HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-30-07 Item 8A, TCAAP Update
Request for Council Action
Prepared By:
Depl.:
Council Mtg. Date:
Final Action Needed By:
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Budgeted Amount:
Actual Amount: om
Fundmg Source:
Agenda Item:
TCAAPSlalusReport
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B.A.
Receive TCAAP Project Status Report. No action required.
and staff will present highlights from the report and welcome questions from City Council.
Planning:
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PTRC:
X Memo/Letter: Memorandum from Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates, dated July 30, 2007.
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Resolution No.:
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Ordinance No.:
Engineering Recommendation:
Recommendation:
Other:
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Regular status updates will be provided in future City Council meeting packets.
answer questions during the meeting.
Consultant Stacie Kvilvang and staff will be available to !
July 30, 2007
EHLERS
Date:
LEADERS IN PU8L!C FINANCE
To:
City Council
From:
Stacie Kvilvang
Subject:
TCAAP Update
Acquisition of TCAAP Property
. On July 24, 2007, City staff and RRLD had a conference call with the Army and GSA in follow-
up to the June 21, 2007 meeting. The City is still waiting for the following:
1) Information from the Army/GSA regarding building demolition remediation costs and if
those were included in the off-sets to the Fair Market Value (FMV)
2) Determination as to whether or not vapor intrusion can be considered as a remediation
credit
3) Determination as to whether the Water Treatment Facility was included in the off-sets to
FMV
4) Written responses to the FOST and FOSET comments the City and RRLD submitted
earlier this year
5) The completed LUCRD (Land Use Control Remedial Design) and the ESS (Explosives
Safety Submission)
Also discussed was the EPA's role, insurance, the Remedial Investigation (RI) Plan, the schedule
for negotiating the remediation credits and the proposed piece-meal transfer (the City and RRLD
informed the Army/GSA that a piece-meal transfer would not be an option).
. A meeting for the attorneys to discuss the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the LUCRD, and
the FOST/FOSET is scheduled for September 25-26,2007 in Washington D.C.
. The next conference call with the Army/GSA will be on September 11, 2007 to discuss the
MPCA remedial investigation standards for purposes of issuing certificates of completion.
Environmental Characterization
. RRLD retained TetraTech, AET and Braun Intertec to complete soil borings for environmental
and geotechnical purposes (over 500 borings will be completed). They began work in late June.
Overall, it will take approximately seven weeks to receive and analyze all the results of the
testing.
. MPCA contacted City and RRLD to inform them they are doing a natural resource damage
assessment on the impact of Army activity on the land.
Project Status Memo
I
Master Plan
. On July 2, 2007 joint meeting of the Master Plan Task Force, Planning Commission and City
Council, HKGI showed plans for a new concept which included more single family lots (306
lots). At the July 12,2007 joint meeting it was determined that this composite plan should be the
concept shown at the open house. The open house was held on July 19,2007 with approximately
100 residents in attendance. Staff is in the process of compiling the comments for review by the
joint group.
. Next meeting with the Task Force (August 7, 2007), City Council (August I, 2007) and joint
meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council (August 9, 2007) will focus on financial
aspects of the concept plan.
Design Guidelines
. Damon Farber Associates (DF A) is currently working on parks/open space design guidelines and
streetscapes. Preliminary parks/open space concepts were presented at the July 19, 2007 open
house. DF A is meeting with City staff to gather data regarding the costs to maintain parks and
trails.
ADAR
. GSA and their NEPA representative met with the City and SRF on July 18, 2007 to discuss the
AUAR. The mitigation plan developed by the AUAR will likely be incorporated into the NEP A
in some form. The draft AUAR should be distributed to staff in late August.
. As part of the AUAR, wetland inspections were conducted and preliminary results indicate no
mitigation will be required. It was deterrnliled that the existing ditch wetlands do not require
mitigation and the four (4) small natural wetlands on the property are so small they do not require
mitigation. The only significant wetlands are on the Wildlife Corridor and those are in the
process of being reconstructed by the Army.
Comprehensive Plan (full update aud amendment for TCAAP)
. On July 30, 2007, City Council will be considering approval of an application to the Metropolitan
Council for a $20,000 grant to assist in updating the Comprehensive Plan.
. Staff sent out an RFQ (Request for Quotes) for assistance with the transportation portion of the
Plan update. Staff received six (6) responses and anticipates bringing a recommendation forward
to the City Council for review/consideration on August 13, 2007.
. The first public open house on the Comprehensive Plan update is scheduled for August 8, 2007 at
North Heights Lutheran Church from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
County Road H
. MNDOT has given approval of the concept design.
. The City and RRLD have been informed there may not be a 2008 transportation bill at the federal
level. RRLD and lobbyists are researching to determine/find other alternative funding. RRLD
and lobbyists are working to determine by end of August when dollars can be committed to the
Project Status Memo
2
project (not taken away?) and will work back from that date to discuss alternative ways to finance
the improvements in the interim if federal or state funds are not available until 2009/2010.
. The City and RRLD will meet with legislators over their summer recess, likely in August, to raise
awareness of need for funding in 2008 (entire delegation of McCollum, Oberstar, Coleman, and
Klobuchar). These meetings have not yet been scheduled.
. City and RRLD met with DEED Commissioner McElroy on July 9, 2007, to discuss funding for
project.
Hwy 10 and 96
. City, County and MNDOT met on June 21, 2007 to discuss the County's application for federal
SAFETEA-LU grant funds..
. City Council met with the Arden Manor Board on July 9, 2007 to discuss resident concerns. Staff
is preparing a Q&A document to be distributed to the residents of Arden Manor as a follow-up to
the meeting. The Arden Manor Board has requested the City Council to revisit signalized
intersections for 10/96 and Highway 10 access into TCAAP. MnDOT has analyzed the operation
of the signal at Highway 10 and 96 as part of the 1-694 project and that model was available for
viewing at the July 19 open house.
. City Council met with the Briarknoll neighborhood on July 23, 2007 to hear their comments,
questions and concerns regarding the proposed project.
Master Development Agreement
. On June 25, 2007, the City Council approved preliminary development principles. City staff and
consultants met with RRLD on June 27, 2007 and provided them a copy of the Council's
preliminary development principles and RRLD provided them with theirs (copy provided to
Council on July 5, 2007). Each sheet was overviewed by the appropriate Team and clarifYing
questions answered. City Staff and consultants met with RRLD again on July 11,2007 to further
define and clarifY some issues (City Council was provided a summary memo of the meeting on
July 23,2007). A meeting with RRLD to discuss the MDA was held July 25, 2007, and City
staff and consultants will be meeting with the City Council on August I, 2007 to update them on
discussions and review some questions/requests. John Dean, Kennedy & Graven, will be the
City's attorney for MDA negotiations while Steve Bubul is on sabbatical through October.
Engineering Consultant
. The City sent out an RFQ to engineering firms for assistance with City engineering projects,
including TCAAP. Responses were due on June 25, 2007 and the City received 21 responses.
Submittals were reviewed by staff and they will be interviewing 12 frrms the week of July 23,
2007. Staff anticipates bringing a recommendation forward for City Council review
/consideration in August.
Resource Plan
. The City approved a contract with Ehlers & Associates to complete a Resource Plan for TCAAP
and the City on April 30, 2007. City staff and Mark Ruff, Stacie Kvilvang and Jonathan North of
Ehlers will meet on August 7, 2007 to begin discussions on needed information, timing and
format.
Project Status Memo
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. City staff continues to send out letters on a monthly basis (typically the last week of month) and
more frequently as needed to the City's congressional delegation (last one sent out on July 5,
2007) .
Congressional Letters and Meetings
. The Mayor and City Administrator, along with County Commissioner Bennett met with Betty
McCollum's office on May 21, 2007 to discuss the project. Her office requested a timeline for
the transportation improvements which staff provided to her Aide, Joshua Straka, on June IS,
2007.
Interim Space For Army
. The Army is currently looking for new office space since they will be required to vacate their
offices located on the TCAAP site by the end of September. City staff provided them options
and/or known sites that may work for them to relocate to.
National Guard
. National Guard stated they are looking at building some "dormitories" on the western side of their
property, there were long-term plans for building a headquarters building by the lake and they
also discussed building a community center as a joint venture. The National Guard will be
meeting with the City Council on July 30, 2007 to go over their plan for improvements (barracks
and possible community center).
. National Guard representative indicated that they will be preserving 1,200 acres of the AHATs
property as open space and that they will provide the City with a map of the area.
. It was decided that the City and National Guard would try to meet quarterly and that the City
would provide them copies of the congressional letters.
Busiuess Subsidy Policy
. The City currently does not have a formal busiuess subsidy policy or public assistance application
(In 1999, the State Legislature adopted new regulations for the granting of business subsidies by
state and local government, which are required to be in writing and formally approved by the
governing board(s) of the City). In order to be able to react to any future requests from
businesses and/or developer's for public assistance, staff is working with the City's Economic
Development Commission to work on draft documents. They met on July 18,2007, to discuss
the policy and items to be included. They anticipate having the first draft completed in late
August for review and discussion with the City Council.
Project Status Memo
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