The city could be spending the $25,000 it had planned for a Main Street facade project on a downtown cultural festival.

The Main Street Yukon Society and Artspace North have asked the city to reallocate the funds to the month-long event set for July.

The request comes after the territory turned down the Community Development Fund (CDF) bid for the facade work last year.

In 2003, council approved spending the money on the facade project, then worked with the Main Street Yukon Society to apply for $250,000 in CDF money.

The project was turned down because it's not designed for municipalities or to benefit private businesses that would not normally be eligible for funding.

'At the same time, Main Street Yukon and Artspace North Society had filed a separate application to the Community Development Fund to present a cultural festival in the downtown in the month of July,' reads the administrative report to council.

'This application for $75,000 was approved and they have an additional commitment from the private sector and other territorial and federal programs for $100,000.'

If the city denied the request, the $25,000 would remain in the city coffers for consideration during the 2006 budget committee deliberations.

'While the application of the funds is different, the original purpose of the allocation by council was to support Main Street,' reads the report.

'Heart of Downtown Streetfest 2005 is intended to support cultural tourism and business growth in the downtown and would seem to meet the intent of the allocation.'

Information provided to the city on the festival notes the first StreetFest was held in 2000 and presented by the Yukon Arts Centre. Over the five days, there were concerts, dances and entertainment on Main Street, costing $150,000.

'The festival was well-received by the community and visitors, but some business owners expressed concern that the event blocked traffic and interfered with business, while others complained that the festival was too localized on Main Street and did not include them,' reads the information given to the city.

It goes on to point to last summer's HeART of Downtown event, which saw artists' demonstrations and displays.

'In September of 2004, Main Street Yukon Society and Artspace North Society decided to create a month-long festival in July 2005 that has the cultural atmosphere of HeART of Downtown and the profile and entertainment value of StreetFest, and also meets the tourism industry's need for ongoing value during the summer season,' the backgrounder notes.

Elements of the event include:

ï Street entertainers ranging from musicians to circus performers from the Yukon and across the country, with the principal venue likely being the plaza of the Elijah Smith Building. Other sites could be in front of businesses, the White Pass and Yukon Route depot, the local visitor reception centre and the Taylor House.

ï Street dances each week with different themes such as Celtic, first nation, swing bands and others. The venue could change throughout the summer and include Shipyards and Rotary Peace Parks and First and Third Avenues.

ï An arts market for local artists to present demonstrations and sell their wares, which could be located in a tent on the waterfront or in a leased space.

ï Business owners inviting artists to do demonstrations, exhibits or create work on-site.

ï A radio program hosted on a local station which would focus on art and StreetFest events.

ï A television link where WHTV would be requested to turn its channel 116 camera on the Elijah Smith Building busking area.

ï A brochure and walking guide that would take visitors on a cultural tour through the city to visit galleries, exhibitions, performance, shops, local cafes and clubs.

ï Festivals and events being promoted through StreetFest and programming being developed to complement and enhance events like the Sour Brides Theatre, Frantic Follies, Yukon International Storytelling Festival and Canada Day, among others.

Council is scheduled to vote this evening on whether to reallocate $25,000.