Remarks by Josh Boschee
93 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 4
“Well, good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us for our joint conversation between the Economic Development Incentives Committee, which is chaired by Commissioner Peterson and the City Commission. The goal or the point of this meeting is, you know, as we've had ongoing conversations about economic incentives, and giving some direction to the EDIC, as well as what the Commission can expect for conversations in the coming months, is also primarily, I think, to see if we can advance some more specific conversations going forward. As a reminder to everyone, EDA, you know, there has been this…”
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“Anyone at the table have any questions or comments to add based on your experience so far? And as part of this, again, this is an evolving process as, again, we primarily had one staff person who we've learned really shepherded projects through, right? And then engaged with both the committees and the staff. And now that that isn't there, we're certainly hearing from the development community about what does this look like? And so trying to provide this clear path of what's your front door? Who will you work with depending on the incentive? But then I think for us to really think, and whether…”
“Right. And the question I have for you, you know, you said, so not to get you caught in someone making too much money, but it's money on the front end versus throughout the life of a project. That's different than what you're saying. All those fees come up front and benefit an entity at the risk of maybe an incentive, correct?”
“And for me, I think part of that is also looking at our community, right? We have the housing study. We know what we want in our market or how many units we're trying to get to, but also within that is a greater breakdown of types of property, right? So as we talk about whether someone's looking for a market or above market or below market or affordable, however those are all defined, maybe sometimes we aren't incentivizing some, we don't allow the incentive because we already have, the data shows us we already have enough at market. We need to get that sub market or more at market. You know,…”
“Anyone have anything to comment or add based on what's been said?”
“And I think what I'm hearing or my goal as mayor is how do we most efficiently work with our boards and commissions to meet these outcomes, make sure that they're shared? Because again, this is not to disparage any previous commission or community leaders, but I think there's assumption and maybe there's truth behind it of if an applicant was brought forward, it was said yes because it was an applicant, And that was it. And what we don't know is all the people were probably told no before because what they were trying to do didn't fit within something that was already in policy. So we don't…”
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“What I'll add to that conversation, you know, it's in the packet that Nicole and the team provided. So the fourth to last page on the backside of your packet is, again, that language of that commercial redevelopment policy. And then I further handed out two pages from the 2024 growth plan. And really just to kind of help visualize What the growth plan says, where we should prioritize some infill, and that's the goal of the commercial redevelopment, is how do we take existing properties or land use that we did things in a different way. Again, a lot of times it's parking, right? We are a…”
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“Thank you. Anything else for the good of the order?”
“It's it's my understanding commissioner, and I'm happy to be corrected if I go off course here is this was So mr. Gilmore helped put this together based on what he was seeing within our community in terms of again the growth plan what our developers were talking about some of those things so it was a Pretty locals I can't speak to if he looked up here in cities or jurisdictions in terms of if that helped drive it. And I don't know if staff have any different than that.”
“I don't want to put you on the spot, so you don't have to speak to it since you didn't author it, but any input or guidance?”
“Absolutely. And I think that's the value of, like, the proposals of annual check-ins or those ongoing conversations. conversation for edict specifically isn't no longer just there's a project what do you think it's also how are we measuring how are we and that's why i think i what i'm seeing with all our boards and commissions is how can we do a better job of engaging we have you for at least an hour a month how do we maximize that time with your expertise and your interest um so that we can do a better job of driving the bus for the whole city for sure um mr swanskowski ms crutchfield do you…”
“We're working towards it. Are we ready for that? Well, I guess that's a good pulse test for commissioners. Are you ready to have the conversation? I'd like to.”
“All right. Thank you all. We'll adjourn. Appreciate your time, and enjoy the rest of your day. The sun is out.”
“I'll call the meeting to order. Roll call, please.”
“Here. Tonight, we're privileged to have a video highlighting the Forestry Division and the Arbor Day event they hosted in Anderson Park with the help of students from Carl Ben Eielson Middle School. So you can watch that on your screens.”
“Thank you to our Forestry Division, Carl Ben Eielson Middle School students, Bob Katt, and of course Riverkeepers for making that event a success. We can always use more trees in our area, that's for sure. With that, we'll move on to approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the order of agenda? I so move. Thank you. Second. Second by Commissioner Peterson. Any discussion? Discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carried. We have the minutes in front of us from our regular meeting on July 6th and we had a special meeting on July 8th of 2026. Is…”
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“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.”