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Mounds View City Council January 9, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 22 <br /> <br />community. Also, the City would control the destiny of the property and determine what should 1 <br />be there, if anything. He noted the current situation impacts the visual aesthetics of Mounds 2 <br />View. Staff recommends the City seriously consider the purchase of this property from a willing 3 <br />seller. 4 <br /> 5 <br />Councilmember Gunn stated her agreement. 6 <br /> 7 <br />Councilmember Flaherty asked about environmental impacts. Director Ericson suggested 8 <br />ordering a Phase 1 environmental study to make sure the City is not getting into anything that 9 <br />would cost a lot in the long run. He advised that there are no spill findings or active issues with 10 <br />this property so it looks to be clean but that will not be known for sure until you do more digging. 11 <br /> 12 <br />Mayor Marty noted the car wash has a different owner. Director Ericson stated they probably 13 <br />contracted with someone to build the car wash and the doors were locked when they stopped 14 <br />making payments. 15 <br /> 16 <br />Mayor Marty noted that the Highway 10 redevelopment project may result in the need for more 17 <br />ponding areas and asked if the City would be on the hook for relocation costs. Director Ericson 18 <br />explained that the City would not be liable for relocation or the mortgage on the property. He 19 <br />explained that the current property owner would be liable for those issues. 20 <br /> 21 <br />Director Ericson stated he is not asking for consent to purchase the property. Staff is 22 <br />recommending that a purchase agreement be drafted for the Council’s future consideration. 23 <br /> 24 <br />Mayor Marty noted if the sushi restaurant is successful, it could expand into this area. 25 <br /> 26 <br />Councilmember Stigney stated this is a lot of money and asked if this is the best use for the 27 <br />City’s money when the prime use of this property is not yet known. Councilmember Stigney 28 <br />pointed out that City funds are available for businesses to use to improve their property. He 29 <br />stated he prefers to do that as a community development project to see what is the desired goal 30 <br />instead of buying the property. He stated the City needs a plan before it moves forward. 31 <br /> 32 <br />Director Ericson explained that for the last three years staff has been actively looking at potential 33 <br />developers and talking with the property owners but their only intent is to sell. Staff has talked 34 <br />with developers but no one wants to consider this because it is a stand alone parcel. With the 35 <br />Donut Connection there was an opportunity in 2005 that would have elevated the potential for 36 <br />this site and staff has been trying to encourage redevelopment but those efforts have not been 37 <br />successful. He stated he appreciates the need for a plan and that this is a significant amount of 38 <br />money but the property has gotten worse. 39 <br /> 40 <br />Mayor Marty stated that TIF is for addressing blighted properties and as has been stated, the only 41 <br />inquiries being received are from individuals interested in continuing a gas station operation. He 42 <br />stated he has mixed feelings on this one but the property is so blighted and in the middle of the 43 <br />City, so he would be willing to explore how to remove this blight and find a better solution. 44 <br /> 45