Clarksburg City Council on Monday approved three resolutions to amend or create tax-increment financing (TIF) redevelopment districts downtown, moving applications on to the West Virginia Division of Economic Development and directing staff to prepare follow-up ordinances and funding agreements.

The council voted by voice to approve a boundary and project-plan amendment for Redevelopment District No. 1 and to submit an application for District No. 2 (Waldo Hotel) and District No. 3 (Golf Building). Speaker 8, who answered council questions during the discussion, said the Waldo application mentions an economic-development agreement that “authorizes, I think, up to a million dollars” for the developer if the council and the state proceed with approvals and a funding agreement is executed.

Why it matters: the TIF approvals are a step in a multi-stage process. Speaker 8 told council that if the state division approves the applications, the city would prepare three separate ordinances: each ordinance would create its TIF district, establish a TIF fund and approve the corresponding project plan. Any decision to issue TIF bonds or to disburse funds under specific developer agreements would require further, separate council ordinances and funding agreements.

Councilmember (Speaker 7) asked whether properties proposed for the Waldo and Golf projects would be removed from District No. 1; Speaker 8 confirmed they would be removed so that the new districts could be created and discussed the mechanics of moving monies into a separate escrow under a funding agreement prior to disbursement. On whether incremental TIF revenue would be paid directly to a developer, Speaker 8 summarized that a funding agreement—if approved later—would set aside monies and stipulate how they could be used.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records voice votes for each resolution; the presiding officer (Speaker 2) called for 'Aye' and then declared each motion carried. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally by name.

Post-approval steps and oversight: Speaker 8 said the ordinances that would return to council after state approval would not themselves authorize issuance of bonds; bond issuance would require a separate ordinance in the future. Administration also said it intends to draft funding or escrow agreements to clearly define when and how monies would be moved and spent for the Waldo and Golf projects.

The council also recorded a recusal earlier in the meeting: Speaker 3 told the mayor they would recuse themselves from agenda items A–F for a possible conflict of interest related to the projects.

The council meeting proceeded to additional council comments and community items after the votes; staff said they will continue to update council as the Division of Economic Development processes the applications.