Agenda Packets - 2005/06/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 20, 2005 Special Meeting Page 15 Mayor Marty stated the issue of conflict of interest had already been raised and addressed. He 1 indicated this was a public elected job and a public school system and he did not see this as a 2 conflict. City Attorney Riggs stated from a legal standpoint, this was not a conflict of interest. 3 4 Wendy Marty, 2626 Louisiana Avenue, stated this was her opinion and her opinion alone. She 5 stated she had lived in Mounds View for 15 years and she grew up in St. Anthony, which she 6 loved, but she could not afford to live in St. Anthony. She stated she was sure Mounds View had 7 the lowest income in the area. She stated the Medtronic proposal was not a good proposal and 8 she recommended they realign the golf course and sell a portion of the property to Medtronic. 9 10 George Winiecki, 2704 NE County Highway 10, stated he has been doing business in Mounds 11 View for 21 years. He stated in owning his own business he learned a lot and he had trouble 12 when the City got involved in property ownership because it led to problems. He stated the City 13 did not belong in business. He noted they had to put their emotions aside and look at this in 14 strictly a business sense. He stated he was for Medtronic, but with guarded reservations. He 15 believed Medtronic should “sweeten the pot a little more”, but at the same time, they had a great 16 blue chip buyer and they could deal with one developer instead of a bunch of them. He stated the 17 City had to look for a good, solid buyer, which the City had, but he believed the City needed to 18 hold Medtronic’s “hands and feet into the fire” to get a better deal. He stated the golf course land 19 was a great asset and it would not go away if they lost the deal. He appreciated what the 20 Council/EDA was doing and he did not envy them, but he believed they could get a better deal. 21 22 Shannon Meyer, President TC North Chamber of Commerce, stated this was a difficult decision. 23 She noted the business community was important for the vitality of the City. She indicated they 24 had asked their members for input regarding this proposal and the members agree that The 25 Bridges was a fantastic golf course, but some of the concern was the overall feasibility of the golf 26 course with the main concern being the 3 percent projected increase in revenue. She noted the 27 other golf courses in the Chamber were flat lined and were not making their revenues. She stated 28 the same quality of life issues that the citizens were concerned about were the same issues 29 businesses were concerned about. She noted it was important to revitalize the school system, 30 which this project would do. She stated it was great to have the 20.5 million dollars for road 31 improvements. She stated the impact of Medtronic was great on the local businesses. She asked 32 the City look at all perspectives and noted without businesses they could not have a City. 33 34 Jerry Blanski, 2933 Wooddale Drive, stated he wished they had all of this material in their hands 35 prior to walking in the door tonight. He stated many people could not see the display screen and 36 recommended it be raised up the next time. He thanked Stacie Kvilvang of Ehlers and 37 Associates and wished he could present something as well as she did. He stated he had received 38 a flyer in his mailbox today regarding this proposal and did not understand why anyone would 39 distribute this type of a flyer. He stated he was not for or against Medtronic and he did not play 40 golf, but if the City was looking at different options, the City was looking at a good company that 41 did good things for the entire world. He stated he did not the City should open this up to bids 42 because there was the risk of getting a company in there that was not as good. He asked if they 43 were so proud of the golf course, why the City had signage on a skid on County Road J and Coral 44 Sea Street to advertise the course. 45