Lansing City Council schedules public hearing on proposed Urban Revitalization Plan/Tax Abatement Ordinance for Monday, March 18

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Following a brief discussion, the Lansing City Council decided during its regular meeting Monday, February 19 to hold a special meeting Thursday, February 22 to vote on Resolution #999a - declaring necessity and providing for notice of public hearing on proposed Urban Revitalization Plan. (NOTE: According to the Iowa League of Cities, the terms urban revitalization plan and tax abatement program “are somewhat interchangeable terms as tax abatement programs, generally speaking, must be done within an urban revitalization plan/area.”)

During the February 22 special meeting, the council approved setting a public hearing on the proposed Urban Revitalization Plan/Tax Abatement Ordinance for Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in City Hall. In an email conversation following the regular meeting February 19, Mayor Mike Verdon said the special meeting was scheduled “because of a question regarding what was perceived as being some missing information in the proposed ordinance. So, rather than approving the hearing date at the Monday meeting, it was decided to get clarification on the question and schedule a special meeting to approve the hearing date.”

Prior to the council’s decision that evening to postpone voting on the resolution to set a public hearing on the Urban Revitalization Plan/Tax Abatement Ordinance, some community members raised questions about instituting such an ordinance in Lansing. One commenter wondered if “getting contractors interested in building single-family houses” is the goal of a tax abatement ordinance and another asked, “Does Lansing have this ability?” Mayor Verdon allowed that “the potential to grow is limited by geography.”

Other comments were offered that suggested a tax abatement program would serve objectives beyond encouraging the building of single-family houses. Among those objectives would be incentivizing property owners to improve the conditions of current housing stock and any empty lots; encouraging denser housing by offering tax abatements for multi-residential projects; and acting as a city buy-in for projects that require a city buy-in for state or federal grants.

MAIN STREET LANSING UPDATE: 2023
Main Street Lansing (MSL) Executive Director Andrew Boddicker reviewed MSL’s achievements of 2023 with the council, and talked about “what is in store for 2024 and beyond.” Among the highlights of 2023: Over $800,000 of private investment took place downtown; and approximately nine facades were improved in 2023 - five of which received a grant from the county. “That’s a great example of private/public partnerships at work,” Boddicker said. “Five new businesses opened or transferred ownership and we remain at lower-than-normal vacancy rates, receiving calls or emails weekly from people looking for business fronts to rent or purchase,” he added.

The Main Street Plaza renovation, funded entirely by a T-Mobile Hometown Grant and donors to the project, was completed in 2023. Additionally, Main Street Lansing won a state-wide award for the Best Small-Scale Activity in Iowa for its Farmers Market and breached the $5,000,000 mark of private investment in downtown since becoming a Main Street Community. That number currently stands at $6.8 million and counting, Boddicker said.

“In addition, 2023 public/private investment in downtown was over $100,000 with the completion of the Plaza, new trash cans and planter boxes, installation of the downtown skyline lighting project, EV charging station installation, and public art installations. We have made great progress in lifting our downtown space while always keeping our eye on economic growth and historic preservation,” he said.

Boddicker said a particular highlight of the year was hosting Director of Iowa Economic Development Authority Debi Durham and her team, in Lansing. “It was exciting to show state leaders the progress we’ve made and the (upcoming) projects we have - and to (talk about) how the state can best help us achieve our goals,” he said.

DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED
Main Street Lansing downtown district property values increased by 68% in 2023, Boddicker said. “Our downtown properties are more valuable for a variety of reasons - like much of the state, values have gone up - but it is also due to high demand for commercial and investment property in a town that supports growth and invests in development,” he said. “As a side note - please take note of the nearly doubled increase in value of the stone school,” he added. “As you consider the future plans for this site, it may be worth challenging the county on its most recent assessment. Any tax abatement that the property would qualify for would have lower impact on an investor at this recent valuation.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
“Our economic vitality team is always strategizing, researching, and planning ways to help Lansing grow,” Boddicker said. “As the tax abatement continues to make its way through, the EV team is interested in exploring industrial support or tax incentives - particularly at this time as Truvant is leaving at the end of April.”

MSL Board President Chris Troendle spoke to the council about the possibility of working with Clayton Burke and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) toward obtaining a permanent digital sign/information screen that would be funded and used by the DOT and turned over to the city after bridge and road work is completed. “We would need to put together a proposal letter for the DOT on responsible parties (City/Main Street Lansing) and maintenance,” Troendle said.

Other ideas for 2024 include adding more event screens inside businesses, “like the one facing outward in the Laundromat, so we can showcase all the civic events in Lansing and increase participation across the board,” Boddicker said; a new Lansing Events Calendar, with a goal of having one place for all community groups to list their events; hosting an event “every month of the year, to bring people into town and therefore increase business and economic impact in the community throughout the year,” he said. And, he added, “plans are in the works to bring a large artisan fair to Lansing in the fall during the peak leaf season.”

NEW WEBSITE
Boddicker and Troendle both addressed the city’s need for a new and updated website. “Website development and upkeep is very important for communities,” Troendle said. “Our website is in dire need of upgrade. The system that is in there now is old, and it’s not user-friendly.” Boddicker said MSL is seeking funding for the overhaul. “This will greatly enhance our ability to communicate with our stakeholders - residents and visitors - about all the incredible things that Lansing has to offer,” he said. Troendle said MSL is “budgeted for about half” of the cost of a rebuild, which he estimated to be “about $3,700.”

Troendle told the council that, while many different grants and other state and federal funding sources are available to individuals and organizations for various projects, not a lot of people know about them or, perhaps, understand them; he wondered about ways the city might help to disseminate this information. Mayor Verdon asked if Troendle had a list of sources available - and, if so, suggested that he could email them to the city clerk, Katie Becker. “She can dispense them to the council for their review,” he said. Becker suggested the sources could be put on the website “so everyone has a chance to get or seek funding.”

PARKS
The council approved the application for an Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) grant for $20,000, with a $12,500 match from the City of Lansing. The funding will be used on the Lansing Sports Court Enhancement Project. The project involves repaving and repainting the city’s two basketball and tennis courts; conversion of one tennis court into two pickleball courts, including new nets; and purchase and installation of four new basketball hoops. The council also approved $140 plus mileage (based on current city rate) for summer representatives of the Department of Parks and Recreation to attend the regional game schedule meeting.

WATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
In his report to the council, PeopleService Representative Duane Estebo noted, “Coady worked with Tri-State to help with broken water line and meter replacement at the VFW building” January 18. January 22, Estebo’s report continued, “the motel had a bad leak that came up through the floor. We went to talk to owner about what to do going forward.” January 29, a leak detection service was called to pinpoint the source of a leak on South Front Street. January 30, Estebo reported, “spent all day fixing the leak on South Front Street. It turned out to be the Fire Department supply line. This line also had four service lines in it.”

WASTEWATER OPERATION
January 4, Estebo reported, “Coady cut brush along easement by Clear Creek.” January 12, “we added and turned up heaters for the upcoming cold spell.” January 13, Estebo helped haul snow all day. January 15, Estebo ordered a new air filter and air release solenoids for the drying unit, as the air dryer was dumping air.

In other water/sewer business, the council approved Resolution #1002 on scheduling a public hearing for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) water/sewer improvement project application. The project involves replacement/upgrade of existing water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utilities along Platt Street, North Street and 4th Street. The public hearing was set for March 4.

OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council approved the 28E agreement between Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism and the City of Lansing. The council also approved Resolution #1001, approving a transfer of funds.

The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in Lansing City Hall.