06-27-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View EDA June 27, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 7 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Wooddale Drive, stated that he would like to discuss this evening whether this is the right. He stated that he is here to ask the Commission to deny this resolution and the multiple parts of the resolution. He stated that things should be taken in their piece parts and in order. He stated that he does not understand how the EDA has the authority to do something, which the City has the unique authority to do. He asked if it is right that the Council and the EDA had conversations for six months out of the sight and earshot of the public so that the public conversation was delayed because it was unknown what the conversations were. He asked if it is right that Council and EDA have only had analysis about one project with the City income with the level of detail presented to the public and has not pursued the same level of detail for the other options. He asked if it is right to use private negotiations for public property when a public auction with full disclosure and open bidding allows the public to see the total results and the real interests of any other parties, plus it doesn’t create a veil over what is occurring. He clarified his understanding that Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law is intended to ensure full public disclosure and participation in matters that seriously affect the city and questioned whether this meeting law has been skirted. He suggested that a public auction would remove the sense of conspiracy or private deals and it would allow the public into the discourse. He asked if it is right to allow an issue this large to be decided by five duly elected officials when there are so many strong and diverse opinions noting that elections have been used in the past to make decisions that did not have as large of an impact on the city. He referenced the finances and asked if it is right to use TIF for redevelopment, a tool originally intended for developing housing and businesses that need assistance to grow jobs and to replace structurally unsafe buildings or abandoned buildings or unused tank facilities. He asked if it right to use this tool in order to give a business a tax break because it is a large State employer. He asked if it is right to give TIF, according to an email received from Senator Betzold, that states that it seemed right for the City of New Brighton so it seemed right for the City of Mounds View. He asked if it is right to allow an employer to change the rules by going to the legislature, their local Senator and Representative, to offer modifying language to include a one time public golf course, which they desire to change. He asked if negotiation with only one party pass the fiduciary responsibility test and is it right to put big business desires ahead of individual citizen property rights. Is it right to take citizen property and give it to business and have no appreciable benefit to the citizens for over a quarter of a century. He asked if it is right to sell a major asset of the city and only get a $43,000 in property tax with a projected $80,000 cost to the city for services. He asked if it is right to change the quality of life issues for citizens when there is no benefit to the city except for a dollar off the city taxes. He asked if it is right to undertake more turmoil in moving the Clear Channel boards when that issue was finally settled. He stated that on the issue of right or wrong, leadership is about seeing right and wrong, and even if all the pressure from business, significant business people and business citizens, and political leaders, is to lean towards the wrong decision because others do it all the time and that is what’s done. He stated that a leader sees what’s right and what’s wrong and makes the right choice to protect the citizens and the right decision to not give in to pressures from companies that have the financial means but won’t commit to do what is right and not take advantage of anyone. He stated that