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Economic Development Authority Minutes Page 3 <br /> June 15,2020 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> Ms. Othoudt explained many of the required attachments are used as part of staff s <br /> underwriting and for the Joint Finance Committee to thoroughly review each <br /> application. She noted she has feedback from previous applicants she can share with <br /> the EDA in the future. <br /> President Tveite indicated the balance between helping businesses and being good <br /> stewards of taxpayer dollars can be tricky. He explained staff and the EDA must do <br /> due diligence and make investments wisely. He questioned if staff could obtain <br /> various loan applications from a bank to compare applications. <br /> Commissioner Ovall indicated he doesn't think our applications are out of line but <br /> he would like to see the application based on the program and the loan amount. He <br /> stated he envisions a flowchart and depending on the response,the applicant may <br /> need to provide additional information. He stated the information can be a lot for <br /> staff and the finance committee to review and encouraged staff to focus on only <br /> obtaining the necessary and core information. <br /> Consensus was the tax increment financing and the tax abatement programs may <br /> require a more complex application but some of the other loan applications may lend <br /> themselves to simplification. <br /> President Tveite indicated review of these programs and applications should never <br /> be finished and staff and the EDA should constantly be reviewing policies and trying <br /> to improve and make the processes more efficient. <br /> Commissioner Westgaard commented the only way to know if we met the criteria is <br /> to ask for feedback again. <br /> Mr. Portner suggested having the attorney review all programs and applications and <br /> redline what must be kept in the policy and come back for review of the <br /> discretionary language for the EDA to consider. EDA consensus was to move <br /> forward with Mr. Portner's suggestion. <br /> Condition #15 The perceived notion the agenda of a staff member can influence the <br /> way the city processes and interprets an application. Shouldn't it be a collective <br /> effort, or common goal, for staff and entrepreneurs to build and grow the business <br /> community in Elk River together? <br /> Mr. Portner explained staff interprets written policy on a frequent basis and if they <br /> have questions,they bring it to Council. He asked for clarification on how this can <br /> be construed as having a personal agenda. <br /> Commissioner Westgaard indicated during the listening sessions someone brought <br /> up city policy versus staff perspective. He added this issue does not only pertain to <br /> the EDA but to other departments as well. He stated he believes the divide may be <br /> between policy making and communicating the ordinance or statute requirements. <br /> POWERED 9r <br /> UREI <br />