Hayden weighing urban renewal expansion

HAYDEN — Mayor Alan Davis called City Council together for a special meeting Tuesday to discuss possible opportunities for expanding the Hayden Urban Renewal District.

Davis came to the table with economic development as a focal point but also wanted to gauge where the city council stands.

He proposed the renewal district be expanded into areas that have blank, unaltered plots of land, and said the main purpose of urban renewal is to improve the community.

"To me, a city is a living thing," Davis said. "It's got businesses that provide jobs. They raise taxes to offset our low tax rates."

"It's got housing and utilities," he added.

Davis explained that agency funding comes through taxes, but the rates in 12 taxing districts that comprise the urban renewal district were frozen with the inception of the renewal district. Everyone in those districts will be looking at the same tax rates until 2029 according to Davis.

As those properties have increased in value, the money saved gets used for public community improvements.

According to Davis, if undeveloped land is bought and included in the renewal district, the city can request urban renewal funds to help pay for any potential public infrastructure improvements such as public sewer lines.  

Councilmembers Matt Roetter, Ed DePriest and Tom Shafer all said they favor economic development but would like to see the funding used to improve traffic and purchase public rights of way.

Davis said those projects are No. 2 on his list of priorities.

Councilmember Sandra White said she doesn't oppose economic development but is hesitant to buy into this idea because she doesn't want any potential changes to happen without better project safeguards in place.

"I'm opposed to it right now," White said. "The main reason is because we have been told very clearly that we can have no kind of contract with urban renewal as to how they will use the property once we have put it in their district."

"I don't think that's responsible for the city of Hayden to give away property that would be in our tax base and to not have a contract of any kind," she added.

Davis gave an example of a parcel being purchased by a developer and being built into more homes as compared to the land being bought and commercially developed, and reiterated that the commercial developments will benefit the city economically more than another subdivision.

According to Davis, the agency has never veered from its project paths since forming in 2005, so he doesn't think the group would neglect any agreements with the city.

He said the agency helps make it easier for businesses to settle into the community, and councilmember DePriest said he agrees that makes it more appealing for prospective businesses. 

Councilmember Roetter mentioned the funds could be used for a community center or building to house a police force.

The discussion is ongoing, and no decisions will be made in the immediate future. With the district possibly ending in 2029, the city council will have to decide what the money will be used for.

"The money is there," Davis said.  "So we either use it or lose it."