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Mounds View EDA June 27, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 7 256 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Wooddale Drive, stated that he would like to discuss this evening 257 whether this is the right. He stated that he is here to ask the Commission to deny this resolution 258 and the multiple parts of the resolution. He stated that things should be taken in their piece parts 259 and in order. He stated that he does not understand how the EDA has the authority to do 260 something, which the City has the unique authority to do. He asked if it is right that the Council 261 and the EDA had conversations for six months out of the sight and earshot of the public so that 262 the public conversation was delayed because it was unknown what the conversations were. He 263 asked if it is right that Council and EDA have only had analysis about one project with the City 264 income with the level of detail presented to the public and has not pursued the same level of 265 detail for the other options. He asked if it is right to use private negotiations for public property 266 when a public auction with full disclosure and open bidding allows the public to see the total 267 results and the real interests of any other parties, plus it doesn’t create a veil over what is 268 occurring. He clarified his understanding that Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law is intended to 269 ensure full public disclosure and participation in matters that seriously affect the city and 270 questioned whether this meeting law has been skirted. He suggested that a public auction would 271 remove the sense of conspiracy or private deals and it would allow the public into the discourse. 272 He asked if it is right to allow an issue this large to be decided by five duly elected officials when 273 there are so many strong and diverse opinions noting that elections have been used in the past to 274 make decisions that did not have as large of an impact on the city. He referenced the finances 275 and asked if it is right to use TIF for redevelopment, a tool originally intended for developing 276 housing and businesses that need assistance to grow jobs and to replace structurally unsafe 277 buildings or abandoned buildings or unused tank facilities. He asked if it right to use this tool in 278 order to give a tax business because it is a large State employer. He asked if it is right to give 279 TIF, according to an email received from Senator Betzold, that states that it seemed right for the 280 City of New Brighton so it seemed right for the City of Mounds View. He asked if it is right to 281 allow an employer to change the rules by going to the legislature, their local Senator and 282 Representative, to offer modifying language to include a one time public golf course, which they 283 desire to change. He asked if negotiation with only one party pass the fiduciary responsibility 284 test and is it right to put big business desires ahead of individual citizen property rights. Is it 285 right to take citizen property and give it to business and have no appreciable benefit to the 286 citizens for over a quarter of a century. He asked if it is right to sell a major asset of the city and 287 only get a $43,000 in property tax with a projected $80,000 cost to the city for services. He 288 asked if it is right to change the quality of life issues for citizens when there is no benefit to the 289 city except for a dollar off the city taxes. He asked if it is right to undertake more turmoil in 290 moving the Clear Channel boards when that issue was finally settled. He stated that on the issue 291 of right or wrong, leadership is about seeing right and wrong, and even if all the pressure from 292 business, significant business people and business citizens, and political leaders, is to lean 293 towards the wrong decision because others do it all the time and that is what’s done. He stated 294 that a leader sees what’s right and what’s wrong and makes the right choice to protect the citizens 295 and the right decision to not give in to pressures from companies that have the financial means 296 but won’t commit to do what is right and not take advantage of anyone. He stated that 297