MONROE - The Monroe City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday night to approve two special events under one resolution, Monroe Main Street's Cinco de Mayo and Monroe Chamber of Commerce's City Wide Garage and Downtown Sidewalk Sales.
Alderman Paul Hannes was absent.
Before the vote, Alderman Jan Lefevre said she wanted the two events to be voted on separately.
"Because they are not, I am going to be voting this down," she said.
Lefevre expressed three problems with the Cinco de Mayo event: the closing of the Square, a lack of public restrooms and the nation-wide concern with immigration.
Lefevre said the small event didn't warrant a street closing.
"They want to close downtown and they are only projecting for 100 people," she said.
The event calls for closing the inside lane of the 1600 block of 10th Street from noon until 5 p.m. May 4.
Police Chief Fred Kelley had brought to the attention of the Public Safety Committee April 14 the "difference of opinion" among downtown business owners over closing downtown for events. Some owners have complained that customers, especially elderly customers, could not park nearby and were unable to get to the stores during events, Kelley said.
Committee members discussed that the problem should be addressed by Monroe Main Street and BID, and that the committee concern was with safety only.
The city-wide garage and downtown sidewalk sales event does not close any streets.
Lefevre also said the Cinco de Mayo event application indicated no toilet facilities would be supplied for the expected 100 participants.
"They need to have toilet facilities available, instead of having them go in and use businesses' restrooms," she said.
The national issue of illegal immigration was another of Lefevre's concerns.
"Given the climate around the country, this is not the proper time to do this," she said.
Citytowninfo.com lists Monroe's Hispanic population at 1.5 percent Hispanic, or 158 people.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, whose ward encompasses downtown, believes the percentage to be closer to 3 percent. Although, he said there may be as many as 500 people of Hispanic descent.
Hanson said Cinco de Mayo is a U.S. celebration and is not observed in Mexico. The holiday is celebrated in certain parts of Mexico.
"But any celebration to get people on the Square, I'm in favor of," he said.
Alderman Paul Hannes was absent.
Before the vote, Alderman Jan Lefevre said she wanted the two events to be voted on separately.
"Because they are not, I am going to be voting this down," she said.
Lefevre expressed three problems with the Cinco de Mayo event: the closing of the Square, a lack of public restrooms and the nation-wide concern with immigration.
Lefevre said the small event didn't warrant a street closing.
"They want to close downtown and they are only projecting for 100 people," she said.
The event calls for closing the inside lane of the 1600 block of 10th Street from noon until 5 p.m. May 4.
Police Chief Fred Kelley had brought to the attention of the Public Safety Committee April 14 the "difference of opinion" among downtown business owners over closing downtown for events. Some owners have complained that customers, especially elderly customers, could not park nearby and were unable to get to the stores during events, Kelley said.
Committee members discussed that the problem should be addressed by Monroe Main Street and BID, and that the committee concern was with safety only.
The city-wide garage and downtown sidewalk sales event does not close any streets.
Lefevre also said the Cinco de Mayo event application indicated no toilet facilities would be supplied for the expected 100 participants.
"They need to have toilet facilities available, instead of having them go in and use businesses' restrooms," she said.
The national issue of illegal immigration was another of Lefevre's concerns.
"Given the climate around the country, this is not the proper time to do this," she said.
Citytowninfo.com lists Monroe's Hispanic population at 1.5 percent Hispanic, or 158 people.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, whose ward encompasses downtown, believes the percentage to be closer to 3 percent. Although, he said there may be as many as 500 people of Hispanic descent.
Hanson said Cinco de Mayo is a U.S. celebration and is not observed in Mexico. The holiday is celebrated in certain parts of Mexico.
"But any celebration to get people on the Square, I'm in favor of," he said.