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Elyria schedules June 30 review after compromise on development agreement, TIF
Summary
Mayor Kevin A. Brubaker said councilors and developer representatives reached a compromise on assignment language in a proposed development agreement and set a June 30 strategic planning meeting to review a final draft and a related tax-increment financing (TIF) agreement ahead of a hoped-for vote July 7.
Elyria Mayor Kevin A. Brubaker told the City Council that city officials and representatives of DVR have reached what he described as “an achievable, acceptable, development agreement” on assignment language and asked councilors to review final drafts at a strategic planning meeting June 30, with the expectation of a full council vote on the agreements July 7.
The compromise, the mayor said, followed several hours of focused talks involving council members and DVR’s representative, Mr. Reeser, and was circulated to the law department and finance director for review. “This is great news for the city,” Mayor Brubaker said, adding that law director Deery and Finance Director Pileschi had reviewed the draft and that the law director “can live with” the amendment as written.
Why it matters: the development agreement and a TIF agreement would shape how a major proposed development is permitted, financed and taxed; they can affect when property taxes flow to the city and what obligations the developer assumes. Mayor Brubaker and Councilman Lipien emphasized the importance of resolving the assignment clause so the project could move forward.
Council members and city officials outlined next steps rather than taking a formal vote. Law Director Deery said outside counsel Russ Balthus would be available for the June 30 meeting to review an “approved as to form” draft, and the Port Authority told officials it would like to explore options to assist the project. Deery asked that attorney Siegfried Friedman also attend. The mayor asked that council check schedules for a 6 p.m. strategic planning session on June 30; he said he hoped both the development agreement and the TIF would be ready for that meeting and for a full vote July 7.
Council members noted outstanding issues that they want the June 30 meeting to address. Councilman Lipien praised the parties for coming together and said the meeting showed “they were conducting themselves with perfect harmony.” Councilman Oswald asked whether the talks included any condition about dropping litigation; Mayor Brubaker replied that “it was discussed as well as the fire department, and we’ll let that come out on June 30.”
No formal action or vote on the development agreement or TIF occurred at Monday’s meeting; officials framed the meeting as a negotiation update and scheduling request. The mayor and law director said further tweaks to dates and other provisions remain possible and that legal counsel will finalize language for council review at the June 30 session.
The June 30 meeting is scheduled as a strategic planning session at 6 p.m.; council members were asked to confirm availability with the clerk’s office. If council proceeds on the timetable presented by the mayor, both the development agreement and the TIF would return for a full council vote on July 7.
