Agenda Packets - 2005/07/25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 27, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 13 go to Eau Claire to present a bid, if this isn’t strong-arming the State Legislature, then he does 1 not know what strong-arming is at a political level. 2 3 City Attorney Riggs stated that in essence this is special legislation and it does remove many of 4 the requirements that are necessary for the creation of an economic development district, which 5 is what is being created here. He confirmed that it does set aside some of the requirements, 6 which is what the legislation was intended to do. 7 8 Stan Haugen, 8339 Knollwood Drive, asked Council Member Gunn noting that she spoke about 9 times she and Council have met with Medtronic and she said that they are very well informed 10 about the issues and asked if anyone spoke with Medtronic about not using TIF dollars and how 11 did Medtronic respond. 12 13 Council Member Gunn confirmed that it was discussed as a whole and the 25-year TIF District 14 was the result of the discussion. 15 16 Mayor Marty added that the Council did ask for it to be reduced to 15-years but Medtronic was 17 not willing. 18 19 Mr. Haugen noted that the golf course does make money and has made money every year for the 20 last ten years. He explained that all it has to pay is the cost for constructing it noting that the cost 21 of construction has nothing to do with the golf course itself. He stated that it does make money 22 every year and will make money for twenty-five years. He stated that they should keep the golf 23 course because it is a moneymaker and Medtronic will not make money for another twenty-five 24 years. 25 26 Mayor Marty noted that this is another point where if they had the Springsted Study they would 27 be able to see where the money is going. He noted that he is referencing the study done in 2000. 28 29 Council Member Thomas stated that before they go to far in discussing Springsted, this is what 30 they have Ehlers for. She stated that Springsted was not a partisan or on behalf of one particular 31 group noting that Ehlers was hired by the city, as their consultant, as the third party to run these 32 numbers for the city. She stated that she feels she now has to stand up and defend the contractor 33 they hired to do the numbers and she shouldn’t have to do this. She stated that there is a reason 34 why she wouldn’t second Mayor Marty’s motion, she has no problem with running numbers but 35 the city hired Ehlers to do a job and she is not in a position where she feels the need to second 36 guess their numbers. 37 38 Mayor Marty clarified that he is not casting any disparities on Ehlers itself. 39 40 Council Member Thomas stated that the suggestion does, noting that she does not want to debate 41 this; that every time they bring up Springsted it does cast disparities. 42 43 Mr. Jahnke expressed frustration noting that the gentleman before him stated that the golf course 44 makes money and he does not understand where they have the idea that the golf course is making 45