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Group focusing on city's vitality
Of The Daily Oakland Press

The Committee of 50, made up of influential business and community leaders, will not let the financial problems and political controversies of the city divert its focus on revitalization of downtown Pontiac, said the Rev. Doug Jones, the group's chairman.

The committee will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church, 143 Oneida, south of W. Huron near North Oakland Medical Centers. Jones is encouraging anyone who would like to join and move the city forward to come to the meeting.

The optimism for the revitalization is beginning to wane because of recently revealed deficits, which include an estimated $5.2 million to $14 million in the general fund, as well as an estimated $6.9 million in funding that was projected for projects by the Tax Increment Finance Authority.

The shortage of funds has made it impossible to provide the $2.9 million to complete the $10 million renovation of the Strand Theater, which is 70-75 percent complete.

However, despite their differences over finances, Mayor Willie Payne and the City Council agreed to give nods to a brownfield plan that will help the volunteer theater group get a state tax break and possible historic and other tax breaks. It does not give the Strand any further city financing.

Jones is concerned the shortage in tax-increment funding may also hold up the streetscape that finally got under way last year at the north end of Saginaw. The streetscape will be started this spring on the south end of Saginaw to the Phoenix Center and is slated to be completed by August in time for the Woodward Dream Cruise and city festivals.

No change has been announced. The authority has entered into a contract with Plante and Moran to audit the tax-increment funds to determine what the status is before making any decisions on what projects can be done.

However, city Finance Director Ed Hannan said there is enough to make payments on all of the bond debts for projects throughout the city.

"We need to continue to see what we can do to move things forward," said Jones, who is also the city's Woodward Dream Cruise chairman. "The areas we want to focus on are the Strand Theater, the library and how to maintain downtown businesses."

"The city is in financial straits and there is so much going on with council and the mayor, hopefully, as a committee, we can come together. There are still things to focus on. I was really happy to see the council really believes in the Strand and we need to keep the push on that.

"We will look at the Streetscape. The half they did really looks good. Maybe we can spiff up the other end of Saginaw and we can talk about what we will do to keep the progress going," Jones said.

The Streetscape includes sidewalks, benches, trees and trash receptacles on Saginaw Street, the city's main downtown artery.

Other goals of the Committee of 50 are creating, developing and sustaining new and existing businesses, opening the door for minority and majority businesses, bringing the residents of Pontiac to downtown, and renewing a sense of pride, ownership and participation in the downtown.

For more information, call Jones at (248) 335-8740.
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