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Home My WebLink About08-27-18-SWS --A EN 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. TCAAP Discussion Requested Date: 8/27/18 Requested time: 6:00 pm Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s) making request: a Mayor or Council Member Date Council Member Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received:*Jg Date meeting to be held: 8/27/18 Time of meeting: 6:00 pm Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed..? {� na�dre of Depu City Clerk Date City of Arden Hills•1245 West Highway 96•Arden Hills Minnesota 55112 Phone 651.792.7800 •Fax 651.634.5137•www.cityofardenhill" I't --AR,QEN HILLS Approved: September 24. 2018 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AUGUST 27, 2018 6:00 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 meeting at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Steve Scott Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly; Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates; City Attorney Joel Jamnik; and City Clerk Julie Hanson 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP Discussion Mayor Grant asked the Council to review the draft proposed letter to Ramsey County. Councilmember Holden stated she wanted to be sure the entire Council was in agreement and note that the City has met all obligations and deadlines. Mayor Grant reported this was the case, and he noted the County has not met their deadlines. He was concerned the City has not received a copy of the executive summary or the final draft of the Master Development. Councilmember Holmes stated she was concerned with the quick turnaround that the County was requesting. She stated she would like to see action on the MDA delayed for this reason. Mayor Grant asked if the City's request to have three weeks to review these documents was relayed to the County. City Administrator Perrault explained this request was acknowledged by the County. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 27, 2018 2 Mayor Grant commented on how the County had left the City out of the loop and expressed frustration with the lack of partnership. Councilmember Holden recommended the letter reiterate that the City was not requesting anything more than was originally drafted in the JPA. She expressed concern with the fact the County was trying to have the City assume more expenses at this time. Ms. Kvilvang stated this was a valid point that should be drafted into the letter. Councilmember Holmes recommended the letter be short and sweet, having only two points. The first would be expressing concerns that the documents have not been provided to the City in a timely manner. Second, the Council has not had time to review them. She wanted to have the County understand the matter was being rushed. Mayor Grant commented the Council does need time to provide reasonable feedback to the JDA representatives prior to their September meeting and this would not occur. City Attorney Jamnik reviewed when the City received the documents. He reported the Council and City staff would be given less than a week to review this material prior to making a recommendation. He commented further on the chapters and portions of the document that were missing. Councilmember Holmes suggested the letter express concern with the fact that critical sections of the MDA were missing and had yet to be drafted. Ms. Kvilvang encouraged the Council to consider laying a factual framework within the letter and not have it be a condensed paragraph of concerns. City Administrator Perrault reported the Executive Summary would be made a public document when it is printed in the JDA packet. Councilmember McClung commented the County was trying to gain leverage and was using the holiday weekend for their benefit because the County did not want to listen to what the City has to say. Councilmember Scott indicated it appears the County Board was trying to shift all blame to the City and away from themselves. Councilmember Holden stated the City was being bullied by the County. The entire City Council agreed with Councilmember Holden's statement. Councilmember Holden recommended the letter be copied to the Chair of the JDA to ensure he was aware of the City Council's concerns regarding the County's actions. Mayor Grant summarized that the County was asking the JDA representatives from the City to vote on an Executive Summary of the Master Development Agreement, both of which the City ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 27, 2018 3 Council has not seen. He expressed frustration with the fact that there were sections missing from the MDA and there were still environmental concerns on the TCAAP property. Councilmember McClung agreed with these concerns. Councilmember Holmes suggested the City Council vote against the MDA and Schedule K. City Attorney Jamnik reported this item would not move forward until the County received approval of Schedule K. Councilmember McClung commented the County has a very aggressive timeline in place. Further discussion ensued regarding Schedule K and how it would be implemented by the City. Councilmember Holden expressed concern that Arden Hills' County Commissioner Blake Huffman was not in attendance and was not responding to calls from the City Council. Mayor Grant stated he shared this same concern and believed the County was forcing this issue too quickly. City Attorney Jamnik reviewed the County's proposed timeline stating they were hoping to have final approval sometime in October. Mayor Grant recommended the letter reiterate the Council does not know what is in the document so the City cannot respond fully. Councilmember Holmes suggested the Council adjourn the worksession meeting and have staff revise the letter. She stated the Council could then reconvene the worksession meeting after the City Council meeting to finalize the letter. The entire Council supported this recommendation. Mayor Grant adjourned the Special City Council Work Session meeting at 6:59 p.m. Mayor Grant reconvened the Special City Council Work Session meeting at 7:50 p.m. Communications Coordinator Skelly reviewed the changes that were made to the letter by staff. Councilmember Holden commented on the tax base increase the City would see and noted the County needed to better understand the expenses the City would have to incur in order to maintain the TCAAP property. Mayor Grant commented the City should reiterate that the Council has not seen the Executive Summary or the most recent draft of the MDA. Councilmember Holmes recommended that this sentence also note that the City Council will not have time to review these documents and advise the JDA members prior to the September 4, 2018 ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 27, 2018 4 JDA meeting where the documents will be voted on. She suggested staff send this letter this evening to ensure the County has the document when they arrive at work on Tuesday, August 28. Councilmember McClung suggested several language changes to the letter and noted the County has put the City in a difficult position which could severely jeopardize the project. He asked that County staff not bring an Executive Summary forward at this time. Communications Coordinator Skelly summarized the proposed language changes to the letter. City Administrator Perrault commented City staff would be preparing a summarized press statement based on the direction the Council had provided through this letter that would be completed on Tuesday, August 28. He recommended the Mayor be the spokesperson for this issue and noted all calls or concerns would be directed to Mayor Grant. Councilmember Holmes asked if the City should be printing a press release. Councilmember Holden agreed the City should be printing its own press release in order to stay ahead of this issue and to control the narrative. Councilmember McClung suggested the City hold off on the press release until the City better understands how the County is going to respond to the City's letter. At which time, the press release could be sent noting the City communicated with the County Board prior to their meeting. He commented the County would not be expecting a press release from the City. Mayor Grant commented the development has lost traction and notoriety in the news. The Council directed staff to send the revised letter to the County staff and County Commissioners tonight with a press release being drafted. The press release would be sent in if the County moved forward with the documents and does not respond to the City's concerns. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session meeting at 8:15 p.m. (14, - 6 e&,, - A6�X�A—lj J i Hanson David Grant Clerk Mayor