Compromise Made Over Additional Funding Requests For Downtown Programs

The Fond du Lac City Council will be including an extra $30,000 in the Community Development Department budget for improvements in the downtown. The Council last week approved the Business Improvement District Operating Plan and Budget for 2018. Before that Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Executive Director Amy Hansen requested an addition $173,000 for new initiatives including additional staffing, a storefront beautification program, residential feasibility program, and a retail and restaurant expansion program. Councilman Derek TerBeest liked the storefront beautification program, which would cost $20,000. In lieu of a compromise City Manager Joe Moore proposed the additional $30,000 for the Community Development Department, which could be used for beautification or expansion efforts in the downtown. Moore noted that with various funding mechanisms the city will be offering downtown financial support of more than $3 million in 2018.