Opinion ID: 2122942
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Consideration of the EDA's Enabling Resolution

Text: Before directly addressing whether the EDA exceeded the scope of its power when it condemned the property owners' property without first having a binding development agreement in place, we must address whether we can consider the EDA's enabling resolution. If we conclude that we can consider the enabling resolution we will then address the contents of that resolution. Neither the district court nor the court of appeals considered the EDA's enabling resolution. It appears that none of the parties presented the enabling resolution to the district court or the court of appeals. On appeal, the court of appeals observed that the initial enabling resolution establishing the EDA was not in the record. Eagan Econ. Dev. Auth., 765 N.W.2d at 409-10. Nevertheless, the EDA included the enabling resolution in its appendix on appeal to our court and offers the resolution as support for its argument that the EDA derives its eminent domain powers from the Legislature, rather than the City. The property owners argue that we should not consider the enabling resolution because it was not a part of the court record below and is offered in support of a new theory of law. Usually, an appellate court may not consider matters not produced and received in evidence below. Thiele v. Stich, 425 N.W.2d 580, 582-83 (Minn.1988). But we have taken judicial notice of public records and have said we have the inherent power to look beyond the record where the orderly administration of justice commends it. Crystal Beach Bay Ass'n v. County of Koochiching, 309 Minn. 52, 56-57, 243 N.W.2d 40, 43 (1976); see also United Power Ass'n v. Comm'r of Revenue, 483 N.W.2d 74, 77 n. 3 (Minn.1992) (taking judicial notice of a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permit as a matter of public record). The EDA's enabling resolution was duly enacted by the Eagan City Council, is a local law, and is of public record. Because we conclude that the enabling resolution is a local law and a public record we can and will consider it in deciding this case.