bill) to encour- age owners to take care of needed improvements. Mr. Greg Humphries, owner of Bud Humphries' Draperies, 8507-09 Olive, said he was in favor of the business district proposal, but the stumbling block was the percentage of increase, because the larger businesses would be assessed a smaller percentage than the small businesses. Mr. Adams asked that Assistant Director of Planning Mary Fahey recap what has been done and respond to concerns expressed. Ms. Fahey said that four general meetings were held between July and February, and in addition, three steering committee meetings that were attended by those who indicated at the general meetings that they would like to be more closely involved in exploring the possibility ofsetting up a special business district. Notices were sent to all businesses about the four general meetings. The steering committee worked with her to set priorities and meeting agendas, and tried to anticipate the questions they thought business people would ask. She said the fee structure evolved from steering coammittee meetings after much discussion and brainstorm- ing from participants regarding what they felt were the detrimental aspects of the area, that is, things that prevented the area from growing and investment from happening; the final fee structure was then discussed at one or two gen-