CCP 01-12-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 8, 2003 5 Mayor Aplikowski asked if the City wanted to opt out of the coalition, what ()1Je of a notice they would have to give. Mr. Parrish replied hc was not prcpared to answer, but he believed thcy would have timc to withdraw from the coalition for 2004. Council member Grant expressed concern that the coalition had becomc a much larger organization and believed thcy should just work with neighboring cities individually as needed. Ms. Wolfe stated in an earlicr meeting that day, it was mentioned that if there was a strong interest in the Housing Resource Center, and if a non-member City wanted to continue to participate, the cost would be approximately double what it was for paying members. She noted this would only be a few thousand dollars difference bctwcen the total membership fee for the year. Mr. Parrish stated since the City joined approximately two years ago, the Housing Resource Center had approximately 100 contacts from Arden Hills residents. CounciImember Holden noted the State of Minnesota also has a housing information service and to her it was not so much what the political atmosphere was at the joint meeting, but it was a conccrn that Arden Hills might want to go in another direction from the coalition and she questioned if the City could do that. The motion failed (2-2-1 Councilmembers Grant and Holden - Aye. Councilmember Rem and Mayor Aplikowski - Nay. Councilmember Larson - Abstain). Council requested staff obtain a list of thc coalition goals, mission, and vision, as well as a list of the tangible and intangible benefits of being a member of the coalition for discussion at the Decembcr Work Session. B. Authorize Minnesota Investment Fund Application Mr. Parrish stated as a follow-up to Guidant's financial assistance request last summer, staff had been talking with Guidant and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) regarding a possiblc Minnesota Invesbnent Fund application. This was the same program that the City accessed on Guidant's behalf a few ycars back. DEED had indicated that approximately $250,000 could be made available. Generally, the program provides a low interest loan to a company with half of the loan repayments going back to capitalize a local revolving loan fund and half of the funds going back to DEED. In this particular instance, DEED and Guidant have requested that the City waive its portion and make it forgivable to Guidant. This has been done in other jurisdictions. For this particular meeting, all that is currently being requestcd is authorization for staff to prepare the application and to set the public hearing consistent with Minnesota Investment Fund program requirements.