The Martinsville City Redevelopment Commission voted to authorize staff to begin the process of identifying properties and initiating paperwork to expand the city's Tax Increment Financing district. Commissioners discussed that expanding the TIF will require public meetings and may benefit from outside counsel because of technical legal and procedural requirements.

During the discussion, commissioners and staff agreed it makes sense to start work in January so any additions could take effect Jan. 1. A staff member noted the process includes identifying properties, defining the new TIF boundaries, holding required public meetings, and consulting legal counsel if necessary. "We'll have to do a public meeting and something like that once we have... laid out what properties we want to include," one participant said.

Separately, staff updated the commission on the city-owned theater: work on utilities, lighting and sound is ongoing, ticketed events are being scheduled, and the city set the nonprofit rental fee at $800 with a scholarship available for qualifying groups.

Finally, the commission agreed to move the December meeting date to Dec. 3 to ensure a quorum for year-end approvals and filings; the chair said he will circulate the updated agenda and meeting notice by email.