DAYTON — Dayton City Commissioners are one step closer to approving what some think will benefit downtown.
Wednesday night people got to tell commissioners how they feel about a proposal to expand the designated outdoor refreshment area or “DORA” beyond the Oregon District.
Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the first reading of the ordinance that would expand DORA.
No one at the meeting voiced an opinion against the expansion.
“Our businesses were all affected by COVID, we’ve talked about that tonight. We’re on our way back but we are still coming back. We are not back to pre-pandemic levels and I think this is a huge step in the right direction for downtown,” Nick Bowman, a business owner said.
People who attended the city commission meeting Wednesday were in agreement.
“A clear factor that we heard from all of these communities was the need and the willingness to help support their small businesses, to help them come out of the pandemic,” Sandy Gudorf, Downtown Dayton partnership president said.
Commissioner Shenise Tuner-Sloss said if the new DORA happens, there are a few things the city needs to keep an eye on.
‘The concerns of public safety and making sure that we have those mechanisms in place and that there is no additional strain on our police department, our safety forces and then monitoring it very closely,” Turner-Sloss said.
Commissioner Chris Shaw believed the new DORA plan will draw more people to the city.
“We are in competition with other communities and we should be doing everything we can do to be extremely competitive.
Dayton City Commissioners will discuss DORA again next week.
Ultimately if it is approved it will be expanded in June.