Minus Mayor Jon Anderson and City Councilman Chris Koch, the Bellevue City Council met in a special session Monday to discuss how the city might form an urban renewal district. No decisions were made, but further discussion is expected following a presentation by attorney Ryan Armbruster and development consultant Harlan Mann.
Armbruster reviewed for the council the steps to forming an urban renewal district, which include the appointment by the mayor of an Urban Renewal Agency board. The agency would be "separate and distinct" from the city, he said, reviewing Idaho law on the matter.
The consultants also reviewed possibilities for financing such an agency and any actual renewal projects through such vehicles as tax increment financing (TIF) and federal block grants. Armbruster explained that urban renewal districts are geographically specific and allow communities to boost tax revenues derived from property taxes in a specific part of the city, not to exceed 10 percent of assessed valuation for the entire community. Additional revenue is derived from the "incremental" increase in value, assuming that property values do rise.
To be deemed an urban renewal district, an area must meet requirements of Idaho code, which define said area as "a deteriorated or deteriorating area" designated by the local governing body. Armbruster counseled that such a body should be separate from the city council. A portion of the new tax a city may realize is also promised to the school district.
Council members voiced support for the review and for the services of the presenters, who said they could help facilitate the formation of an urban renewal district if the city decided to go pursue the vehicle for bringing more revenue to the city. Mann estimated that the services, including the feasibility study, would cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
Councilwoman Tammy Eaton said that in light of two failed attempts by the city to encourage voters to pass a mill levy increase in the Idaho city renowned to have the lowest mil levy in the state, she would like the city to proceed with an urban renewal program. Eaton said the success of the project could lend future community support for an increase in the city's mill levy when citizens see the value of supporting taxes that lead to city improvements.
Councilwoman Vivian Ivie, who is also chief deputy assessor for the county, produced a map that highlighted property on both sides of Main Street from Chestnut to Ash streets, which she said represents 10 percent of the city's 2005 assessed valuation. Ivie said her priority would be for the city to focus improvements on Main Street. A top priority would be water and sewer infrastructure, the council members agreed.
Armbruster said the city's baseline assessment for the purposes of urban renewal would likely be based on 2006 valuation if the city chooses to pursue such a program, which he thought could be fully noticed and reviewed by the end of the year.
Councilman Shaun Mahoney said he lends his support to the effort because urban renewal attracts businesses, which add to the tax base of the city.
"I've been here 18 years," he said. "The only downtown (redevelopment) was when the Silver Dollar (Saloon) burned down and they rebuilt it."
