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Session 3.773 <br />January 24, 2000 <br /> <br />advantage for the current standards of blight. He believes that we should fight <br />these changes. <br /> <br />Mr. Schoomer agrees that we must have objective standards for blight. These <br />changes could possibly put the State of Missouri at disadvantage in relation to <br />surrounding states. We must be careful that we do not cut off our noses to spite <br />our face. <br /> <br />Mr. Munkel stated that TIF is a tool that cities can use to create development and <br />it would be sad if we lost it, but there is quite a lot of controversy involving TIFs <br />being used by developers in order for them to get their hands into the public till. <br />It appears to harm citizens and cities and only ends up benefitting developers. <br />He agrees it is time that the bill gets looked at it and he knows that the legislature <br />is serious about looking at it this year. He believes we need to save the TIF, but <br />he also believes we need to work with the County and State Leagues in order to <br />maintain the best part of TIF for cities. He is concerned about some of the <br />proposed changes that are not good for us and it looks like they could end up <br />narrowing TIF quite a bit. If it is narrowed too much, it will no longer be a useful <br />tool. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner wished to echo Mr. Lieberman's earlier comments in saying that he <br />was proud of this City Council's record of being responsible when applying TIFs. A <br />couple of areas that he hopes we do not lose is in the case of extraordinary <br />circumstances that need to be rectified with a plot that keeps it from being <br />developed, such as environmental changes, flood plains, major re-routing of <br />sewer lines, such as with the Schnucks development. Hopefully, these do not get <br />lost in the shuffle. <br /> <br />Mayor Adams responded that these benefits will not be lost. The proposed <br />concept is to prevent the abuse of TIF that has been ocurring, not only in St. <br />Louis County, but in some of the environs around it. Mr. Schoomer is right, in <br />one sense, we have to make sure that these changes do not put this state in <br />disadvantage to other states surrounding it. He and the City Manager do agree <br />that we need a level playing field. No one should be receiving excessive <br />advantage over anyone else involved. He believes that some County TIFs right <br />now are placing University City and the County at a disadvantage. He has trouble <br />understanding how some of these areas are being considered as blighted. <br /> <br />Mr. Sharpe suggested that we continue to work with the MML and have them <br />assist us in dealing with this issue. <br /> <br /> <br />