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Council hears updates on downtown revitalization and Whitmore Mansion; funds remain restricted to downtown projects
Summary
At the June 2 workshop staff confirmed downtown revitalization funds remain restricted and outlined plans for third- and fifth-street projects; residents urged sale or alternative management of the Whitmore Mansion, and staff said the city owns the property and is negotiating a management agreement.
Council and residents raised questions about downtown revitalization and the Whitmore Mansion during the June 2 budget workshop.
A public commenter asked whether funds previously collected for downtown revitalization (before the city stopped collecting for the downtown association) would be reallocated. City Manager Doug Dunford said the money remains restricted to downtown use and staff plans to bring a project back for third- and fifth-street improvements "and it doesn't get reallocated to any other department." Economic-development staff said they are engaging downtown businesses ahead of those items.
Several residents called the Whitmore Mansion a "white elephant" and urged the council to consider sale or a more productive use. Staff said the city owns the property outright and that a local nonprofit (the Whitmore Mansion Foundation) has operated it under contract since 2013; a contract amendment and potential new management arrangement was expected to return to the council on June 9.
No formal decisions were made at the workshop; staff said they would return with project specifics for downtown revitalization and a contract update for the mansion.
