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Elk <br />River <br />Members Present: <br />Members Absent: <br />Joint Special Meeting of the Elk River City Council <br />and Housing and Redevelopment Authority <br />Held at Elk River City Hall <br />Monday, December 2, 2013 <br />Mayor Dietz, Councilmembers Wilson, Motin, and Westgaard (6:27 p.m.) <br />HRA Commissioners Chuba, Kuester, and Toth <br />Councilmembers Burandt and Commissioner Kuester <br />Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner, Community Operations and <br />Development Deputy Director Manager Jeremy Barnhart, Director of <br />Economic Development Brian Beeman, and Senior Administrative <br />Assistant /Recording Secretary Jennifer Johnson <br />I. Call Meeting to Order <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called <br />to order at 5:46 p.m. by Mayor Dietz. <br />2.1 Discuss Housing Survey and Develop Housing Tax Increment Financing <br />Scoring Worksheet <br />Mr. Beeman presented the staff report. He introduced Springsted Consultant Mikaela Huot, <br />who reviewed the draft application scoring worksheet with the Council and commission <br />members. <br />The following areas of the worksheet were discussed and adjustments suggested: <br />Under question 1 of the application worksheet, "The policy meets the criteria set forth in <br />Section IV of the city's Tax Increment Financing policy," Ms. Huot reviewed the TIF policy <br />sections asked if the overall policy should be adjusted. She noted the policy as currently <br />worded remained in compliance with state statute. There were no comments regarding <br />question 1. <br />Under question 2, "Ratio of Private to All Public Investment in Project," Councilmember <br />Motin suggested no points be awarded if the ratio was less than 2:1. Discussion ensued <br />regarding whether or not to assign 0 points versus 1 point if some aspects of a project don't <br />meet specific thresholds. Ms. Huot stated some projects may have areas that still qualify it as <br />a worthy, viable project, but may have areas that don't meet all thresholds even by assigning <br />0 points. It was decided to consider each project in a case -by -case basis. <br />Under question 3, "Job Creation in the City of Elk River," Commissioner Chuba noted his <br />concerns with the number of jobs retained being viewed as significantly less valuable than <br />the new creation of jobs. He felt it more a penalty not attempt to retain businesses who may <br />wish to relocate. Councilmember Motin felt it important to remain consistent between both <br />industrial and housing project types. Ms. Huot agreed and noted other cities differ across the <br />board, depending upon whether or not retainage of current jobs is more important than <br />creating new jobs. It was decided to lower the number of existing /retained jobs divided by a <br />lower number instead of 10. <br />