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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-2011PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW EDA CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 12, 2011 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:30 P.M. 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: President Flaherty, Vice President Stigney, Commissioner Hull, Commissioner Mueller, Commissioner Gunn, and Executive Director Ericson. NOT PRESENT: None. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the December 12, 2011, Agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. PUBLIC INPUT None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. November 14, 2011, EDA Minutes. Commissioner Mueller noted a change on Line 95, correcting the spelling of the “PAK” building. Another change was noted in Line 99, as the amount listed should be 25,000. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Stigney. To Approve the November 14, 2011, EDA Minutes as amended. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. CONSENT AGENDA None. Mounds View EDA December 12, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 2 7. EDA BUSINESS A. Consider Amendments to Mounds View Business Toolbox Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz indicated the Mounds View Business Toolbox was approved by the EDA in 2008. She explained this document listed the resources available to Mounds View businesses provided by the City, State, and private resources. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz indicated this resource was outdated and in need of amending. The document was reviewed by Staff, along with the EDC and revisions were made. Staff recommended the EDA approve the amended document. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz requested the EDA allow the document to be used externally and be posted on the City’s website. This would allow for better promotion of the resources available to the City’s businesses. President Flaherty suggested Conduit Financing be added to the list of resources available to the local businesses. Commissioner Gunn thanked Staff for the revised and updated document. She was in favor of allowing the Business Toolbox to become public information and felt this may attract future businesses to the City. Commissioner Mueller asked if the disclaimer within the document was enough to protect the City from a wrongful suit requesting a new TIF district. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz indicated the document was merely a list of resources and did not open the City to law suits. She explained that most cities have this same list available to business owners. Commissioner Mueller recommended several links be included within the document to ensure that interested business owners are directed to Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz stated she could add this to the overview section of the document. Commissioner Hull commented he was in favor of making this an external document as well. He supported the changes made by Staff. Vice President Stigney recommended the document remain internal as he did not want business owners seeking handouts from the City. He agreed with the changes made to the document but did not support the information becoming available to the public. President Flaherty appreciated the updates made by Staff. He felt the visibility of this document on the City’s website would assist with business generation and redevelopment for the City. Mounds View EDA December 12, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 3 MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To approve the updated Mounds View Business Toolbox and allow the document to be made public information. Vice President Stigney opposed the posting of this document on the City’s website as it may attract the wrong kind of businesses. He requested the tax rebate policy be removed from the document. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Stigney/Mueller. To amend the Mounds View Business Toolbox removing the Tax Rebate Financing policy in Appendix C. Commissioner Mueller indicated she did not support the amendment as the Tax Rebate Financing allowed larger corporations to build in suburban communities. She explained this was a positive revenue source that should be considered for future redevelopment and did not agree with removing this from the Toolbox. Vice President Stigney explained the School District and County were already excluded from sharing tax rebates with new businesses. He did not feel the City should bear the entire burden. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT VOTE: Ayes – 1 (Stigney) Nays – 4 Motion to amend failed. ORIGINAL MOTION VOTE: Ayes – 4 Nays – 1 (Stigney) Motion carried. B. Consider Amending the Mounds View Home Improvement Loan Program Loan-to-Value Criteria and Extending the Program Through 2012 Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz indicated Suzanne Snyder was present from GMHC to address any comments or questions from the EDA. She explained Staff was requesting the EDA amend the Home Improvement Loan Program loan-to-value criteria and extend the program through 2012. She reviewed the proposed amendments to the program pertaining to the loan-to-value ratio. Staff recommended the loan-to-value ratio be changed to 110%. This would increase the residents able to participate in this program while also improving the City’s housing stock. President Flaherty questioned how many people have been turned away because of the current loan-to-value ratio. Suzanne Snyder, GMHC, explained her records show that four individuals were not eligible for the program due to the loan-to-value ratio. Mounds View EDA December 12, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 4 President Flaherty understood the need for the change as home values were declining at no fault to Mounds View residents. He was in favor of the changes recommended by Staff. Vice President Stigney indicated he was not in favor of these loans covering kitchen remodeling. He recommended the funds be used for exterior improvements to increase the value of a property. President Flaherty saw that this type of improvement would improve the housing stock in the City so he was in favor of these types of home improvements. Ms. Snyder commented that kitchen remodels would increase the value of a home. MOTION/SECOND: Flaherty/Hull. To amend the Mounds View Home Improvement Loan Program loan-to-value criteria and extend the program through 2012. Vice President Stigney suggested that all eligible and ineligible home improvements be listed in the document. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz explained the plan approved last year was not a comprehensive list. She noted the staff at GMHC contacts the City with questions about potential loan requests and the City authorizes and provides guidance to GMHC. Executive Director Ericson reviewed the items not covered through the loan programs. Ayes – 4 Nays – 1 (Stigney) Motion carried. 8. REPORTS None. 9. NEXT EDA MEETING: Monday, January 9, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. 10. ADJOURNMENT President Flaherty adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Recorded and transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.