The first Placerville City Council meeting of 2012 on Tuesday was the venue for Mayor Mark Acuna to institute a Mayor’s Beautification Award. Certificates of recognition will be awarded monthly to honor projects or businesses that have improved the look and feel of Placerville. From among the monthly winners, who receive a certificate signed by the mayor, an annual winner will be selected. The annual winner’s name will be inscribed on a perpetual plaque to hang in the lobby of City Hall.
“I think the effort and investment people put into projects in our community needs to be recognized every month during the year and also with an annual award, ” said Mayor Acuna. “I’m hoping this program will give myself and future mayors the chance to recognize those efforts throughout the year.”
Fire Station 25 on Sacramento Street and the recently opened Independent Restaurant at 629 Main St. were the first monthly recipients of the Mayor’s Beautification Award.
Fire Station 25 received the award for exterior improvements to the station house.
“They did a wonderful job on the exterior, with a creative paint scheme and other improvements, ” said Acuna. ” They took the busiest station in the county, which was pretty tired looking, and gave it a new, clean look.”
Assistant Fire Chief Mike Hardy accepted the certificate on behalf of the station, as most of the crew waiting in the audience at Town Hall left to respond to an emergency. He called attention to the bell installed at the top of the station as yet another improvement.
“The bell was cast in San Francisco in 1871 and it was the original bell used to call volunteers to a fire,” said Hardy. “Jason Aldridge recently spent two months hand buffing and refurbishing the bell and it looks great.”
The Independent Restaurant received the mayor’s award for being a new business and for the tenant improvements made to the building. “They have changed and energized a section of Main Street and given it a night life,” said Acuna.
Owner Jeff Thoma accepted the award, saying that without snow and tourists, the restaurant was relying entirely upon local customers and hoped to do well.
According to Acuna, the award will showcase good design, land use and contributions that improve the look and feel of Placerville. “Hopefully, I have enough experience to pick some worthy projects each month this year and then select the 2012 annual winner.”
The guidelines for selecting candidates for the Mayor’s Beautification Award are informal and Acuna will be selecting the award winners himself, but public input is welcome. E-mail the mayor at markacuna1@mindspring.com with suggestions.
An annual winner for 2011 will be announced at the next City Council meeting.
Photo and Story courtesy of the Mountain Democrat.
