Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—AUGUST 12, 2024 2 <br /> presentation from the energy consultant on their work to date and requested the JDA give <br /> direction on pursuing either a LEED certification for the site that considers a rating system for the <br /> whole community and has designed guidelines with third party certification, or the second option <br /> was for sustainable guidelines which the JDA would create. Following discussion, the JDA opted <br /> to go with pursuing LEED for Communities certification on the site. <br /> Councilmember Holden explained the City received financial information on TCAAP earlier <br /> this year and the City was roughly $200,000 in the red each year and all of the sudden the City <br /> was in the black. She stated after looking into this further, from 2012 to 2019, $1,000,000 was <br /> borrowed from the City's general fund and this funding was supposed to be replaced into the <br /> Arden Hills general fund. She indicated this $1,000,000 had been thrown into the TCAAP fund <br /> and now it appeared the City was in the black. She questioned who authorized the $1,000,000 <br /> going into the TCAAP pot. She asked when the City Council would have the opportunity to <br /> discuss TCAAP funding. She requested staff provide the City Council with a presentation on <br /> TCAAP finances. <br /> Councilmember Holden stated at the last JDA meeting there was a comment from one of the <br /> Commissioners that the City gave the County what they wanted. She questioned what the City <br /> gave them. She asked that staff provide the City Council with a list on what promises have been <br /> made. <br /> Councilmember Holden requested further information regarding what would happen if the cost <br /> was too high for the energy/sustainability goals and inquired who would make the determination <br /> on what was too high of a cost. <br /> Councilmember Holden commented it appears there would only be 10 affordable houses out of <br /> 400 homes on TCAAP and the remaining units on TCAAP would be apartments. She asked if the <br /> City had a position on affordable housing. <br /> Councilmember Holden stated she was concerned with protecting the City and questioned what <br /> the process was to protect the City from the agreement between the County and Alatus. <br /> Councilmember Holden indicated the City still has no protection on utilities. She stated she <br /> didn't know if there would be a public works building or any civic space. She commented she <br /> keeps hearing this was a partnership, but the development keeps being discussed between the <br /> County and the developer. <br /> Councilmember Holden commented further on how the City would be impacted if they had to <br /> bond for$40 million in 429 bonds, especially if these bonds were not repaid. <br /> Councilmember Holden stated if the developer wants to put a portion of the risk for TCAAP on <br /> the City and the County, she wanted to better understand the profit margins for Alatus. She <br /> reported Alatus has known about the soil conditions since 2016 and was now saying he needed to <br /> be paid for it. She indicated the water system has always been an issue on this site as well. She <br /> questioned who would be paying to move all of the pipes. <br /> Councilmember Holden discussed how the use of TIF would put the City further in the hole. She <br /> commented on how the spine road could have been installed through the use of MNDOT funds <br />