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21 Special Meeting October 6, 1986 Page 3 coordinator function would jeopardize our Main Street program, they do not have to go together. Anice Read advised the Council Terry Colley had reported 21 new people working in the Downtown area since January, 1986. She said if the City decided to combine the Main Street program person to also be the grants coordinator, it would jeopardize our official program. She stated the City of Ennis lost their program. Mayor Younger asked Ms. Read to provide the Council the advantages in being a Main Street City. Ms. Read stated the City would have design assistance from their office, monitoring of our program, they would train the new Main Street manager, and there would be full training next year. She said the program wants to see a changing in the economic structuring of downtown and that there should be new opportunities with the change in the drinking age. Ms. Kissler stated the City made a three-year commitment to the Main Street program and she would hate to have the City back out now when the City has made progress in the Down- town area. Messrs. Brown and Farr concurred with Ms. Kissler. Mayor Younger stated the City has not funded the program except in the way of a salary. Ms. Read stated the State does not fund anything but pro- vides $1,500 grants to the Downtown area. She stated the Main Street manager receives new ideas weekly on what is going on in other Main Street cities. She stated our City's provision to the Main Street manager is too small, as we should provide funds for travel and training (Austin), and the manager should be able to communicate by phone with other Main Street cities. Mayor Younger stated he has seen some improvement in the Downtown area but that does not justify the salary of a person to just sit. Ms. Read stated the job creation here is good and that 28 new businesses had begun in the past 2-1/2 years. Mr. Gonzalez stated the Council needed to give direction to stay in the program or not. Mr. Guerra stated he feels the City made a three-year commitment to the pro- gram. Mr. Coddington stated the Council should give the City Manager direction. It was consensus of all Members of the Council to continue with the Main Street program as is, except Mayor Younger who stated he did not have enough information to make a decision. Mr. Brown also stated the Council may need to provide more funds to the manager for travel and promotions, and Mr. Robbins advised there is $700.00 for travel and training in the Main Street program budget. Lunelle Ander- son stated many persons worked long and hard to get the program for San Marcos, and that the focus should be on San Marcos and not on Terry Colley who had been the Main Street manager. Regarding the grants coordinator, Mr. Gonzalez advised the only available money would be out of the loan program which funds $20,000 for administration. Mr. Gonzalez recommended a part-time person on a contractual basis out of the $20,000 available with the provision that as long as there are grants, there will be a job. It was consensus of Council for Mr. Gonzalez to pursue this as stated. Mayor Younger introduced a discussion regarding the Live Oak tree in Oak Heights which has been designated a historic landmark in an Ordin- ance adopted by the City Council on July 14, 1986. George Boeker advised the Council the tree is in poor health and a local tree specialist, Brit Clayton, has recommended the dead branches be removed and that the tree be force fed. Mayor Younger stated that the City could drill around the tree and possibly place a grate so water could get to the roots of the tree. Mr. Gonzalez advised the Council that Gregg Overly had advised him that chemicals used on lawns in the area could have caused problems to the tree. Mr. Overly advised the Council one side of the tree was dead and should be removed. He stated the tree appeared to have been chemically burned or possibly have oak wilt, but that he did not think oak wilt only affect one side of a tree. The Council was advised Clayton's Garden World, Hager's Nursery and Gregg Overly were all wil- ling to offer assistance with the tree. Mr. Gonzalez stated there would be a request for money for any costs involved at a future time.