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ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETNG—NOVEMBER 14, 2011 4 • the site will be remediated (Ramsey County has reached an agreement with the GSA for the purchase of this property pending funding being available. Remediation is a part of that purchase arrangement.); and • transportation improvements are planned that will benefit the whole area for the long term. Community Development Director Hutmacher added that of the $101 million in transportation improvements planned, $86 million are regional improvements that will be helpful to commuters on a daily basis. MnDOT worked with the County to identify transportation improvements that would be a benefit to the system including the fly-over from eastbound I-694 to northbound I- 35W and capacity improvements that will eventually allow managed lanes from the north metro into downtown. Councilmember Holden stated one concern she has is the cost of public safety services. She stated that she would want to see that addressed in the resolution as she does not want Arden Hills residents paying for those costs for stadium events. She then asked what the GSA options are if the purchase by Ramsey County doesn't go through. City Administrator Klaers stated staff is not aware of any change in the GSA plans from what was proposed 12 to 15 months ago prior to the stadium proposal. At that time they were proceeding with plans for a public auction. The Ryan proposal fell apart due mainly to economics. This is a difficult project and he's not sure what type of buyer the GSA would find for this size of a parcel. Mayor Grant commented that the purchase proposal from the County includes a time limit and until that time period lapses, the County will retain their rights related to the offer. Councilmember Tamble asked for clarification on who actually owns the property and who or what the GSA is. City Administrator Klaers explained the history of the property goes back to 1941 when the Federal government acquired the property for use as an ammunition plant. The US Army continued to use the site until the 1990's. The property is owned by the Army and over the past 10 years they have been working to sell land identified as surplus property. Some of the property in the northwest corner has already been transferred to MnDOT, Rice Creek Watershed District and Ramsey County. The GSA is the General Services Administration and is the Federal agency responsible for the disposition or sale of Federally-owned land. Mayor Grant explained that at one point the City had an offer to purchase, but as the housing market crashed, so did that offer. Councilmember Holden added that when Ryan Company was working with the City to develop this site, the Army refused to lower the original asking price even though market rates had decreased by approximately one-third, which is another reason Ryan Company backed out of the deal. Mayor Grant stated he would like the resolution to include the following items: