Question: What is the relationship between the city of Coos Bay and the Urban Renewal Agency? It appears they are one and the same. When the URA purchases a piece of property the city staff appears to be the landlords.  If so, can the city staff spend city funds to repair the URA’s properties?  I’ve been told by a city official that the city does not want the ownership of the Egyptian Theatre property. Why? If these entities are separate, what justifies the city spending staff time managing the URA’s properties?

Answer: There are plenty of reasons to be confused about the relationship between the city of Coos Bay and its Urban Renewal Agency. The City Council and Urban Renewal Agency have the same members. City staff does the work of both government bodies.

But there is a difference.

Yes, city staff do work for the Urban Renewal Agency, but they do it because they are paid to do so, said City Manager Chuck Freeman.

In the current budget year, the URA pays the city $137,000 for the downtown district, and another $68,000 for the one in Empire. The money goes toward staff time and supplies for such programs as facade improvement grants, the virtual business incubator, Hollering Place and repaving projects.

The URA budget comes from a portion of the taxes collected within the two districts.

The City Council can use money in its general fund to pay for projects within the urban renewal districts, though it hasn’t done so recently, Freeman said.  However, the URA cannot use its funds outside those district borders.

As for the Egyptian Theatre, it is owned by the Urban Renewal Agency. Any decision to sell it rests with the seven members (the city councilors) who sit on the agency’s board. At this point, Freeman hasn’t heard the URA express any interest in parting ways with the historic theater.

(I Want to Know is a regular feature of The World, offering readers a chance to anonymously ask questions and have reporters pursue answers. Those interested can send questions to news@theworld link.com.)