The Dalles Urban Renewal To Discuss First Street Project, Incentive Program and More Tonight
By Cole Goodwin
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board will meet today, July 19th, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss next steps for the First Street Project, updates to the Urban Renewal Incentive program, and hear an update from City Manager Mathew Klebes on recent staffing transitions at the City of The Dalles.
First Street Project
Staff will update the board on the ongoing First Street Project schedule and cost challenges associated with the project.
The First Street Project has been in the works since 2008 when the City was awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to complete the project. The project was put on hold for several years and was picked back up in 2018.
The project was intended to connect Lewis and Clark Park and go under the railroad and then into downtown. However the project has morphed due to the high cost of working with the railroad. The First Street Project is now a street reconstruction between Union and Laughlin Streets involving new utility lines, new film material to reinforce the street, brand new sidewalks with ADA ramps, and new asphalt.
Urban Renewal Incentive Program
Staff have also requested a review and comments on draft documents, such as application forms, guidelines and award letter templates for the Urban Renewal Incentive Program update.
Background information:
At the January 18th, 2022 board meeting, Deb Meihoff from Communitas LLC gave a presentation to the Board analyzing current Urban Renewal incentive programs locally and from around the state.
Deb Meihoff said that current incentive programs are largely underused by the community, with historic improvement incentives being the exception. She also pointed out that loan programs may be too burdensome and expensive and therefore less attractive to developers.
Following Miehoff’s presentation on Urban Renewal Incentive, the Board gave Alice Cannon, City of The Dalles Community Development Director and Meihoff the go ahead to build a new proposal for a financial incentive program.
The Board has policy guidance in place in regards to financial incentive programs. The plans and policies that guide investments for Urban Renewal are:
In the past few years Urban Renewal has budgeted about $60,000 annually for incentive programs.
City Staffing Transitions
The Dalles City Manager Matthew Klebes will detail how the City plans to continue providing seamless services to the Urban Renewal Agency during staffing transitions.
Read More: Agenda.
Submit Public Comments: Click here to email the Urban Renewal Agency.
Attend Meeting Via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86259459367?pwd=Z0Nnd3E4bkxBUVhXQkRKTkJCdEJ6QT09
