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EDA agrees to lower flower‑pot fee, concentrate planters on downtown Robinson
Summary
The Dayton EDA agreed by consensus to reduce the annual public flower‑pot fee from $200 to $100, concentrate planters along the Main/Robinson downtown stretch and provide a small recognition for the volunteer who maintained them last year.
The Dayton Economic Development Authority on Feb. 18 reached consensus to lower the annual fee for public downtown flower pots to $100, put the planters back along the Main/Robinson downtown stretch and provide a small gift recognition to the volunteer who maintained them last season.
The vote to approve the meeting agenda opened the session and the flower‑pot discussion followed under new business. A member of the EDA said, "The fee discouraged people to participate last year," and argued lowering the fee would boost public participation in the program. Another member noted the volunteer who had been maintaining the pots did a "fantastic job" and suggested offering recognition or a gift card.
EDA members reported the program’s per‑season cost as roughly $450–$500 and noted there are eight pots available. One member ran the math during the meeting: charging $100 each would generate about $800; after the EDA’s prior $500 contribution, that would leave about $300 to cover other costs. The board signaled consensus to set the public fee at $100, concentrate the pots on Robinson/Main, and to allocate an amount (discussed as roughly $250) as a gift card or recognition to the volunteer who maintained the planters.
Staff said watering and seasonal planting are handled by city personnel ("Marty takes care of that") and that the program includes spring planting and winter displays. Members asked staff to publicize the lower fee in the city communicator and on the city website to attract more public participants.
The EDA did not adopt a formal ordinance or make a recorded roll‑call vote on the program change during the meeting; the record shows a consensus direction to staff to implement the changes and to contact the volunteer about recognition.
Members also discussed logistics including where public works would place and maintain the pots and agreed staff should coordinate placement and publicity this spring.
The EDA moved on to other agenda items after confirming the group’s direction on the flower‑pot program.
