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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9B - St Michaels Improv MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: ISSUES: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT October 15, 2001 9B Frank Boyles, City Manager CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR CONDUIT BOND FINANCING OF THE ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. History: As the Council is aware, St. Michael's school has recently completed a significant expansion of their school facilities. Initially, the Church approached the City to obtain conduit bond financing. Because of the statutorily defined cap on the issuance of bank qualified bonds, combined with the potential need for bonding for other projects within the City, the Council was unable to grant St. Michael's request. Periodically, the Catholic Finance Corporation works together with a public entity to obtain conduit bond financing. St. Michael Catholic school has worked with the Catholic Finance Corporation to receive conduit bond financing. The two entities have approached Scott County which recently adopted a policy on this subject. Current Circumstances: St. Michael's Catholic school, the Catholic Finance Corporation, and Scott County have concurred that the County has sufficient capacity under its statutory caps to consider conduit bond financing for this project. Under the statutory guidelines of conduit bond financing it is necessary for the "sponsoring community" (in this case the City of Prior Lake) to provide a resolution of support to Scott County who is actually issuing the bonds. The resolution does nothing more than to fulfill a statutory requirement. It also places on record that the City Council concurs that the project to be funded provides for public benefit. Conclusion: The City Council should determine whether is wishes to adopt a resolution in support of the St. Michael's Catholic school improvement project. Adoption of the resolution does not oblige the City in any way. It simply confirms that the City is aware of the project does have general public benefits and that the Council supports the County's action to issue conduit bonds in support of the project. This project is of benefit to residents of the Prior Lake community. Mary Ippel, the City's bond counsel, has stated that she is comfortable with adoption of the host community resolution and that Prior Lake need not conduct a public hearing before taking such actior)< Sl\""-~<-- ~. ~IN'V-~ t>."H \..< d~ \.'.(:-H\,.-, .... kJ.uu~\'c''-~ . 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245 1:\COUNCIL\AGNRPTS\2001\ST MIKE BONDS~{>>.L OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALTERNATIVES: (1) Adopt the resolution of support as submitted. RECOMMENDED MOTION: (2) Adopt the resolution with amendments. (3) Take no action. Alternative (1). The City Council should adopt the attached resolution supporting the issuance of conduit bonds by Scott County, working in conjunction with the Catholic Finance Corporation in an effort to support the St. Michael's Catholic school improvement project. 1:\COUNCIL\AGNRPTS\2001\ST MIKE BONDS.DOC RESOLUTION 01-XX ~ ~ A RESOLUTION ENDORSING SCOTT COUNTY PLAN TO IlVNESo SELL CONDUIT BONDS TO FINANCE THE ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, federal and state laws permit counties to issue pass-through conduit debt for not-for-profit organizations and other entities in support of qualified ("non-sectarian") projects; and WHEREAS, the objective of conduit financing is to afford organizations the ability to realize a reduction in the interest rate for a project, and the community to gain through the achievement of an identified public purpose; and WHEREAS, the Scott County Board of Commissioners has adopted a policy establishing a program to provide for the use of conduit financing issued through Scott County; and WHEREAS, S1. Michael's Catholic School, 16280 Duluth Avenue Southeast, in the City of Prior Lake has undertaken a project to improve and expand their educational facilities; and WHEREAS, Catholic Finance Corporation in conjunction with S1. Michael's Catholic School proposed that Scott County consider conduit financing as a method of assisting in the funding of the non-sectarian portions of this project; and WHEREAS, the completion of this project will provide a public benefit by improving the quality and expanding the capability of educational services provided by S1. Michael's Catholic School; and WHEREAS, the statutorily defined cap on the issuance of "bank qualified" bonds combined with the potential need for bonding of other projects within the City limited the ability of the City of Prior Lake to financially support this project via the issuance of conduit bonds through the City. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA that: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The Prior Lake City Council supports the issuance of tax-exempt conduit bonds in support of projects that will accomplish a public purpose. 3. The Prior Lake City Council has reviewed the proposed project at 81. Michael's Catholic School and found it to be compatible with the comprehensive plan and objectives for the area and in compliance with the appropriate zoning and land use regulations. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 4. The Prior Lake City Council fully supports the project being proposed by St. Michael's Catholic School and would encourage the Scott County Board of Commissioners to give full consideration of this project for inclusion in the County's conduit financing program. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001. YES NO Mader Mader Ericson Ericson Gundlach Gundlach Petersen Petersen Zieska Zieska Frank Boyles, City Manager R:\RESOLUTI\ADMINRES\st mikes.DOC