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Cool Spring Reports Business Gains and Expands Ambassador Program; Council Asks for Security Plan
Summary
Cool Spring Downtown District reported net business gains, large attendance at events and progress on a downtown ambassador program funded at $60,000; council received the report, debated shifting police funds to ambassadors, and asked staff for a security plan and funding options.
Ashanti Bennett, president and CEO of the Cool Spring Downtown District, presented the fourth-quarter downtown update, highlighting growth in street-level businesses (about 12 openings and 6 closures in the quarter, net +6; ~20 for the fiscal year), a Juneteenth crowd of just under 20,000, and large volunteer engagement for meal packing (71,130 meals packed).
Bennett described programmatic work, including a Dolly Parton Imagination Library rollout in Cumberland County, a literacy ambassador recruitment effort, and a downtown safety and engagement ambassador program. She said Cool Spring's contract currently totals about $60,000, which funds one full-time and one part-time ambassador position; the organization has used grants (including state arts council funds) to convert a 0.5 part-time role into a full-time position and is seeking partners to expand coverage.
Council members debated whether the previously discussed $100,000 allocation (which was discussed in some prior budget conversations for downtown staffing or a dedicated downtown police officer) should be redirected to the ambassador program or kept in the police budget. Councilman Benavente and others asked staff to analyze the trade-offs between using overtime funding in police versus expanding ambassadors as a city-managed service.
Councilmember Davis moved to receive the Cool Spring report; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Council asked staff to return with a security plan that addresses the objectives raised during discussion and to identify funding options, including a detailed look at the police overtime approach versus direct funding for ambassadors or a dedicated downtown officer.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a security plan and funding options, and will return to council with recommendations and an administrative report following the Dogwood Fall Festival.
