Yuba City Council approves grant-funded turf rebate, pedestrian safety, sign upgrades and Plumas Street plaza plans

The Yuba City Council on Tuesday evening approved a set of grant-funded programs and capital projects aimed at water conservation, pedestrian safety and downtown placemaking.

The council approved guidelines for a commercial turf-replacement rebate program, authorized the advertisement of bids for a pedestrian safety and striping improvements project and for a citywide sign upgrade program, and approved plans and specifications for the Plumas Street Water Tower plaza. All four items were approved by the council with the motions carried at the meeting.

Ben Moody, acting city manager, described the turf-replacement program as part of a larger grant package. "The city received about a $3,400,000 grant, and as part of that grant, there's a rebate program that we requested," Moody said. He said the commercial rebate will provide up to $5 per square foot with a $10,000 cap per commercial location; funding applies to design and construction and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis following a city pre-approval inspection and submission of receipts.

Moody told the council the rebate program targets existing irrigated lawns that use city potable water and is designed to encourage conversion to lower-water-use landscaping in light of California drought-related legislation and conservation targets. He said the portion of grant funding allocated to the commercial rebate is $575,000 and that no local match is required.

City staff presented three…