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general or on commercial properties. Member Vanderwall noted that in the <br /> current political and economic times when jurisdictions area asked to lower taxes, <br /> and continued demands on communities to provide services while keeping taxes <br /> in line, businesses may question revised assessment policies as an indication of <br /> how business-friendly Roseville is. However, Member Vanderwall noted that the <br /> only reason the services and/or improvements existed was because they were <br /> needed by those very businesses; and further noted the need for the community to <br /> address public safety issues for the broader community. <br /> Ms. Bloom advised that the Cities of Minnetonka and Mounds View added their <br /> annual construction projects to their annual line item budgets as a city-wide <br /> assessment. Based on the numerous issues, Ms. Bloom advised that those <br /> communities felt this was the only way to go; however, often it created <br /> sustainability issues for communities. <br /> Mr. Schwartz reviewed the original intent when the PMP was initiated in 1986 to <br /> set aside funding for creating the infrastructure fund; however, he noted that in <br /> 1998 the PMP fund was redirected to other expenses as well such as pathway <br /> maintenance, creating sustainability issues for the PMP fund. Mr. Schwartz <br /> suggested, therefore, that this could necessitate the need to reassess that fund; and <br /> sought feedback from Commissioners. <br /> Member Vanderwall noted the need to consider the mood of the City Council in <br /> considering any revisions, particularly in an election year. While in agreement <br /> with the need to assess commercial properties in order that they were paying their <br /> fair share, Member Vanderwall spoke in support of the 25% limit. Member <br /> Vanderwall based that opinion on potentially negative impacts for smaller"mom <br /> and pop" businesses that could not support a larger assessment given their limited <br /> net revenues. <br /> Member Gjerdingen opined that businesses benefited from higher volumes <br /> facilitated by roadways built to higher standards to accommodate their operations; <br /> further opining that problems would ensue if changes were made in assessments <br /> for a higher tonnage roadway. Member Gjerdingen referenced the City of St. <br /> Paul's Assessment Policy and their calculations and assessment rates for mill and <br /> overlay projects. <br /> Ms. Bloom advised that the City of St. Paul was a Statutory City and therefore <br /> were not required to go through the same Public Hearing process for assessments <br /> as needed for the City of Roseville. <br /> Chair DeBenedet suggested that the City of St. Paul not be used as a comparable, <br /> since theirs was a different situation. However, Chair DeBenedet opined that <br /> there was a nexus or connection between the cost of rebuilding or improving a <br /> road in front of a busy, commercial area (e.g. turn lanes, traffic signals) since the <br /> business(es) created that additional traffic and they preferred to locate in that area <br /> Page 9 of 13 <br />