HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-30-07-WS
Approved: 6/11/07
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APRIL 30, 2007; 9:05 P.M.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Stan Harpstead called to order the work
session at 9:05 p.m.
Present:
Mayor Stan Harpstead, Councilmembers David Grant, Brenda Holden, Fran
Holmes and David McClung.
Absent:
None
Also present were Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator; Karen Barton, Community
Development Director; Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers; and Patricia Bentley, Ramsey County
Ms. Patricia Bentley, Ramsey County Family Community Support Worker, discussed the human
factor of TCAAP and gave case examples. She stated that when faced with the high stress of
losing a home and other stressors, there was an increase in drug use and domestic violence. All the
things that Family Community Support tries to alleviate then become exacerbated. Sometimes the
uncertainty was worse that whatever decisions could be made regarding TCAAP.
Mayor Harpstead suggested that Ms. Bentley come back to speak more about the types of criminal
environments that might be found in that kind of neighborhood, the lack of affordable housing
with the decreasing income levels and provide ideas on how to rebuild those communities.
Councilmember McClung stated that even if the City did not impact the manufactured home
community, the owner could force those residents out if the owner chose to sell. However, that
population did have some protection under the law that could in the short term help alleviate some
of that stress.
Councilmembers thanked Ms. Bentley for her time.
Mayor Harpstead stated that other items on the agenda were the TCAAP Master Development
Agreement discussion, the TH 10 and Highway 96 discussion and a general TCAAP update. The
TH 10 and Highway 96 discussion regarded how to handle the intersection at TH 10 and Highway
96 from a legislative stand point. We needed to adopt a resolution at our first May meeting in
order for our Minnesota Senator and Minnesota Representative have introductory submitted in
preparation for the 2008 funding request.
CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION- APRIL 30, 2007
1. TCAAP Master Development Agreement Discussion
Ms. Kvilvang provided a hand-out that listed items typically found in a development agreement
and categorized them into four areas: overall development, land acquisition issues, developer
responsibilities and public assistance. The Council was asked to identifY key issues or points that
they felt were important issues to them.
Mayor Harpstead stated that phasing was important to him and he liked the concept of one or two
phases that have short term TIF ending.
Councilmember Holmes stated that she would like to have special consideration for the wildlife
corridor. She wanted to restrict public roads through the wildlife corridor with the exception of
possibly a gravel road for public safety.
Councilmember Grant stated he would like to see owner occupied units only.
Mayor Harpstead stated that he would like to see development of County Road H first, access to
Highway 96 second, access to County Road I third and access to TH 10 fourth.
Councilmember Grant stated he did not want to see a large amount of affordable housing.
Councilmember Holden stated that she did not want to see "the big box" like a Target.
Mayor Harpstead stated that even ifthe project was phased, he wanted all buildings and
foundations demolished and removed early on. In regards to amenities, he felt it would make sense
if they added value to the land by assisting the project, but amenities as a destination in and of
themselves that the City just carried the cost for was not the level that he was looking for.
Councilmember Grant stated that the project needed to be self sustaining at the same time he
wanted to see it give back to the rest of Arden Hills.
Councilmember Holden stated that it would be nice to have a buffer, perhaps a trail along the
National Guard property.
Mayor Harpstead stated that whatever the agreed upon percentage of open space was, it needed to
be contiguous spaces and not medians.
Councilmember Holmes did not want view corridors.
2. TH 10 and Highway 96
Mayor Harpstead stated that RRLD, LLC contracted with lobbying group McGrann, Shea,
Anderson, Carnival, Straughn & Lamb to identifY funding sources for the TH 10IHighway 96
project and the County Road H project. They recommended putting in two place-holder bills to
initiate funding requests that would accomplish the 20 percent local match needed for County
Road H and all ofTH IOlHighway 96. The estimated budget is 30 million for TH IOlHighwayand
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION- APRIL 30, 2007
four million for the 20 percent match for County Road H. The language would read along the lines
that 34 million be appropriated from bond proceeds to the City of Arden Hills for acquisition of
right-of-way, pre-design, design, and construction of public improvement for County Road H and
1-35 interchange and/or County Road 96 and State Highway 10 interchange. A second similar bill
would ask for 34 million from the State general fund. The City would also ask for funding at the
federal level.
The deadline for getting on the Governor's list was June 25th. The Governor's project criteria were
found in the provided hand out.
Councilmember Grant stated that the stigma of TCAAP could only be carried for a period of time
and we should work with the developer to market the area.
Mayor Harpstead shared his draft resolution. The intent of the resolution was to state our position
on the TH 101 Highway 96 interchange. The Council will get together at a future date to continue
this discussion.
Ms. Wolfe asked Councilmembers to forward their May calendars to her so she could coordinate
future meetings.
Councilmember Grant stated that at some point the Council would be submitting their term sheet
items to Ehlers. He requested that Ehlers give feedback to the Council regarding what they heard
before the Council move into negotiations.
Ms. Wolfe reminded the Council that May 1 st was the due date for submitting "wordsmithing" of
assigned goals. Ms. Wolfe would send an electronic copy to all Councilmembers.
3. General TCAAP Update
Mayor Harpstead distributed a four page handout that contained recommendations of a three
member group which consisted of Mayor Harpstead, Councilmember McClung and City
Administrator Wolfe. The recommendations were:
· The City would contract with Ehlers and Associates to be proj ect manger for TCAAP.
· The project manger's responsibility would be to define and identify the key success
factors for the TCAAP project by making sure they define the scope of the project and
by making sure that the project be segmented into manageable and measurable assigned
tasks.
· The project manager would conduct regular and frequent assessments of the progress
and report back to Council.
· The project manager would anticipate issues, risks and changes required to ensure the
Council would be able to make timely discussions.
· The project manager would monitor developer compliance with the Council directives.
The pros for working with Ehlers were the potential for rapid implementation, their capacity and
expertise. Ehlers have experience with similar processes and projects and were familiar this
project. The con was that it could be more difficult to convey a sense of the City to the developer.
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION- APRIL 30, 2007
This recommendation would affect the Community Development Director Barton's position in that
it would reduce the level ofTCAAP involvement since someone else would take the lead on
project management. The primary responsibility for the Ms. Barton would be on the projects
outside ofTCAAP, i.e. the RFP on City Hall, the Chesapeake project, and the potential
redevelopment ofthe Grey Fox/Red Fox area. Ms. Barton would continue to be the primary
contact with the GSA in the land transfer process and fill other TCAAP specific roles as assigned
by the City Administrator. Any TCAAP activities would still fall within the project managers
oversight responsibilities as a project manager and anyone working on TCAAP would have to
report progress and commit to deadlines based up on the project schedule.
Mayor Harpstead adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m.
City Administrator
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