In Marysville, the City Council approved $100,000 this week
for consultants to study five key areas within the city.
City Manager Walter Muncheimer says the need for
redevelopment extends beyond the effects of the
recession, "Even when the business cycle turns around and
we're in normal economic times, the city's economic base has
progressively shrunk."
Muncheimer says the city has to do something, "Raise the
standard of living, provide employment for our residents, raise the
levels of service for police, parks, fire -all the essential
services- there was no prospect of us being able to do that by
relying on a declining economy."
Down Highway 65, Roseville Assistant City Manager John
Sprague says its re-invented redevelopment plan started
shortly before Governor Jerry Brown eliminated redevelopment
agencies two years ago, "We have been able to begin assembling
property in our downtown area. We are re-tenanting and
improving the buildings."
Sprague says efforts to spruce up more than 80 buildings have
helped lure one large employer and several small businesses to the
city within the past year,
"We're seeing these efforts -Advantage Roseville, the
development's corporations efforts to continue revitalization is
starting to attract the private investment that we're looking for
and the jobs that come with it."
The state of California saved $2.1 billion dollars this
fiscal year by eliminating redevelopment agencies and expects to
save $1 billion next year.
