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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-25 JDAJoint Development Authority Monday, April 7, 2025 Arden Hills City Council Chambers Minutes 5:30 pm Roll Call Joint Development Authority: Chair Jon Wicklund, Commissioner Tara Jebens-Singh, Commissioner Kurt Weber, Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, Commissioner Tena Monson Also present: Jessica Jagoe (Arden Hills); Ella Mitchell (Ramsey County), Rachel Tierney (Kennedy & Graven) Roll call taken. Approval of Agenda Motion by Commissioner McGuire seconded by Commissioner Weber to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Jebens-Singh seconded by Commissioner Monson to approve the March 17, 2025 JDA meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried. Public Input Tom Lemke, 5577 Shuta Road in Shoreview, explained he lived close to the TCAAP property and he was excited to see something happening. He commented his only concern was with how the truck traffic would be accessing this property. He stated it was his understanding the trucks would be accessing the site from the thumb road (Rice Creek Parkway). He discussed how he used to have access to the freeway from County Road I, but this access had been eliminated and he now had to go up to County Road H. He questioned if Rice Creek Parkway had been developed for heavy truck traffic and inquired how much truck traffic would be using this roadway. Consent Agenda a.Approve Execution of League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Liability Waiver b.JDA Planning Case 25-002 – Ryan Companies US, Inc. Development Agreement and authorizing staff to complete signatures Motion by Commissioner Weber seconded by Commissioner McGuire to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried. Old Business None. Public Hearings None. New Business a. Review Communications Report Director Mitchell reviewed the communications report with the JDA. She explained there was coverage last week of Ramsey County’s approval of the amendment to the purchase agreement with Ryan Companies for Outlot A. She indicated the winter newsletter was sent out by Goff Public in February. She reported staff continues to work with Ryan Companies to set a date for a potential ground breaking ceremony at the end of April. b. Review Draft 2026 Budget Director Mitchell reviewed the draft 2026 budget with the JDA. Commissioner McGuire asked when the year began for the JDA. Director Mitchell stated the JDA runs off a calendar year, January through December. Commissioner Weber discussed how the 2024 budget ran over noting the majority of this came from the formation sustainability guidelines. Director Mitchell reported when the 2024 budget was set $125,000 was estimated for the green energy proposals. Staff soon learned this dollar amount was insufficient and Ramsey County created a larger budget for the scope of work that needed to be completed. Commissioner Monson questioned who creates and manages the Rice Creek Commons website. Director Mitchell reported this work was completed by Ramsey County communications staff. Commissioner Monson stated she had a lot of ideas to make the Rice Creek Commons website more comprehensive. Director Mitchell explained she can work with Goff Public on content for the website. Chair Wicklund recommended this topic be further discussed by the JDA at the June 2 worksession meeting. In the meantime, he recommended the JDA members review the website and come to the June 2 meeting with recommendations. Commissioner McGuire asked how the funding for this budget was managed. Director Mitchell explained Ramsey County was the fiscal sponsor for the JDA and the County has a project account that is used to pay for expenditures. Chair Wicklund stated after reviewing the proposed budget for 2026, it appears to be in line with previous years. c. Review Term Sheet Director Mitchell reviewed the term sheet with the JDA. She reported on March 27 the JDA Advisory Committee met with representatives from Alatus to discuss the development agreement. She asked that the JDA Advisory Committee members speak to this further. Commissioner Jebens-Singh explained she was glad the JDA recommended the Advisory Committee meet with Alatus. She indicated her impression was there was not a lot of increased action or urgency on the project and unfortunately not all of the lead players from Alatus were in attendance at the meeting. She stated after reviewing the Term Sheet there were no new information, but she was able to have a meeting where all of the main sticking points could be reviewed and a more aggressive meeting timeline was put in place. She noted the Advisory Committee would be meeting with representatives from Alatus again this week in hopes of moving this project forward. Commissioner Monson commented she was a little disappointed with the fact Alatus did not have their full leadership slate in attendance at this meeting. She was hopeful the Advisory Committee could work with Alatus to keep the ball moving. Commissioner McGuire thanked Commissioners Monson and Jebens-Singh for attending this meeting. She asked that the term sheet be updated to clarify which party was responsible for completing certain tasks. Chair Wicklund requested the Advisory Commission members speak to the top two or three sticking points. Commissioner Jebens-Singh explained one of the sticking points is the removing or relocation of Building 116. Director Mitchell noted this was an Army building that houses the TCAAP ground water remediation system. She stated staff has started to do some feasibility analysis on this but the Army has to be a key partner in these discussions. Commissioner Jebens-Singh asked if this matter has to be finalized to move forward with the two agreements, or could this matter be addressed at a later date. Director Mitchell commented the term sheet states there was interest in working together, but noted there was an external party (the Army), which meant the outcome was not guaranteed. Commissioner Jebens-Singh commented another sticking point was the grading of the site along with the sequencing of the spine road. Director Mitchell explained a big topic of conversation has been how the project will be phased and whether or not the mass grading will be completed all at once or phased. Commissioner Weber thanked the Advisory Commission and staff members for their work on this. He asked if Alatus indicated they feel like all of the work could be hammered in order to meet the June 30 deadline. Commissioner Monson did not believe Alatus came prepared to have this discussion. Chair Wicklund stated he was pleased the Advisory Commission would be meeting with Alatus again and he hoped this meeting would go well. d. Review Road Map Director Mitchell reviewed the Road Map with the JDA. She noted the community engagement event had been moved to September. Commissioner McGuire asked if the 30 day notice to Alatus had been written into the Road Map. Director Mitchell stated the preliminary development agreement does have a clause that the JDA could give a 30 day notice and this was discussed at past JDA meetings. She indicated to date, there has been no action to give this notice. Chair Wicklund recommended the remaining issues be addressed by the Advisory Commission and that the 30 day notice not be exercised at this time. Commissioner Weber indicated he hoped the developer could continue to move toward the JDA’s goals. Commissioner Jebens-Singh stated she anticipated some of the issues on the term sheet would require resolution for this project and if there are questions regarding the timing of things, having discussions internally would benefit the JDA going forward. Commissioner Monson commented there were several topics, such as the housing ownership versus rental topic could be addressed by the City and County. She indicated she had a good conversation with the Ryan Companies sustainability lead and she had some good recommendations about the design guidelines. She suggested the Energy Advisory Committee meet in order to discuss what worked and did not work. Chair Wicklund asked that staff work with Ryan Companies in order to create a two page summary on what worked and what did not work for this project. Director Mitchell stated she could work with Ryan Companies on this project. Commissioner Jebens-Singh appreciated that a moment of reflection would be done at this time in order to assist with development any future development. Chair Wicklund commended the City and County officials for being willing to compromise in order to keep this project moving forward. Administrative Director’s Report Director Mitchell reported both City and County staff has been working with Ryan Companies and she was excited that the final approval was granted from the JDA at this meeting. Development Director’s Report Director Jagoe stated she looked forward to providing updates at the next meeting on construction permits being issued. She reported the next JDA Advisory Committee meeting would be held on Wednesday, April 9 and noted this meeting would be posted on the City’s website. Commissioner Updates Commissioner McGuire noted the County Board would be meeting next on Tuesday, April 8. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 6:14 pm. Approved _____________________________________ _______________________ Jon Wicklund, Chair Date 5/5/25