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Caldwell council hears proposal to form urban renewal district around Caldwell Executive Airport
Summary
City economic development staff presented a proposal to form an urban renewal district centered on the Caldwell Executive Airport, describing it as a tool to finance infrastructure and attract private investment; councilors asked for more analysis and legal review before any action.
The mayor opened an Aug. 3 city council workshop focused on a staff proposal to form an urban renewal district covering the Caldwell Executive Airport and surrounding employment areas. Ophelia Morales, assistant economic development director and executive director for Urban Renewal, said the airport should be treated as an economic catalyst, not just a transportation facility.
"The airport should be viewed as a catalyst for economic development rather than simply transportation facility," Morales said, summarizing staff's rationale for using urban renewal as a financing tool. She told the council urban renewal would be coordinated with other funding sources, including federal and state grants and airport revenues.
Staff framed the proposed district as a way to accelerate investment in infrastructure and catalytic projects that could expand business, jobs and the local tax base. Morales emphasized the proposal is an early-stage concept intended to prompt council feedback: staff sought a "thumbs up, thumbs down" on whether to continue stakeholder conversations.
Council members did not take action; the workshop was informational. Morales said the next steps would include stakeholder outreach, a feasibility study and, if desired, a formal district-adoption process that would return to the council for decision.
