[UC] Another idea (from California) whose time has come?

[Krfapt]

Yucaipa approves redevelopment Council to prioritize projects By EVAN LaGASSE, Staff Writer YUCAIPA CA - With a 70 percent increase in tax revenue expected over the next five years, the City Council approved an ambitious redevelopment plan Monday night that could end up pumping approximately $2.4 million into city improvements. The council will prioritize a list of potential projects at its next meeting on Dec. 6. Options include a major redesign of the uptown business area, much-needed infrastructure throughout the city, and the purchase of mobile home parks, to convert into nonprofit organizations that would provide higher levels of maintenance and lower rent. Uptown businesses on Yucaipa Boulevard could benefit from the street lamps, benches, parking improvements and other landscaping that a small area of California Street got a few years back. The businesses would need to approve a special fee for maintenance and at last count, only 40 percent were in favor of the fee. More than 60 parking spaces could be created along California Street with other lots planned for Yucaipa Boulevard. Again, the proprietors have to approve the plan and California Street business owners already struck down the spaces once. ``That's a critical part of the overall revitalization effort, to provide parking for people,'' said John McMains, planning director. The Redevelopment Agency will waive fees for budding business owners as an incentive to bring new establishments to vacant buildings and empty properties. Low-income families will continue to be eligible for housing rehabilitation programs. The city has already spent more than $120,000 in rental assistance to mobile home residents. At least 30 percent of all new and rehabilitated homes are required by law to be low- to moderate-income housing and 50 percent of those must be very-low-income households. The agency has purchased four mobile home parks in the city and is now operating them as nonprofits. ``It results in lower costs of living for the residents and higher levels of maintenance,'' McMains said. ``We would like to convert all of them (to nonprofits) but we're only going to buy from willing sellers.'' The city's other mobile home park owners have not agreed to sell their properties to the agency. The redevelopment fund, which totaled $271,445 last year is expected to go up to $701,837 this year. The city expects that figure to double in two years and to rise to $2.4 million by 2009. By 2013-14, it could be as high as $4.3 million. Other projects that could receive funding include sewer service to portions of 14th Street, improved drainage in the Dunlap channel between Yucaipa Boulevard and Wilson Creek, and improved water service to under-served portions of Yucaipa Boulevard and Oak Glen Road. The Redevelopment Agency adopted its original redevelopment plan in 1992. The city is required to update goals and achievements every five years. The new plan will run through 2009.   Always at your service and ready for a dialog, Al Krigman