Urban Renewal Agency Meeting
The North Plains Urban Renewal Agency convened on October 20, 2025, for a brief evening session focused on incentive policy housekeeping, follow-through on the Garlic Festival rail incident, and upcoming consultant guidance.
Highlights
- 🗓️ Consultant Elaine Howard returns Nov. 17 to brief the board on extending the urban renewal district and tailoring future plan updates.
- 🧾 Staff will craft a one-time assistance proposal for Sisters & Stuff while outlining a broader incentive framework.
- 🤝 Board reaffirmed the need for clear grant policies before awarding URA dollars to private projects.
- 🛠️ Additional consultant support will scope targeted programs for downtown commercial properties.
Notes
- Housekeeping: Meeting opened at 9:25 p.m.; June 16 minutes and the special session agenda were approved unanimously. Two URA board vacancies remain following Commissioner McCall-Wallace’s resignation.
- Public comment: Kathy Bishop (Sisters & Stuff vintage shop) thanked the board for past support, described substantial site investments—including roughly $90k in grading, asphalt, and rain garden work—and urged the URA to help storefront improvements that keep dollars and reuse activity in town. Written testimony from Don Weber was also received.
- Plan extension & consultant briefing: City Manager Bill Ganley shared that consultant Elaine Howard will deliver a tailored tax-increment financing “UTA 101” refresher on Nov. 17 with recommendations on extending the URA sunset date. Based on her review, extending the district likely requires only a URA resolution, paired with outreach to affected taxing districts; legal counsel BEH will confirm. Howard is semi-retiring and will advise while a partner firm handles any competitive bid for a comprehensive plan update.
- Incentive program discussion: Staff reiterated that URA grants must operate under clear, consistent policy. The recently adopted food-service tenant improvement program serves as a template; any new aid should articulate goals, eligible costs, and process. The board wants tools that also lift future tenants and corridor aesthetics, not just single businesses.
- Support for Sisters & Stuff: Staff will meet with the owner to document project costs and report back next month with options for a narrowly tailored, one-time reimbursement that recognizes the property’s community benefit while keeping guardrails intact. Commissioners asked for comparative research from other Oregon URAs—work already underway via the Economic Development Committee and consultants assisting Banks.
- Timeline and costs: Extending the current URA is estimated at roughly $5k and one month once the board gives direction; staff aim to complete the action before January 2026, well ahead of the present sunset.
Follow-Ups
- Staff to meet with Sisters & Stuff and return next meeting with an assistance recommendation and rationale.
- Schedule BEH legal review and coordinate taxing-district outreach prior to voting on the URA sunset extension.
- Prepare agenda for Nov. 17 consultant briefing, including any background materials the board should review in advance.
- Continue compiling examples of incentive guardrails from peer URAs for board consideration.