Money left over from a $1 million project upgrading alleys and parking lot in downtown Manteca is being redirected to fix alleys on the east side of the 300 and 400 blocks of North Main Street between Center and Sutter streets.

The City Council Wednesday made that directive during a special meeting conducted to examine capital improvement projects and decide what to do with unspent funds on completed projects.

That decision has made $475,000  available for the alley work.

Previous city managers just assumed councils wanted a decades old policy of sweeping such money back into the general fund reserves to stay in place.

Interim City Manager Miranda Lutzow opted to ask the council first as the elected policy makers for the city whether they wanted that policy to continue.

The council opted to direct some leftover funds into an account that they have asked Lutzow to propose some type of city assistance program for small businesses slammed by the pandemic that have not been able to secure federal help. The council identified $303,606 for that purpose.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com