Dunsmuir council approves $250,000 downtown revitalization fund with marketing allocation

The Dunsmuir City Council voted to adopt a Downtown Revitalization Initiative on Feb. 6, approving $250,000 for the program and an additional up-to-$10,000 allocation for marketing. Council also amended the program to make city-owned buildings ineligible and confirmed applications will be available roughly 60 days after program approval.

City Manager Reif presented the program as a reimbursement-based grant structure tied to permitting and the city's housing-element goals. "Applications will be available 60 days after approval of the program," Reif said, and staff said applicants would complete work before the city reimburses expenses. Reif said the city expects the first reimbursements to flow in the following fiscal year after permit and site-alteration reviews are complete.

Council members pressed staff on eligibility and program limits. Council member Lucchese moved to adopt the program with the amendment excluding city-owned buildings and to allocate $250,000 for program funding and up to $10,000 for marketing; Council member Sebring seconded. The motion passed on roll call; one council member was recorded as abstaining due to being remote.

Council directed staff to prepare a finance-committee agenda item outlining how the funding will be apportioned across the relevant fiscal years and to coordinate marketing with the Chamber of Commerce. Reif said staff would host a stakeholder Q&A in late March and open applications in April.

The council noted the program is intended to be adaptable: if demand alters the distribution of awards among grant categories, the council may revise program terms in a future meeting.