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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, April 18, 2016 <br />Page 27 <br />this session, Councilmember Willmus opined it would behoove the City to provide a formal <br />statement of that position to the State legislature. <br />Mayor Roe advised that Ramsey County had initiated conversations with community representa- <br />tives (e.g. Mayors and area Chambers of Commerce) about their general economic development <br />activities. Mayor Roe reported that the outcome of that discussion was a consensus that more <br />discussion was needed. To then find out that special legislation was already being considered <br />this session, Mayor Roe stated was a concern for him. As stated by Councilmember Willmus, <br />Mayor Roe agreed that formal communication with the Legislature was needed. <br />Councilmember McGehee agreed, opining that it struck her as a variant of the Fiscal Disparities <br />Program, under which the City of Roseville served as a provider of many resources. Since Ram- <br />sey County seems to have a lot of big plans (TCAAP, infrastructure needs, St. Paul soccer stadi- <br />um, etc.) Councilmember McGehee agreed that the City of Roseville needed to take care of its <br />own first. Councilmember McGehee noted that the City of Roseville was now on a program <br />course that it had long sought, and she was not interested in the city's resources going toward the <br />needs of other municipalitiesbefore those of Roseville. <br />Councilmember Laliberte agreed, and also expressed her concerns with no transparency in this <br />process for residents, who would potentially be paying this tax to another new taxing authority, <br />not being able to weigh in. In her review and comparison of Washington County's Community <br />Development legislation, Councilmember Laliberte advised that they had studied the possibility <br />for three years, including conversations during that time with all municipal city councils and <br />townships, seeking resolutions of support from each and having those available when bringing <br />the request before the State Legislature. Councilmember Laliberte also agreed with a formal reg- <br />istering of concerns. If it is such a great idea but didn't succeed during this session, Coun- <br />cilmember Laliberte noted that it would then allow other communications and public transparen- <br />cy issues to be addressed, and would still be the same great idea for the next Legislative Session. <br />Councilmember Laliberte noted that the City of Roseville had just created its own EDA, and this <br />appeared to be a dual taxation for Roseville residents; while Washington County had combined <br />their community development and economic development efforts versus Ramsey County at- <br />tempting to have the ability to levy under a new EDA levy while retaining its current HRA levy. <br />While unable to answer for sure at this point, City Manager Trudgeon advised that he suspected <br />Ramsey County may be seeking to move their existing HRA into a new EDA, but he had been <br />unable to discern that from his reading of the proposed legislation. <br />City Manager Trudgeon advised that staff had prepared a draft resolution for consideration by <br />the City Council at tonight's meeting of a future meeting. <br />Consensus of the body was to consider the resolution tonight; with Ms. Collins displaying the <br />draft resolution while being reviewed the City Council, and providing a brief review of the pro- <br />posed language to address City of Roseville concerns. <br />