Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monroe council renews downtown fee-waiver program for one year amid debate over effectiveness
Summary
The Monroe City Council approved first reading of an ordinance to extend a downtown permit fee-waiver program for one year after staff reported roughly $667,000 in waived fees since 2015 and $42,004.20 in the last year. Councilmembers debated narrowing eligibility to the promenade and pursuing a broader economic strategy.
The Monroe City Council on July 14 approved first reading of an ordinance extending the city’s downtown permit fee-waiver program for an additional year, after a lengthy debate over whether the incentives are achieving their revitalization goals.
City staff presented the program, which staff said began in 2015, and reported roughly $667,000 in total waived fees since the program’s start and $42,004.20 in waived fees in the most recent year. Staff said waivers typically apply to building-permit–type work, including site-plan and tenant-improvement permits, and are limited to a defined downtown geographic area.
“From a year-to-year basis it’s really unpredictable,” Director Bailey said, adding that the program’s principal benefit has been an anecdotal increase in larger residential projects such as River’s Edge. Bailey told the council that revenue foregone by the waivers would otherwise flow to the general fund.
Council members split on the program’s future. Council Member Beaumont said the recent numbers convinced her the program should end, arguing the money could be used for other priorities. “I personally think it’s time to stop doing this,” she said. Council Member Fulcher, a business owner, said modest fee savings rarely drive large private investment and favored narrowing eligibility to the promenade area. Several members proposed a one-year renewal while staff and economic-development partners pursue a comprehensive downtown strategy.
Supporters cited River’s Edge as evidence the waiver can catalyze large development: council discussion estimated that the River’s Edge project delivered several hundred new residential units and substantially more property-tax revenue than the waived fees. Council Member Campbell and others urged a data-driven follow-up and broader outreach to property owners, the chamber and EDAB before making permanent changes.
Council Member Blair moved and Council Member Gamble seconded the motion to accept first reading of the ordinance extending the temporary elimination of certain downtown permit fees; the motion passed on a 6–0 voice vote. The ordinance was presented as a one‑year extension, with staff directed to continue outreach and bring recommended refinements in the coming year.
The council did not adopt permanent boundary changes at the meeting; members asked staff to model narrower eligibility limited to the promenade and to include a review of other tools for downtown revitalization.
