The Lincoln City Council will allow a Business Improvement District to be developed along a stretch of South street.

The Business Improvement District-- or B.I.D.-- will encompass South street from 9th street east to 19th street. City council chair Doug Emery says the B.I.D. will collect assessments from businesses. The funds can then be used to maintain landscaping in islands, medians, and around the businesses.

Once the B.I.D. is created, those involved can also decide what other improvements might be made. Emery cites snow removal as an option. He says a B.I.D. is already in use in the Havelock area to help improve the facades of buildings in the business district.

Emery says there was an amendment to delay the formation of the South street Business Improvement District for a week. The council voted to defeat that in a 5-2 vote. Then the council voted to set up the B.I.D., and the council passed the plan on a 6-1 vote.

In other Lincoln City Council developments, members passed a proposed to allow for public art projects on city streets with a 7-0 vote. City council chair Doug Emery says the art work would need to be approved by the city, and it would then be up to neighborhoods to decide how to create the art and pay for it. Emery says this will serve two purposes: First, he says it will help spruce up neighborhoods. Second, he says it will hopefully cause neighbors to get out and talk to other neighbors about how to improve the parts of town where they live.