2005 EDA Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 20, 2005 Special Meeting Page 12 Aaron Backman stated in July, 2004 CRESA partners approached the City and within a week and a half of that they had received some calls from a couple of residential developers expressing an interest in the site. He stated they had one plan for various townhomes and other types of residential development that could occur on the site, which was brought up to the Council, but staff did not believe this was the highest or best use for this location and nothing further was done with that proposal. He stated this spring they were also approached by a developer for a large campus, which was also brought to the EDA’s attention and it was felt that this development might not bring in the amount of road development necessary. Carol Mueller, 8343 Groveland Road, stated she heard the only way there would be improvement to County Road J was if Medtronic took the golf course. She noted she had presented a petition in the past regarding Groveland as a cut through. She asked what the rush was. She asked if the deal was already made and was the City wasting their time. She indicated she wanted the best for the City. She noted if this deal went though she wanted to see a benefit in her lifetime and not have to wait 25 years. She requested the City pull in some more opinions and think about this for awhile. She asked the City to step back and reevaluate what their true purpose was. She asked why the City was being pressured into making a decision. She asked the City to look at other options. She asked the City to look at all offers. She noted this was a beautiful community and while she was not a golfer, the course was very nice. She asked the City not to rush into this deal. She asked the City to consider everything they have heard tonight and take a little more time before they made a decision. Stacie Kvilvang responded the Council/EDA had not made up their mind and this was not a done deal. She indicated this was not the first deal the City had considered, but this was the first financially feasible plan presented to the City. She noted Medtronic was a large corporation, but that did not mean they were better negotiators. Tim Roberts, 1113 Nassau Circle, Blaine, stated this came to his attention because he was a beginning golfer and he golfed at this facility. He indicated there had been a lot of numbers given tonight and the ones that concerned him was the length of the TIF financing. He noted the City was getting a taxpayer who was not paying taxes for 25 years and the second phases of their development went out to 2014 and therefore, they were not getting taxes for 44 years. He noted this development would increase administrative costs and the City would spend a lot of money without having the tax money come in for a long time. He stated this TIF was just too long and the City did not realize any economic benefit for a long time. He stated he was a CPA and this did not appear to be a good financial deal for the community. Stacie Kvilvang responded it was true that 25 years was the maximum term, but there were communities where TIF had been shortened and she anticipated that this TIF would be paid off within 19 to 20 years. Brian Amundsen, 3048 Wooddale Drive, stated he was upset the amount of time staff and non- staff was taking answering questions instead of the Council/EDA answering. He stated the Council/EDA was hired by a citizen vote to represent the citizens and they were charged with a significant responsibility by growing the community and keeping it fiscally sound. He stated the Council/EDA represent the citizens and voters in the City and asked them to fulfill their duty to the citizens. He noted the Council/EDA did not represent outside businesses. He noted the Charter stated the City would need to transfer the property to the EDA and also noted the Charter