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Councilmember Specht said is struggling with the idea of an additional tax; however, he <br />understands that the hotels in the City are asking for this. He said he does not feel as though he <br />can support this yet. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell suggested bringing this back in the future to be revisited. She noted that <br />she does not want to move another thing forward that will benefit the hotels and not the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff said he would be in favor of this. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley said he is in support of this as the businesses are asking for it. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma stated he is in support of this. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan shared that City Attorney Knaak can review the <br />agreement to start putting together ordinances and resolutions that would need to be acted upon by <br />the Council if the Council chooses to bring this back at a future date. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht said he would like time to talk to the hotel owners to figure out their <br />interest in this before supporting moving forward. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma added that Staff can speak to Councilmember Olson about this when he returns. <br /> <br />There was no consensus of the Council to move forward at the current time with implementing a <br />lodging tax and membership with the Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau. <br /> <br />2.02: Consider Provision of Sewer and/or Water Access Charge Assistance for New <br />Brewery in Ramsey <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan reviewed the Staff report concerning the request for <br />Sewer or Water Access Charges (SAC and WAC) assistance at Rustech Brewery. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff asked about the difference between using SAC or WAC credits versus <br />other methods. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan explained that the restaurant SAC or WAC deferral <br />program is a forgivable loan that the EDA would fund. He said the developer would pay 30% and <br />finance the other 70% and every year that the establishment stays open, they forgive the loan. He <br />noted that if they used the SAC unit program, they would be using units from properties that have <br />been demolished so they are fees that have already been paid for. He said the cost of this would be <br />the opportunity cost of what else they could allocate these units for. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma asked if this would give the project enough assistance to get started. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan said they will have to see when the full application <br />comes in. He noted that for restaurants and breweries, SAC and WAC charges are just the cost of <br />City Council Work Session / October 22, 2024 <br />Page 4 of 15 <br /> <br />