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Board seeks committee reorganization, shared drive and communications plan; staff to explore funding streams and peer URA contacts

September 26, 2025 | Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia


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Board seeks committee reorganization, shared drive and communications plan; staff to explore funding streams and peer URA contacts
Board members told staff to prepare committee reassignments after the City Council hears the agency's proposed structure change; several committees (including resource development and underutilized properties) currently lack chairs and have not met.

Staff said a shared drive for board documents is ready pending a few signatures and IT steps; board members were asked to sign necessary paperwork so the city can enable access. Separately, the communications team will run a social presence for the agency (the city communications staff would act as administrators); the board asked communications to provide a clear list of what the agency can and cannot post, including Marketplace/advertising constraints.

On funding, members discussed a variety of potential self‑funding and city funding options. Ideas raised included pursuing sales of vacant or abandoned parcels to adjacent owners as a revenue stream, exploring a small percentage carve‑out from existing city revenue streams (for example, a share of permit fees) and requesting a standing allocation in the city budget. Staff said the agency has not received a regular allocation to date and will examine the next budget cycle for feasible options.

Members also asked staff to reach out to peer land reuse and urban renewal authorities (Parkersburg, Huntington, Clarksburg and other regional examples) to learn structure, revenue approaches and operational lessons. Staff agreed to assemble a short list of peer agencies and to invite brief presentations or Q&A sessions as appropriate.

Next steps: staff will (1) circulate documents to enable the shared drive, (2) ask communications to present permitted and prohibited social media uses, (3) research possible funding carve‑outs and prior vacant‑property disposition activity, and (4) contact peer agencies to request short presentations.

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