MONROE — Organizers of three community forums meant to gain feedback in the infancy of the city Redevelopment Authority found no lack of attendance by inquiring residents throughout the last two weeks.
Main Street Monroe Executive Director Jordan Nordby helped set up two of the three gatherings, one on Feb. 21 and the other on Feb. 26; both were held at the Green County Courthouse. Nordby noted they felt “successful” after the final meeting.
The first forum garnered roughly 50 people. The second brought in even more residents, topping 90 for the evening meeting that ran over its anticipated hour time slot.
It began with a 15-minute presentation by Assistant City Administrator Sam Liebert. Liebert described the RDA, outlining its duties and presenting four goals the group has identified in its roughly six months of bi-monthly meetings.
The city RDA was re-established after consideration of a Community Development Authority by Monroe Common Council members. Members of the city Housing Authority, unhappy with the idea of being pulled under an umbrella institution despite having control of its own operation, called on council members to vote down the new authority. By majority consensus they agreed and moved instead to reconstitute an inactive RDA.
An RDA is a commission extended from the city. It can implement urban renewal programs, work with developers for redevelopment of city property and is backed by state law in its ability to borrow money, issue bonds and make loans.
The group officially reactivated with a meeting in late October and has since created bylaws, a district map based on blight determination from planning company Vierbicher Associates Inc of Madison, secured funding through a $20,000 loan from the city, an extension of funding available from city Tax Increment Finance Districts No. 4 and 5 totaling roughly $335,000 and has prepared a project plan to be approved after two public hearings later this month.
Its goals include: collaboration, preservation, promotion and housing stabilization. The main use of the RDA is to take documents like the 2015 Comprehensive Plan and the 2016 Housing Study and turn them into action, rather than the common reference city officials have made about the documents sitting on a shelf, collecting dust.
The final meeting, hosted by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, had a smaller attendance at the Monroe Golf Club on Feb. 28. Regardless, the information reached nearly 200 people who may be directly affected by programs instituted by the RDA.
RDA Chair Michael Boyce was present for the second meeting at the courthouse. He noted during questions about the intention of the group that the RDA is “in its infancy,” echoing sentiment from Liebert.
“You’ve got to learn to crawl before you can walk,” Liebert said. “We’re still crawling.”
The main goal of the forums was to gain feedback from property and business owners within the outline of RDA District Map No. 1, which encompasses downtown and stretches east to west from the 900 block and 1200 blocks of 20th Avenue to the 1000 block of 7th Avenue and other areas in a haphazard design. The district, by law, must include at least 50 percent of blight, a broad term which can mean anything from peeling paint to nearly condemned structures. RDA District No. 1 spans 140 acres of land; 101 acres within the boundaries is actual property. Of its 464 parcels, 223 are considered blighted, Liebert said.
RDA officials have drafted a plan meant to help property owners through a variety of programs. The programming can provide grant funding or low-interest loans to those who wish to upgrade their properties.
Boyce noted during the meeting at the Monroe Golf Club that the city heard repeatedly from residents that they prefer Monroe officials support the people already invested in the city rather than providing programs and incentives to those looking to develop with no roots to the community. RDA programs can vary greatly, Liebert said, from a rental rehabilitation or home improvement program to grants or loans meant to help property owners with facade improvements or even the use of a state program, like historical preservation credits.
City Administrator Phil Rath said “a lot of it will be fluid.”
In finalizing the plan, there will be a public hearing at 5 p.m. today at City Hall and a second hearing March 20. After gaining final feedback during the hearings, it will then be sent to council for approval at its meeting April 1. If approved, the RDA will certify the plan on April 3.