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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-09-TCAAP WS ---ARPEN HILLS Approved: March 8, 20 10 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL TCAAP WORK SESSION MEETING JUKE 89 2009 5:30 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 City Council Work Session meeting at 5:33 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead; Council Members David Grant (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), Brenda Holden, and Dave McClung. Absent: Council Member Fran Holmes. Also present: City Administrator Ron Moorse; Finance Director Susan Iverson; and Community Development Director James Lehnhoff. 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP Communications/Legislative Relations Planning City Administrator Moorse reviewed a letter written by Councilmember Holmes regarding TCAAP indicating that she was not in favor of a communications/ legislative relations plan at this time. He further read that Councilmember Holmes was in favor of TCAAP becoming an open space, as was agreed upon 3/2 by the Council last month at the TCAAP worksession, and felt the Council did not need to prepare for Representative McCollum's listening session. Mayor Harpstead requested staff review the TCAAP Communications and Legislative Relations with Council to see if the Council will proceed with further discussions. City Administrator Moorse reviewed a number of items with the Council including a list of target audiences and a proposed list of messages for the public. He explained that these items were provided to assist the Council in sending a common message. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION-JLJNE 8, 2009 2 Mayor Harpstead stated tonight's discussion would start with memorializing and understanding the discussion held at the last work session and which direction the Council was willing to pursue. Councilmember Holden indicated she felt the Council was, with a majority, pursuing one option for the TCAAP site at this time. She stated a large open space/park was the option at this time. Mayor Harpstead explained that he did not see the past discussion as being a statement providing only one option for the site but that the first option to pursue was the park/open space. Councilmember McClung indicated he did see the discussion as a consensus for a park/open space and a public conveyance of the TCAAP site. He noted there may have been side comments for commercial along the highway along with energy use on the site, but that there has been no official vote by the Council. Councilmember McClung stated he was concerned if the City would have a single position to proceed with Representative McCollum at her listening session, and that he was not in favor with the park/open space recommendation. He was in favor of holding additional discussions regarding the meeting with Representative McCollum. Councilmember McClung then questioned how the City would proceed with the Army and GSA going forward. He expressed concern on how the City's position would be taken and how involved the Council should be in this process. Councilmember Grant arrived at 5:45 p.m. and was updated by Mayor Harpstead as to the previous discussions. Councilmember Holden indicated she has always been an advocate increasing communications between the City and legislative representatives. She questioned why this hasn't been discussed in the past and felt there wasn't any formal direction for this item. Councilmember Grant noted there has been communication plans in the past but have not been carried out, with one letter sent out in 2008. Councilmember Holden questioned why the Council was starting with a communication plan before deciding on a clear direction for the TCAAP site. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION-JUNE 8, 2009 3 Mayor Harpstead then asked how the Council should begin setting direction for the site. Councilmember Holden indicated she felt Representative McCollum would be taking the lead on this issue. She suggested the City find out how she wishes to proceed, and ask to be at the table as this issue moved forward. Councilmember Holden reiterated the fact that the TCAAP land was not the City of Arden Hills property. Councilmember McClung agreed but noted this was not Representative McCollum's property either. He stated he did want to see the City move forward working jointly with the Army, GSA, and Representative McCollum. Councilmember Holden expressed a great deal of frustration in dealing with the Army and GSA as they have withheld information and delayed past plans for the site. Mayor Harpstead noted that he respected Councilmember Holden's opinion, but disagreed with this statement. He indicated he had the utmost respect for the individuals on the other side of the table as they have been willing to work with the City to understand our issues. Mayor Harpstead explained that he felt it would benefit the City to put the wants and desires of the City Council on the table for further discussion. He added that there has been a lack of honest transparent leadership on both sides. Councilmember Grant questioned if this could be accomplished before the 22"d at a Council meeting. He suspected that this item would be mostly driven by Representative McCollum and recommended that the City work with her. Mayor Harpstead agreed that the City should be in contact with Representative McCollum to assist in the creation of a communications plan going forward. He asked then how the Council would like to proceed. Councilmember Holden stated she was not in favor of a mixed use development on this site and that she would like to wait to see the outcome of the park and open space concept. She stated the mixed use would not benefit the City in the same manner as an open space for the community. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION-JUNE 8, 2009 4 Mayor Harpstead agreed that open space was vital to the community but added that there needed to be a public-private partnership for this brownfield redevelopment. He added that the City could benefit from some commercial development on this site. Councilmember McClung asked how the City was to derive a viable plan for this site that was agreeable to all those on Council. Councilmember Holden stated the City did not have a purchase option at this time and therefore, had no reason to create a development plan for this site. Councilmember McClung indicated his comments to the Army and GSA going forward would then be to bring on the public sale and allow the free market to run its course. Mayor Harpstead handed out information to the Council regarding the potential development of an international motorsports speedway on the TCAAP site and the development that goes with it. He stated no further discussion was needed at this time and was for informational purposes. Councilmember McClung indicated his view at this time would be to monitor the development of this site through planning and zoning of the land. He suggested something similar to the B2 zoning plan be created and implemented along with a development moratorium to allow the City to update this information. Discussion ensued regarding the future of this property on how it should be zoned. Community Development Director Lehnhoff explained that the current zoning code would not support the potential racetrack concept. He indicated permitted uses were listed in the code. Councilmember McClung questioned when the zoning on the land would be completed if the land were to be up for public sale to encourage certain developments on the site. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated the City would want to look into the zoning code as soon as the timeline is known for the land sale. He indicated once the land was sold, a 12 month moratorium could be placed on the site but it is better to review what the zoning should be on the land before the sale. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION-JUNE 85 2009 5 Councilmember McClung questioned if a moratorium could be placed on a smaller piece of the site if it were to be sold off in parcels. Community Development Director Lehnhoff explained this could be done as allowed in state law after the land was transferred from federal to private ownership. Mayor Harpstead indicated if the zoning were to be changed in such a way that it impinged upon the value, the City would have an obligation to the Buyer. Community Development Director Lehnhoff indicated that the City would only be liable if they were to remove all economic use or if the government were to place something on the site the owner did not want. He further reviewed what qualified as a "taking" of land as well, but stated an attorney would be able to better advise the City. There was no consensus or direction given to staff on this item. B. TCAAP — Preparation for Representative McCollum Listening Session Mayor Harpstead stated each Councilmember would have to prepare their own comments for Representative McCollum due to the fact there was no consensus among the Council at this time. Mayor Harpstead read a note from City Administrator Moorse informing the community there will be a listening session on Monday, June 22"d at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for elected officials and from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for any citizen that would like to make two minute presentation. He encouraged the Council and its constituents to sign up to speak at this event. Councilmember McClung indicated he would have been in favor of the Council sitting down with Representative McCollum before this listening situation to arrive a mutual plan before throwing out hundreds of different ideas at the listening situation. He explained that he was disappointed by the turn of events. Councilmember Holden stated this could be the Council's fault as they did direct staff to speak with Representative McCollum about taking the lead on this project. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION-JUNE 8, 2009 6 Mayor Harpstead indicated he sees this as a reflection of the failure of the City Council of Arden Hills to provide leadership and was now proceeding with regional direction from Representative McCollum. Councilmember Holden stated she did not see that the City was at fault and that this land sale could have been completed before the economic downfall if the other parties involved would have done their due diligence. Mayor Harpstead explained that the meeting would be held, and that there was really no direction from Council at this time. He suggested the letter be forwarded to the people on staff s list to make them aware of the meeting on June 22"a Further discussion ensued regarding potential uses for the site. Councilmember McClung indicated he did not feel the original mixed use development would happen for this land and that it would now have a somewhat smaller level of development with the remaining being green space and public use. He stated he would still consider wind turbines on this site as well. Mayor Harpstead then handed out a summary document of his thoughts for the site. He then asked when the Council would like to discuss how they would like to proceed in discussions with the Army and GSA. City Administrator Moorse suggested this issue be further discussed at the July 13 th City Council Work Session meeting. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS There was nothing additional at this time. Mayor Harpstead adjourned the City CounciZSes4, ion meetin Susan K. Iverson Spstead Acting City Administrator Mayor