The Dubuque City Council on Sept. 2 adopted amendments to the Dubuque Industrial Center Economic Development District urban renewal plan that remove certain parcels from an expired subarea and add property back into the district as a new subarea to permit future tax-increment financing (TIF) rebates. Economic development staff said the changes are required to support development agreements for SJR Properties LLC and Universal Tank & Fabrication.Photo: Staff said subarea B’s 20-year TIF authority had expired in 2018 under a 1995 change in state law; the amendments preserve the property inside the broader industrial district while allowing rebated TIF for new subarea activity.Nut graf: Because state law limits tax-increment collection in economic-development urban-renewal subareas to 20 years, the city must remove parcels from an expired subarea and designate a new subarea to issue tax rebates for new projects. The amendments allow the city to proceed with development agreements tied to job-creation projects at the industrial center.Body: Economic Development Director Jill Connors told council the Dubuque Industrial Center Economic Development District, created in 1988 and expanded over time, had a subarea (Sub Area B) whose 20-year TIF collection period ended in 2018. If certain parcels had remained in Sub Area B, the city would not be able to provide future economic development incentives tied to new projects. The proposed changes remove specific parcels from the expired subarea but keep them inside the overall industrial district; staff will designate the parcels as a new subarea in a later amendment so the city may issue urban-renewal tax rebates under the development agreement with SJR Properties and Universal Tank and Fabrication. Connors said the city’s earlier strategy to acquire and prepare industrial land created a long supply of park property that has supported job-creation efforts and national recognition. Council approved both amendments by roll call vote, each motion passing 7-0. Ending: The amendments clear a legal and administrative path for planned industrial expansions and for issuance of TIF rebates under forthcoming development agreements.