Message to City Council: Stop stalling. Take the cement out of shoes. Talk straight. Get moving.

City Council's decision Monday night to delay until March a vote on whether to fund as much as $60,000 for a study of a possible downtown performing arts center was silly. The reasons used to justify the delaying tactic were even sillier.

Once again, members of the Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society asked the city for a little help. They want to know if the theater building could and should become a community performing arts center. And if so, what direction should be taken. Once again, city leaders said no...at least for now.

Why wait?

Many of those six aldermen, while praising the efforts of the theater society, said they have more questions than answers. And answers is what they need before they commit to such a big undertaking.

Big undertaking?

While most of us consider $60,000 a lot of money, in relevant terms comparing city spending, it's a drop in the bucket. For instance, aldermen Monday night approved a $2.5 million Warrant Register. That's a document that itemizes individual bills the city needs to pay. Every regular Council meeting they approve anywhere from $1.5 to $4.5 million in such expenditures. Questions are occasionally asked. Approval is usually swift and certain.

No, in this case money is not the issue. It's more a philosophical difference involving the interest or lack thereof of city officials desirous of a downtown performing arts center where the theater stands.

All kinds of reasons were tossed about Monday night why the arts center is not a good idea or why deciding on the study proposal should be delayed. Included in those reasons is the belief that the theater building has safety and building condition flaws, that the city should not be in the business of helping a private businessman, and a lack of assurances that the owner of the building may not enthusiastically embrace what recommendations the feasibility study suggests.

While there's nothing wrong with raising those questions and concerns, it seems clear to me that those negative thinking aldermen are missing the whole point of a feasibility study. Such a report is not meant to fill the pockets of a local businessman. It's meant to enrich the pockets and lives of Des Plaines taxpayers and the cultural opportunities of a community in need of such pleasantries. It's goal is to enhance Des Plaines' prestige among the league of North and Northwest suburbs, and to bring more people to the community, in particular downtown, so they and their families can enjoy themselves and invest here.

One of the most fascinating questions raised Monday night came from Ald. Pat Beauvais (1st) who asked whether the current owner of the theater would follow what the feasibility study suggests. City Manager Dave Niemeyer's answer was succinct: "No". Is that answer surprising? Look at it like this...if the city owned the theater building, and a study conducted on the feasibility of transforming it into an arts center concluded that such action was desirous, would Des Plaines be obligated to follow that suggestion? The answer would be "No". But at that point city decision makers would have at their disposal a professional analysis that could be used in determining a proper course of action. There would be little or no second guessing. They'd have the facts.

The more city leaders delay moving ahead on this subject with resolve and confidence, the chances of second guessing and making decisions based on ignorant increase.