The council members rejected recommendations that would have trimmed 24 acres and as much as 200 acres from the 573-acre urban renewal district. URD's allow for a portion of property taxes collected within the district to be set aside to further urban renewal in the district. City Administrator Mark Adcock told the council he would have a list of mediator candidates for the council to consider by Oct. 3.

The urban renewal district was formed in 1999. Proponents for shrinking the boundaries say the urban renewal area is too large, robbing the cash-poor city of much needed property taxes. Proponents for keeping it as is say the long-term benefits of the URD outweigh the potential short-term gains associated with shrinkage of the boundaries.