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City Council Minutes Page 3 <br />January 4, 2021 <br />----------------------------- <br />9.3 Modern Construction Extension <br /> <br /> Mr. Portner presented the staff report. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz read a statement into the record. <br /> <br />Council had the following comments: <br /> <br /> Concern for project timeline and street closure impacts to businesses. <br />Especially with the pandemic and ordered closures. <br /> Negative conversation by developer to a business owner. <br /> Potential loss of parking for several months. <br /> Developer given 16 months to respond to questions and asked-for <br />deliverables not received. <br /> Submitted letter by local chamber asking Council to act quickly and not leave <br />area residents/businesses waiting with uncertainties. <br /> Should developer have an exclusive agreement over anyone else? <br /> Downtown opposition. <br /> A proper process should be followed for a downtown project. City needs <br />vision and goals and to explain why a development is approved. <br /> Developer can still complete work without exclusive extension. <br /> Concerns with moving forward on the project without public engagement. <br /> Not against innovation, new ideas, or economic development, but can’t see <br />need to grant exclusive agreement/extension. <br /> Not much public interest for development in downtown. <br /> Not fair to the developer to spend money on a project that may not happen. <br /> Commitments wanted by developer without any clear project direction. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz requested a special meeting with the HRA and EDA with information <br />communicated to the public about the opportunity to speak. Council could address <br />rumors and listen to the public and the advisory boards on whether they want a <br />project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard further noted the need for public engagement on the <br />comprehensive plan and suggested bringing in the consultant and rolling this into the <br />special meeting as they are related. <br /> <br />Council consensus was to call a special joint meeting with the HRA and EDA <br />for Monday, February 22, 2021. <br /> <br />Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember <br />Westgaard to deny the extension. Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br />9.4 Discuss Work Session Items <br /> <br /> Mr. Portner presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> <br />