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Trenton council approves 15-year advisory contract for Trenton Square incentive tracking
Summary
The Trenton City Council authorized an annual $25,000 agreement with Bradley Payne Associates to serve as an incentive-review and tracking advisor for the Trenton Square development, with costs borne by the development district rather than the general fund.
The Trenton City Council on May 15 authorized the city manager to sign a contract with the Incentive Review Group at Bradley Payne Associates for an annual fee of $25,000 to manage incentive-district tracking and advise on a community reinvestment area and new community authority tied to the Trenton Square development.
City officials said the advisory role will track parcels, manage required state filings and annual charge assessments, and provide ongoing reporting so revenue flows to the city and related projects as intended. Andy of Bradley Payne Advisors told council, “when we're on the advisory side, we don't really care what the end result is. We're gonna find whatever the best option is.”
The council and staff framed the contract as a long-term safeguard for a complex financing structure for Trenton Square that includes a 30-year tax-increment financing (TIF) overlay and a 15-year, 100% community reinvestment area (CRA) component that will later be converted at the parcel level to a new community authority (NCA) charge or special assessment. Staff said the contract will be paid from Trenton Square district funds, not the city's general fund.
Council discussion emphasized the value of a consistent, external record-keeper when staff and elected personnel change over years. Andy described the firm's role as ensuring required DTE forms and other state filings are completed for each parcel and that annual revenue distribution and developer obligations are monitored and reported. Staff said the contract will produce annual reports showing parcels assessed and developer minimum service payments.
The motion to authorize the contract passed on a roll-call vote; city staff recorded one dissenting vote. The agreement was described as an ongoing obligation tied to the lifetime of the Trenton Square financing and will run for not less than 15 years.
Council and staff directed administration to finalize contract language and confirm the implementation schedule and specific billing processes between the Trenton Square district and the city.
Because this contract draws on project-derived funds rather than the general fund, staff said the city will not realize an immediate general-fund expenditure for the advisory services; the city will instead invoice or receive payment from the Trenton Square district as described in the presentation.
