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Mounds View City Council September 28, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 6 2 Mayor Mueller commented with the number of cases on the rise, she did not anticipate the mask 3 mandate would be repealed. She suggested the Council continue holding meetings as is until the 4 situation improves. The City Council supported this recommendation. 5 6 2. Business Assistance. 7 8 Finance Director Beer stated the Council was interested in discussing possible ways to assist 9 businesses in the City of Mounds View. He noted the Council had refunded 25% of the license 10 fees for impacted businesses. He explained the Council could consider refunding an additional 11 portion of these fees up to 100%. He reviewed the business assistance programs being offered by 12 Blaine and Spring Lake Park and requested direction from the Council on how to proceed. 13 14 Council Member Meehlhause commented if the remaining license fees were refunded this would 15 total $14,000. Finance Director Beer stated this was correct. 16 17 City Administrator Zikmund encouraged the Council to be cautious because the City does not 18 know what would happen with LGA for 2021. He believed it was wise to hang onto this money 19 until further information was available. He did understand that the Council wanted to help its 20 local businesses and discussed how labor intensive a grant program would be for City staff. He 21 explained an amount would have to be set if the Council wanted to pursue a business assistance 22 grant program. 23 24 Council Member Bergeron stated at this time he would be in favor of refunding additional 25 amounts the City has collected for licenses. He suggested the City pause the refunding of 2021 26 fees and the business assistance program. He explained he wanted to learn more about what 27 would happen with LGA from the State Legislature. 28 29 Council Member Meehlhause commented he agreed with Council Member Bergeron. He 30 recommended the City wait and see how things unfold prior to refunding 2021 fees. 31 32 Council Member Hull and Council Member Gunn agreed the 2020 fees should be refunded. 33 34 Mayor Mueller explained the City Council previously refunded 25% of business license fees. 35 She believed the fairest way to provided assistance to businesses at this time would be to refund 36 the remaining fees that were paid for 2020. She indicated she would support a refund of 75%, 37 making the total refund 100% for the year. She explained 2020 has been a very difficult year and 38 she was concerned about the health of local businesses. City Administrator Zikmund stated he 39 and Finance Director Beer would collaborate on this matter and would report back to the Council 40 with a Resolution. The Council supported this item coming back for approval on the Consent 41 Agenda. 42 43 City Administrator Zikmund reviewed the items that would be discussed at the October 51n 44 worksession meeting. 45