The House Local Government Committee voted Thursday to introduce a trio of bills aimed at curtailing urban renewal authority. The bills will return to the committee for a full hearing which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 14.

House Bill 504: Would require the city council to determine by resolution the method of selection of commissioners for existing urban renewal agencies, either by appointment by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council or by citywide election. Commissioners of urban renewal agencies created after July 1, 2012 would be required to be elected. The bill also would prohibit the city council from serving as the governing body of the urban renewal agency.

House Bill 506: Would prohibit the exercise of eminent domain by urban renewal agencies.

House Bill 507: Would require urban renewal plans and plan modifications to be limited to specified projects and include specific information concerning development, redevelopment, improvements, land to be acquired, and removal or demolition of structures, as well as a project termination date.

At a time when Idaho unemployment is over 8 percent, it does not make sense to tie the hands of communities working to attract jobs and economic development.

We urge city officials to contact members of the House to respectfully express your opposition to these bills.

You can contact legislators by phone, fax or email.

• By Phone: Call the Legislative Information Center at (208) 332-1000 or (800) 626-0471 and leave a message asking the legislator to call you.

• By Fax: Fax a letter to (208) 334-5397. Letters must have your name and address in order to be processed.

• By Email: You can find your legislators using this list and click the link to “Email” next to their name.