The new solution crafted Tuesday would create a $150,000 contract between the city and the Downtown Business Alliance for downtown services. The Alliance markets the downtown area to businesses considering moving to the area and to potential customers. It also maintains downtown sidewalks, kiosks, tree stands, flower baskets and flower beds.

The contract would allow the nonprofit Alliance to maintain its independence.

Alliance president Bill Bancroft hailed the idea.

"This scenario, in my mind, takes away the argument of the opposition against the assessment and we still get the funds we need to make this work," he said. "The methodology looks like it works, but we'll have to bring it to our board to see if it really works."

Opponents also expressed pleasure with the solution.

"You're going to have a more responsive Downtown Alliance," attorney Richard "Dee" Bradford said. "You're going to have a better Downtown Alliance. Our firm receives no direct benefit from the Alliance, but our clients and friends do and I am willing to contribute to the Alliance."

The City Council couldn't vote on the latest plan Tuesday because it wasn't on the agenda. A vote is expected at the council's Nov. 13 meeting.

Questions remained in some minds.

"This is an untested model," Dayton said. "We're outside the box."

Downtown property owner John Payne expressed concern the Alliance would become a bureaucratic arm of the city instead of maintaining its autonomy.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com