HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/04/28 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
April 28, 2025
The meeting convened at 6:15 p.m.
Council members present: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Paul Baudhuin, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd,
Yolanda Farris, Margaret Rog
Council members absent: Lynette Dumalag
Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller)
Discussion items – none.
Written Reports
1. Connected infrastructure system wrap-up
2. Development update 2nd quarter 2025
3. Annual Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program report
Council Member Rog stated she appreciated this important report and the thought staff put
into it.
Council Member Budd agreed and added she was happy to see that over 30 people attended
the community meeting.
4. Council decisions for development projects
Council Member Baudhuin stated he appreciated the chart on the financial decisions portion of
this report. Council Member Brausen agreed.
Council Member Baudhuin added he still has questions on whether and when the city will be
compelled to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, stating he needs more
conversations around TIF and the potential contradictions when providing it. He would like to
take a closer look, noting the large dollar amounts involved. He also has concerns about the
legalities of TIF, but at the same time, appreciates the chart provided by staff.
Ms. Keller stated there are plans to discuss this further in the fall and if there are specific areas
of concern, it would be helpful to have those brought forward to staff from council. She
suggested staff can offer the TIF education series again for those council members who need or
request it.
Council Member Rog noted that in the past, the training and education around TIF was
provided by Ms. Kvilvang of Ehlers, adding that council might benefit from hearing from an
alternative person.
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Study session minutes -2- April 28, 2025
Ms. Keller stated she will confer with Ms. Barton and Ehlers, noting that Ms. Kvilvang is an
expert on TIF and also knows St. Louis Park’s TIF districts better than anyone else. Ms. Keller
stated it will be helpful for staff to understand what specifically the council wants to learn more
about related to TIF. If the council’s questions are specifically about the city’s TIF districts, then
there is no better person than Ms. Kvilvang to address this.
Mayor Mohamed stated that TIF is a city council decision. She stated TIF has worked in the past
and there are times when it will continue to work for the city. If a future city council decides
they do not want to continue with TIF, then that is a decision requiring a majority vote of four
members. Currently, she feels that the council keeps returning to the topic of TIF, and every
project is now becoming questions about TIF versus about the project itself.
Council Member Brausen agreed with Mayor Mohamed and added that TIF has been a useful
tool for the city. He also agreed that the council could discuss TIF further, adding that staff has a
lot of data regarding TIF that could be used in the discussion.
Council Member Baudhuin stated his questions are about the legalities of TIF in general and not
about the city’s TIF policy. He asked if the city is legally required to give TIF if the developer
meets the requirements and noted this is apparent in the chart. He asked where the law falls
here, noting the legal language around “may and shall,” and stated he wants more clarity.
Council Member Brausen stated a conversation with Mr. Mattick is warranted.
Mayor Mohamed stated the city council needs to be upfront with developers, adding it is bad
practice to have city policies in place and then deny TIF for a particular project. She reiterated
that TIF requires a collective decision of four votes.
Ms. Keller stated she understands the council is interested in TIF education and wants to meet
with Mr. Mattick to learn about the legal analysis of TIF. She noted that the council is interested
in hearing what other incentives are available as an alternative to TIF, and also how TIF impacts
the tax base.
Council Member Rog stated the council has information on the financial benefits of TIF, but not
about the financial costs of TIF to residents, noting there is a cost to the community.
Council Member Baudhuin stated he appreciates TIF and noted it is an incredible tool that the
city has done a great deal of good with over the years. The council’s responsibility to the
residents is to continue to look at TIF, and he appreciates the opportunity to do so.
The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor
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