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City Council Minutes <br />March 1, 2021 <br />Page 8 <br />Mr. Downey also asked the city to reassess the 300 feet requirement to connect to <br />urban services. <br />Councilmember Christianson felt it would be useful to look at the ordinance. <br />City Attorney Beck added the requirement to connect on sale provision was added to <br />the ordinance in 2017 but connection has always been required within 3 years. <br />Mayor Dietz asked for further research and the item would return to a future work <br />session. <br />10.2 Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Policy <br />Mikaela Huot, Director at Baker Tilly, presented the staff report. She discussed the <br />redevelopment of the Saxon site and TIF request, a review of TIF, policy <br />considerations, financial needs analysis, and the city's TIF policy overview. <br />Mayor Dietz questioned the property appraisal of $1.7 million. He would like to get <br />an independent appraisal to validate this amount. <br />Mayor Dietz asked Ms. Huot if she would advise not going past 15 years. <br />Ms. Hout stated research shows the county value has decreased but the purchase <br />price has increased. The level of assistance is based on the gap. <br />Mayor Dietz hesitated to deviate from past practice. 20 years was a long time to not <br />pay property tax. <br />Councilmember Westgaard felt the property really needed redevelopment which <br />might make him more motivated to agree to a slight extension on this project. <br />Ms. Huot stated the current request was outside the city's policy parameters. Either <br />the city would have to deviate from the existing policy as a one-time exception or the <br />policy would have to be amended to change the terms. <br />Mayor Dietz asked if there was a maximum dollar amount. <br />Ms. Huot stated the applicant did not put a maximum amount. She added the <br />council could amend the time period to 17-18 years instead of going to the full 20 if <br />they wished due to the blighted condition. <br />Mayor Dietz asked if the progress was on hold until an independent appraisal could <br />be conducted. <br />Ms. Huot stated that a public hearing was scheduled for April 5, 2021. Either the <br />council could proceed with the public hearing or add the information received from <br />the appraisal after the public hearing. <br />P091EaIa a <br />FNATURE <br />