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April 15, 2024 <br />Representative Jamie Becker-Finn <br />559 State Office Building <br />St. Paul, MN 55155 <br />RE:HF 3784/SF 4655–Creation of Ramsey County Economic Development Authority <br />Dear Representative Becker-Finn: <br />Ramsey County officials have discussed with City of Roseville their proposal to create a Ramsey County <br />Economic Development Authority (EDA) through special legislation (HF 3784/SF 4655)which bypasses <br />the normal statutory process for EDA creation. It is our understanding that Ramsey County seeks EDA <br />powersin order to be able to use fundscurrently collected as part of the existing county Housing and <br />Redevelopment Authority (HRA)levy to fund small business assistance. Current law prevents HRA levy <br />dollars from being used for small business assistance. <br />After meeting with municipal representatives and hearing concerns about the possibility of Ramsey <br />County instituting an EDA levy and the bypassing of existing state statutes regarding the creation of a <br />county EDA, the bill has been amended to remove the ability of Ramsey County to create an EDA levy <br />while still maintaining the ability for the County to exercise EDA functions. The amendment also retains <br />the ability of a municipality to opt in or opt out of receiving business-related funding. Attached is a copy <br />of the amendment showing the changes to the original bill. <br />Based on the City Council discussion of this legislation at our April 8 meeting, with the inclusion of the <br />amendment to HF 3784, the City of Roseville has no objection to the legislation. However, if the <br />amendment language of the bill were to be removed from the authorization giving Ramsey County the <br />ability tofullyuse EDA powers, the City of Roseville would not be supportive of the legislation and <br />request that Ramsey County use the statutory process outlined in Minnesota State Statutes Section <br />469.1082 to create the EDA. <br />Please feel free to reach out me if you have any questions. <br />Respectfully, <br />CITY OF ROSEVILLE <br />Daniel Roe <br />Mayor <br />City of Roseville <br />2660 Civic Center Drive Roseville, Minnesota 55113 <br />651-792-7673www.cityofroseville.com <br />Qbhf!51!pg!65 <br /> <br />