Nampa Defines Areas as 'deteriorating'

by Sandra Forester @ Idaho Statesman
October 17, 2006

Nampa City Council agreed by split vote Monday to move toward creating an urban renewal district that would put about $44.1 million into new buildings and other improvements, with a new downtown library as the top priority.
Also on the council agenda was a proposal to revamp the city’s auto reimbursement policy in response to concerns about a recent doubling of the mayor’s auto allowance.

That issue had not been addressed by press time Monday, and the meeting was expected to run late into the night.

Further discussion of the proposed urban renewal district also was expected late Monday, with council members adjourning their meeting to reconvene as the board of the Nampa Development Council, the city’s newly renamed urban renewal agency. As the development board, council members were expected to decide whether to approve the proposed boundaries and other aspects of the district.

The council split 2-2 on a resolution to declare downtown Nampa and other key commercial and industrial areas as “deteriorating” — the first step in creating an urban renewal district. Stephen Kren and Bob Schmidt voted against the resolution, and Lynda Clark and Martin Thorne voted for it. Mayor Tom Dale broke the tie, approving the resolution.

A draft plan presented to the City Council Monday listed the projects and costs by priority: additional library, $15.5 million; sewer and water lines for North Nampa, $4 million; a public safety building, $14.6 million; Garrity Boulevard right-of-way improvements, $1 million; Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard improvements, $5 million; Franklin Boulevard right-of-way, $3 million; Interstate 84 interchange improvements, $1 million.

A “pay as you go” plan would allow the library construction to begin in 2012, and other projects would be paid as tax-district revenues are collected through 2017, officials said.

Another option is to pay for the projects through bonds that would be paid off by urban renewal district revenues. This would allow library construction to begin in 2009.

The district would cover hundreds of industrial and commercial acres north of Interstate 84, land on both sides of Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard, and most of Nampa’s downtown.

The council also considered a written policy for reimbursement of mileage expenses that eliminates taxable auto allowances for employees hired in the future.

The new policy would require direct reimbursement at the state rate for employees who use their personal vehicles on city business.

The issue of reimbursement versus auto allowance came up after council members discovered in August that the mayor’s allowance doubled to $800 in June without council approval.

Dale said last week his accountant recommended he be paid based on the net auto allowance he receives after taxes instead of the gross before taxes.

Dale asked finance director Debbie Mammone to figure out a way he could be justly compensated for driving his car more than 1,000 miles a month. The result was the increase to $800.

To offer story ideas or comments, contact reporter Sandra Forester at sforester@idahostatesman.com or 377-6464.