“The diversity makes any downtown area strong (and creates) an ability to be more resilient and change," Torkildson said.

Many of the business owners at the meeting said the presence and actions of homeless individuals are a deterrent to customers.

Cas Salas, owner of Triangle Market on the corner of the 300 block of State Street, said he watches potential customers cross the street to avoid the group of people who panhandle and sleep outside his store — a pattern seen by many retailers.

Soglin cited a 2012 panhandling ban that was reversed by the City Council and attempts to curb behavior of what he says is a small group of about 50 to 60 people that negatively influence the image of downtown.

The Rethke project, a permanent supported housing development for chronically homeless individuals, should help reduce the number of homeless people downtown when it opens in about a month, Soglin said. He also said he plans to re-introduce sleeping hours downtown, which could help businesses.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable that the thousands of people who come downtown to State Street have to feel that they’re in the middle of someone’s bedroom at noon,” Soglin said.