The Roseville City Council has pledged up to $3 million for a face-lift for the local auto mall to help keep dealerships from leaving town.
City leaders say they want to help the region's oldest auto mall avoid dealerships closing, as they have in cities including Auburn, Sacramento and Elk Grove.
The improvements, which were approved Wednesday night, will be made to a wall that surrounds the 87 acres of dealerships that have enjoyed a close relationship with the city for the past 20 years.
"We need to protect that," Mayor Jim Gray said.
The Roseville Automall Association, which represents 14 dealers selling 21 makes of vehicles, will match the city's funding. Construction is expected to begin in spring.
"We are delighted they have elected to continue the private and public partnership," said Damon Eberhart, the auto mall's business manager.
The improvements will upgrade the aging, city-owned stucco wall along the perimeter of the mall and at its entrances. The changes are expected to help make the mall more competitive.
The improvements will change not only the wall's aesthetics but also its function, Eberhart said.
When the auto mall was built in the late 1980s, the surrounding wall was added because some residents were concerned that a sea of automobiles would be an eyesore.
The redesigned wall will include display pads to showcase vehicles.
"It has become obvious for people to see your product, Eberhart said. "The idea is to create excitement and bring people into the mall."
Several of the council members, who voted unanimously for the plan, noted that 11 automotive dealers have either closed or consolidated in other communities throughout the Sacramento region since April.
Elk Grove Saturn closed late last week. Councilwoman Gina Garbolino said she strongly endorsed the plan "in light of what is going on around us."
The auto mall is the city's largest single source of sales tax revenue, which feeds the general fund, used for police, fire, parks, libraries and other city services.
From 1993 to 2007, the city received $95 million in sales and property taxes from the auto mall, said Julia Burrows, assistant city manager.
No one spoke to oppose the plan at the council meeting.
To fund the improvements, the city will draw from its strategic improvement fund, a savings account derived from a variety of sources. It is a surplus fund for future investment, Burrows said.
Other projects that have tapped funds from the surplus account include the city's downtown parking structure.
Call The Bee's Ramon Coronado, (916) 773-6866.
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