Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week heard staff reports on forming a Redevelopment Plan, then agreed to have a Sacramento-area expert do an assesment. City Attorney Steven Rudolph said the Redevelopment Plan would include designating a “project area,” identifying “what kind of blight conditions exist,” and doing an Environmental Impact Report, which is “usually about half the cost of putting the plan together.” He said if the plan “is going to displace folks living in affordable homes,” the city must create a “Project Area Committee.” The process allows taxes in the area to be put toward revitalization in those areas. Rudolph said estimates to prepare required reports to various agencies would cost about $70,000 dollars, “to go from now through the plan adoption process, not counting fees to various entities.” City Manager Dixon Flynn said in 20 years, the Redevelopment Plan process has gotten more complex, so the city “is not going to get this done this year.” Rudolph said the 13-month process should begin September 1st, to have the area ready for the effective cycle date August 20th, and the next tax year. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin said that “practically,” the city is “looking at almost $100,000 dollars.” Rudolph said a feasibility study by Pacific Municipal Consultants said the 30-year life of the Redevelopment Agency in Plymouth would divert $35 Million Dollars to the agency. He said with the feasibility study, the council could issue a bond. Flynn said the agency is “improving the whole value of the community” and “making what people have more valuable.” And that first $100,000 dollars the city pays “can be charged to the Redevelopment Agency,” which he said “is always going to be in debt.” He suggested having expert, Frank Spevack, come and look at the community and the city’s documents so far, and then talk to the council about what they can do. He said by July they should know whether they want to move ahead. The council agreed to ask Spevack to come and assess the town and talk to the council. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 17 April 2009 00:32
Plymouth City Council
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week heard staff reports on forming a Redevelopment Plan, then agreed to have a Sacramento-area expert do an assesment. City Attorney Steven Rudolph said the Redevelopment Plan would include designating a “project area,” identifying “what kind of blight conditions exist,” and doing an Environmental Impact Report, which is “usually about half the cost of putting the plan together.” He said if the plan “is going to displace folks living in affordable homes,” the city must create a “Project Area Committee.” The process allows taxes in the area to be put toward revitalization in those areas. Rudolph said estimates to prepare required reports to various agencies would cost about $70,000 dollars, “to go from now through the plan adoption process, not counting fees to various entities.” City Manager Dixon Flynn said in 20 years, the Redevelopment Plan process has gotten more complex, so the city “is not going to get this done this year.” Rudolph said the 13-month process should begin September 1st, to have the area ready for the effective cycle date August 20th, and the next tax year. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin said that “practically,” the city is “looking at almost $100,000 dollars.” Rudolph said a feasibility study by Pacific Municipal Consultants said the 30-year life of the Redevelopment Agency in Plymouth would divert $35 Million Dollars to the agency. He said with the feasibility study, the council could issue a bond. Flynn said the agency is “improving the whole value of the community” and “making what people have more valuable.” And that first $100,000 dollars the city pays “can be charged to the Redevelopment Agency,” which he said “is always going to be in debt.” He suggested having expert, Frank Spevack, come and look at the community and the city’s documents so far, and then talk to the council about what they can do. He said by July they should know whether they want to move ahead. The council agreed to ask Spevack to come and assess the town and talk to the council. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
