Council discusses amendment to Greater Downtown Council contract to fund downtown outreach specialist

City leaders discussed a resolution to amend the special service agreement with the Greater Downtown Council to increase tourism-tax funding for downtown outreach work.

Councilor Randorf introduced the item, saying the amendment aligns the special service district contract with a tourism-tax allocation approved earlier. He and other council members said the additional funding would support the outreach specialist position staffed by the Greater Downtown Council; staff identified the outreach worker as Nathan Keske (name variations recorded in the meeting). The position focuses on outreach to unhoused people and residents with substance-use disorders.

During questions, Councilor Kennedy asked why the city was moving funds into the special service agreement rather than issuing a new request for proposals. Staff and the item’s sponsor said the $65,000 figure had already been approved as part of tourism-tax allocations earlier in the audit "flight" and that the contract amendment is a paperwork step to match the contract to the previously authorized allocation. One speaker said the request originally came in October and appeared to represent roughly half the funding for the position; another speaker said the city had previously supported the role with ARPA funds for the last three years.

There was inconsistent numeric reporting in the discussion: speakers referenced both $65,000 and $68,000 in the course of the item. Council members asked staff to follow up with clearer documentation and prior council actions. Clerk Denham and other staff agreed to provide background materials and to ensure the contract language matches the council’s earlier tourism-tax decisions.

No formal vote on the contract amendment is recorded in the transcript.