The downtown arch going over South Main Street by the animal shelter that is moving toward a potential groundbreaking in May or June isn’t likely to be an issue in the November mayoral race.
Incumbent Mayor Gary Singh, who was part of the 3-2 majority that moved the arch forward noted “it will be a source of community pride.”
Jacob Naven, Singh’s only challenger so far, doesn’t disagree with that assessment except for two things.
*He doesn’t believe the city should be spending general fund money on the arch to pay for the shortfall that federal COVID relief funds won’t cover.
*He believes it should have permanent wording on it besides the word “Manteca,” specifically the city’s motto “The Family City.”
“It is why we moved here in 2007,” Naven said of the city’s openly advertising they are “the family city.”
Naven added that the family city motto means Manteca embraces more than just the traditional family or even single parent households
“Families can also have two dads or two moms,” Naven said.
City Manager Toni Lundgren on Thursday said the design will have only the permanent word “Manteca” on it but promised “there will be other features” that the community can be proud of.
The 80-foot arch is being built next to the Manteca Animal Shelter roughly midway between Wetmore Street and the railroad tracks.
Some, including Naven, have questioned the location saying it isn’t really the entrance to downtown.
Singh sees the arch — in terms of a message to visitors where they may be— as just more than a landmark indicating they are about to enter downtown.
The mayor said it will tie ACE commuter train boarding areas next to the transit center, the soon-to-be expanded animal shelter as well as the new police station going in on South Main Street when those two projects are in place in the next several years.
Actually, based on the downtown study area for the latest specific plan now underway — as well as the updated general plan that identifies the boundaries of special planning areas within the city — the location selected by Lundgren working with staff is within downtown as determined repeatedly by city leaders in recent years.
Oak Street south of — and running parallel to the railroad tracks — is officially part of downtown as is South Main Street to a point several 100 feet south as Wetmore Street.
It may not be seen that way to the public, but the location of the arch is roughly the closest you can get to the official southern boundary of the downtown district and still be within it.
The plan assumes that eventually Oak Street, as Manteca grows and downtown evolves, will see changes in existing uses that is now mostly old-school warehouses, a former Kraft cheese making plant, and the area’s first winery.
Naven dislikes using
general fund money
Manteca committed its remaining $318,484 in federal COVID relief funds to the arch project to avoid having to return the money to the federal government by the end of 2025.
The balance of the $620,447 project is coming from undesignated general fund reserves. The actual sign is $550,000 with $70,477 set aside for contingencies.
Council members Charlie Halford and Regina Lackey, who cast the dissenting votes, disagreed about the arch not being a positive addition. However, they preferred other needs be have been addressed.
Naven’s displeasure with the financing was the fact when discussions about the arch first started it was indicated that no general funds would likely be used.
“I get that they had to spend the COVID money or lose it,” Naven said.
His point was that the $200,000 plus in general fund money should have been spent elsewhere.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
