Laserfiche WebLink
<br />6. PUBLIC HEARING <br />7. COUNCIL BUSINESS <br />7.01: Adopt Resolution #26-197 Approving Tax Increment Financing Development <br />Agreement; Ramsey Senior Housing, LLC. <br /> <br />Economic Development Manager Sullivan presented the final development agreement for the <br />Trident senior housing project located adjacent to the Veterans Administration clinic. <br /> <br />Mr. Sean Tice addressed the Council on behalf of Ramsey residents and requested strict <br />compliance with Minnesota responsible-contractor requirements. He expressed concern that prime <br />contractors may subcontract work through multiple tiers to firms that do not satisfy the same <br />standards and asked the Council to strengthen the agreement to protect taxpayer funds and <br />discourage wage theft, worker misclassification, and participation in the underground economy. <br /> <br />Mr. Benjamin Zelka, 16521 Xenolith Street NW, identified himself as a union member and <br />supported strong workforce and construction-quality standards. He commented that responsible <br />labor practices benefit workers and their families while helping ensure that publicly assisted <br />projects are built to a high standard and remain an asset to the community. <br /> <br />Mr. Zach Temke, an organizer with the Painters Union, urged the Council to reconsider <br />apprenticeship and responsible-bidder protections for the project. He maintained that significant <br />public assistance creates a fiduciary responsibility to verify contractor compliance and requested <br />robust contractor certifications and independent payroll review. He also raised concerns about <br />using subcontractors with histories of worker misclassification and insurance violations on other <br />developments. <br /> <br />Ms. Gracia Palomar, a former Ramsey resident and apprenticeship instructor with the Painters <br />Union, described beginning her career as an apprentice, purchasing her first home in Ramsey, <br />working on local construction projects, and spending her earnings in the community. She <br />encouraged the Council to consider whether workers hired for publicly assisted projects reinvest <br />their wages locally and contribute to the community. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Specht, seconded by Councilmember Olson, to adopt Resolution #26- <br />197 Approving Tax Increment Financing Development Agreement; Ramsey Senior Housing, <br />LLC. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley supported the senior housing project but objected to Exhibit C. He <br />proposed a friendly amendment removing Exhibit C and all references to it and replacing those <br />provisions with the responsible-contractor requirements contained in Minnesota Statutes, Section <br />16C.285. He also initially suggested making approval contingent on a broader City policy <br />applying responsible-contractor standards to all City-funded projects. City Attorney Johnson <br />advised that the Council could remove Exhibit C and direct staff to incorporate section 16C.285 <br />into this agreement. The Council would need to consider a Citywide policy governing other <br />projects separately because it exceeded the scope of the pending development agreement. She <br />City Council /August 25, 2026 <br />Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br />