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Mr. Norman said that the last time he had met with one of the three property owners, who was <br />Mark Freundschuh and the attorney Brian Doyle of Welsh Companies, was in November. Since <br />that time, they have had several communications by telephone and mail. He felt that during the <br />face to face negotiations, there was too much dancing around the subject and it would be more <br />practical to get things in writing. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner said that he would be more comfortable if the City were to negotiate face to face <br />and possibly include one EDA member in those negotiations. He also wished that they would <br />present to the owners an outline for the next step in the negotiations, including our intentions to <br />go into condemnation proceedings in the event that negotiations failed. He asked if we lose <br />anything by waiting. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman stated that we would lose one month and really, the City needs to have the land <br />available by spring in order to honor and commit to negotiations with industrial properties and <br />also the possibility of the technical college moving to the site. Mr. Norman also noted that the <br />City Council values the EDA recommendations, but may act without the EDA recommendation. <br />Regardless, staff recommendation to City Council this evening would be to go forward with the <br />condemnation proceedings. <br /> <br />Mr. Kent brought up the point that Glen Hardin had asked about the costs at the last meeting for <br />the necessary improvements to the property. <br /> <br />Mr. Walther reviewed the costs for the improvements including water, sanitary sewer, streets, <br />storm sewer, and the land acquisition. The storm sewer improvements will be needed regardless <br />of this project. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman added that the payback in relation to the economic development district would be <br />over a nine-year time span on the district. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner stated that he would prefer to have City Council members present for this vote. <br /> <br />Mr. Riley stated that it is not as if these landowners don't want to sell or develop. It's not <br />someone trying to hold onto the family farm, rather it is just negotiation on the price of the land. <br />Mr. Riley felt that the condemnation process was a fair process for determining the price of the <br />land. <br /> <br />Mr. Mulrooney also stated that land that is purchased through condemnation process has some <br />special capital gain tax breaks for the landowners. <br /> <br />At this time the members not present at the Anoka Hennepin Technical College contacted the <br />members present and asked that they move to City Hall and reconvene. The meeting reconvened <br />at City Hall at 8:24 a.m. <br /> <br />Mr. Kent summarized for the members who were not present at the Anoka Hennepin Technical <br />College the discussion that took place previously. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/January 12, 1999 <br /> Page 3 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />