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Council delays vote on expanding downtown improvement grants to include residences
Summary
The Perry City Council discussed widening its downtown improvement program to allow residential properties in the Perry Family Friendly District to apply for grants but voted to table the change until after a May 12 public meeting on the proposed historic preservation district.
The Perry City Council on May 5 considered an amendment to the downtown square improvement program to allow residential properties within the Perry Family Friendly District to apply for grants and discussed increasing the total funds available. Council members debated whether the program should remain focused on commercial projects that could increase the city’s tax base or be expanded to help homeowners prepare residences for a potential historic preservation overlay.
City staff told the council that $15,000 had already been set aside for the program for the current year and that awards are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and must be approved by the CFO and city manager. Supporters of expanding eligibility said residential inclusion would show good faith to property owners in the proposed district; opponents and some staff noted the city would not recoup residential investment the way it might from commercial projects.
Several council members recommended waiting for public input. The council voted to table the amendment until after a May 12 town-hall meeting on the proposed historic preservation district. The city staff said the planning commission will hold hearings on related zoning and ordinance changes on May 22 and return items to the council on June 2.
No funding change was approved at the May 5 meeting; the council left the $15,000 allocation in place for this fiscal year.
