Urban renewal hearing will continue tomorrow

With the hour approaching 5 p.m., Senate Local Government Chairman Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, announced that his committee’s hearing on two urban renewal bills will continue tomorrow, though he’ll keep going now to hear two more people who’ve signed up to testify. Much of the testimony today has been in favor of urban renewal. Melissa Anderson, economic development director for the city of Twin Falls, said, “Frankly, it’s the only tool that we have within the community to help create the jobs.” Twin Falls got a call center in the past year that added 750 new jobs, she said. “Without urban renewal, that project would not have happened, those 750 jobs would not have been created within the city of Twin Falls.” David Ferdinand, chairman of the Canyon County Commission and an urban renewal commissioner, spoke in favor of HB 95. “The urban renewal districts must be subject to accountability and oversight,” he said, and he said the process “when used properly … does benefit everyone.”

Urban renewal officials and attorneys from various communities around the state urged various amendments to HB 95 and raised questions about some of its provisions; committee members also indicated they’re considering some amendments.