2004-12-30 Friday News
The Friday News
December 30, 2004
PAR 3 UPDATE
On Wednesday of this week we were informed by Mr Pete Regnier, one of the City’s League of
Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) appointed attorneys, that the Minnesota Supreme Court
had accepted our Petition for Further Review. Pending any extensions, the City now has 30 days to
file an appellate brief.
TOWN CENTER
Council members Krebsbach and Vitelli, Pat Hollister and I met with Ross Fefercorn this week for
an update on the status of Town Center. At the meeting Ross reported to us that he had closed on
the purchase from the City of the lots he needed to construct his office/retail buildings D, E and F.
Building F is the smaller of the two, two-story office/retail buildings with underground parking.
Building F’s underground parking will be funded with a grant from Metropolitan Council. Ross
reported that construction of building F will begin in the middle of January and will be ready for
Caribou Coffee, the first tenant, to begin finishing their space for occupancy in the building, the end
of this summer.
Construction of the 18-unit Condominium, which had its formal ground breaking on December 9th,
is going well and it is anticipated that a model will be opened, and first occupancies for that
building will begin late this summer.
CITIZEN LEAGUE TAX SURVEY
Today’s issue of the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press both had articles on this year’s Citizen
League 2004 Tax Survey Report. (see attached). We were pleased to see that Mendota Heights
continues to be at the bottom for Property Taxes. (108 out of 111 metro area cities),
SHORT WEEK
New Year’s Day is a Holiday for City workers, and because New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday
this year, it will be celebrated the day before. City Offices will be closed on Friday. Here’s
wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2005.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Danielson
City Administrator
Attachments: City Council Meeting Agenda, NCD4 Meeting Agenda, Pre-Application Meeting
Synopsis, Twincities.com Article “Benefactor’s donation helps fulfill fish wish” and “Minneapolis
tops in taxes” and Startibune.com Article “Minneapolis tops in taxation, annual ranking shows”.