The DeKalb City Council will meet with the Greater DeKalb Partnership Board of Directors next Wednesday to “clear the air” about the partnership’s commitment to various downtown issues, said City Manager Mark Stevens.

In a letter to GDP Vice President Karen Remen, Stevens says that in the last six months “there has been minimal progress in addressing major downtown issues of vacancies, physical appearance, special events … despite these issues allegedly being high priorities of the GDP and the city.”

Also, Stevens says that over the same time period the efforts of the partnership have not been well communicated, documented, or understood, and that these efforts “have not resulted in building a foundation sufficient to sustain and enhance momentum, enthusiasm, support or commitment.”

Stevens charges that a greater commitment is needed by the GDP to fulfill the $30,000 contract the organization made with the city last September. He also says that most of the $50,000 set aside by the city for various downtown projects has not been used. Stevens also said more than $15,000 available for downtown loans has yet to be put to use.

Lastly, Stevens finds that there is “an overall lack of focus as to what is trying to be accomplished downtown, an overall lack of communication as to what is being done and a lack of clarity as to who is responsible for that which must and can be resolved.”

To rectify the situation, Stevens proposes a six-month plan of action intended to act as a structure for the objectives of the city and the partnership in their pursuit to better the downtown area. The plan includes seven basic objectives for the partnership and city to follow. “There are not a lot of new ideas or new directions, but rather a focusing of attention on what needs to be done.”

Timelines, details, preparations, and specific goals should be added to each objective if the plan is adopted, Stevens said.

The objectives of partnership that are suggested in the plan include improving downtown management, attracting a mix of retail and services to fill vacancies in the downtown area, improving the physical appearance of the business district, expanding special events, improving cooperation, communication, and the downtown image, and providing input for a downtown plan that will be organized by the city.

The objectives of the city call for its cooperation in each of these phases, as well as addressing downtown parking problems.

A section in the final part of the plan calls for banner hanging and tree planting projects that were expected to be “relatively simple and quick” projects to be completed “expeditiously.”

Remen said these projects are part of a special promotion the partnership has planned for the month of May, during which the organization will also initiate a general clean-up of the downtown area.

Also in the final part of the plan, Stevens says the “GDP needs to assess its staffing, committee structure and budgetary structure relative to downtown activities in terms of capability to staff, finance and implement downtown activities.”

Stevens suggests that some of the problems the GDP is having with fulfilling its commitments to the city could be solved by refocusing its present staff and volunteer time. He also cites the vacancy of the president’s position as a possible cause for problems.