MARYSVILLE – The City Council set a number of public hearings for April 11.
The city will have three hearings on how to spend Community Development Block Grants. The plans were discussed at the council’s April 4 work session.
•The first one is for about $75,000. Funds would go to: Jennings Memorial Barn renovation, Highway 528 pedestrian improvements, and heating, paving and ceiling work at the Boys and Girls Club.
•The second one is for almost $100,000. That would go to the 528 project and also homeless housing.
•The final one is for about $370,000. Money would go to the Comeford Park Pavilion, Senior Services minor home repair, homeless housing, Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Chore Services, Housing Hope for the Beachwood Apartments, the Food for Thought Backpack Program and the city for planning and administration.
The city also is looking at a property tax exemption for businesses that develop in certain local areas, such as the industrial park between Smokey Point and Arlington. If a business provides a minimum of 25 new jobs, pays at least $18 an hour, uses up by 10,000 square feet and does $800,000 in improvements it would receive a tax break.
The council also will decide if it will increase the cost of a business license from $50 to $65.
Dave Koenig of the planning department said people who had home offices were actually paying more than someone who opened a business on State Avenue.
That is because home businesses also were paying a $50 home occupancy fee.
The recommendation now is to get rid of that fee, but raise the license fee.
In comparing rates countywide, Koenig said Marysville would still be on the low end. Other cities charge anywhere from $25 to $600.
