03-06-95 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MARCH 6, 1995 get the project done more efficiently than proposed, that will happen. Fahey suggested that the cost of this project be paid for from the 10% Fund. Fahey asked i£ the City has $40,000 to cover the costs. The City Administrator replied that should the Council determine the project is important enough, the City could put the dollars together. Mark Lendway asked if the City was considering hiring these people to give it advice. Fahey replied that that was correct. The City would like to control the process and have its own experts providing advice. Lendway asked about condemnation as well as the various moratoriums that are in place. The City Administrator replied that the moratorium covering all B-3 Districts is in effect until June 1st. The moratorium in the Rice Street TIF District is in effect until approximately January 1, 1997. Fahey pointed out that the TIF District moratorium was extended because there was concern about another gas station/convenience store being proposed on a piece of property central to the Gateway Project. With regard to condemnation, Fahey stated that should a property owner wish to sell his property but is asking 2 to 3 times the market value of the property, he would be willing to condemn. Lendway replied that he has attended several of these meetings, and the Council has always indicated that they did not support condemnation. Fahey pointed out the Guerin property on Rice Street and Little Canada Road. Fahey noted that that property is vacant, and he would support condemning a vacant piece of property if it were essential to the project. Fahey noted that the Council's position has been that it would not condemn property where the property owners are unwilling to sell. However, it may condemn vacant land. 11