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Downtown business owners urge clearer schedule, data use to limit disruption from infrastructure work
Summary
Several downtown business owners told Wadsworth City Council they need earlier, data-driven communications about the downtown infrastructure project and asked that construction sequencing consider holiday retail seasons to avoid putting new and small businesses at risk.
Several downtown business owners told Wadsworth City Council on March 10 that they need earlier, clearer communications and data-driven sequencing for the downtown infrastructure project to avoid harming retailers during peak months.
Sarah Richards, owner of Quaint at 138 Main St., thanked Public Service Director Matt Hiscock for an earlier update and asked whether the city would use Placer data and Main Street Wadsworth foot-traffic information to sequence work so retail and restaurants are protected. Council President Dan Rospert invited comments during the public-comment period; Richards asked who would handle communications and when businesses should expect notices.
Daneen Kreuzer, owner of Uniquely Handmade at 136 Main St., described receiving very short notice about work and urged the city to lessen holiday impacts by concentrating disruptive activities in quadrants with fewer retailers. "They were sent an email and not even all of them were sent an email on Monday night at 6:20 that work was starting on Wednesday," Kreuzer said, arguing that businesses need predictable schedules to plan marketing and staffing.
Roni Kemmerer, owner of Cambria (132 Main St.), said her business—opened March 20, 2024—is still in an early stage and depends on October–December revenue spikes tied to a nearby 900-seat venue. She warned losing that holiday volume could force a new business to close and asked for opportunities to present sales data to staff and council.
Council members heard the concerns but did not take action at the meeting. Several ordinances related to the downtown improvement project (including bond measures) were advanced to further readings; business owners asked for those processes to include scheduling and communication considerations so construction minimizes harm to downtown commerce.
The council did not set a specific additional outreach schedule during the meeting; business owners asked the administration to provide clearer advance notices and to consider using foot-traffic and Placer data when finalizing quadrant sequencing.
