Bieter is still on Boise’s urban renewal board. This bill would remove him
A bill proposed in the Idaho Legislature could change the makeup of Boise’s urban-renewal agency board and force former Mayor David Bieter out.
The bill, S1303, was proposed by state Sen. Mary Souza, a Republican representing District 4 which includes Coeur d’Alene. It would force elected officials appointed to urban renewal boards to leave them when they leave office.
“We should all consider the actions of elected officials they make in any capacity as an official,” Souza said Monday by phone. She said it was “just common sense” that someone appointed to a board as an elected official would leave when the official’s term of office ends.
Souza said the bill wasn’t written with anyone specific in mind. Officials could later be reappointed, she said.
Mayors of cities with urban renewal agencies appoint board members subject to City Council approval. They serve five-year terms. Bieter appointed himself to the board of Boise’s agency, the Capital City Development Corp. Souza’s bill would require Bieter, now CCDC’s secretary and treasurer, to leave before his term ends in 2022.
A phone message for Bieter seeking comment was not immediately returned Monday. His successor, Lauren McLean, endorsed the concept but stopped short of endorsing the bill.
“I support the idea that eminent domain decisions should be made by elected officials and believe that if you were appointed as an elected official to fill that role, and you’re no longer in that role, you should cede that spot,” McLean said through a spokeswoman. “That being said, I’ve always believed that we can solve local problems best locally.”
The bill also could end state Sen. Maryanne Jordan’s term early. Jordan was also appointed by Bieter while she served as a member of Boise City Council and as a state senator representing District 17, which includes the Boise Bench. Her CCDC term ends in 2021. Jordan announced Thursday that she would not seek re-election to her state senate seat.
At present, there are three seats open on the CCDC board to which Mayor Lauren McLean could appoint people, and a fourth seat will be open when Commissioner Ben Quintana leaves in May. One of the three seats was recently vacated by former council member Scot Ludwig, who has asked McLean to consider appointing another council member. The city has opened applications for anyone interested.
“I support the idea that eminent domain decisions should be made by elected officials and believe that if you were appointed as an elected official to fill that role, and you’re no longer in that role, you should cede that spot,” McLean said through a spokesperson. “That being said, I’ve always believed that we can solve local problems best locally.”
The bill would also only allow urban renewal boards to recommend use of eminent domain by the elected city council, not to use that power on its own authority to acquire private property.
“This is a simple but direct bill that empowers voters, because they will know exactly who is responsible for which decisions,” Souza said.
The bill was referred Monday to the Senate’s Local Government and Taxation Committee.
This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 3:56 PM.
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