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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 06-13-2005 . ~ e ~~HILLS Approved: June 27, 2005 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 13,2005,7:30 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Call To Order Mayor Aplikowski called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Present: Mayor Aplikowski, Councilmembers: Gregg Larson, David Grant, Brenda Holden, Lois Rem Absent: None Staff present: City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Community Development Director, Scott Clark; Assistant to the City Administrator, Schawn Johnson Closed Session . A closed session meeting was held to discuss GSA negotiations with the City Council from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. TCAAP Nel!'otiations Diseussion Mayor Aplikowski reported that City Council and City staff met in a closed session from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM to discuss the ncgotiations with the General Service Administration (GSA) regarding the TCAAP property. Community Development Director Scott Clark provided an update on the TCAAP project and stated that the GSA has declined the City's 35 million dollar purchase offer for the property. Also, the City's current agreement with CRR has expired and therefore the City does not have any in-coming escrow revenue for this project at this time. He reported that the GSA will have to go through the land appraisal process a second time due to the passing of the June 15t negotiation deadline. Community Development Director Clark proposed the following steps be discussed by the City Council to consider how they would like to move forward with the TCAAP project at this time: 1. Is the City Council in agreement with continued support ofthe TCAAP redevelopment? 2. Based on the assumption that a GSA reappraisal of the property will take four months or more to finalize, does the City want to place the project on hold and do nothing during this period of time, or does the City Council want to advance various component parts of the process? . . The three processes that could be advanced during this time period are: 1. Request that the Army completes a draft FOSET document; .. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES June 13 2005 2 e 2. Request the enviromnental regulators complete the Response Action Agreement (more commonly known as the Consent Agreement); 3. Work on an agreement betwcen the City and CRR regarding the density and product type of the proposed project. City Councilmember Holden asked for a brief summary regarding what would be involved in each ofthe three steps. Community Development Director Clark said that the FOSET and Response Action Agreement would require additional attorney related expenses. The density study would require professional assistance from John Shardlow at DSU. Mayor Aplikowski asked if the City Council would like to proceed with this project and how would the City pay these three aspects of the project. Councilmember Larson noted that this is an on-going negotiation with the GSA and that the City should request that CRR cover the cost of these processes. Mayor Aplikowski asked if the City Council would like to have its own property appraisal done using City funds. . Councilmember Grant recommended that the City park the project at this time before moving forward. Councilmember Rem suggested that the City continue to move forward with the enviromnental aspects of this proj ect. Councilmember Grant said that it does not do any good for the City to spend money on this project if it is not moving forward. Councilmember Larson said that he is against stopping the project at this time. The City needs to continue on its parallel track and continue to move the project forward. The alternative to not moving this project forward is a piece meal development of this site. This is something we all want to avoid if possible. He would like to see the project move forward if the developer is willing to pay for the appraisal and cnvironmental reports. Mayor Aplikowski noted that the City would be saving time and money if we continue to move forward with this project. Councilmember Grant noted that the developer is taking a financial risk with its investment in this project and that the developer needs a reasonable rate of return on the project. He would like to have a discussion with the City Council and developer regarding what both sides consider to be a reasonable rate of return on the investment. . 2 . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES June 13 2005 3 e Councilmember Larson recommended that the City Council schedule a meeting with CCR in the near future to discuss the future of the TCAAP project. We need to discuss the appraisal and regulatory enviromnental services and who is going to pay for these services. Mayor Aplikowski stated it is her understanding that the City Council supports the notion of paying for an independent appraisal and asking CRR to pay for the FOSET and Response Action Agreement. Councilmember Grant would not be agreeable to moving the project forward if CRR would be willing to pay for the FOSET, Response Action Agreement, and all other related enviromnental studies. Mayor Aplikowski wants the City Council to move forward as a group on this project. Councilmember Grant believes that the developer will ask for something in return if we ask them to pay for the FOSET and the Response Action Agreement. Councilmember Holden would like to meet with tl1e developer to discuss these issues. Councilmember Grant asked City staff how much the FOSET and Response Action Agreement - would cost? Conununity Developmcnt Director Clark estimates that the FOSET and Response Action Agreement could cost roughly $100,000 to $150,000. These expenses would be for the attorney's involvement representing the City. Councilmember Rem reconunends that the City completes its own appraisal of the TCAAP property and begin negotiations with the developer regarding the FOSET and Response Action Agreement costs. Mayor Aplikowski mentioned that the developer is more concerned about density issues. Councilmember Rem said that density is an important issue and should be discussed at a future meeting. Mayor Aplikowski asked Councilmember Grant when he would be availablc to attend a meeting with the development team. Community Development Director Clark recommended June 29th. Councilmember Grant said that he should be available on June 29th. . Mayor Aplikowski requested that Councilmember Grant communicate with City staff any concerns that he has regarding the development agreement. 3 . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES June 13 2005 4 e Council member Larson noted that this meeting would be a good time for the City and developer to create a new time line for this project. Cone:ressional Communications Mayor Aplikowski informed the City Council that she recently talked to Senator Mark Dayton and he agreed to help the City with moving the TCAAP process forward. Senator Coleman has also offered his support to the City with political issues that may arise regarding this project. Councilmember Holden suggested that a TCAAP newsletter be created and forwarded to our congressional leaders City Council was in agrecment with this proposal and recommended that a TCAAP update be sent to our c0ngressionalleaders on a regular basis. Couneil Reports Brenda Holden . Nothing to report at this time. e Lois Rem . Nothing to report at this time. David Grant . Councilmember Grant reported that the Assessment Task Force is completing a position paper for members ofthe City Council to review regarding the garbage hauler situation in Arden Hills. . Councilmember Grant would like to see the TCAAP property renamed. In his opinion, the property will eventually take on its own identity. . Councilmember Grant will be out of town on business in June and July and may be missing some meetings. Gregg Lars'Jn . Councilmember Larson wants to move forward with a new name for TCAAP, but wants to make sure that the TCAAP property does not become a separate entity to the rest of Arden Hills. . He suggested that people visit the St. Anthony Village site. It is a very nice project. Beverly Aplikowski . Nothing to report at this time. . 4 . ' ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES June 13 2005 5 e The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM Rcspectfully submitted by Schawn P. Johnson , ' 'r' i r''fJ ii\ I ,.,1,1 _ _ , I' _ ___, __1;,_/ I ,l,(CCUl.,U ./t[(,' ,li-{ MicheIle A. Wolfe, CITY ADMINISTRATOR e . 5