Citizens Make a Difference

When they allow their voices to be heard

I just received a news release from the City of Springfield which states that the Urban District Alliance has requested Council Bill 2008-337 be tabled and remanded to the Council’s Plans and Policies Committee.

For those of you unaware, or just needing a reminder, Council Bill 2008-337 was the ordinance which would have changed the closing time of the center of Park Central Square from 1:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

I recently devoted a Council Notes column to that issue and there have been many other vocal critics of the ordinance, both at and since the last Council meeting, where a public hearing was held.

I'm glad the ordinance has been tabled. It went against the grain of what I thought the city was trying to accomplish, to make the square an inviting place, a place people would want to frequent and would enjoy.

What troubled me the most, I guess, was that the reason it was proposed to close the center of the square earlier appeared to be based on a concern about impressions and perceptions. You know, we all realize that the impressions we make on people matter, but should laws and ordinances be based on people's perceptions and impressions of other people? I don't think so.

Apparently, the UDA has rethought it.

From the news release:

“We appreciate the public comment this issue has generated to date and look forward to working with the City, residents, business owners, and developers to continue the revitalization of Park Central Square and Center City,” Worley said in his request to table the bill.

Members of the Council's Plans and Policies Committee are:

John Wylie - Chair, Gary Deaver, Mary Collette, and Denny Whayne.

The committee's areas of responsibility are: Master planning in all of the areas; City code revisions and; Council goals and procedures.

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