The Stuart City Council will meet in regular session tonight. The Council will begin with a public hearing, followed by formal action on a resolution for an urban renewal plan amendment. This amendment would provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Karl Chevrolet’s expansion plans in order to spur economic growth in the current urban renewal area.

Depot Committee Member Doris Bench will then make another recommendation to the Council. On behalf of the Committee, Bench is proposing to hire current Stuart Chamber of Commerce Director Brenda Dudley as the Depot Manager. In the proposal, the Committee would pay Dudley $5,000 per year and the City would approve an additional $10,000/year grant from the Hotel/Motel tax fund. The proposal also includes maintenance and rental plans.

The Council will then discuss 25 stop and yield sign changes within city limits, in addition to two new stop signs to be placed at the intersections of South Adair Street and Southwest 5th and 6th Streets. If passed, eastbound traffic would stop. The Council will also review the following action items: a pet ordinance regarding puppy mills; a workforce housing tax credit incentive program application; a 2018 National Incident Management System (NIMS) statement of compliance; the hiring of a new Economic Development Director; and a review relating to debt levy reduction.

The meeting time has been changed to accommodate those wishing to attend Stuart Elementary’s Winter Concert. The meeting begins at 5:30 pm in the Stuart City Council Chambers.