Agenda Packets - 2005/05/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 8C Meeting Date: May 23, 2005 Type of Business: Consent Administrator Review : ______ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View City Council From: Kristin Prososki, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Resolution 6539, Consideration of Application to Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program (VIC) for City Property Known as the Former Sysco Property Introduction: The City has been negotiating a potential sale of the Bridges of Mounds View Golf Course with Medtronic, Inc. As part of the assessment of the site, Medtronic hired Conestoga- Rovers and Associates (CRA) to conduct a Phase I and II environmental assessment. After meeting with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to discuss the findings of the environmental assessment, it was determined that the City had the option of making an application to the Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program (VIC) to request a “No Action” determination letter for the former Sysco property. Discussion: During the environmental assessment, CRA found debris, such as pieces of concrete, bricks and tires, located in a test pit on the former Sysco property. CRA also found slightly elevated levels of arsenic and pentachlorophenol (PCP) on the golf course property. A meeting was held with the MPCA, CRA, Medtronic and City Staff to discuss the findings of the environmental assessment. During the meeting, the MPCA Staff stated that it is a, “pretty clean site that you can develop” and recommended that Medtronic, as the potential developer, apply to the VIC program for a “No Association” determination letter for the golf course property and that the City apply for a “No Action” determination letter for the former Sysco property. The VIC program is completely voluntary and offers cities and developers technical assistance with environmental issues related to redevelopment. According to the MPCA website, “persons who are not otherwise responsible for a contamination problem may be eligible for future liability protection when they voluntarily undertake an investigation and, if necessary, cleanup action approved by the MPCA through the VIC Program”. Basically, this means that if cities and developers were not originally responsible for the actions that led to the contamination, they can be given protection from being held liable for the problem. Medtronic did apply for and receive a “No Association” letter for the golf course property. The City can apply for a “No Action” letter for the former Sysco property. As stated on the MPCA website, “ A No Action letter states that based on the review of the submitted documents…the MPCA Commissioner will refrain from taking specific administrative or enforcement action”.