BY ALEX CANTATORE
Those pesky downtown parking tickets may soon become 60 percent more expensive, as the Turlock City Council approved the first draft of a measure to increase the cost of all parking violations, citywide, by $15.
The city is seeking the fine increase in response to a number of statewide initiatives culminating in 2008’s Senate Bill 1407, which assesses $9.50 per violation in fees payable to the state and county. Turlock also hopes to recoup some of the cost of processing each citation, which amounts to $1.65 charged by the city’s contracted processing agency, the City of Inglewood.
According to Turlock Police Lt. Ron Reid, the city is charged $11.15 per citation. Almost 4,500 citations were processed by the city in 2008, the last year for which information is available.
The ordinance will return to the council for a final reading on June 23. Should the council approve the measure at that time, Turlock would have the most expensive parking tickets in the region.
Process of naming subdivision streets to be revised
At the advisement of the Development Collaborative Advisory Committee, the City of Turlock is now revising the process by which streets are named and houses are numbered.
The proposed process would require developers to apply for street names at the time a tentative map is submitted for review. Upon approval by the Turlock Police Department, street names would be reserved and developers notified in writing.
The proposal also clarifies certain segments of the Turlock Municipal Code related to numbering, including a ban on the use of fractions in house numbers, requiring all address numbering on buildings to be at least 6 inches in height, and obligating illumination of addresses.
The Turlock Municipal Code amendments will return to the council for a final reading on June 23.
Stimulus funds sought
The city council approved plans to pursue $1.52 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, which would allow Turlock to address the blight of foreclosed homes on the market.
The City of Turlock would be able to use the NSP funds to acquire foreclosed homes, rehabilitate the homes, sell the homes, provide down payment assistance to eligible buyers, or demolish blighted structures.
The NSP funds were made available through the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act, as approved by President George W. Bush. The Act requires that all funding is directed towards areas of the city with the highest need, which have been identified as four census tracts in the westside and downtown areas of Turlock.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 41 percent of Turlock residents live in high foreclosure risk areas.
Downtown to play host to sidewalk sales
Downtown Turlock will look a little bazaar on Wednesdays this summer, as the Turlock City Council approved mid-day sidewalk sales in the downtown area.
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Wednesday, from June through September, downtown businesses will be allowed to peddle their wares on the sidewalks. Vendors are expected to participate up and down Main, Center, Thor, Palm, First, Broadway, and Market streets.
The Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association requested council approval for the sales, which they expect to increase business during the slow economy. No streets will be closed as a result of the sales.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 6/12/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.