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City of Centerville <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />March 11, 2020 <br /> <br /> <br />Council Member Love stated that he would not feel comfortable with Mayor Paar voting on this <br />matter due to his residency. He stated that Mayor Paar made the decision on his own not to vote, <br />to resign from council and that he stands behind him. Council Member Love stated that he <br />received a lot of emails and text messages in regards this project and that even Representative <br />Runbeck contacted him with her opinion. He stated that he felt that he was not on the fence, that <br />it needed to move forward and was good for Centerville. He also stated that he had received a lot <br />of feedback on the issue from people who live all over the city. He reported that one of the main <br />things that he heard was the desire not for an apartment building and that residents did not desire <br />to grow the community and the use of TIF. He stated that he is struggling with the use of TIF for <br />the project. Council Member Love stated he understands what the people in the downtown area <br />are going through because he has a path the runs along his property and there is mini-storage <br />facility that is being constructed behind him. He stated that he did not vote for that and the rest of <br />the Council is making decisions that are best for our City. He stated that the Council is attempting <br />to bring businesses to town. He stated the biggest message he heard from the residents is they <br />should not get any financial assistance from the City and that a developer should financial complete <br />development on their own. He agrees with Council Member Lakso with following the <br />Comprehensive Plan for growth. He stated that the area is zoning mixed use per the Plan and that <br />the Plan has been in place for a long period of time. <br /> <br />Council Member Koski addressed Mayor Paar’s unexpected news of resignation and stated that he <br />has done a lot for the community for many years. He commended him for being respectful, being <br />honest and open on not desiring to cast his vote. He thanked Mayor Paar. He also thanked the <br />people that came to the meeting and for getting involved. Council Member Koski stated that he <br />has heard that some residents feel that the City is attempting to sneak this project through and that <br />is not the case. He stated that may be residents are getting that perception by the way it has been <br />communicated through different avenues and maybe door knocking would have been better. <br /> <br />Council Member Koski stated that he is not a big fan of TIF and if they can put up a $10 million <br />apartment building, they should be able to do it on their own. He stated in the beginning he was <br />for this project but the more he researched it and changed his opinion. He stated that he does not <br />believe that everyone should pay for this and that if the developer can’t make it work without it, <br />then it is not a viable project. He stated that he is not against commercial development and making <br />our City a more vibrant place to live and adding senior living. It needs to be the right thing for the <br />City. He stated that if the 5,000 population is a goal of the City and he stated that Council needed <br />to be careful on how to get there. It needs to be beneficial to the City. There was a discussion <br />about how much open land the City had available. If this was all built out, he stated he does not <br />know if the City will get to the 5,000 population mark. He stated that he is concerned that putting <br />up an apartment building would not increase the population and thinks that the developer can make <br />this work if they desired to with the interest rates. <br /> <br />Council Member Montain stated that he echo’s Council Member Love’s statement in regards to <br />Mayor Paar. He stated that he is opposed to the residential TIF and City owned property. He was <br />happy to hear from the residents and he hopes that more people attend meeting in the future. He <br />stated that the Council is not trying to rush things through and has had several meeting that <br />discussed this item. He stated that items are not just added to the agenda and for instance, last <br />minute checks are no longer placed on the agenda the evening of the meeting. He stated things do <br />Page 14 of 18 <br /> <br /> <br />