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Hobart council adopts unsafe‑buildings ordinance, approves TIF report and multiple measures
Summary
At the March 18 meeting the Hobart Common Council accepted the 2025 TIF annual report, approved compliance and amendment items for local developments, adopted Ordinances 2026‑04 and 2026‑05 and passed resolutions to submit a CDBG proposal and temporarily suspend a single‑family garbage fee.
The Hobart Common Council on March 18 adopted several measures the city said are intended to support development while preserving core services.
Council accepted the 2025 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) annual redevelopment report so the clerk‑treasurer can file the packet with the state, a staff presenter said. The council also accepted a compliance review for Grand Trump Storage and approved an amended development agreement for PlayStreetDefco LLC after staff said the developer encountered construction delays and the parties revised the timeline and fiscal expectations.
On ordinances, the council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026‑04, amending the municipal code on inspection, repair or removal of unsafe buildings and the maintenance and repair of vacant structures. The ordinance separates hearing authority for unsafe buildings from the Board of Works and passed on roll call 7‑0, the mayor announced. Council also completed second reading and adopted Ordinance 2026‑05, appropriating budget items for 2026; that ordinance also passed 7‑0.
During the meeting council approved two HUD‑related actions: it adopted an affirmative action plan and Section 3 understanding required for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications and adopted Resolution 2026‑07 authorizing the mayor to submit a CDBG project proposal for federal fiscal year 2026. Staff told the council Hobart’s anticipated CDBG allocation for FY2026 is $112,590 and described typical eligible uses: infrastructure work (streets, sewers, waterline extensions), curb‑cut accessibility projects and demolition in blighted areas.
Council also adopted Resolution 2026‑08 to temporarily suspend a nominal single‑family residential garbage/collection fee (described in discussion as about $230 annually for owner‑occupied single‑family homes). Council members said the city’s current reserves and projected revenues make the temporary suspension feasible without cutting core services; the measure passed on a council vote.
What happens next: the clerk‑treasurer will file the TIF report with state authorities and staff will proceed with the CDBG application steps and public advertising required by HUD; the new unsafe‑buildings hearing authority will be implemented under the amended code.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Approve 2025 TIF annual report — motion approved (voice vote). - Accept Grand Trump Storage CFM compliance report — approved (voice vote). - Approve Place Street CF1B (PlayStreetDefco) compliance/amendment — approved (voice vote). - Adopt Resolution 2026‑07 (authorize CDBG submission) — motion/second; approved by voice vote. - Adopt Resolution 2026‑08 (temporary suspension of single‑family garbage fee) — motion/second; approved by vote. - Adopt Ordinance 2026‑04 (unsafe‑buildings code amendment) — roll call recorded as 7‑0, approved. - Adopt Ordinance 2026‑05 (2026 budget appropriations) — second reading adopted, recorded as 7‑0, approved.
The council set a public hearing date for the voluntary annexation item introduced at the meeting; that hearing will come back to the council in a future meeting.
