09/10/2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 • person on the Council said a five -(5) year term is acceptable. He stated he needs to do what is right for Lino Lakes. • Council Member Carlson stated she also received a copy of the flyer and she responded to the statements on the flyer. She indicated she may have been pressured regarding her vote on this issue. Council Member Reinert stated he has not pressured anyone regarding his or her vote on this issue. Council Member Carlson read from the Comprehensive Plan regarding the objective of lowering the tax rate. She reviewed the tax rate for the past few years. She expressed concern regarding how much the abatement involves and the term. She added it was said that the land is commercial, but it has been changed to mixed use. The Citizens Survey did not include the approval of a big box development. Fees for the surface water management fund have always been collected. It is not fair to allow big development not to pay also. She referred to the development in Blaine and stated more money was paid for that land and $100,000 went to the park department. She stated that perhaps a big contribution will come from Target for the YMCA in the future. The Coun .1 is very committed to the YMCA. She stated that on her first vote for the plat, she asked tha ,�be g = ed to resolve outstanding issues. She stated she did vote to approve it, but by t c+ s �. vo the issues had not been resolved and they still are not. She added abstaining had t q ° e egality of this issue. Council Member O'Donnell moved to adopt Resolutio 0 — 1 , , as presented. Council Member Reinert seconded the motion: Council Member O'Donnell stated he has s good and bad about this development and talked to everyone that called him who • it. e stated he has heard over and over that residents are not against Target, b char g. abatement. He indicated he believes the City could come up with a develo. t °= . doe of cost the City anything, but will not have the amenities the City is askin: . = e g :�• he feels the City has to participate to get those amenities. This project will allo or of •pportunities. If this project is lost, something else will go there, but what type of developmk, 11 i .e? The County and school district taxes will be paid. He stated he thinks this is planting ar future tax reductions. He advised the proposal is asking residents to defer the taxes for five ) years and he does not feel taxes will be raised if the City does that. He added he believes the money spent in this community will be a good thing. The issues on 77th Street are still a concern. Other than 77th Street, this project is a good thing. Council Member Dahl stated Council Member Reinert indicated taxes will not go up, but they will not go down either. The McDonald's plan is going before the Planning and Zoning Board in October due to some revision. The two acre parcel the City has to purchase was a result of what the previous Council was advised to do. The City does have a TIF district and it has been indicated there is nothing that can be done about that. She stated she did not receive the flyer and she has thought about this for a long time. She stated that from the very beginning she wanted Target to come here, but she also asked about financial assistance. She stated she is not in favor of tax abatement or corporate welfare. The people in this state have indicated they are not in support of corporate welfare. She stated she does not think people should take money out of their pockets to give to this corporation. It is the Council's duty to be prudent with the tax dollars. The City has an investment in the Town 13