Council targets streetscape funds

With a sigh of relief from Mayor Tim Williams, the Waynesboro City Council unanimously resolved to apply for a federal grant in hopes of completing the second phase of the downtown streetscape project.

“This is exciting news,” Williams said. “This would be great to put this behind us.”

The second phase, like the first, will bring new concrete, a street crossing, lighting, trash bins, benches and baskets to Main Street, this time between Wayne Avenue and Church Street, City Planner Michael Barnes told the City Council.

The city will apply for about $525,000 and be required to contribute about $110,000 to the project.

City crews finished the first portion in 2006 with aid from the same grant officials will again go after. The project improved sidewalks, curbs, lighting and street lights along Main Street between Wayne and Arch avenues. The second phase never got rolling after City Council in 2007 decided not to fund a finish. Downtown merchants have repeatedly raised the streetscape issue before the council as an unfulfilled city promise.

Downtown property owner Len Poulin voiced his support while trying to keep the project in perspective.

“We know from experience from other communities ... these projects do generate increased ... property tax revenues,” he said.

But Poulin said the “second phase” is really just the second half of phase one. He displayed a conceptual rendering from 2001 that showed how the full streetscape project was intended to connect Main Street, Spring Street and Constitution Park with a pedestrian mall including fountains and trees and a new pavilion for the farmer’s market, as well as a trailhead for the proposed Greenway.

“Streetscapes are more than just bricks on a sidewalk,” Poulin said.

Councilwoman Nancy Dowdy said the project needs a timeline and a completion date so it won’t stall like the initial phase.

Councilwoman Lorie Smith also asked City Manager Mike Hamp to consider applying every year for the federal grant.

“I feel like we’ve lost millions of dollars,” she said.

If the city receives funds through the competitive grant, streetscape construction could begin in spring of 2011.

In other business:

Hamp informed the City Council that four staff positions will become vacant by the end of the year and received permission to recruit replacements for two positions: a firefighter and a 911 dispatcher.

Due to a hiring freeze in effect for city employees, Hamp must seek the council’s approval before filling vacancies. In October, the City Council approved the city manager’s request to fill five of 17 vacant full-time positions in city departments. The city at that time had saved $76,719 by keeping the positions unfilled.

Hamp has said continued vacancies and future decline in financial resources “may require adjustments to services and programs.” Councilwoman Smith said she would like a report on whether services will be interrupted.