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STRAW VOTE Talent wants to keep urban renewal going Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 at 2:38 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 4:03 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 at 2:38 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 4:03 PM » Social News TALENT City Council members informally agreed Wednesday that the Talent Urban Renewal Agency should continue to its originally planned end date of July 17, 2019, rather than ending three years early as proposed seven years ago. “Here it is, month six. We’ve had a lot of opportunity to go through this discussion and talk about it,” said Mayor Darby Stricker, after several council members asked for more time to consider a three-page city staff report delivered Wednesday detailing options. At the suggestion of Councilor Daniel Wise, Stricker took a “straw poll” on early termination at the council meeting and all councilors agreed the agency should continue to 2019. She then set a joint study session with the TURA board of directors for May 27. She will have an item on the June 2 council agenda to determine whether the current board should continue or have its duties absorbed by the council. TURA has planned for its major project work to end this fall and for payoff of all projects to conclude by December 2016 in accordance with a nonbinding 2008 City Council directive. By ending early, the agency would not build an already planned second phase of the Talent roundabout project that would link Wagner Street to West Valley View Road and the new link to Main Street. About $3 million would be available for the work if the agency continues. Agency Director Marla Cates has announced she will retire this fall after projects are wrapped up. A new director could be appointed or city staff could take over agency functions. The nine-member TURA board has several vacancies. “It’s a little different process, but that’s not to say that the council can’t do it,” said Councilman Ryan Pederson, one of three council members on the TURA board. “Council would be fine for a couple years.” Medford and Rogue River city councils have both absorbed urban renewal district governance, Stricker said. Bringing in new members to the urban renewal board would require time for them to get up to speed. The agency is now at the implementation rather than the planning stage, she said. Wise favored retaining a separate board. “I believe it requires direct citizen and business input,” said Wise. Besides councilors, there are three citizens and three business representatives on the board. Stricker said she is eager to have a decision on future agency staffing so that whoever takes over can learn as much as possible from Cates before her departure. “It’s a little easier when you have a larger staff,” said City Manager Tom Corrigan, who noted Cates was the only TURA staff member. Outside expertise could assist with agency business, and project managers might also be hired, he said. Rogue Valley Council of Governments assists several local urban renewal efforts. In other business, the council accepted the resignation of Councilor Joan Dean, who was on the TURA board, effective immediately. A successor will be appointed by the council to serve in the position until Jan. 1, 2017. Dean was appointed to the council in January 2013 and won election to a four-year seat in November 2014. She previously served on the city’s Budget Committee. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 21, 2015 at 2:38 PM Updated May 21, 2015 at 4:03 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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