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DEVELOPMENT Phoenix urban renewal manager quits City freezes dispersal of funds for downtown project Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 5:33 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 5:33 PM » Social News The Phoenix Urban Renewal Agency will not replace Jim Sharp, who resigned as executive director Friday, three days after the City Council froze dispersal of money to the agency while it awaited a report on the budget. Assistant Director Amy Weiser will oversee the agency’s projects, the board decided at a meeting Tuesday. Board Chairman Al Muelhoefer said there is no plan to seek a permanent replacement for Sharp and that assistance for Weiser will be contracted as needed. “We have an assistant director who is staying on and is very happy to work with us and is working all the major actions that we have,” said Muelhoefer. “We don’t see the need to go out and look for anyone. We’ll look on a project-by-project basis,” said Muelhoefer. “If there is anything that is above and beyond her capabilities, we will take a look at it and bring in the expertise as needed.” The agency had only two employees, Sharp and Weiser, who served as Jacksonville’s planning director for five years before she resigned in July 2015. In a resignation letter, Sharp wrote simply that he was resigning effective 10 a.m. Feb. 19, Muelhoefer said. Sharp was hired a year ago. City Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 16 to put a hold on transfers of money while it sought information about the agency's finances and money spent on the $3.5 million downtown center project. Phoenix had issued a bond, which the agency will repay with tax revenues. About $1.9 million had been transferred to PHURA by last week. There was no concern the agency had misused money, said Mayor Jeff Bellah, who expected the issue to be resolved quickly. He said council members wanted to ensure there would be sufficient funds remaining to build a planned community hall as part of the project. PHURA’s board includes citizen members Muelhoefer, Mike Kohn, Diana Mae Nelson and Chuck Reiling. Also on the board are city councilors Stan Bartell, Chris Luz and Terry Helfrich, who cast the lone vote against stopping fund transfers. “We have the intergovernmental agreement. Urban renewal is putting these budget numbers together. Why did the council get so anxious?" Helfrich asked. “Jim was a great project manager. We will continue to follow through with our projects.” Muelhoefer said there is no plan to reschedule a joint board and City Council session on the agency’s budget. A Feb. 18 meeting was canceled. “We are very confident the city will release funds to us as we need them,” said Muelhoefer. He said citizen board members were pleased with the discussion they had with councilors on the board Tuesday. Sharp had a 30-year background in commercial project development and management in California, Alaska, Utah and elsewhere. He has lived in Jacksonville for 12 years. Sharp did not return calls seeking comment. “There’s no question he did magnificent work,” said Muelhoefer. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without his recommendations and counsel.” The urban renewal agency restructured its makeup and goals in 2014 following considerable debate about its future by the City Council and the public. Requests for proposals have been received from builders interested in developing five commercial lots that are available in the 31-acre downtown project, which will include commercial and residential structures and a wetlands park. RFPs are due by March 7. Two public open houses are set to explain the project, both at the Phoenix library, 510 W. First St. One is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3. The second, which includes a walking tour of the site, will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 5. More than 200 responses have been received for a survey about urban renewal that was mailed to all households in Phoenix, Muelhoefer reported. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 5:33 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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