Everman council updates TIF project plan, expands boundary to include City Hall

After a public hearing on March 10, the Everman City Council voted to update the city's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ/TIF) project plan and finance plan and to amend the zone boundary to include City Hall and the public works/public safety block.

Staff told the council the original project plan had not been updated since the zone's inception (circa 2013–2014) and was unusually specific in places. "The project plan that was originally adopted was highly, highly specific," a staff presenter said, arguing the plan should instead provide general guidance so the TIF board can review and recommend individual projects on a case-by-case basis. Staff also said the financial assumptions needed updating to reflect current projections and economic conditions.

Two substantive adjustments were presented: straightening the northern boundary along Enon Avenue to avoid awkward carve-outs, and extending the boundary south along Noble Avenue to include City Hall and nearby public-works and public-safety parcels. Staff noted that, under the city attorney's guidance, the inclusion of City Hall within the zone would be required to make any future city-hall project eligible for TIF funding.

Staff emphasized that no specific projects have yet been approved for TIF funding; the TIF board will review candidate projects using scorecards and forward recommendations to council. Council adopted Ordinance No. 847 to amend the comprehensive zoning and TIF project/finance plan; the vote carried on roll call.

Next steps identified by staff: present candidate projects to the TIF board using updated project scorecards, and return any recommended projects to council for approval of funding on a case-by-case basis. The public hearing record cited Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code as the statutory authority for TIF matters.