2026/6/20 - Urban Renewal Agency Special Meeting

The City of Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency held a special meeting on July 20, 2026, to discuss the potential formation of an airport area urban renewal district. The meeting focused on using tax increment financing (TIF) to support economic development around the airport, leveraging urban renewal alongside federal and state grants and airport revenues. The agency reviewed proposed district boundaries, project lists derived from the airport master plan, and eligibility assumptions for the district. They discussed the need for a feasibility study, estimated at $50,000, to confirm tax increment values and project scopes before formal adoption. Commissioners raised questions about the district's size, inclusion of agricultural land, potential impacts on property values, and coordination with county approvals and FAA grants. The agency emphasized a cautious approach, ensuring the district meets legal criteria for blight or development impediments and that the feasibility study scope and funding are approved before proceeding. The goal is to catalyze development, improve infrastructure, and enhance the airport's role as an economic engine while eventually retiring the district to return properties to the tax rolls.