09/10/2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 Center and the YMCA. It would be fine if Target came here with no money and no issues on 77th Street. She stated she called the City of Blaine and they indicated they owned the land. Wal Mart gave $500,000 to get in there plus $5.00 per square foot. Target also gave a check to Blaine for $100,000 for the parks with an indication there would be more in the future. She stated she has not seen that here. Commercial development is needed, but at what cost? Council Member Dahl stated she is very disappointed in Ryan and Target. She stated she asked for a CEO to attend a meeting and last meeting got a real estate agent. She indicated she was unaware of any ad for employment and the ad was very disrespectful to the Council. The reason for a subsidy was to create new jobs and it was supposed to be jobs for the City of Lino Lakes. She stated she has lived here for 101/ years and she shops where she has to go for other errands. Kids do need jobs. She advised she abstained from the last vote to keep the door open. She met Thursday to reconsider the issue. She stated she also went the EDAC meeting Thursday morning. EDAC only supports an abatement for five (5) years, not with interest and waived fees. The issues on 77th Street have not be resolved satisfactorily because of the right in/right out. She stated Target and Kohl's could be better neighbors and work with the residents on 77th Street. Most of the Council embers do want the issues resolved on 77th Street. There is also the issue of the need for f • lights with very little space between them. She added she believes in a second access . nb _ht out at the second access, not 77th Street. Traffic is also a major concern. Mayor Bergeson stated the question is why would the c to a t a multi -billion dollar corporation. The two -(2) reasons include that the _ to ite is inadequate for a project of this size. The cost of the improvements is about $2 hon d will be assessed back to the businesses. The assistance is to help with the improve » - • e .r d. The City could have done it another way, which might have been easier to e ,, m' he o er reason is that the interchange is the only commercial interchange in the Cit. u. ` dings and construction are desired. The City wants a high quality develop • i e C'. Hall, bank and clinic. Staff has worked with the developer to make improv ® o t : ite that will be of a higher quality. The developer did not have to agree to that. he Ci uld have gotten a typical big box development. There are costs associated with qualit -_'� xe: op nt. Mayor Bergeson reitera s there has been a lot of misunderstanding about tax abatement. Abatement does not take citizens taxes and give it to the developer. The amount being abated is the developers property taxes given back to them to help pay for the assessments and quality features. Wetland issues have been resolved with the County and the golf course will be improved because of it. The concept of assisting businesses is not a new concept to the City. It has been done before, such as the Glen Taylor project, which is almost to the end of their time period. The but/for criteria is not necessary for abatement, but it does fit this project. He stated he is very proud of the staff who worked on this project and they have done a great job negotiating the subsidy. He thanked staff and he stated this will be a quality project. Council Member Carlson stated she has been in Lino Lakes for 28 years and has learned a lot about the history of the community. This is not a wealthy community. Target has not produced any information showing their need. Kohl's shows a bigger profit than Target. There has been no market study and it is hard to justify a subsidy, although there are justified costs. She stated she can support 14