City Council member Don Redman filed a resolution urging Mayor Alvin Brown to remove the tables and chairs from Hemming Plaza, the Downtown park at City Hall.
The removal "should result in making Hemming Plaza less desirable for those exhibiting unruly or otherwise bad behavior," according to the resolution.
It states that over the past several years, more "transients and the homeless" occupy the park in the morning and stay all day to socialize and play cards, which prevents other members of the public from enjoying the plaza.
It further states that Downtown businesses have complained of "noise, vulgar language and unruly behavior" that originates from the card games and loitering.
Council members have met regularly about Hemming Plaza since Sept. 28, 2011, and an ad hoc committee chaired by member Denise Lee was created Dec. 16 and operated until the Council year began July 1.
Members have continued to hold meetings.
The idea to remove the park's tables and chairs has been discussed as far back as October 2011 and was again a topic during an Oct. 23 meeting, when Redman voiced concerns about the park's status.
As reported, Lee scheduled that meeting to discuss drafting legislation to restrict card games in the plaza and to authorize removal of benches, tables, chairs and diseased trees while also appropriating funds to repair planters and flower beds.
"We talk and talk and talk and the situation is getting worse," Redman said then. "The businesses have a problem with what goes on in the park. With revitalization of Downtown a goal of the mayor and the City Council, we need to do something."
Redman's legislation, filed last week, mentions removal only of the tables and chairs "to minimize the undesirable behavior and activities currently occurring at Hemming Plaza."
Brown spokesman David DeCamp early this morning said the administration will wait for due diligence on the issue.
"We are not inclined to remove any equipment out of Hemming Plaza until due diligence is done through RFI and RFP process as requested by Council members, and the DIA (Downtown Investment Authority) has had time to weigh in. We will certainly listen to the discussion by Council as this makes its way through the Council process," DeCamp said.
A Downtown Vision Inc. questionnaire earlier this year about the park's use drew 1,654 responses, 1,424 of which answered all of the questions.
Survey results indicated that 70 percent of people who responded were not interested in removing all of the park's tables and chairs and 56 percent were not interested in adding removable furniture, which also had been discussed.
DVI Marketing Director Katherine Hardwick told the subcommittee during the April 4 meeting that results showed respondents would like to see better security and a cleaner park with more events.
Redman, Lee and Council member Bill Gulliford meet at 10 a.m. today to update progress on issues concerning the park, according to a public notice of the meeting.
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