Staff outlines strategic‑planning visuals and TIF project timelines; LDARC meetings to convene next steps for multiple project plans

Staff gave trustees an update on a planned strategic‑planning refresh and on several TIF project plans and sector plan efforts, and described the statutory steps needed to carry TIF project plans through public review.

Strategic planning visuals Staff presented multiple visuals and organizational models for the authority’s next strategic plan (a proposed three‑year plan), including variations that highlight small business, business retention/expansion and project‑based flows (the presenters referred to one visual as an “octopus” concept). Staff said they plan to pursue a targeted Q2 engagement to produce a new three‑year plan by the end of the calendar year, coupled with five‑year financial forecasting work already underway.

Sector plans and community engagement Staff reported they are restarting sector plan work for Crosby Heights and Unity/Heritage neighborhoods and will coordinate closely with the city planning department and the community engagement processes those offices require. Trustees asked staff to return with a clear timeline and step‑by‑step outline of the sector‑plan process so the board can follow outreach and decision milestones.

TIF project plan next steps and LDARC process Staff and city partners briefed trustees on three TIF project plans moving forward (including Southern Villa and the Pearl District), saying two had received city council authorization to convene Local Development Act review committees and one was deferred for additional refinement at the developer’s request. Mike Dickerson explained the statutory stepwise process: convene taxing‑entity review committees, hold committee meetings (including appointment of at‑large members), present findings, move to planning commission and then to public hearings before city council. Dickerson said the authority has prepared project plan materials in advance and will begin outreach to taxing jurisdictions and stakeholders to schedule LDARC meetings in the coming weeks.

Scale and expected impacts Trustees and staff cited large aggregate figures tied to the three TIF project plans: staff said the three districts together could support roughly 1,815 housing units and about $285 million in project investment across the districts if fully built out. Staff urged improved public communication and said materials and public notices are posted on the city’s TIF web pages; several trustees urged more direct outreach to property owners and neighborhood groups so owners feel included earlier in the process.

Next steps Staff said they will begin scheduling LDARC meetings and will return with project plan updates and proposed timelines. Trustees asked for regular updates and asked staff to codify outreach steps and a clear public timeline for major development‑review milestones.