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City and County cooperating on TCAAP redevelopment by Kristine Goodrich T Infrastructure costs to be he City and County are working shared together to speed up redevelopobligations. Councilmembers pointed to - ment of 427 acres of the former The County and City will share - Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant develop TCAAP without placing develop the infrastructure costs of the - (TCAAP). Ramsey County is buying and TCAAP development site and will support cleaning up the land. The City of Arden construction of a main road connecting City creates master plan Hills and Ramsey County each approved Highway 96 and County Road H. The an agreement that forms a joint developThe City is responsible for com County also is responsible for road im -- - ment authority and outlines each entitys pleting an environmental study provements outside of the redevelopment development responsibilities.called an Alternative Urban Areawide area. The City will construct the minor Review. It also will prepare a Master Plan roads and the sewer and water utilities. The County to purchase 427 which will map the type and timing of de City and County will jointly be responsible - acres velopment, parks, streets and utilities. The for stormwater collection ponds. The City On November 27, the Ramsey plan will be approved by both the City and will recoup its infrastructure costs through County Board voted 5-2 to buy the portion the County and will be implemented by the assessments to future developers and/or of TCAAP from the federal government Joint Development Authority. Both the re property owners. - and hire a contractor to remove the buildview and the plan will be completed within - ings and remediate the contaminated soil. two years. The City will be reimbursed for The JDA will create a process for develop - The County had negotiated tentative conits preparation and implementation costs ers to submit proposals and will review - tracts with the General Services Adminisvia development fees. In the meantime it those plans. It will include two County - tration and Carl Bolander & Sons when a plans to use its Permanent Improvement Commissioners, two City Councilmembers, Vikings stadium was proposed on the site Revolving Fund to cover the expenses. and a non-elected representative appointed and those deals were set to soon expire. - tions of the Authority. for purchase and cleanup plus additional 2013 tax levy increases three percent improvements to the Highway 96 and n December 10, the City set its 2013 tax levy at $3,191,230, a 3 O sell bonds to cover most of the cost and - crease from last year. This is the same amount shown on the 2013 plans to repay those loans after the land is Property Tax statement sent to property owners by Ramsey County. sold. Supporters said the County needed to step up to clean up and develop the long- The majority of this increase, 1.8 of the 3 percent increase, is vacant Superfund site more quickly so it in services for which the City hires contractors. The largest in will add to the Countys tax base. Dissent - - ers deemed it too risky to commit County Citys operating expenses. The cost of other contracted services funding without a guarantee the property - tion technology and auditing, has also gone up. The City was abl will be redeveloped, and the money will be recouped in the near future. Property taxes are levied by Ramsey County, your school distric The County Board also approved a joint Council, and other special tax districts, as well as the City. T - powers agreement with the City on No - proximately 21 percent of total property tax an owner pays. vember 27. The City approved the agree - ment November 26 unanimously after Details about the budget and tax levy can be found on the Citys reviewing and amending the agreement website in the December 10 City Council meeting packet. on several prior occasions. The agreement forms a Joint Development Authority