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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-30-17-SWSfi` DEN HILLS Request for Special City Council Work Session A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers. Reason for meeting: 1 Requested Date: 1/30/17 Requested time: 5:00 pm Open meeting X TCAAP Civic Site Introductions and Goals for the Meeting Background, TRC and Option Agreement Site Restrictions Use Options: o City Hall o Community Center o Fitness Center o Library, Community Education, DMV Funding Sources Other Contingent Elements: o Public Works Space o Status of Current City Hall Community Center Comparisons Generic Guided Facilities Design Process Council Discussion on Direction Signature of person(s) making request: Mayor or Council Member Council Member Closed meetin I ,_, i Date Date -This section to be completed by City staff - Date received: f / -)-� / 1 Date meeting to be held: 1/30/17 Time of meeting: 5:00 pm Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. n QAA40�u_ I / c,2 Sign ure of City Clerk Date 'r�r- �-AXQEN Hii.,l,s Approved: March 13, 2017 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 30, 2017 5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Work Session at 5:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Steve Scott Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Bill Joynes; Director of Finance and Administrative Services Sue Iverson; Interim Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue Polka; Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Andy Brotzler; Senior Planner Matthew Bachler; Interim City Planner Eric Zweber; City Clerk Julie Hanson; Janele Taveggia, WSB and Associates; Steve Sorensen, TSP; and Jamie Walter, TSP 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP Civic Site City Administrator Joynes stated at the City Council meeting on December 12, 2016, the Council approved an Option Agreement with the TCAAP Master Developer that would allow the City to purchase the 1.6 -acre Civic zoned property on the TCAAP site. The Option Agreement provides the City up to seven years to acquire the site with the timeframe beginning once the JDA approves the Master Development Agreement (MDA) with the Master Developer. The City's plans for the property must conform to the TCAAP Redevelopment Code and be approved by the Master Developer. City Administrator Joynes explained the sales terms will depend on when the City is ready to move forward with construction. The City has an incentive to move quickly on developing a plan for the property as an earlier sale will result in better terms for the City. If the sale occurs within two years of the MDA approval, the City will be required to pay $1 for the land and have no costs associated with the infrastructure improvements to be completed by the Master Developer (underground parking, utilities, and road improvements). Following this two-year period, the City would incur greater costs for the land purchase and infrastructure improvements. The Option Agreement expires seven years after the MDA is approved, at which point the property will be rezoned Town Center -3. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JANUARY 30, 2017 2 Senior Planner Bachler reviewed the minimum and maximum setbacks for the civic site and commented further on the build to zone for this property. City Administrator Joynes provided the Council with further information to help frame the City's discussion regarding the future use of the civic site. Preliminary discussion by the City Council has focused on the possible use of the property for a community center, library, licensing center, a new location for City Hall, or a combination of these uses. Staff described the site development and use requirements specified in the TCAAP Redevelopment Code, reviewed the types of community centers in surrounding communities, and provided preliminary cost estimates and financing options. He estimated the financing gap to be roughly $5 million at this time. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler discussed his history with similar projects and explained he could review this process with the Council at a future meeting. Janele Taveggia, WSB, introduced herself to the Council and stated she works in land development alongside architects. She discussed a similar civic project she completed in Blaine. Steve Sorensen introduced himself to the City Council and described his work experience with municipalities on civic properties. He believed the first decision the Council would have to make was to determine what was the best use for this property. He reiterated the fact that the City had two years to develop this site. Councilmember Scott asked how common it was for a City to receive a piece of property within a new development to be used for a civic use. Mr. Sorensen explained this was very rare. City Administrator Joynes stated the Council should focus on the vision for the property first and that a decision regarding the process would come later. Mayor Grant stated that the Developer was offering the civic site to the City in order to assist in drawing people to the site, while also creating interest and vitality within the development. He understood the land that has been set aside for the civic site was a very nice piece of land. He questioned if the Council wanted to proceed with discussing the process or the vision for the civic site. Councilmember Holmes believed the Council should address the vision first. Mayor Grant questioned what the Council's vision was for this property. Councilmember Scott understood the City was underserved for library services. He wanted to see some sort of civic use on the site in conjunction with a Ramsey County library. Councilmember Holden did not believe the City would receive a library given the fact Shoreview and New Brighton had branches. She stated a library space with a computer resource center may be a better option for this space, along with public meeting space. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JANUARY 30, 2017 3 Mayor Grant agreed and stated he would support moving City Hall to the TCAAP civic site. He then reviewed the proposed process being offered by WSB for this project. Mr. Sorensen requested the Council define who would be involved in this process. Discussion ensued regarding the pros and cons of having the community involved in this process given the fact the City had only two years to complete the project. Councilmember McClung asked that if City Hall was not relocated to TCAAP would a fit analysis be completed on the existing City Hall building. He expressed concern with the expense to retrofit and update the current facility. He believed this information would assist him in making a decision on whether or not City Hall should move to TCAAP. He explained he was adamantly against moving City Hall at first, but after considering the expense to renovate he could be convinced this was a better option for the City. He wanted to see community space available to residents. Mr. Sorensen believed some sort of analysis should be completed in order to project the amount of square footage City Hall would have to add in order to meet the needs of its residents over the coming years. Councilmember Holden questioned how often the community space at City Hall was used. Councilmember McClung believed a large number of community events or meetings would move to Arden Hills if the space was available. Mayor Grant stated if the Council decided to move City Hall this could occupy roughly 20,000 square feet of space and the other 20,000 square feet could be used in another way. He recommended that the decision to move City Hall remain with the City Council. Councilmember Holmes agreed. Councilmember Holden questioned if a three-story building could be constructed on the civic site. Mr. Sorensen stated the City may run into parking concerns if a three-story building were constructed. Mayor Grant suggested each of the City's committees and commissions have two volunteers assist in representing the community on a civic site task force. Another option would be to create a task force with new City volunteers. Councilmember Holden supported Mayor Grant's first suggestion and wanted to see committee and commission members be asked to assist on a task force. Councilmember Scott still did not support moving City Hall unless it cost more to stay in the current building than to build a new site. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JANUARY 30, 2017 4 Councilmember Holmes recommended two volunteers be sought from the EDC, Parks and Recreation and Planning Commission. She also suggested that a representative from Northeast Youth and Family Services be included. Councilmember McClung requested two volunteers also be included from FPAC. Councilmember Holden recommended at least one volunteer be included from the Communications Committee as well. Ms. Taveggia suggested the Council also consider the growing needs for the Public Works Department when completing a fit analysis. Interim City Planner Zweber recommended the City seek a professional valuation of the current City Hall building. Mayor Grant asked if the Council was interested in contacting the school district to see if they were interested in holding community education classes on the civic site, along with other partners. City Administrator Joynes recommended the Council consider hiring a consultant to assist with the planning process for the civic site. He explained this would offer an unbiased opinion on the project. Councilmember Holmes wanted to see the task force reacting to the Council versus the other way around. The Council discussed the amount of SAC credits that would be available to assist with funding this project, along with other amenities on TCAAP. Mayor Grant asked what other questions staff had for the Council. City Administrator Joynes summarized the comments he had received from the Council noting he would report back with a task force structure, along with a proposal for an RFP for a consultant to manage the civic site process. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES Mayor Grant stated Arden Hills was deemed the fifth safest city in Minnesota (based on population size) according to the SafeWise Report . He asked staff to present this certificate at an upcoming meeting and to make note of this accomplishment in the City's next newsletter. Mayor Grant reported the JDA would be meeting on Monday, February 6. Councilmember Holden requested the snow plow drivers be made aware of the "no wake" zone on County Road E. Councilmember Holmes asked that the Council discuss A-line through TCAAP and I&I grants with the Met Council representative in February. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JANUARY 30, 2017 5 Mayor Grant requested an update from staff on the trails. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka provided the Council with an update on the ongoing trail projects. Mayor Grant recommended the City apply for bridge funding for Snelling Avenue near Lindey's. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 6:52 p.m. i Tie Hanson David Grant Clerk Mayor