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Downtown Redevelopment Moves Forward Tax Increment Financing To Be Considered comments Bear. He adds,"It's led to some very good businesses coming to the community and the The City of Hugo began working on a downtown creation of jobs." Building on that success,the redevelopment plan in 1998. Planning moved City is moving forward to have this same financing forward in 2003 to establish architectural and site method available for use in the downtown redevel- design standards to ensure a commercial area that opment. would respect local traditions and fit in with the character of the City. A community-wide open While the Hugo City Council has authorized City house was held in 2004 to encourage public input staff to begin the process of implementing TIF, during this redevelopment planning process.And Minnesota statute requires several tests be con- now, in 2006,the time has come again to take a ducted to quality for its actual use. "We are going major step forward in this process. "The City has through the necessary steps right now to determine There was a huge turn been working for quite some time on a downtown if we qualify,"says Bear. That includes inspec- redevelopment plan,"notes Hugo Community tions of buildings,calculations on the condition out from the community Development Director Bryan Bear. He continues, of those buildings and how much the properties at an open house held "The final step is implementation of that plan." are already developed. If it is determined that the qualifications are met,then a recommendation January 18 for review One of the ways that the City has started that from the Hugo Economic Development Authority of the downtown plan, implementation is with the use of a Tax Increment will be made to the Council asking to formally Financing(TIF)instrument. There are several adopt a resolution that would create a TIF district. pictured above. costs involved with any downtown redevelopment, including property acquisition,relocation and Bear comments, "The feedback that we've demolition. This can become very expensive for received from the community is that they are a developer and TIF provides a financing method excited about the City's plans for downtown.They for the City to assist with those costs. The use would like us to move forward and find the means A TIF has been an effective means for other cit- necessary to implement that plan,and TIF is a ies and something that Hugo successfully used valid way of doing so." Hugo Mayor Fran Miron in the development of its Bald Eagle Industrial adds,"If used properly,TIF can help us immensely Park. "We've used TIF before and it has worked," in accomplishing our goals and provide some real opportunities for redevelopment within Hugo." Meet Nugo's Newest Employees TWO Community Development Building Department COMMISSIONERS Intern Receptionist APPOINTED Rachel Simone recently joined - ""` Debi Close started in her posi- the Ci staff as its com- tion as the City's building t City The Hugo City Council .f, munity development intern. department receptionist on Simone,who started her six- March 20,2006. Although recently appointed Tom --- month internshipon February she has only been on staff for �' a short time,Close says,"The Denaway as new com- 22,2006,works with Hugo Community Development Director Bryan Bear. people I work with are wonderful. Everyone has missioner on the Hugo " He comments,"We've had excellent success with welcomed me with open arms. Economic Development our internship program;we've had very high qual- ity individuals with the program and Rachel is Her main responsibilities in this newly-created Authority(EDA)and no exception." Her responsibilities range from position include answering calls to help schedule Rachel Berger to the working on the use of Tax Increment Financing inspection appointments and handling the City's (TIF)in the City to preparing agendas and taking commercial and residential building permit appli- Parks, Recreation and minutes for EDA Commission meetings. "I've cations. Close holds a degree from the Minnesota Open Space Advisory .earned more in the last month and a half that I've Medical and Dental Institute. Before her current been here than I did in my entire time at school," position, she spent more than 10 years as a recep- Commission. Simone comments. She adds,"The people here tionist in medical and dental offices and in the are great." insurance industry. � I