Laserfiche WebLink
<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead indicated it was not the Council's intention to use TIF unless it <br />had to be used and to terminate districts as early as possible, which was being <br />negotiated with the developer. He explained that these requests were being asked <br />for on the front end, but that the City would only use these extensions if absolutely <br />necessary. <br /> <br />Senator Chaudhary questioned if Ryan Companies has committed to this <br />development. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated the City has a preliminary development agreement with <br />Ryan Companies that commits them to provide the cash needed to purchase the <br />property from the National Guard with a sizeable down payment. <br /> <br />Senator Chaudhary questioned if the additional requested funds up front would <br />be used for cleanup of the TCAAP site. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead indicated the funds would be used for cleanup of the site both <br />above and below grade. He explained that any below grade contamination cleanup <br />would be credited back to Ryan Companies. Mayor Harpstead stated the second <br />major part of the cleanup expense would be the demolition of two million square <br />feet of buildings, removal of existing utility lines and grading the site. He indicated <br />all of these items required large amounts of cash up front before the site would be <br />ready for development. <br /> <br />Senator Chaudhary asked what portion of the up front dollars was the <br />responsibility of Ryan Companies. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead indicated this was in negotiation at this time and has not been <br />determined but will be defined within the master development agreement. <br /> <br />Co-uncilmember Holden stated that without TIF the TCAAP development would <br />not be able to proceed. <br /> <br />Senator Chaudhary indicated he will receive many comments or questions once <br />this bill was introduced as to why Ryan Companies, the largest construction <br />company in the state, would need a tax break. He stated this would be the question <br />he would need to answer in gaining support for this type of bill. Senator <br />Chaudhary suggested the Council also greater define who will benefit from the <br />tax incentives, whether this be the taxpayers, City of Arden Hills or Ryan <br />Companies. <br />