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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-19-SWS ARZEN 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: 2/25/19 Requested time: 6:00 pm Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s)making request: a , C � Mayor or Council Member Date Council Member Date -Thin section to be completed by City staff- Date received: C2 /( / Date meeting to be held: 2/25/19 Time of meeting: 6:00 pm Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. C�j ALI " 1,wn� 0 / C� 1 , l Sig ure of City Clerk Date City of Arden Hills•1245 West Highway 96•Arden Hills Minnesota 55112 Phone 651.792,7800•Fax 651.634.5137 •www.ciiyofardenhills.org - EN HILLS Approved: March 25, 2019 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 25,2019 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 Special City Council Work Session 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; Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue Polka; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; City Planner Mike Mrosla; City Attorney Joel Jamnik; Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly; and City Clerk Julie Hanson 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP Discussion City Administrator Perrault indicated that the City received a letter dated February 8, 2019, from Jim McDonough, Ramsey County, regarding pursuing mediation. A second letter was sent to the City Attorney that stated the County would not participate in any further Joint Development Authority (JDA) meetings until the City provides a formal response to mediation. The County requested a response from the City by February 26, 2019. Mayor Grant asked if the County had provided a list of items it wishes to mediate. He stated that the City does not know the specifics of what the County wants to change. City Administrator Perrault replied that no specifics have been provided by the County. He stated that in October 2018, the City provided a response to the County and in turn, awaited a response from the County that never occurred. Subsequently, Ramsey County pulled its resources from this project. City Administrator Perrault stated that Ramsey County requested mediation at the February 4, 2019, Joint Development Authority (JDA) meeting. At the February 20, 2019, JDA meeting, the ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 16, 2019 2 JDA requested the County provide information as to the specifics of what they are looking for, but the County Commissioners did not attend that meeting. Councilmember Holden asked if there were any outstanding issues between the Developer and the County. City Administrator Perrault stated that because the weekly Wednesday afternoon meetings between the County, City and Developer no longer occur, the City was not aware what the outstanding issues remain. City Attorney Joel Jamnik stated that Alatus, the Master Developer, submitted a redline document that the County has not responded to. He also said that unless the parties have been working behind the scenes, that major document that is expected to be executed by the JDA, the County, and the Master Developer remains unfinished. A discussion ensued about density, affordable housing, and City financing as items previously negotiated between the City and the County. A discussion ensued regarding the County's request for "more" and the City's request for an explanation as to what constitutes "more". Councilmember Holmes stated she believed that the City did not want to engage in mediation, and the strongest reason is because the City has an agreement that has been in place for several years. She questioned how the City could be sure the County would follow any new agreement even if the City agrees to mediation and a new agreement is reached. She also commented that mediation is non-binding. Councilmember McClung stated he did not believe the City could agree to mediation when it does not know what is being mediated. Further discussion ensued about mediation. Councilmember Holmes suggested that the language be added to the City's draft response stating that contrary to the County's assertion in the November 6 letter, the City does not view this project as an inconvenience rather than a benefit. The City Council agreed to include this language in its response letter and a discussion ensued regarding the City's response to Ramsey County. City Attorney Jamnik indicated that the City's response letter also requests that the negotiating team that previously met on Wednesday afternoons be reestablished and that the County representatives also show up at the JDA meetings with specific responses and requests. He stated the City's response rejects mediation as premature but requests the County come back to the table to negotiate per the pervious framework. Councilmember Scott stated he did not feel comfortable that an impasse has been described because the City has been willing to negotiate and has shown up for those negotiations. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 16, 2019 3 City Attorney Jamnik indicated that he was concerned about the County wanting "more" without knowing the specifics. He also stated that a new agreement could mean the City would have to reengage the overall 2016 process of environmental review, traffic engineering, and land use studies. He stated that the County cannot be ambiguous and that there must be parameters. Mayor Grant stated that essentially the County is asking the City to go through its original planning process which would involve additional time and expense. City Attorney Jamnik agreed and said that this is why the City took the position that it did in November 2018. The City does not wish to go back to square one. He stated that currently, there is a framework for subsequent changes as the project develops in place. City Administrator Perrault stated that staff would work with the City Attorney to draft response language. He asked if the entire Council wished to sign the letter. The Council agreed that all five Councilmembers' electronic signatures should be used to execute the final response letter. 2. COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the Special City Council Work Session meeting at 6:51 p.m. J ie Hanson David Grant y Clerk Mayor