Public Incentive Review Committee
Resolution No. 8384 adopted on March 24, 2009 describes the Public Incentives Review Committee (PIRC). This eight member committee is composed of elected and appointed officials that meet as needed, on the call of the mayor, to review economic development incentive requests and make recommendations to the City Commissioners. The Committee is authorized to issue administrative letters of finding which shall not be binding on the City Commission, and may be superseded by any action by the City Commission.
The Committee meets to:
- Ensure that the public, the County, and the School District have an opportunity to participate in the application and review procedures for public incentives
- Receive and review requests and applications for tax exemptions
- Gather and review additional information as may be deemed necessary to determine if the company meets the target objectives for economic development,
- Make recommendations on the application for consideration by the City Commission
- Review the City's yearly tax abatement and incentives report and compliance with performance agreements
- Review other economic development related matters upon the request of the City Commission.
The eight members of PIRC include:
- The Mayor, or the Mayor's designee who shall serve as chair
- Another member of the City Commission appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Commission
- A member of the Douglas County Commission appointed by the County Commission
- A member of the Lawrence Public Schools U.S.D. 497 School Board or a School Board representative appointed by the School Board
- A professional financial analyst appointed by the Mayor and City Commission for a three year term
- The Chair of the Lawrence/Douglas County Economic Development Board
- A resident of Lawrence appointed for a three year term by the Mayor and the City Commission, from a list of not less than three people chosen by the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)
- A resident of Lawrence appointed for a three year term by the Mayor and the City Commission.
City, County, and School District staff shall provide technical and policy advice to the Committee.
Public Incentives Review Committee records, including applications for tax exemptions, may be withheld from public disclosure under the Kansas Open Records Act as provided for under subsections (20) and (31) and other subsections of K.S.A. 45-221, but shall be available for public inspection when otherwise required by law.
