HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-038 (Support Proposed Legislation to Authorize County to confer Economic Development Powers) RESOLUTION NO. 2016-038
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA
SUPPORTING PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY
OF WASHINGTON TO CONFER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POWERS
UPON THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BACKGROUND RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (the
"WCHRA") is a county housing and redevelopment authority created and existing under
Laws 1974, Chapter 475, as amended,which provides and maintains affordable, decent,and
safe housing opportunities in Washington County; and
WHEREAS, in May of 2014 the County adopted an Economic Development Strategic
Plan (the "Economic Development Strategic Plan") and based on the Plan, the County has
determined that the WCHRA should have primary responsibility for economic development
activities on behalf of the County; and
WHEREAS, proposed legislation has been prepared which would authorize the
County Board by resolution to confer on the WCHRA the powers of an economic
development authority(the"Proposed Law"),thus enabling the County to address economic
needs as identified in the Economic Development Strategic Plan, and the County Board has
determined to include the Proposed Law as part of the County's legislative initiative for the
2016 Legislature; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the Proposed Law would empower the WCHRA to undertake
economic development activities not authorized by the current WCHRA enabling law, such
as, by way of illustration, implementing County marketing and public relations programs
relating to economic development, conducting economic development studies to document
the need for financial assistance programs, and carrying out financial assistance programs
for economic development purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Proposed Law would retain the existing County Board consent
process for establishing the WHCRA's housing and redevelopment authority levy under
Minnesota. Statutes, Section 469.033, subdivision 6, and would preclude the WCHRA from
imposing any concurrent or separate economic development authority levy otherwise
authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.107; and
WHEREAS, consistent with existing requirements of the WCHRA's enabling law for
local approval of housing projects and redevelopment projects, the Proposed Law would
require municipal location and project approval for development districts and economic
development projects; and
WHEREAS, in order to appropriately reflect the combined housing, redevelopment
and economic development powers to be conferred, the Proposed Law would change the
name of the WCHRA to the Washington County Community Development Agency; and
WHEREAS, the Proposed Law would affect no change in the current structure or
composition of the WCHRA Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the Proposed Law would authorize the County to offer tax-forfeited real
property to the WCHRA on the same basis as such parcels are offered to a County
department; and
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Stillwater, Minnesota, finds that enactment
by the Legislature of the Proposed Law, and the carrying out of economic development
activities by the WCHRA in the County, including in the city of Stillwater, pursuant to the
Proposed Law, would be in the public interest and would afford substantial benefit to the
residents, businesses, citizens and taxpayers of the city of Stillwater; and
WHEREAS, the County, the WCHRA and the City of Stillwater contemplate that the
WCHRA and the City of Stillwater will work together as partners in carrying out economic
development activities within the city of Stillwater which will be complementary and non-
duplicative.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Stillwater,
Minnesota adopts this Resolution supporting the proposed legislation as described above,in
furtherance of economic development activities by the WCHRA on behalf of Washington
County.
Adopted by the Stillwater City Council this 16th day of February, 2016.
Ted Kozlowski, Mayor
ATTEST:
Diane F. Ward, City Clerk