RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Almost there.

With the exception of just a little more discussion on one project"'Rancho Cordova Elks Lodge Hospitality Truck Support"'City Council was on track to have all Community Enhancement Fund (CEF) applications approved for the 2021/2022 budgetary finalization in June.

The City Council has met several times in the past months to discuss staff recommendations on the various applicants hoping to receive funds for their projects and programs. As before, the Council on May 11, heard public comments on the last seven applications and discussed amongst themselves the pros and cons of funding them.

An example of the process would be the Sacramento Splash Youth Environmental Leadership Camp which brings 30 students together to teach leadership skills within the arena of science and environmental studies. Applicant Mackenzie Weiser applied on behalf of her organization which did not fall on deaf ear as after discussion from Council her project was met with positive response.

There was also discussion about projects proposed from the Council itself. Amongst these were a Coaching Summit to address the sizable drop in participation by students in school sports, a Youth Poet Laureate for the city and a traveling middle school age baseball team. While supporting the traditional sports mentioned, Councilmember Suri Pulipati offered the attraction of gaming to present day youth and the possibility of coding instruction and the creation of a city E-team.

At the end of the CEF portion of the meeting, City Analyst Stacey Delaney iterated the final list would be adopted June 7, along with the funding amount approved. Applicants would be notified by the end of June.

The other item discussed at the Special Meeting was the current status of the COVID-19 hardship-battling Measure R"'a half-cent tax measure voters approved last November, and which began this April. City Manager Cyrus Abhar, Deputy City Manager Micah Runner, Public Works Director Albert Strickler, Economic Development Manager Amanda Norton, and Analyst Laura Fickle (along with Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce CEO Diann Rogers) laid out their proposal for how to best use the funds generated by the tax with the earlier impetus from the City Council to “positively impact as many residents and as many businesses in a measurable way expeditiously.”

The main areas of the $12.3 million assistance go toward COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery (community COVID-19 response, Covid-19 economic recovery, property acquisitions, small business support, and revitalization along major corridors), Affordable Housing/Homelessness (Rent Assurance, Safe Housing, Addressing homeless in the community, and Key Parcel/Locations), Capital Investment (Youth Center, Little League) and Infrastructure (Enhanced Litter and Graffiti Removal, Road Rehabilitation, Sidewalk Repair and Deferred Maintenance).

New housing projects and street rehabilitations for Cordova Vineyards and Mills Ranch were highlighted as positive results of Measure R, as were proposed free internet, fee waivers, business start-up loans and assistance, small business aid, a business retention program and many others.

The council’s response was overall a positive one, but each member had their caveats.

Councilmember David Sander wanted to focus on items where a clear measurable gain or effect could be recorded. Vice Mayor Terry agreed with his fellow councilmember and also wanted to see more childcare aid. Councilmember Linda Budge felt revitalization of neighborhoods was a great concern.

Mayor Garret Gatewood was very impressed with the work the staff had done. “Under a lot of pressure from myself and Council, you’ve come up with exciting ways to revitalize, retain and grow our businesses.” Along those lines, he continued to stress the need for work development and business retention using the metaphor that his city is bleeding, and he needs to stop it. He supported Councilmembers’ revitalization desires, but felt it needed to be done later.

City Manager Abhar stated the proposal was very fluid and issues could be addressed.

As with the CEF, the city plans to make a final budget approval by June 7.

At the beginning of the meeting, it was announced that all teleconference meetings would now be made available to the public on the city’s website"'except for Closed Sessions.

The city’s website is at www.www.cityofranchocordova.org