11-01-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 1,2010 APPROVED 46 The council reviewed the capital needs of the facility and discussed the concept of 47 establishing capital fund that could receive budgeted funds. They discussed the possibility of 48 utilizing energy grants and rebates as a tool also. The council concurred that Chief Streich 49 should obtain bids on window and door replacements. They may want to tour the facility 50 soon. 51 52 2. Weekly Progress Report—Administrator Karlson reviewed the items on the list. 53 54 3. IMEDC Motorsports Facility Proposal—Community Development Director 55 Grochala introduced Jim Farnum and Tom Gump representing the International Motorsports 56 Entertainment Development Company(IMEDC). The group visited the council in August to 57 introduce a proposal for a motorsports facility in Lino Lakes. They wish to present additional 58 information to the council. 59 60 Mr. Farnum recalled the previous presentation to the council and reiterated their interest in 61 developing a facility in the city. Since their presentation in August they have provided 62 additional information to city staff on noise analyses. They were also asked to provide more 63 information on the project plans and that is being presented now. They attended the city's 64 Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) meeting recently and heard from them 65 that the proposal merits further discovery. They are seeking a resolution of support from the 66 council. 67 68 Community Development Director Grochala explained that staff would have concern about L 69 offering a concept approval at this time since there hasn't been a process leading to that. He 70 understands that the developers are looking for some indication of the council's interest level. 71 Mr. Grochala added that the project itself would require an environmental assessment 72 worksheet(EAW) and then an environmental impact statement (EIS), items that would 73 provide a lot of answers about impacts related to the proposal. In addition, the project would 74 require a comprehensive plan amendment, zoning amendment and rezoning of the area. He 75 reviewed the options presented to the council in the staff report, adding that this type of 76 project would involve a lot of big decisions on things such a infrastructure, not that they 77 couldn't be accommodated with a correct pro-forma. 78 79 A council member remarked that an EIS would be an expensive undertaking for the 80 developers and pondered if there is something that the council should be considering at this 81 time that would stop the deal? Mr. Grochala responded that an EIS doesn't provide any 82 approval and added that the project would actually be multi jurisdictional and that too poses 83 questions about the approvals that would be necessary. 84 85 A council member confirmed with the representatives that the events proposed would be 86 viable in consideration of the economy. Mr. Farnum pointed out other less obvious revenue 87 to the facility such as provision of meeting facilities. 88 89 Noise was noted by the council as a big concern and they wondered if an EIS would 90 adequately cover that subject. With that issue unresolved and unanswered, concept approval 2