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Mounds View EDA July 10, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 5 there is not enough money for all of the projects regardless and the City needs to scrutinize 172 projects and determine priorities. 173 174 Acting President Stigney stated he has some problems with the applications for the TIF money. 175 He stated he would like the Planning Commission’s priority list for specific projects. 176 177 Commissioner Thomas stated she favors Scenario B because it is not just an issue. She stated it 178 is a move the City can make to put properties back on the tax rolls and to send the message that 179 Mounds View will give assistance but that will be over once the businesses are on their feet. She 180 stated it is a larger issue than the $32 refund. She added that the money belongs to the taxpayers 181 and it makes the City responsible. 182 183 Commissioner Thomas stated that TIF funds are easy for the City to spend and the City needs to 184 make a symbolic measure to remind the community and Council about whose money it is. She 185 stated the City should not be asking for the money. She added that she likes projects that are 186 visible, not ones the citizens do not see because the City does not ask specifically for the funds. 187 188 Commissioner Flaherty stated there are better ways to make symbolic moves. He stated he likes 189 Mounds View’s body of work, but likes the way Saint Anthony’s policy flows. He stated Saint 190 Anthony’s policy is concise, precise, and strong. He stated that Mounds View has a policy, but it 191 could be formatted better. 192 193 Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated he was at the Planning Commission 194 meeting on July 5th. He said there was some suggestion that the five scenarios did not have the 195 validity if there was not the factor of inflation. He stated he does believe the scenarios are fair 196 because the same assumptions were made throughout. 197 198 Coordinator Backman stated if there is a desire for Staff to analyze how the policy is written, the 199 EDC would be willing to compare the policies and would even be willing to review those of 200 other cities. He stated the language could be refined. 201 202 Acting President Stigney stated he would like the summary from Saint Anthony’s policy 203 incorporated and suggested it be run by the EDC. 204 205 Ken Glidden, 5240 Edgewood Drive, stated he has been at several of the TIF discussions. He 206 stated the discussions are confusing because the issues of the policy and plan are not kept 207 separate. He said he does not want to deal much with existing districts. 208 209 Mr. Glidden stated he agrees that if there was clear-cut criteria established with the districts, 210 there would not be the discussions about when and what to do. He stated that he does not believe 211 the TIF policies are precise or clear enough. 212 213