Agenda - Council - 06/28/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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" I participation. Ramsey uses future tax dollars to finance irrprovanents that make it possible for businesses to locate in Ramsey rather than another location. '!he affect on proF€rty taexes is that the tax dollars that would otherwise have gone to the county, school district and city are use to pay for whatever improvements are made. The business will continue to pay exactly the same amount of taxes that they have paid otherwise. The affect on all of the other proF€rties is that the tax base will be increased in the future and the result is that everyone's property taxes are less because of this additional tax base. There are certain things Hinnesota law will allow cities to participate in financing. Some of those things are site preparation, security lighting, grading of parking lots, bringing utilities to an industrial area, etc. These tYF€s of improvements can be financed \<dth tax incranent revenue. 'fue city is borrowing money to do the improvanents and paying it back through the taxes paid by the business. The business would pay actually more than 100% of what ",Tas borrowed. Ramsey's policy is to participate up to a maximum of 70% of the projected increase in taxes generated by that business and the remaining 30% can go imnediately onto the tax rolls or for other projects in tbe area. Bob Schwartz - Inquired if Atlas applied for a permit when they tried to locate in Elk River. Ann Jackson - Stated that Atlas made a lot of inquiries but no official application. Hr. Labat - Stated that a permit application for this type of industry is extrenely complicated, time consuming and expensive. They are also site specific and so you can't make application until you knovl ",'here you are going to be located. Bob Schwartz - Inquired why Atlas quit trying to get a location in Elk River. Mr. Labat - Stated that "'Then Atlas determined there were potential problerns and comrmmity reaction to things that don't even relate to Atlas, Atlas decided to re-evaluate other locations that had been considered. Terry Ville.'1euve - Inquired as to v:ho has the final decision on allowing this tYF€ of operation in Ra.-nsey. Yu:. Bartley - Stated that the permit for operating this type of facility comes fran MPCA. The question before the Hamsey Planning Commission is a question of whether or not to grant a conditional use permit, which is a la.'1o use permit saying a use can be permitted at a particular location. Conditional use permits are granted by City Council ",'ith a recommendation fran the Planning Commission; the operational permit is granted by MPCA. l'lr'. Villeneuve - Inquired if it is possible for the citizens to vote on Atlas' rB:3:uest. fIi..r. Goodrich - Stated that the City Council determination ",'ould be final except for a review by the district court if someone challenged Council's action. Prior to any final action, Council can authorize an advisory Planning & Zor~ng Public Hearing/June 16, 1988 Page 4 of 7 S?