On January 7, 2019, the City Council passed Resolution No. 6398 creating the Independence Economic Development and Incentives Commission (the “Commission”) and empowered it with duties and responsibilities to review applications for certain economic development incentives and to make recommendations regarding approval or disapproval of such applications to the City Council.
In 2019, Resolution No. 6454 charged the Commission with review of a list of specific economic development incentive applications, including Chapter 100 Tax Abatement, Chapter 353 Tax Abatement, Neighborhood Improvement Districts, Community Improvement Districts, certain types of Transportation Development Districts and certain Enhanced Enterprise Zones.
The purpose of the Commission was to provide an opportunity for taxing jurisdictions other than the City to participate in the review of incentives that affect those Taxing Jurisdictions.
Since its inception, the additional procedures required for review by the Commission have caused delays on incentive projects ultimately approved by the City Council. Missouri statutes require notice and hearing procedures that provide an opportunity to Taxing Jurisdictions to express their support of or opposition to a project before approval by City Council.
Since 2021, City staff have utilized a cooperative and engaging process for developers seeking economic incentives affecting taxing jurisdictions. This has entailed community meetings and discussions with the taxing jurisdictions. This process has garnered community feedback and discussion without the delay from the additional step of the EDIC.