Minutes - Council - 09/22/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion by Councilmember Riley, seconded by Councilmember Kuzma, to close the public hearing. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Acting Mayor LeTourneau, Councilmembers Riley, Kuzma, Shryock, and Williams. Voting No: None. Abstaining: Mayor Strommen. Absent: Councilmember Johns. The public hearing was closed at 7:28 p.m. Council Business Jason Aarsvold, Ehlers, stated that they did review the project noting that the biggest driver in this project was the ability to clean up a site that needed to be cleaned up, noting that the facility will also bring jobs into the community. He explained the but/for test that is conducted and noted that the cost to clean up the site to prepare for redevelopment would be $600,000. He stated that the City is only being asked for $200,000 in assistance and therefore the but/for test has been met as Life Fitness is picking up the majority of the costs. Councilmember Shryock stated that this property is within her Ward and has needed improvement for some time. She is excited that this project is moving forward and that a Ramsey business is continuing to grow and thrive. Councilmember Riley provided additional information on the creation of a new TIF District. He referenced the jobs that will be created and stated that this is going to be the minimum of what is required, compared to the information that has been provided by Life Fitness earlier in the process, and asked why the City would accept the minimum when they had been sold on a different idea. Asst. City Administrator/Economic Development Manager Brama provided additional information noting that the State has a lower minimum wage than the City, at around $12.60 per hour, and therefore there are additional jobs being created but a lesser number of jobs that meet the minimum wage outlined by the City. Motion by Councilmember Riley, seconded by Councilmember Shryock, to Adopt Resolution #15-09-216 Adopting a Modification to the Development Program for Development District No. 1; and Establishing Tax Increment Financing District No. 15 — Life Fitness Therein and Adopting a Tax Increment Financing Plan Therefore. Further discussion: Acting Mayor LeTourneau stated that this would assist in growing the tax base, improve a blighted site, and secure a Fortune 500 Company in Ramsey. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Acting Mayor LeTourneau, Councilmembers Riley, Shryock, Kuzma, and Williams. Voting No: None. Abstaining: Mayor Strommen. Absent: Councilmember Johns. City Council / September 22, 2015 Page 6 of 12