By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
City of Whitewater officials are in the midst of drafting a 2017 agreement with Downtown Whitewater Inc., the nonprofit community organization that promotes businesses and other amenities in the heart of the community.
Although Downtown Whitewater operates independently, the organization has long had a close working relationship with the city on a number of issues, including funding programs and other initiatives that are spearheaded throughout the year.
City Manager Cameron Clapper discussed with the Common Council on Oct. 18 efforts to begin hammering out a 2017 agreement with the two parties. He said a final version of that agreement should be coming down the pike in December or January.
Tentatively, Clapper said he does not anticipate any financial changes, from the city’s end, on contributions to Downtown Whitewater.
This year, the city has contributed $30,000, made quarterly in installments of $7,500. As part of the agreement, Downtown Whitewater’s representatives need to match that amount through cash or in-kind contributions.
In addition to discussing the imminent 2017 agreement, the council retroactively consummated the two-party agreement for this year. Clapper said it was never signed, due in part to some big-picture policy issues, including the city’s recently adopted policy on permits for special events.
“It is anticipated that Downtown Whitewater will fulfill its obligations under the draft 2016 agreement and that the City of Whitewater will have no difficulty in meeting its financial obligations for 2016,” Clapper said.
In addition to funding, other issues within the annual agreements touch on financial reporting, parking accommodations and regulations, the various community events held throughout the year within The Triangle and the implementation of a Wi-Fi network.
In other business at the council’s Oct. 18 meeting, officials named Nicholas Alt to the Urban Forestry Commission.
Alt’s background includes ownership of a landscaping business and college courses in dendrology, the scientific study of trees.
