Update: Discussion for Funding Downtown Revitalization Survey Delayed

Due to busy work schedules and vacations, the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce will delay asking the City Council to fund an economic redevelopment survey in downtown Stillwater.
The discussion is expected to be taken up during the July 16 meeting.

Original Post:

The City Council tonight will discuss the Downtown Revitalization Committee’s request of the city to fund an economic redevelopment survey in downtown Stillwater.

The cost of the survey ranges from $35,000 to $65,000.

• Watch livestreaming video of tonight’s Stillwater City Council Meeting

The Downtown Revitalization Committee, a subcommittee of the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Symposium, has been working on a plan to revitalize downtown.

On May 7, Todd Streeter, the chamber’s executive director, asked the city to pay for a group of studies looking into the economic, demographic, marketing and business mix aspects of downtown Stillwater’s retail sector.

City Administrator Larry Hansen told the Pioneer Press he expected the vote Tuesday to be "quite controversial," saying "it's 50-50."

While the council appeared to agree with many aspects of the proposal, questions have been raised regarding the cost, timing of the survey and the exclusive focus of the proposed survey on downtown redevelopment, rather than the business community as a whole.

According to City Attorney Dave Magnuson, the council could approve no more than $50,000 annually to the chamber for redevelopment purposes.

If funds were awarded for the survey, Magnuson recommends the city enter into a contract with the chamber directly linking payments to the satisfactory completion of the project.