LAS VEGAS -- There is a rather sticky matter heating up downtown thanks to a city ordinance and a strip club.

The Olympic Garden Topless Cabaret wants a new neon sign and is petitioning the city to pay for part of it. If approved, the sign would cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

The city of Las Vegas gives money to downtown businesses to upgrade their properties. Owners of the Olympic Garden strip club have petitioned the city for a new sign.

Other businesses are upset because they feel the club is getting unfair recognition.

"They have presence," said Mark Pagaduan, the art director for a couture clothing store across the street.

The company Pagaduan works for has applied for a grant to update its sign, but the city denied the application. Pagaduan thinks if the Olympic Garden is given a grant, it would show an unfair prejudice to the strip club.

"It's very unfair," he said. "We're not the Olympic Garden, but we are part of the Strip, and the Strip is a major part of Las Vegas."

The Olympic Garden is asking the city for $50,000 for a new sign. Mayor Oscar Goodman is behind the company's request, saying it would further is effort to revitalize downtown.

"It's a licensed, legal business," Goodman said. "Tell people get a life, okay?"

Owners of the strip club have not issued an official statement on the controversy, but in its application, they said they are willing to put up $83,000 in hopes the city will put in $50,000.

The City Council with review the "OG's" grant application Wednesday.