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Committee reviews TIF policy amendments to identify and mitigate displacement risks
Summary
City staff proposed clarifications to Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy to require displacement‑impact analysis and mitigation strategies. Councilmembers asked for clearer definitions of direct and indirect displacement and geographic scope to ensure policies prevent unintended resident displacement.
The committee reviewed proposed clarifications to Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy on Jan. 27 aimed at making displacement risk more explicit and ensuring mitigation when publicly funded projects could affect nearby residents.
Verónica García, director of Neighborhood and Housing Services, said the updated policy would require an assessment of neighborhood vulnerabilities and assign a risk rating (low, moderate or high) to proposed projects. "Cuando vemos este evaluación de impacto, de desplazamiento, vemos los factores... y con eso se propone el proyecto, y el proyecto a lo mejor se le da una calificación de bajo riesgo, riesgo moderado o alto riesgo," she said.
García described mitigation options including temporary relocation assistance, rehabilitation funds and property‑tax exceptions intended to prevent permanent displacement when projects require demolition or large‑scale changes. She stressed the assessment is intended to identify vulnerabilities and design mitigation rather than to immediately disqualify projects.
Councilmembers referenced a 2022 project that used similar financing for a stadium and led to demolition of apartment complexes; they asked staff to include explicit language defining both direct and indirect displacement and to set a geographic radius for impact calculations. "Yo estoy apoyando la recomendación... para que pueda reflejar el desplazo directo e indirecto para estas políticas de Ters y TIF," a councilmember said, calling for clearer definitions and consistent application.
Committee members signaled support for the staff report and asked staff to return with refined definitions and measurable thresholds so the policy could be applied consistently during Council review of future TIF‑funded projects.
