City Council: Grange Feted, Redevelopment Gets the Axe

On the upside, local leaders will applaud the efforts made to revitalize the Springfield Grange, a landmark at the corner of Elkhorn and Werner roads in North Monterey County, during Tuesday evening's Watsonville City Council meeting.

Mayor Eduardo Montesino and state Assemblyman Luis Alejo will present proclamations from the city and the state Assembly to celebrate the Grange's rebirth. The 80-year-old institution had been inactive for years, but this fall 65 new members were sworn in.

Alan Hicks, president of the Grange, said the growth in participation comes from people's interest in sustainable agriculture, quality food and farmers markets, as well as a needed place for community participation and activities. Hicks would like to develop a farmstand there where local growers could sell their organic produce and host community events, from pancake breakfasts to Mexican barbacoas, according to a press release from the city.

After the good news, the tone will turn more serious as the city council decides .

The city is allowed a limited budget to finish the business of the agency, but that means it still has to has to cut about $210,000 in costs. To do so, some jobs will be lost and other employees will suffer reductions in hours. Also, several programs and services will be eliminated, including:

• Staffing the Public Arts Committee
• Downtown Bulk Permit parking discounts
• Internal cost allocations- Insurance, overhead, city-wide administration
• Internal cost allocations- Communication systems
• Job Creation Assistance such as Fox Shox
• Public Amenities Development such as the Libraries, River Park and Cabrillo Expansion
• Public Infrastructure Projects such as street reconstruction and streetscape enhancements

Here's a link to the full agenda. The city council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Civic Plaza, 275 Main St.