HomeMy WebLinkAbout2A, TCAAP UpdatePrepared By: Ron Moorse, City Administrator Council Meeting Date: October 26, 2009
TCAAP Update
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
Recommendation:
Informational purposes only. No action required.
Supporting Documents:
1. See the attached memo from Ron Morse, City Administrator
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 26, 2009
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ron Moorse, City Administrator
SUBJECT: TCAAP Update
Conference Call with General Services Administration (GSA)
A conference call with Kevin Legare of the GSA was held on Thursday, October 15. The call
was an opportunity to obtain an update regarding the status and timing of the elements of the
GSA's planned public sale process. The GSA has scheduled a bidders' conference to provide an
opportunity for potential buyers to obtain information about the TCAAP property. The
conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, at the Bishop Henry
Whipple Federal Building near Fort Snelling. Although the City will attend the bidders'
conference, it is organized and operated by the GSA. According to the GSA, the conference is
essentially meant to measure the interest of potential bidders and to be an information gathering
session for potential bidders.
IMEDC Clarification
There have recently been articles in several publications regarding the desire of the International
Motorsports Entertainment and Development Corps (IMEDC) to construct a race track with
seating for between 50,000 and 60,000 people on the former Twin Cites Army Ammunition
Plant (TCAAP) property. According to IMEDC, the concept also includes an exhibition center,
office space, commercial space, hotel, and other related development.
While the IMEDC has expressed interest in this concept to the City, the concept is not
undergoing any formal City review or discussion. Additionally, the concept is not supported by
the recently adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan or the City Council's goals for the property.
Joint Work Session with Ramsey County Board
On Tuesday, October 20, the City Council met in a joint work session with the Ramsey County
Board to present information regarding a parks and open space concept for the reuse of the
TCAAP property, and to discuss the level of interest by the County in acquiring the TCAAP
property for a regional park use. While the County Board expressed interest in specific portions
of the remaining TCAAP property, particularly the Wildlife Corridor, the Board indicated they
were not interested in acquiring the majority of the property for a regional park use. The County
did seem supportive of a trail connection between the Rice Creek North Regional Trail and the
County Road 96 Regional Trail, though they did not state that the trail would need to be regional
in nature. At the end of the work session, the Board directed their Parks and Recreation Director,
Greg Mack, to review the property to determine if any portion of the remaining TCAAP property
would be a benefit to the County' s park and open space system. Mr. Mack was to bring that
information back to the Board; however, they did not specify a timeline.