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Caldwell approves $115,000 MOU to bring Roger Brooks back for downtown master plan amid funding debate
Summary
The Caldwell City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Caldwell Chamber and Roger Brooks for a downtown master-plan engagement, committing $115,000 drawn from current budgets; the resolution passed 5–1 after debate about using departmental funds versus contingency or fund balance.
The Caldwell City Council on June 2, 2025 approved a resolution authorizing execution of a memorandum of understanding with the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce to bring consultant Roger Brooks to lead a downtown master-plan process. The council voted 5–1 to commit $115,000 from existing FY2025 budgets to the project; Councilor Williams was the lone dissenting vote.
Why it matters: supporters said Brooks’s earlier work contributed measurable downtown property-value gains and that bringing him back is an investment in economic development and urban renewal. Opponents and some council members urged more transparency about where the $115,000 would come from and warned against reallocating scarce department funds in a tight budget year.
Funding and city accounting: City staff explained the $115,000 will come from existing FY2025 line items rather than a budget amendment. Raelynn (city staff) described the allocation as: $50,000 from Planning & Zoning (originally budgeted for a downtown master plan), $30,000 from the general fund (unspent fireworks-related funds), $5,000 from Economic Development (dues/savings), $10,000 from Public Works/Engineering special projects, and $20,000 from the Parks winter-wonderland budget. She said the funds are available in current budgets and that the city is not adding to the overall budget.
Council debate and amendments considered: Councilor Williams pressed for transparency and questioned using funds that departments had planned for other purposes, citing training and public-safety budget pressures. Councilor Dittenberg asked whether the city could stagger payments so the final $57,500 would be conditional on matching contributions from Destination Caldwell and other partners; city attorney/staff (Oscar) said contract language could be adjusted and contingencies exist if matching funds do not materialize. Supporters including Rob Pilot (commenter) and others argued Brooks’s previous downtown work produced large increases in assessed property values and that an immediate planning engagement would help guide future private investment and urban renewal.
Public comments and evidence: Rob Pilot presented sample assessment figures for downtown properties from before and after Brooks’s prior involvement, arguing the consultant’s earlier work produced strong increases in assessed values. The Chamber's memorandum of understanding and the MOU’s final form had been reviewed by the chamber board, city attorney, planning and zoning director and finance staff prior to council consideration.
Vote and outcome: Councilor Register moved the resolution; a second was recorded from Councilor Spodock. The council adopted the resolution 5–1. Councilor Williams voted no; five other council members voted yes. The mayor instructed staff to notify Roger Brooks and to coordinate his visit (staff noted Brooks is tentatively scheduled to attend an event on June 12 to begin the engagement).
Next steps: Staff will finalize the MOU execution with the Chamber, coordinate scheduling with Roger Brooks and begin the public engagement and stakeholder outreach the consultant will lead. Council members and staff indicated the downtown parking advisory board, once constituted, will be part of the follow-up conversation on downtown priorities.
