East Side board backs FY2027 TIF recommendation but tables $26,900 for community policing

The East Side Redevelopment Board voted Feb. 24 to forward the Community Redevelopment Agency's recommended FY2027 East Side TIF budget to city council but tabled a $26,900 line for community policing until the CRA sergeant can brief the board on how the program would operate.

CRA staff walked the board through the proposed packet and accompanying spreadsheet, saying the green column shows the FY2027 proposals and that several dollars are carry-forward from 2026. "We put $85,000 toward affordable housing infill development," a CRA staff member told the board, and the packet also proposes $200,000 for the Residential Property Improvement Program (RPIP) and $26,900 toward community policing to split officer funding across the three CRA districts.

Board members pressed staff for specifics about the policing allocation. Several members said East Side lacks the concentrated entertainment venues that make the downtown policing model valuable, and questioned whether the $26,900 would buy meaningful officer presence in the district. A board member said, "It feels to me like they're trying to use CRA funds to have additional officers," characterizing the proposal as a subsidy for downtown policing. CRA staff responded that the community-policing allocation is "above and beyond basic patrol," that the CRA-funded officers are an addition to existing positions and that daily activity logs would be kept for compliance.

Given those outstanding program details, the board moved to table the $26,900 policing line until the CRA sergeant overseeing CRA officers can present examples of duties, time allocation and expected outputs. The motion to table was moved by Zachary Lane and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote.

On other budget topics, board members reviewed a $611,727 carry-forward balance connected to the residential resiliency program and RPIP. CRA staff said that balance reflects cumulative budget activity (this year's budget, next year's proposal and leftover funds) and described steps to revise the RPIP application cycle so available funds are used more quickly. Staff gave a recent RPIP example: a completed residential rehabilitation that included structural leveling, electrical work, insulation and interior repairs, which closed at about $102,750.

Board members asked for a list of completed RPIP projects and more granular information on how funds were spent (interior versus exterior work). CRA staff said privacy rules prevent interior photos in packet presentations but agreed to compile a list of recent projects, scopes of work and costs for board review.

The board also discussed two priority infill lots at 1700 and 2700 MLK. Staff said plans for one site are roughly 70% complete while the other lacks infrastructure (water, roads) and will require demolition and CDBG-supported infrastructure work before housing construction can proceed. Members pressed staff for demolition and infrastructure cost estimates and timetables; staff said the budget proposal must be approved by council next week before RFPs and contracts can move forward.

On the Chappie James Museum, staff said the CRA is responsible under its lease for repairs such as new railing and a wheelchair ramp; board members suggested non-marketing outreach and community activities to increase visitation without violating statutory marketing restrictions.

The board approved sending the FY2027 recommendation to council with the community-policing line tabled. The board asked staff to return with the CRA sergeant's presentation on community-policing duties, a compiled list of RPIP projects and cost details for the MLK lot infrastructure and demolition work.

The board adjourned with no public comments.