The City Council on Tuesday night voted to move to a July 23 public hearing and final vote on setting up a controversial downtown Business Improvement District (BID).
In favor were Anthony Byrd, Darrin Ledford, Erskine Oglesby, Jerry Mitchell, Carol Berz and Chip Henderson. Voting no were Ken Smith and Russell Gilbert. Demetrus Coonrod abstained.
The local chapter of the NAACP said the plan would move the city back toward segregation and the Jim Crow laws.
The plan is to assess property owners within the district to pay for special services, including roving ambassadors who helped deal with the homeless and panhandlers, graffiti and litter. Landscaping and other improvements would be carried out.
There would be a nine-member board.
Some $1 million in assessments are planned within the district.
Under state law, on July 23 there will be the public hearing and a final decision by the council.
City Attorney Phil Noblett said there had been a complaint filed that Chairman Oglesby had a conflict due to his relationship with the River City Company, which is heading up the BID.