The Clearwater City Council tabled a decision last week on whether to extend its residential growth incentive program.

 

The program reimburses new home owners for water and sewer access charges (WAC & SAC), plus additional permit fees up to $10,000. The program covers the first three new homes built each year.

 

Last week, the program was up for renewal until members of the council debated whether language should be modified.

 

“I was just wondering if (city) employees and us on the council should be exempt from this in the future,” said Councilman Rollie Lange. “Is it an issue? What do you guys think?”

 

Councilman Kris Crandall said he wasn’t sure because the council sets policy.

 

“Based on the language in here you and I should be able to take advantage of this policy,” he said. “But then I’m not sure ethically if that’s the right thing.”

 

Lange said the council is allocating taxpayer dollars to fund the incentive, but can benefit personally from the program.

 

“We’re also citizens of the community,” he said. “Maybe it’s not a big deal.”

 

The council directed the question to City Attorney Dave Lenhardt, who wasn’t sure, either.

 

“That’s a question that I don’t know if I’m able to answer tonight,” he said. “On the one hand, from what you’re describing it would seemingly be available for any member of the community, which you all are, as are city staff and employees. But it certainly has an appearance of maybe a conflict.”

 

Lange said he wanted to make sure there wasn’t a conflict of interest if any council member decided to take advantage of a program they established. He wanted the attorney’s opinion so there couldn’t be any future issues.

 

“I want to have it as a matter of record - to have ourselves covered,” he said. “I just want to make sure that our I’s are dotted and our T’s are crossed.”

 

Lenhardt agreed.

 

“I think that’s wise, the reason being that it leaves you open to somebody second-guessing things,” he said. “If you enact a program and then someone on the council wants to take advantage of that program, it’s going to look bad. It might be good to have something of record and been given outside advice.”

 

Mayor Pete Edmonson said the city attorney looked into who would qualify for the program back when it was established in 2013. But there was never an opinion given about whether city staff or the council could or couldn’t use it.

 

Lange said it might be a good time for the attorney to review the policy since there are no current applications on file.

 

Crandall agreed.

 

“This is a small policy. Maybe it would be in our best interest to have the attorney review it and make some suggestions on policy,” he said, “then bring it back to council.”

 

Councilman Mike Ranum said he had another thought about the program. He said if the council  considered just paying for WAC & SAC up to $7,500, the program could be offered to four home builders instead of three. 

 

“It would be more of an incentive to offer one more,” he said.

 

The council voted to table their vote until Lenhardt could review the policy and give an opinion.