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Avon council advances plan to create Community Improvement Corporation
Summary
Council discussed Ordinance No. 16-26 to form a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) that could hold and manage property, run revolving loan programs and assist land assembly; councilmembers pressed timing and board-composition questions. The second reading is set for March 9, 2026.
Council members spent a sizable portion of the March 2 work session reviewing Ordinance No. 16-26, which would authorize the city to form a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) under state law.
Attorney Blake Beachler of Calfee, Halter & Griswold told Council the CIC could "hold, manage, lease, and even mortgage properties" and run revolving loan programs to support small businesses that have been turned down by banks. He stressed that "all CIC activities require City Council approval" and that the CIC would be subject to open meetings and public records laws, with narrow confidentiality only during active negotiations. The ordinance is scheduled for its second reading on March 9, 2026.
Council members probed governance details. The draft ordinance, Beachler said, names the mayor, finance director, planning/economic development coordinator, one at-large council member and three resident appointees as the initial board; state law requires two-fifths of members be city officials. Tony Moore urged caution, saying he had polled residents and heard roughly 70% opposition to development at the parcel being discussed; Beachler replied the CIC can be created now and left idle until needed and that setup costs are modest.
Mayor Bryan Jensen said staff will compile property-value data, potential income-tax revenue estimates and maintenance costs to inform the Economic Development Committee discussion. Beachler and Council agreed sales or leases handled by the CIC would return to Council for final approval. No final vote was taken; the ordinance proceeds to the March 9 agenda for a subsequent reading.
