Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-20city council minutesBOOK 55 PAGE 91 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING May 20, 2014 11:00 A.M. (CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING URBAN RENEWAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES) The Mayor called the meeting to order. The Roll of the City Council was called by the City Clerk with the following members present: Blacker, Ozuna, Callsen, Pollard, and Biggers. Absent: Hopper. Councilman Hopper arrived at 11:10 a.m. The Mayor stated that this is a Special City Council Meeting with no action items on the agenda . This meeting is for the purpose of a training session concerning Urban Renewal matters. He reported that City Council voted to assume the responsibilities of the Urban Renewal Agency at their meeting on May 19th so it is now appropriate for a training session to be held. The City Attorney Mark Hilty would provide information concerning urban renewal legal matters and ElJay Waite would outline details on any current projects underway or those being considered. The Mayor emphasized that he was available to answer any questions concerning the overall vision and reason that the Cal dwell Urban Renewal Agency was originally created. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA MOVED by Pollard, SECONDED by Blacker to amend the agenda by adding an Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code, Section 67-2345, Subsection (c) for the purpose of discussing deliberation concerning labor negotiations or to acquire an interest in real property not owned by a public agency. MOTION CARRIED (DISCUSSION CONCERNING URBAN RENEWAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES) The Mayor reported that the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is near its fifteen (15) year anniversary. The Caldwell Urban Renewal Plan was written and adopted in 1998. Caldwell did not have an Urban Renewal Agency in place prior to that time. He explained that there were countless projects within the city that needed to be looked at; however, there was not a funding mechanism to do so. Caldwell was not growing like other municipalities within the Treasure Valley. Research was conducted with every taxing entity that would be affected by the creation of an urban renewal agency. There was unanimous support for the creation of the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency at all the public hearings which were conducted and there were projects outlined within the plan that would benefit every participating taxing entity. The Mayor explained that a n urban renewal agency cannot contain more than ten percent of the assessed value of the municipality at the time it is formed. The City’s assessed value was about $660 million when the URA formed; therefore, slightly less than $60 million inside the URA was included. This became the base. The plan stipulated that as the community grew, everything above the $60 million would be redistributed back into the URA which created the funding mechanism used for projects. The Mayor continued that the application for establishing the URA had to comply with the Idaho State Tax Code and approval had to be given by the Planning & Zoning Commission as well as City Council. A map of the agency had to be formulated which could include blighted areas, underdeveloped properties, areas indicating a lack of housing or industry, areas indicating a lack of infrastructure, and areas that needed economic development or recreational development. In response to questions from Councilman Biggers, the Mayor reported that the Urban Renewal Board did not exist during the planning process. He emphasized that all aspects of the URA were approved by the State of Idaho as well as the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council through the process of public hearings. Once it was approved, it became its own distinct and separate entity pursuant to Idaho State Code. At that point in time, the URA was no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the City except by mandate to follow the aspects of the plan. In response to questions from Councilman Hopper, the Mayor explained that Canyon County also formulated an Urban Renewal Agency which mirrored the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency. Mark Hilty, City Attorney at 1303 12th Avenue Road in Nampa, addressed legal aspects of Urban Renewal Agencies as outlined in Title 50 of the Idaho Code and the Local Economic Development Act located under Title 55. He indicated that bylaws for the Urban Renewal Agency Board would determine the meeting governance for how future meetings would be conducted. A chairman would be elected as a non-voting member. An annual audit would be a continued requirement as stipulated in Idaho Code. He emphasized that no Urban Renewal Agency Board member could have an interest in property which would be personally benefited through the URA. Mr. Hilty referenced the original Caldwell Urban Renewal Plan language as constructed by Attorney Rick Skinner. He reported that any tax increment revenue after December 31, 2014 (exceeding the amount BOOK 55 PAGE 92 needed or payment of urban renewal bonds issued prior to such date) shall be returned to the local taxing districts in order that such entities may reduce their taxing levies proportionality. The Mayor stated that the original intent of the URA Plan at the time i t was approved was that any increment that remained above the amount of indebtedness would go back to the individual taxing districts and they had an option to either reduce their levy rate or complete projects as necessary with the funds. Discussion followed concerning comments from the Canyon County Assessor and how this tax increment process could affect the entities involved within the original plan as well as any necessary amendments that could be made to the plan to this purpose. It was noted that the funds cannot be used for sustainability of employee positions bu t could be used for such projects as construction of Station #3 for the Caldwell Fire Department, expansion of the Canyon County Fairgrounds at its current location, improvements to the downtown area, completion of the widening project of Hwy. 20-26, and continued expansion of the industrial park area off Hwy. 20-26, and the Caldwell Industrial Airport. Discussion followed. Mr. Hilty stated that appropriate procedures must be followed in amending the original plan to include compliance with the Idaho Code/Tax Commission as well as public hearings before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council. (EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO IDAHO CODE, SECTION 67-2345, SUBSECTION (C) FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING DELIBERATION CONCERNING LABOR NEGOTIATIONS OR TO ACQUIRE AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY NOT OWNED BY A PUBLIC AGENCY) MOVED by Callsen, SECONDED by Biggers per to convene into Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code, Section 67-2345, Subsection , Subsection (c) for the purpose of discussing deliberation concerning labor negotiations or to acquire an interest in real property not owned by a public a gency. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Callsen, Pollard, Biggers, Blacker, Ozuna, and Hopper. Those voting no: none. Absent and/or not voting: none. MOTION CARRIED (ADJOURNMENT) MOVED by Callsen, SECONDED by Blacker to adjourn at 1:00 p.m. MOTION CARRIED APPROVED AS written THIS 2nd DAY OF June , 2014. Mayor Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson ATTEST: City Clerk