Amador County – The Ione City Council received a report this week of the Ione Preservation Project workshop, which several attended in March, before Monday’s second related workshop, on the Main Street Project. The projects are all to be funded by two Community Development Block Grants form 1982 and 1983, which were discontinued. City Manager Kim Kerr in a report to the council said: “As indicated in the 7 Month Status Report on March 3rd, the city has $284,775 dollars from two closed CDBG grants.” The grants were closed and pursuant to a 1990 letter from the state CDBG department, “when there is no open CDBG grant the funds are considered miscellaneous revenue” and the funds are “not subject to the requirements of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and can be used as the city sees fit.” Kerr said based on the letter, staff reviewed options to use the funds and proposed spending it on the “Main Street Program,” including $25,000 dollars this year and $50,000 next fiscal year. Staff also proposed putting $25,000 into a Façade Program over the next 2 years; $120,000 for a Redevelopment Plan study; $60,000 for an “Economic Study”; and $4,775 to set up the Main Street Program. The City Council authorized the City to join the Main Street Program and the membership cost $250. Staff completed the application and obtained material from Main Street Program to help set up the project. Staff presented this item originally to the City Council on March 17th, but no decisions were made and a Town Hall meeting was recommended. Based on the meetings to date, staff is recommending that the Ione Community Preservation Project be broken down into three parts. The first is the Main Street Façade Grant Program, the second would be the Main Street Program and its organization along with the Economic Study, and the final piece would be the Redevelopment Plan. At its meeting on April 21st, the council approved the Main Street Façade Improvement Program. Kerr said: “The City Council could elect not to fund one or more of these projects or allocate the funds differently,” but added that “this is a great opportunity to lead the way in revitalizing the City and specifically Main Street.” Monday’s meeting was strictly informational on the Main Street Program. The council could consider the funding of the other programs at its meeting next Monday. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.