The Turlock City Council on Tuesday will consider a new “Turlock Partnership Incentives” plan, which would offer $5,000 in fee relief for new businesses, to be financed from the city’s General Fund Reserve.

The program would initially allocate $150,000 from the city’s $13.5 million reserve to offer up to $5,000 to each new business to offset capital facility fees, occupancy and fire inspections, zoning certificates, building inspections, grading, and encroachment permits.

The new incentive plan was drafted by Councilmember Amy Bublak, the Downtown Property Owners Association, the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance, and City staff. In two meetings to discuss potential programs for new businesses, the cost and time of start-up came to the forefront as a major issue.

The group believes the program would fill vacant storefronts, assist businesses, and create jobs.

The Turlock City Council is also expected to:

·         Consider approving a public dance hall permit for Mariachi’s Restaurant, located at 2669 Geer Road. The permit would be reviewed again in six months to determine any impacts on area retail businesses.

·         Consider amending municipal code to explicitly ban parking vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds on city streets not designated as truck routes. Such vehicles are already banned from “operating” on non-truck routes, and parking is banned in residential areas, but an ambiguity exists regarding parking the vehicles on non-residential, non-truck routes.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.