03-10-99 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MARCH 10, 1999 Hamline indicated that the understanding was that the money cou(d be placed in a fund to be used for upgrades in the Park. Hamline stated that she did not understand that this money was being collected in lieu of taxes. Scalze explained that the Fra-Dor business is not a highly taxable use of the property and does not generate the taxes per acre that the City would like to see on the site. Fahey agreed that the fee would be collected to offset the low taxes generated on the property. Morelan indicated that this money collected would be similar to a license fee that is charged a pawnshop. The license fee for a pawnshop is used to offset the added demand on City services. The license fee for the recycling business would be used to offset the higher demand the business puts on road maintenance. License fees are allocated to the City's General Fund and disbursed from there to pay for City services. The City Administrator pointed out that this license fee was considered a few years ago when the recycling operation was being discussed. The Administrator pointed out that the recycling operation is the type of use that cities do not typically clamor for, and other communities are benefiting by having that use in Little Canada. Frattalone pointed out that he has offered to landscape the berm along his property abutting Ryan Drive as well as the entry area leading into the Park. Frattalone stated that he intends to do this landscaping regardless of whether or not the City allocates the license fee for use in Ryan Industrial Park. However, he would like to see the fee ~o for cleaning up the Park. Stanke again indicated property owners in the Park were of the understanding that this money would go directly to benefit the Park. Fahey indicated that this was an incorrect assumption on their part. Scalze pointed out that this is one of the reasons the Council wanted to have this meeting with property owners to ensure there were no incorrect assumptions on their part. Scalze pointed out that the fee is being collected in lieu oftaxes. The City Administrator asked if the money is not allocated to Ryan Industrial Park, if this changed the property owners' position. Stanke replied that it does not chan~e his support, but there are other property owners not present that he could not speak for. Scalze indicated that the use of the fee will be spelled out clearly to the property owners at the time a public hearing is held on the rezoning. Scalze also did not feel the 10 cents per ton should be called a license fee