[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6488507,"mediaKeyId","5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea","parentId",5468452,"title","Residents push council on long‑running motel conversion and blight; city says it continues outreach and enforcement options","audioSeconds",803,"startMs",1736000,"endMs",2539000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea&start=1736&end=2539","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea/thumbnail_1736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488507/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Residents-push-council-on-longrunning-motel-conversion-and-blight-city-says-it-continues-outreach-and-enforcement-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488507-b9b88541ef653e524179bef3d3097aed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770654603&Signature=kkJMq34wzASAWu-fIQRvbYvW1TFmBbuF1~2eC~q4B3hdvSPg3OOiATWkJWQdMd~aTrmOLGSOU7CMPw6CGkycMfAQU4BAF1QSizLZikU8ldD95OZi8evwhKCnNuRDCyDO82AH-nWQGB0M7FR07FPBhFDnMO56PKAM8p4gL~inQRcFlWdX5cxrW25eBRV-~JyG7sIIWKIaf-ZqFj-FwZ2xvohxqJFY098QWE8Di0i-Ibl2Z88ZwzmXnBpqva3VEGre67g3GrreuebEbOlpVs31g2Zh9e8cn0-kL4HqPTdUaAn2nacYVAqoGCdzg4829Z7BU0xItZSw5bkh3DNvTBuAMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-25T01:10:13.357Z","article","Multiple residents used the public-comment period at Tuesday’s Colfax City Council meeting to press the council about a longstanding downtown hotel property that residents say remains blighted and unsecured.

Speakers said the building has sat partially renovated and unsecured for years, has had intermittent fire damage and creates a poor impression for visitors. Several residents asked whether the city could force repairs or otherwise compel the owner to either develop or sell the property.

City staff and council members said they have been in repeated contact with the property owner and have used available tools — including code enforcement and abatement for weeds and unsecured access — to pressure compliance. The city said it has also extended development concessions previously approved to help the owner make the project financially viable.

Staff cautioned that many enforcement or abatement actions carry significant cost and legal complexity, and the city has been reluctant to force a sale when it believes the current owner remains the best prospect to complete the historically sensitive project. Staff said the owner has at times painted the building and made partial repairs but at other times has stopped responding to outreach. The council said it will continue outreach and will consider abatement or lien-based enforcement if the owner does not respond.

Members of the public provided additional detail: a commenter said the property is on the city’s historic register (as of 2025), another noted the high sewer-connection (EDU) buy‑back costs that can make redevelopment expensive, and others urged the council to use signage and promotion to help downtown businesses while property issues are resolved.

City staff reiterated that abatement action can address weeds, unsecure doors and immediate public-safety issues, but deeper enforcement (liens, compelled repairs) is a multi-step legal process. The council said it would continue trying to work with the owner to reach a productive outcome and encouraged residents to report nuisance conditions to code enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 23, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Colfax City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Residents repeatedly raised the condition of a derelict downtown hotel during public comment. City staff said they have communicated with the property owner, pursued abatement where possible and offered development concessions; enforcement options are limited unless the owner fails to act.","taxTitle","Colfax, Placer County, California","taxId",79889,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6488512,"Council debates whether workshop actions amounted to commitment for Winterfest; minutes for July 10 approved",381,133000,514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea&start=133&end=514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea/thumbnail_133000.jpg","/articles/6488512/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Council-debates-whether-workshop-actions-amounted-to-commitment-for-Winterfest-minutes-for-July-10-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488512-ce5c2c3c2a178384633d6d3753211784/orig.mp4?Expires=1770654603&Signature=C11fp3OzHswb3knL12U~SI1U2LyspL37loxzYefpIIOJL0QIvy698-t6d07eFK40BIxK3AKhE40yEFQCH4G3Vzc55x3J9LxK-JvSNbF0UuDxXQp7iQeGc4fyIY9csX8XusjGvGr~TlLhjLe2d93-8KkNdEGG4~Joytzjvf987jcismlSexjLsnd0ktHxeUhDoO13M2Y8IUjYsQlag2PT39QqZnuk9I7LAJ-JSCkcvJX4prb5ja7DxWnFlrQM~QvZ7njNPmOLCb5yqSPF6eTQC0aJ6nZeDsjVJ9cIAx97RmUlxQk9aUGA8cp7RB1OwuvFY9qm2qXFzBuBdphxZry-VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members questioned wording in the draft minutes from the July 10 workshop that stated the city would \"go forward\" with planning a large-scale event, prompting debate about whether the workshop had created a formal city project.

Council member concerns centered on whether the assignment of tasks at the workshop amounted to a council decision to undertake the event without a budget or a formal vote. One council member asked whether tasks delegated during the workshop were effectively a commitment to proceed; staff and others responded that a workshop can delegate tasks by consensus but does not itself appropriate money or adopt a project budget.

The discussion included public comment from nonprofit and business representatives who said workshops were publicly noticed but community nonprofits had not always been able to attend. Erin Newington of the Downtown Association said the group had not been represented at the workshop and urged broader outreach; other residents urged clearer communication and use of the city billboard and social media to publicize events. Council members said they plan to schedule additional workshops with more community outreach and to post meetings in multiple channels.

After the exchange council took up item 2b, the minutes for July 10, 2025. Council moved to approve the minutes as amended to better reflect that the workshop involved discussion and task delegation rather than an explicit vote to adopt the project; the minutes were approved by council vote.

In related public-comment discussion council and members of the public reviewed logistics for events: vendor fees, estimated costs (organizers said vendor revenue typically covers roughly a third of Winterfest costs, with the remainder to be raised through donations and city contributions), insurance, toilets and fireworks costs. Residents suggested alternative models for Winterfest, including spreading activities across a month and using billboard rotation to promote events. Council members said staff will continue refining outreach and budgeting before the council approves any city financial contribution for a large event.","Council members debated whether tasks assigned at a prior public workshop implied a council commitment to plan and fund Winterfest. After discussion and public comment about outreach and budgeting, the council approved minutes for July 10 and affirmed that further funding decisions will require event-level budgets.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6488517,"Colfax council approves $2,500 grant for Historic Downtown Association to seed events and marketing",2667,3031000,5698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea&start=3031&end=5698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5468452-d9e5c1e9d9182dd046b6031a92bc59ea/thumbnail_3031000.jpg","/articles/6488517/Colfax/Placer-County/California/Colfax-council-approves-2500-grant-for-Historic-Downtown-Association-to-seed-events-and-marketing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488517-5179b4394f41855ca8287e3518ba814f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770654603&Signature=AMpbkmknZFvZ1lMNQQXbKJ5kOK515~wKyeJMF4Qp2NEhSDgplzv2DPJ2x4E5Fa7R~8ibKr3-0a30UZr~8qGlU2k93aWKSI52x~tYDubUrneRN2QTnfDCD~rtLk3iqybtP5q2w0nljT-1kAI469asJEGZhPlhCycA2ptMpQuGgMKlk7ESRuOhH-xSh7GueEMbb4ec5QrElSb755cfK~5dZHJW5Yd3muWDyh8r~HSOWk8oYj8OHJlUa~jnYbpM3s4S4s0Z41o7qtInNcrOcf~wUYRfxcznyr5Pk92om6fspzNzfaaHppunFiatt5uWComlj25RHpZTBkJ~-sizPWxeHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Colfax City Council approved a $2,500 grant to the Historic Downtown Association to help seed new events and pay for marketing and event insurance.

At Tuesday’s meeting the association’s organizer, Erin Newington, told council members the group has spent months building a website and social media presence, producing promotional graphics and organizing events including an art walk, an Oktoberfest revamp and a recurring Colfax Bazaar. Newington asked the council for $5,000 to continue the work and cover early costs such as advertising, drone and photography work, and event insurance.

Council members debated the request. Some members said they wanted clearer, line-item requests tied to specific events, and others argued the association had already produced measurable work and needed seed money to maintain momentum. Several members noted past uses of the city event fund are generally for specific projects or events and asked for assurances the money would be used for the stated purposes.

After discussion council debated two competing proposals: one to grant the full $5,000 and a second, smaller grant. The council ultimately approved a $2,500 award from the city’s event/facility funding account. The council’s final tally on the successful motion was recorded as a majority vote; the motion carried and staff were directed to disburse the funds to the Historic Downtown Association for marketing, event insurance and other start-up costs tied to the group’s upcoming events.

Newington said the group will continue pursuing grants and private sponsorships and intends to use the city funds to qualify for matching grants and to pay for initial marketing materials, drone/photography and insurance for the association’s next events. Council members asked that the association return with requests tied to specific events when possible.

The council vote followed public comment from residents who supported the downtown group’s work, urged stronger downtown promotion, and encouraged experimentation with new event formats to attract visitors.

The council also discussed remaining balances in the events account and confirmed that other recently approved event-related disbursements had reduced available funds; members noted the city still has funds available but asked organizers to submit event-level budgets for future requests.

The $2,500 grant is intended to be seed funding; the Historic Downtown Association said the money will be used to buy down initial costs and to help the group qualify for larger matching grants.","The Colfax City Council approved a $2,500 grant to the Historic Downtown Association to support event seed costs, marketing and insurance after discussion about scope, matching funds and how the money would be used.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents push council on long‑running motel conversion and blight; city says it continues outreach and enforcement options

Council debates whether workshop actions amounted to commitment for Winterfest; minutes for July 10 approved

Colfax council approves $2,500 grant for Historic Downtown Association to seed events and marketing