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City Council Minutes <br />September 21, 2020 <br />Page 10 <br />may be a similar project in Shakopee. He suggested checking with Baker Tilly as they <br />would be familiar with projects using public/private partnerships. <br />Mr. Hartung noted the city's Comprehensive Plan specifically calls out allowing <br />public/private partnerships in the city and he believes this is a great one -of -a -kind <br />project. He added he has had overwhelming support for the project. <br />Councilmember Ovall stated he loves the concept and does not have a problem with <br />trading incentives after hearing from Attorney Beck that there is a way to make the <br />public/private partnership work. He added the one thing that stands out is over the <br />course of a year the Council did not hear overwhelming support from the people <br />most affected by the project. Mr. Hartung indicated he is bummed more public has <br />not contacted the Council with support, but he has the support and can bring <br />support to the Council if they wish. <br />Attorney Beck indicated there is some precedent for the city participating in <br />public/private partnerships including Jackson Square and Granite Shores but not to <br />this level. <br />Councilmember Wagner thanked Mr. Hartung for his work. She said she has spoken <br />to many downtown businesses and they think it is a cool project but feel there are <br />many unanswered questions. She added she believes it is especially important to have <br />public input on this project noting she needs more input from the community before <br />she would be comfortable deciding. She also expressed concerns with the uncertainty <br />of the Highway 10 future project and constructing a redevelopment of this size <br />during that uncertainty. She added she may be open to a public/private partnership. <br />Mr. Hartung explained he is not asking the city to put a rubber stamp on the project. <br />He has additional steps he needs to take that come with fees including traffic studies <br />and site drilling. He stated his goal is to get some type of framework from the <br />Council so he can complete the next steps before he presents this to the public. <br />Councilmember Christianson indicated he would be open to a public/private <br />partnership as he believes the project has the potential to be the right project for the <br />downtown. He shares concerns about public input and believes there needs to be <br />public input and education. <br />Councilmember Westgaatd stated he believes many questions need to be answered <br />before the Council agrees to a partnership as there are developer obligation items <br />outlined in the development agreement that have not been addressed. He noted the <br />Council has not seen evidence of project support and it would have been appropriate <br />for Mr. Hartung to bring support to the Council. He explained the Council has had a <br />lot of information thrown at them in a short amount of time and asked to decide <br />when Mr. Hartung has had 11 months to work on this. He noted he is not opposed <br />to a public/private partnership, but he needs more time to review and decide to what <br />extent. He stated parking would have to be at least the amount currently in place for <br />PaVIREE Ir <br />NATURE <br />