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Altoona council amends urban renewal plan, commits $1.52M to stormwater, approves PILOT amendment and site purchase
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Summary
The Altoona City Council approved an amendment to its Urban Renewal Plan to enable TIF funding, agreed to repay Prairie Crossing Investment $1,515,968.68 for stormwater work, approved a PILOT amendment with Siculus (META) estimated at about $810,000 annually, and authorized a purchase agreement for an 8.33-acre water treatment plant site (not to exceed $550,000).
The Altoona City Council on Nov. 18 approved an amendment to the city’s Urban Renewal Plan and a series of linked development and utility measures intended to support local infrastructure and commercial projects.
Finance Director Andy Lent opened the public hearing on the Urban Renewal Plan amendment, saying, "This public hearing is to receive public comment on the amendment of the city’s urban renewal plan in order to allow for TIF revenue to be collected and used for projects." No members of the public spoke, and the council approved the amendment by roll call vote among members present.
The council also voted to remove certain parcels from the TIF district in the NE Industrial Park after Finance Director Lent said the parcels had been partially included in a TIF district and could lead to duplicate tax bills. The ordinance to delete those parcels proceeded through readings and publication votes as recorded by the clerk.
City Administrator Randy Pierce presented a resolution expressing the city’s intent to reimburse Prairie Crossing Investment, Inc. $1,515,968.68 for stormwater improvements, with payment scheduled no later than June 30, 2025 and to be paid from the city’s TIF fund. "The payment will be made from the city's TIF fund," Pierce said; the council approved the resolution.
Pierce described a First Amendment to a development agreement with Siculus, Inc. (doing business as META) that sets a PILOT payment while temporary buildings are used. Under the amendment, the PILOT would be calculated at $6.00 per square foot; Pierce said that yields an estimated annual payment of about $810,000. The council approved the amendment as presented.
The council also authorized entering a purchase agreement not to exceed $550,000 for Lot 1 (8.33 acres) in Altoona NE Industrial Plat 2 as the site for a new water treatment plant. Utilities Director Dan Scott said design and permitting are expected in 2025, construction in 2026–2027, and that the plant is expected to add approximately 4 million gallons per day of capacity when operational in 2027.
A consent agenda of related items passed by roll call included bills, the annual urban renewal report for FY2023–24, a Terracon geotechnical agreement for the new water treatment plant site, a Baker Group proposal for Phase Two traffic cameras, a Confluence agreement for Sam Wise Field renovations Phase 4, and multiple resolutions obligating TIF funds for upcoming bond and project payments.
The measures passed by votes recorded in the minutes among the four members present (Councilmembers Duer, Dunwoody, Evans and Stewart); Councilmember Boka is recorded as absent for the meeting. The clerk’s roll calls do not list movers or seconders for motions in the published minutes.
Next steps: the Prairie Crossing repayment is to be processed no later than June 30, 2025; design work for the water plant is scheduled for 2025, with construction planned for 2026–2027.