Redevelopment Commission approves claims, hears PACE program update and 2025 disbursement

Madison City Redevelopment Commission members approved claims totaling $352,105.25 and received an update on the city’s Property and Community Enhancement (PACE) program, including a $300,000 disbursement for 2025, at a meeting (date not specified in the transcript).

The PACE program update, delivered by Nicole Shell, outlined the program’s history and recent application and funding figures and described targeted grants for deteriorated structures and a curb-appeal pilot in the Pinehurst neighborhood.

The approved claims bundle totaled $352,105.25, and a motion to approve claims as listed in the meeting packet was made and seconded during the meeting; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. In addition, commission staff and PACE representatives said a 2025 disbursement request for $300,000 had been approved earlier in the meeting; PACE staff said most of those funds have already been committed but not yet spent. "Thank you for approving our disbursement request because we've already committed the most of that money," Nicole Shell said.

Shell told commissioners that PACE began in February 2014 and that, to date, 324 applications have been approved out of 440 submitted. The program moved to a scoring system in 2020 to standardize approvals, she said. For 2025 specifically, 52 applications were submitted and 35 approved. Shell reported the program shows a return on public investment of $4.42 for every public dollar and that the current public-to-private leverage is roughly $1 public to $4.34 private.

Brenna Haley, the program’s historic preservationist, spoke about recent and ongoing program activity on the city’s hilltop. Shell and Haley said the program was expanded in 2020 to include grants for dilapidated and dangerous structures, which are available citywide including on the hilltop; a curb-appeal program focused on a segment near Habitat for Humanity in Pinehurst is a newer addition and has so far produced one application in that area. "We added a curb appeal program that works on just the exterior in that area," Haley said.

A commissioner who spoke during the meeting praised PACE as a strong investment, noting the program combines redevelopment commission funds with city appropriations and an interlocal agreement with Jefferson County and leverages substantial private investment. "It's a great program and it's making a huge difference in our neighborhoods as well as in our entire city," the commissioner said.

Staff told the commission there are no major changes in the October financial report and that over the next 30 days they will work to comply with the State of Indiana's reporting criteria and finalize the plan for 2026 to present to the commission before Dec. 31. The transcript does not specify exact dates for the next meeting or the presentation.

The meeting record includes public comment by Sandy Palmer, who asked whether the $300,000 disbursement was approved by the redevelopment commission or by the City Council and whether previously discussed split parcels had been sold; staff responded that the parcels are for sale and that public notice will follow the usual process.

Commissioners said they plan a year-end recap in November and December meetings and reiterated broad priorities the commission will track into 2026: housing, infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.