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City of Long Lake Economic Development <br />_ * • <br />This increment could be captured either by “up front" sale of general obligation <br />bonds by the City, or be delivered to the developer on a “pay as you go" basis. <br />City staff can provide examples of the calculations, test the effects of different <br />assumptions about costs and benefits on the level of City subsidy, and answer <br />any of your other questions about tax increment financing. <br />THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT AS AN INDUSTRIAL PLACE <br />Our preliminary indications are if the District has a future as an industrial place, that <br />future will have to be sustained by the investments of peop’ .ow in the District dr <br />people very much like them who are drawn to the District. <br />The Econornic Development Authority asked the staff to do a series of focused <br />interviews with business people within the District. These interviews were meant to <br />begin to uncover core issues and ideas about the District and serve as a framework for <br />a broader discussion. They are an attempt to get agreement on where we are before <br />we Degin to discuss where we are going. <br />The theme of the interviews seemed to be uncertainty: about their ov/n future as small <br />businesses: about retail uses, especially a large grocery store or center changing the <br />character of the District and forcing relocation: about being able to grov/ and expand in <br />the landlocked District: and about how decisions affecting the District are made. <br />The good news is the purpose and benefit of regulation, polices and planning by the <br />City is to reduce uncertainty. Uncertainty about what you can or cannot do with your <br />property. Uncertainty about wnat your neighbor can or cannot do with theirs. <br />Uncertainty about what the City cannot, will not, or will, do for or to you. <br />• <br />A. Uncerlainty About <br />1 . About their business and their ability to plan. Most of the businesses In the <br />District are small businesses, managed by their owners. As small businesses <br />they are very aware of the fragility of their condition and their inability to make <br />long term public commitments about their needs and intentions. The most useful <br />type of plan under these conditions may provide general direction and <br />expectations, but be designed to be implemented incrementally. They are <br />cautious but hopeful, and described the City as accommodating of their <br />businesses. <br />r <br />2. About a large retail development changing the character of the District and <br />forcing relocation. There were strong feelings about the proper role of <br />government in favoring or assisting one business over another. There was <br />encouragement for assuring an industrial future In the District.