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City Counci12007-12-26, 7:40 p.m <br />Minutes of Work Session <br />J <br />~ ~~i <br />z,, <br />Present were Mayor Capra, Council members Tom Lee, Linda Broussard-Vickers, Jeff <br />Paar, and Michelle Lakso. Also present were Finance Director John Meyer, Mark Statz of <br />Bonestroo & Assoc., and EDA member Jenny Dosh. <br />Tom Gump and Ron Mehl of Beard Group were present to provide an update on the <br />status of the downtown development. Ron Mehl explained that the housing market has <br />softened substantially and that they are looking to revise phase 1 to make it more feasible. <br />They would purchase the larger properties that are east of Progress and north of Sorel and <br />increase the number of units slightly. Letters are going out in the next two weeks to the <br />property owners in this area indicating the developer's interest to negotiate a purchase. <br />Mehl still believes that this portion of the project can begin in late 2008 or early 2009, but <br />that will depend on their negotiations with a home builder such as Centex. <br />Mr. Mehl explained that the Block 8retail-housing project is still planned to begin in late <br />2008, subject to their being able to acquire the necessary properties. Block 9, north of <br />Main Street should start shortly after Block 8. Mehl indicated that Beard Group is <br />sending letters out soon to property owners in Blocks 8 & 9 expressing an interest in <br />negotiating a purchase. <br />The Council and Beard representatives discussed the issues associated with street and <br />utility improvements. Water and sewer extensions are a minor issue, but the street and <br />sidewalk improvements are more of a problem. Mark Statz of Bonestroo indicated that <br />Centerville Road (CSAH 21) could be built in phases with a temporary curb on the east <br />side of the street, but felt it would not be feasible to construct only a block at a time. It <br />was clear that the street will not be reconstructed unti12009. After Beard has a more firm <br />schedule for its first phase, the street improvements can be finalized. <br />Ron Mehl of Beard indicated that he would return in about a month and about every two <br />months thereafter, to report on their progress. <br />The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. <br />Dallas Larson, Administrator <br />