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City Council Minutes November 8, 1995 Page 2 Soler noted that the municipalities involved in the reconstruction must approve the easements because this project involves federal funds. Most of the easements are temporary in nature and would ordinarily just be obtained on an informal basis.- Soler showed the council the proposed easements, explaining that most are being acquired in order to allow crews to perform nearby construction or to facilitate drainage. Permanent easements are being requested for traffic signals at Cleveland/Larpenteur and at Gortner/Larpenteur and also for parking on the south side of Larpenteur between Arona and Pascal. No permanent easements are being requested from residential properties except the parking easement for the apartment properties on the south side of Larpenteur. Soler further explained that they are erring on the conservative side in their request by asking for more easement than the county may eventually need. Councilmember Gehrz asked about plans for a tunnel under Larpenteur to connect the north and south sides of the golf course. Soler replied that the plans are not concrete at this point; it may depend upon whether funding is available. Lighting the tunnel is an issue that will .eventually need to be addressed. Mayor Baldwin commented that there is areal hazard to golfers crossing Larpenteur but that the city will likely have little impact over whether it is built. The University of Minnesota will have to find the funds to pay for its construction and the county will need to determine if a tunnel under their road is an appropriate use. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the Larpenteur Avenue right-of- way plan. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95-30, ELECTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT Administrator Hoyt reported that the Metropolitan Council is encouraging cities to participate in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. The program is designed to provide financial incentives to communities throughout the metro area to accommodate affordable housing. The Met Council establishes benchmark goals for several indicators that are used to measure a community's affordability. With its current housing stock, Falcon Heights nearly meets or exceeds all of these benchmarks and therefore will not be required to expand its affordability measures. There are no financial implications one way or the other for the city to participate in this voluntary program. Following a discussion of the benchmark data, a motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to approve Resolution 95-30. Motion passed unanimously. REVIEW OF DRAFT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN Administrator Hoyt explained that staff has been working to review and revise the city's tax increment financing plan, which was last amended in 1988. The council received a copy of the staff's most recent draft of the proposed amendments; however, the city attorney must still review the amendments for conformity to current TIF laws. The staff also reviewed the principles and procedures for private requests for city financial