Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) executive staff presented a three‑part plan: renew the MOU with the city for three years, study and pursue a Downtown Improvement District (DID) if stakeholders want it, and create a mayoral committee to guide downtown priorities.

Stacy Garrett, DLA's executive director, explained a DID is a dedicated funding mechanism that would levy an incremental tax rate on properties within a defined downtown boundary to pay for enhanced services — for example, ambassadors, façade grants, lighting and cleaning. Garrett cautioned DIDs do not replace municipal services, change zoning, or directly enforce laws.

City staff presented illustrative boundary and revenue math: roughly 675 parcels and an assessed base near $275 million; at a 10¢ incremental rate on the real‑estate tax, staff showed an illustrative estimate of about $275,000 per year to fund downtown services. Staff emphasized that boundary selection and stakeholder buy‑in are crucial and that the DLA already produces events such as Bright Nights (6,000 visitors, $929,000 estimated economic impact in the cited year) and provides an existing nonprofit partner for a potential DID.

Council members asked for additional data (employees downtown, number of businesses, visitor counts, tax revenue breakdown and the total value of city support to DLA including in‑kind rent and services). Members also raised FOIA and record‑keeping questions about communications and whether the DLA's materials or staff communications should be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests given in‑kind city support. Staff said the current MOU expires Dec. 31 and recommended renewal discussion and further stakeholder outreach.