02-13-12-R Draft Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—FEBRUARY 13, 2012 3 Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a $20.66 million contract with Carl Bolander and Sons for the remediation of the TCAAP site. The contract is contingent on the County receiving state funding for a new stadium or another use. The Public Works Director participated in the evaluation and selection of the remediation contractor. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated on February 10th, Ramsey County released a third stadium financing proposal. The most recent proposal uses no countywide taxes. Instead, Ramsey County is proposing that the local share be financed through a combination of stadium parking revenues, parking lot naming rights, admission surcharge, sales tax growth at the new stadium, stadium property fees and State property taxes on stadium-related businesses at the site. Community Development Director Hutmacher explained the Vikings have some concerns with components of the plan; mainly the admission surcharge and the naming rights for the parking. Mayor Grant questioned if the vote by Ramsey County was to accept the proposal for remediation or to award the proposal. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated Ramsey County has accepted a contract that is contingent upon State funding if the stadium were to locate on the TCAAP site. B. Round Lake Update Community Development Director Hutmacher commented that at the May 16, 2011, work session, the Council spoke with representatives of the U.S. Army and the MPCA regarding the next draft of a feasibility study for Round Lake. Staff contacted Mike Fix with the U.S. Army for an update on that process. Mr. Fix explained that more than 130 samples were collected in January and February of 2011, which provided much more data than was previously available. The samples confirm contamination in the lake and appear to indicate that background or naturally occurring levels of metals in the lake sediment are higher than previously thought. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated because the remediation goal was previously set at a level that is below what now appears to be natural background conditions, the appropriate agencies will need to consider these higher background levels of metals when proposing a new preliminary remediation goal. These decisions must be made prior to any redrafting of the feasibility study. Mayor Grant questioned if the agencies were proposing to remediate Round Lake. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated that any remediation plans would be determined by a feasibility study and the study was not yet complete. Councilmember Werner inquired about naturally occurring metals in lakes. He understood that the contamination of Round Lake was caused by the TCAAP property.