Committee of the Whole

CITY OF AMERY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PROCEEDINGS June 15th, 2021 The Committee of the Whole of the City of Amery met on Tuesday – June 15th, 2021 at City Hall and via Zoom. Council President, Chad Leonard called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. Present: Council President, Chad Leonard; Mayor, Paul Isakson; and Alderpersons, Tim Strohbusch; Rick Van Blaricom; Sarah Flanum; and Eric Elkin. Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator/City Clerk-Treasurer, Patty Bjorklund; Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Ben Jansen; Public Works Director, Jeff Mahoney; Library Director, Amy Stormberg; and Police Chief, Tom Marson. Staff Absent: None. Others Present: Eric Barclay – MSA; Dave Rasmussen – MSA; Ashley Long – Library Board President; and Members of the Public. Public Comment – None at this time. Department Head Reports – Reports were heard from Administrator, Bjorklund; Police Chief, Marson; Director of Public Works, Mahoney; and Library Director, Stormberg. TIF Financing for South Industrial Park: Dave Rasmussen of MSA was present to discuss options to finance the $2.25M for South Industrial park. He mentioned he would like to see the whole project funded with TIF Funds. The EDA grant application was unsuccessful. MSA and City staff met recently to discuss alternative funding options to fund the South Industrial improvements. An alternative funding option was developed that uses a combination of funding from all four of the city’s TIF Districts. The South Industrial Park is located in TID #8 which was created in June of 2016. As a mixed-use TID, it has a life of 20 year or until June of 2036. Other TID’s involved in the proposed funding plan for the South Industrial Park Improvement project includes:  TID #6 (Downtown) – Created in May of 2004 as a “Rehabilitation & Conservation” TID, it has a life of 27 years or until May of 2031. The expenditure date for this TID expires in May of 2026. This TID qualifies for a Standard Extension of four years and a Tech College Extension of three years.  TID #7 (Stower Industrial Park) – Created in September 2010 as a “Mixed-Use” TID, this TID has a life of 20 years or until September of 2030. The expenditure date for this TID expires in September of 2025.  TID #8 (Riverplace & South Industrial Park) – Created in June of 2016 as a “Mixed-Use” TID, this TID has a life of 20 years or until June of 2036. The expenditure date for this TID expires in June of 2031. This TID qualifies for a three-year standard extension.  TID #9 (Downtown) – Created in September of 2019 as a “Rehabilitation & Conservation” TID, it has a life of 27 years or until September of 2046. The expenditure date for this TID expires in September of 2041. When TID #9 was created, it was overlaid much of TID #6. The following steps need to be undertaken to implement a funding plan. It includes project plan amendments, territory amendments, allocation amendments, and extensions. The following steps need to be undertaken:  TID #6 – The following steps are needed to have TID #6 participate in funding the South Industrial Park Improvements: o TID #6 will need a territory amendment to add enough territory to get within ½ mile of the South Industrial Park. This can be achieved by adding property between the south border of TID #6 (Broadway Street) and including the Amery Golf Course Property. o TID #6 Project Plan will be amended to include additional projects and to include projects within ½ mile of the District (South Industrial Park Improvements). o The life of TID #6 would be extended by a total of seven years (4-year Standard & 3-year Tech College). o If these steps are taken (approved), TID #6 will be able to pay debt service on the Keller Avenue loans (SDWL & CWF) and $2.0 million of the South Industrial Park Improvements project. 1   TID #7- TID #7 is located in the Stower Industrial Park and does not have any debt. It does have a Developer Incentive as its only obligation which is going to be fulfilled within the next few years. The following steps would be taken in TID #7: o TID #7 would be amended to allocate positive tax increments to TID #9 to assist in the Keller Avenue Project. o The allocation amendment is allowed because TID #9 is a “Rehabilitation & Conservation” TID. TID #7 cannot allocate directly to TID #8 as TID #8 is a “Mixed-Use” TID. The value increment of TID #8 as of 1/1/20 is $1,535,700 which should produce approximately $32,023 of tax increment in 2021. Dave is estimating that TID #8 will fund $225,300 of the South Industrial Park Improvements. The value increment of TID #9 as of 1/1/20 is $1,508500 which should produce approximately $31,456 of tax increment in 2021. This increment will go towards the Keller Avenue Project. Dave has reviewed the above funding scenario with the Department of Revenue and they see no issues with the process. The council will look at all information presented by Dave Rasmussen and meet at the July 7, 2021 Council Meeting to discuss further. The discussion is tabled at this point. Ordinance 11-2021: Trespass. Chief, Tom Marson presented Ordinance 11-2021 for Trespass that he would like approved due to the recent vandalism on park property. Certain individuals have gone on park property and vandalized, and he would like something put in place that would not allow them in the parks for a certain length of time. Motion by Strohbusch; seconded by Flanum; to recommend Ordinance 11-2021: Trespassing to Council. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion Carried. CWS – Security Cameras – City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer, Bjorklund noted that there has been much vandalism at the parks recently. She, along with Public Works Director, Mahoney got quotes for the North Parks East Bathroom/North Parks West Bathroom and South Park Security Cameras. The total for all 3 came in at $6,802.52. She noted that there is a good amount of money budgeted in the Parks Budget for this expense. Motion by Van Blaricom; seconded by Isakson; to recommend CWS – Security Cameras for 3 Security Camera Systems to Council. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion Carried. Low Voltage, Security Cameras, Access Points, Audio/Video Options through Abcom – Mayor, Isakson; City Administrator, Clerk/Treasurer, Bjorklund; John Thompson – Library Representative; Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Jansen; Police Chief, Marson and Larry Stelter – Videographer have been in a few meetings with Rob Stanley of Abcom. Rob had detailed the design and planning of placement of all of the above. Timing is key as the project would need to move forward by the end of July. When costs come in late this week, Bjorklund will present the costs to Market & Johnson as well as council to review. Value Engineering can then take place. The project did not need to be bid as it was owner expense. More discussion will take place at the July 7th meeting for possible approval. Motion by Strohbusch; seconded by Flanum; to adjourn at 8:00 P.M. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion Carried Respectfully Submitted, Patty Bjorklund, WCMC/CMC/CMTW City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer June 15th, 2021 2