It's not that Duluth 3rd District City Councilor Russ Stewart is anti-development. But city officials should be more careful when they use tax money to make deals with private developers, he said.
Let’s set the record straight here. Councilor Stewart is one of seven councilors that want’s little development in Duluth. He is an out spoken green party member, one of there biggest plat form issues is green space. Now I know councilor Stewart is not against ever project but it seems to be for the most part if it is a private for profit group he will not support you. It seems he and councilor Gilbert come from the same mold that is it is a non-profit they get what ever they want. If you are for profit company we will make it as hard as possible for you to come into Duluth or expand.
Today during a 6 p.m. committee meeting, the City Council will have its first full discussion on an ordinance proposed by Stewart requiring the city to know precisely how much it will spend on development agreements and to say where that money will come from.
I hope all nine members of council will keep an open mind on this. As I read this ordince , I think I am about 50 – 50 on it right now I am going to the meeting tonight to get more info on it. This could form what Duluth business claimed is going to be from here on out. Everyone needs to show an interest in this.
"People think this will stifle development in Duluth," Stewart said. "But when developers come to the public and ask for money, we need to be accountable to the public -- and that means knowing how much money we are obligating ourselves to pay and where the money is going to come from."
Councilor Stewart is right the council does need to be accountable with the money not only on development projects but everything. As far as development goes that is why we have a fish tank that is trouble and a soft center that never did develop. There are others as well.
Recent development projects for which the city has promised to prepare land or build structures to entice other private investment have cost far more than first estimated, Stewart said.
This is true and this is why the city needs to be very careful when they do enter into a contract or they need to say up front this is what you get and that is it. With that being said the process needs to be far for ever one. A non- profit building project A can’t 350,000 and a for profit group building project B can’t get just 145,000 for example.
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2 comments:
John,
I'm here to defend Councilor Stewart.
Seems odd, huh?
He has actually been the best of the lefty councilors on a number of issues.
If you track his council votes he has tacked considerably to the conservative side during his tenure on the council.
I actually agree with him that Duluth should cap it's proposed subsidies to businesses. For the parking ramp imagine how much better off we'd be if the city council had capped Duluth's annual contribution at $250,000.
That would probably have been enough to entice the Sheraton Hotel and SMDC's expansion, and would save city taxpayers $230,000 every year.
I like the idea, and actually find myself agreeing with Councilor Stewart on a lot of issues.
Erik,
As I said here was about 50/50 on the issue. After going to the meeting last night I am now 100% behind him on this issue.
I don't offen agree with him every once in a while I do.
I feel his intend here is prier and he is not triing to stop or hurt any development project good for our city.
Erik the example you use it also very correct it would have saved the city a lot of money.
Duluth faces tuff times and we need to be behing councilor Stewart on this one.
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