Urban renewal projects in works
<p>An excavation crew work on site preparation Thursday at the Expo district on Pleasant View Road in Post Falls. Construction activity such as this helps fund infrastructure through the urban renewal district which last year generated $3.6 million in tax increment funds for infrastructure projects, according to a recent urban renewal report.</p>
POST FALLS - The Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency continued to blaze trails in the past year and current construction means more infrastructure projects ahead.
The agency, the first in Idaho to close out an urban renewal district with West Seltice, notched another first in 2009 when it dished out $2.2 million from surplus revenue accumulated in the East Post Falls Urban Renewal District to seven taxing districts.
Executive Director Tom Lien delivered the agency's annual report to the Post Falls City Council and the agency's volunteer board this week.
"The agency is financially sound, fiscally prudent and making maximum use of the resources entrusted to it," he told the council.
In most urban renewal districts, a proponent or developer will use its own funds to install public infrastructure. The incremental taxes that are paid based on the higher assessed values after development are remitted to the URA and are, in turn, paid back to the proponent/developer for cost reimbursement for such infrastructure.
see URA, A2
from A1
The agency has six open districts - Riverbend, Expo, City Center, West Seltice II, East Post Falls and Center Point.
Upcoming improvement projects include punching Spencer Street north of Ponderosa Elementary through from Second Avenue to Seltice Way and building a trail from the Ross Point interchange from Seltice north along Highway 41 to increase safety.
"I call it a goat trail that's there now (along Highway 41), so we'd like to see that changed," Lien said.
The agency currently does not own property, but that could change as it's exploring a public parking facility.
"It remains an option if it makes sense," Lien said.
Recent or ongoing projects include improvements to streets in the city center, a parking lot along the Centennial Trail and to the multi-use Post Falls Landing development along the Spokane River.
The agency generated $3.6 million in tax-increment funds in 2009, more than each of the previous three years.
Construction projects that spurred the funds include ALK-Abello, Star Satellite, 3B Plumbing, Walmart and an apartment complex in Tullamore west of Highway 41.
City Councilman Skip Hissong said the annual report shows the agency is considerate of taxpayer money.
Lien said the agency's monthly meetings with the council are a reason for the strong relationship between the agencies and why there hasn't been recent controversial decisions by the URA that have plagued some similar boards in the state.
The URA meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at City Hall. Meetings are broadcast live on City Cable Channel 13 and rebroadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. the week after the meeting.
Information: www.pfura.com, 777-8151, contactus@pfura.com.