Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,April 22,2024 <br /> Page 11 <br /> Mr. Corey Gordon, CEO of Kids In Need Foundation, and Ms. Molly Jansen, <br /> resident of City of Roseville and works as a lobbyist for Kids In Need Foundation <br /> at the Capitol, introduced themselves and gave a presentation to the City Council. <br /> Mr. Gordon explained what the foundation would do if the funding from the State <br /> did not come through. <br /> Councilmember Etten asked for more information on the program and the <br /> responsibility of the program. <br /> Mr. Gordon reviewed the program and requirements. <br /> Councilmember Groff asked if Mr. Gordon and Kids in Need Foundation have <br /> approached Ramsey County because he thought this appeared to be a larger thing <br /> than just Roseville. <br /> Mr. Gordon thought the City was the first step in the process. He reviewed other <br /> cities that have worked in partnership with non-profits to obtain GO (General <br /> Obligation) State bonds in the past. He thought this was more of a hometown <br /> program. <br /> Mayor Roe thanked Mr. Gordon and Ms. Jansen for the presentation. He asked the <br /> Council for feedback and if the Council felt the City should consider entering into <br /> a partnership with Kids In Need Foundation. <br /> Mayor Roe indicated he shared some of the same concerns that the City Manager <br /> noted and it may help to mitigate some of the concerns knowing that the City's <br /> responsibility is primarily for the program. But, he still had some questions about <br /> this notion that if the City does it how does the City determine for whom the City <br /> does this sort of thing and what is the precedent that is being set,how does the City <br /> deal with the next request that comes,and how does that relate to the City's capacity <br /> to do these things. He was not sure he had answers yet on those questions. <br /> Councilmember Schroeder explained the first thing she wants to say is what the <br /> Council is talking about at this point is not the good work being done. She thought <br /> everyone understood that this is a good program. What the Council is trying to <br /> decide here is how much does the City of Roseville want to take on when it comes <br /> to this particular obligation. She thought the last time the City did bonds, it did not <br /> end well and there was an issue, so she was a little gun shy from that, and this is <br /> very long term and it seems new. She thought if there were conversations earlier, <br /> the City would have had more time to get the information needed to make a <br /> decision. She felt bad because she does not know enough about this process and <br /> some of the details. She was uncomfortable and could not support this at this time <br />