Auburn City Council regular meeting

April 4, 2016

Auburn Hall 

Block Grant budget

What it means: The city will spend $200,000 for a job-creating commercial loan program, $325,000 to improve downtown housing stock, almost $6,000 for parks and community gardens and $101,000 to help people out of poverty, all pieces of the proposed Community Development Block Grant spending plan for the coming year.

What happened: Block grant money comes from the federal government with rules for how it should be spent. The money is directed at communities with poor sections, and the money is meant to go to programs helping the poor, with services or economic development.

This year, Auburn is expected to get almost $1.2 million in block grants and $815,000 in similarly administered HOME funds — about $14,000 less in federal aid than last year.

What’s next: Councilors are scheduled to vote on how the city will spend federal grants by May 16. The budget needs to go to the federal Housing and Urban Development Department by May 25. 

Junked cars

What it means: Residents with junked or unregistered cars have until April 9 to get them off the road and into garages, after a City Council vote Monday.

What happened: Councilors tightened the city’s old rules on unregistered or uninspected cars. The city’s zoning code lets residents store one inoperable car on-site, but city staff said the code is vague and difficult to enforce the way it’s written. Councilors voted on final reading to change the language from “inoperable” to “unregistered or uninspected.” If the car is not registered or inspected, it needs to be stored in a building or garage.

What’s next: Like other ordinances, the new rule takes effect five days after Monday’s vote: April 9 becomes the new deadline. 

Spa appeal

What it means: Center Street won’t get a massage spa, after councilors voted to uphold the Auburn police’s denial of a business license.

What happened: Lanli Liu of New Jersey planned to open the Indeego Spa at 405 Center St. but was denied a business license in January by the Auburn Police Department. She appealed that decision, however, and councilors heard her appeal in an executive session Monday night. After more than an hour, councilors emerged and voted to uphold the police decision, saying Liu provided incomplete or inaccurate information on her business permit application. 

Fire House Grille

What it means: With a new ownership team on board for the New Auburn eatery, councilors approved a new liquor license for the restaurant.

What happened: Councilors approved a new liquor license and special amusement permit for Kevin Pacheco, new owner of the Fire House Grille, 47 Broad St. in New Auburn. Councilors approve liquor licenses and special amusement permits for bars and restaurants. Liquor licenses do not expire unless the business closes or changes hands. Special amusement permits must be renewed councilors each year, however.
 

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staylor@sunjournal.com