Downtown Commission adds seat for Public Safety commissioner

The Downtown Commission is amending its bylaws to add a member of the new Public Safety Commission to its roster. The Downtown Commission actually voted for this change in July, originally intending for the Public Safety commissioner to fill the long-empty seat set aside for a representative of the Music Commission, but the motion did not make it to City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. In the two months since the July meeting, Downtown Commission Chair August Harris spoke with Music Commission Chair Gavin Garcia, who voiced concerns over representation removal just as the downtown live music scene is being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new motion keeps the seat reserved for a Music commissioner, “even though they haven’t participated in more than three years,” Harris said. Commissioner Jennifer Bristol motioned for the new change at the Sept. 16 meeting and the motion carried unanimously after being seconded by Commissioner Christopher Lehman.