Minutes - 2005/07/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 11, 2045 Regular Meeting Page 2 • made that they got a good deal adding that when you think about the concessions the City is getting it is a tremendous amount and he thanked the Council. Carol Mueller, 8343 Groveland Road, referenced the current issue of the Sun Focus Newspaper stating that it has a great, well written, non-biased, factual article about the June 20t'' Town Hall meeting. She stated that it includes a lot of good quotes from both the residents and the Council adding that it is her hope that the public knows that this information is available in the Sun Focus Newspaper. She suggested that the Council read the article noting that it would be worth their time to see it. She stated that it does help to put things into perspective. She noted that she also read the May/June Mounds View Matters newsletter that included the City of Mounds View Mission and Value Statement. She referenced Item 3, Ethics and Integrity stating that she agrees with the statement and reviewed with Council. She expressed concerns stating that she is wondering if perhaps the value statement, in its' entirety, has have been set aside in our eagerness to get rid of a drain on the City budget. She stated that she believes the public was not treated fairly when the decision was made last August to empower the City Staff to do everything they needed to do to work out a plan with Medtronic for the property. She stated that if the decision, at that point in time, was to go forward, that in essence meant that the property was for sale. 'She stated that the City does lose integrity when the City sells something to a private party without offering it up for bids the way it normally should happen. She acknowledged that Medtronic is a wonderful company and she acknowledged that many are saying that the golf course is a huge drain on the City adding that she questions the ethics and integrity of the way all of this was put together. She stated that for the record, she is not for or against this, she is just thinking the City • lost sight of their values and some of the vision. She noted that Dan was not able to attend this evening but has a quote from Dan, he told her that a baby born on June 27~' would go through preschool, elementary, middle and high school along with college, and possibly start their own family before they would see the tax benefit of this 25-year tax increment funding deal. She stated that this is a rather profound statement noting that our children would be quite old before realizing any benefits. Council Member Stigney stated that he couldn't disagree more with what Ms. Mueller just said. He stated that to attack the integrity and ethics of the Council is inappropriate unless you have direct statements to make. He noted that she referred to the process of going out for bids and clarified that the City does not own the property and it would be hard to go out and ask for bids on property that the City does not hold the title. He indicated that the Sun Focus article Ms. Mueller referenced specifically states this as the reason the City did not go out for bids on the property. He stated another reason why the Council wouldn't want to go out and ask for the highest bid is that it could be an asphalt company and asked if Ms. Mueller felt that would be a better option than Medtronic. He clarified that it is not his intent to put her down but she is attacking the integrity of the Council and he feels that the Council did have entirely good integrity as far as what was directed to Staff to see what negotiations could be worked out with Medtronic and identify the legislative issues through the process. He acknowledged that Ms. Mueller is not happy with the plan adding that it is his hope that it does take affect. Ms. Mueller stated that if the City did not have the power or authority to take bids for the . property how does the City have the authority or power to sell the property. She stated that if it is