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Mounds View EDA January 23, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> <br />Hills or Shoreview, they are new jobs to Mounds View. But that is not what the economic 172 <br />development statutes, TIF, or other encouragement for business intended. They describe those 173 <br />employments as increase in employment. He suggested that in a common sense application, it is 174 <br />an increase in jobs and it is not increasing jobs in Ramsey County if the job is being transferred 175 <br />from Arden Hills or Shoreview. Mr. McCarty stated the answers should be more clear for those 176 <br />who are not familiar with TIF details. 177 <br /> 178 <br />Commissioner Thomas stated before things get too heated, she wanted to clarify some things. 179 <br />She stated that the EDA has already been down this road and yes, there will be some transfer jobs 180 <br />from Shoreview and Arden Hills but there will also be some new jobs beyond what they already 181 <br />have employees for. She asked Mr. McCarty what are the worst streets in Mounds View, noting 182 <br />that 75% of the streets in Mounds View are significantly in need of restructuring and every dollar 183 <br />that can be found to put on streets is applicable. Commissioner Thomas noted that for every 184 <br />dollar that can be used from TIF it will keep that dollar off the assessment rolls. She stated the 185 <br />City has been trying to find alternatives for ten years and to now find out there are expanded uses 186 <br />for the old TIF district pools should show residents the creativity of the City’s advisors to find 187 <br />new uses for TIF because the City is getting desperate. Commissioner Thomas stated that 188 <br />residents should find some joy in the City’s ability to find new uses for TIF. 189 <br /> 190 <br />City Administrator Ulrich commented that traditionally TIF, as we have thought of it before, was 191 <br />not to be used for general fund purposes or street reconstruction in general. However, Mounds 192 <br />View has older districts with less restriction and because of that they can be used within the 193 <br />development district, which is defined as the entire City. Those funds can be used for 194 <br />infrastructure improvements throughout the entire City. He explained that opinion came from 195 <br />Ehlers & Associates when the City looked at the street projects in terms of maintenance and long 196 <br />term reconstruction. 197 <br /> 198 <br />Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates, explained that typically in TIF districts when creating new 199 <br />ones for economic redevelopment, renovation, renewal, housing, or redevelopment, you can use 200 <br />funds for road and utility improvements tied to that development. However, since several 201 <br />Mounds View TIF districts are pre-1990, there are not the restrictions on those districts. There is 202 <br />a different set of statutes governing those pre-1990 districts. Based on that, bond counsel 203 <br />concurred that the City can use pre-1990 TIF district funds for street reconstruction. 204 <br /> 205 <br />Vice President Stigney asked if those funds can be used throughout the City. Ms. Kvilvang 206 <br />stated yes, that is correct. 207 <br /> 208 <br />Mr. McCarty stated he understands that as well and was there when some of the districts were 209 <br />formed, but did not vote for them. He asked why, if there is so much money flowing around 210 <br />those districts, the City’s streets are in the condition they are in. He also asked how many TIF 211 <br />dollars are available that can be used City-wide on streets. 212 <br /> 213