It was smooth sailing Monday night at city council for the proposal for downtown incentives.
City council unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the downtown revitalization incentive policy that had been introduced last month.
The policy, which was outlined in detail at the last meeting, includes what are described as “aggressive” incentives aimed at spurring on development in the downtown core. They include specific property tax incentives aimed at six areas: facades, building improvements and expansion, vacant buildings, new construction, residential construction and brownfields.
The incentives, which can run upwards to five years, apply to commercially-assessed property located within the downtown business improvement district area for which all taxes and charges are current. Only one application can be made per property over a 24-month span for each incentive.
Previously, council had also approved an aggressive “disincentive” policy for the downtown and key commercial corridors areas aimed at vacant buildings. The mill rate for vacant buildings has been hiked to twice the commercial mill rate for those properties.
The incentive policies stem from recommendations in the Downtown Master Plan, which was adopted earlier this year by council.
“This is an example of taking a planning document and putting it into action,” said Mayor Ryan Bater, who pointed to the considerable construction activity in the downtown area, on 101st Street between 11th and 12th Avenues as an example.
While the incentives were presented at the previous June meeting, the city wanted to gauge reaction to the proposals from the public and from business.
Earlier in the day, North Battleford officials including Mayor Ryan Bater, Councillor Kent Lindgren, Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Niesink and City Manager Jim Puffalt met with directors and members of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning.
At that meeting, administration outlined in detail the downtown incentives, and chamber members and directors had an opportunity to ask questions and offer their insights.
As Bater told council later that evening, he emphasized at that meeting that the incentive plan was being done on a 24-month timeline window, so it could be measured as to its results afterwards.
In general, chamber members in attendance were supportive of the incentives as presented.
“I applaud the effort,” was the comment from chamber president Warren Williams.
At council Monday night, Councillor Greg Lightfoot reported there was support from another organization, the Downtown North Battleford Business Improvement District, to the incentive proposal.
Other councillors reported positive reaction in general.
“Overall comments I’ve had are positive in supporting this policy, positive in supporting ‘how can we help move things along downtown’,” said Councillor Kelli Hawtin.
She did ask how the policy would be promoted. City Manager Jim Puffalt pledged that effort would be extensive, saying the policy was “part of an integrated overall plan to revitalize downtown.”
The incentive plan will be presented on the city’s website, and the downtown BID will be sending out the information to businesses downtown as well. City Director of Planning Development Jennifer Niesink added packages with the incentive plans and applications will also be made available at the BID and the Chamber of Commerce. Information will also be presented at the various informational and community events the city is taking part in.
As well, Puffalt pledged the city is “open for business,” and so the plan will be presented to people, and be part of their overall efforts to promote the city.
This will be “another tool in our toolkit that we can say to someone ‘you need to come to North Battleford, we have the best plans for downtown, it’s vibrant and growing, and you can be a part of it’.”
