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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-2006PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW EDA CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting March 27, 2006 New Brighton City Hall 803 Old Highway 8, New Brighton, MN 55112 6:33 P.M. 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: President Marty, Vice-President Stigney, Commissioner Gunn (arrived at 6:36 p.m.) and Commissioner Thomas. NOT PRESENT: Commissioner Flaherty. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION/SECOND: STIGNEY/THOMAS. To Approve the March 27, 2006 Agenda as presented. Ayes – 3 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. PUBLIC INPUT None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. 6. CONSENT AGENDA None. 7. EDA BUSINESS A. Resolution 06-EDA-218 Supporting a Supplemental Appropriation before the Minnesota Legislature that would provide an additional $400,000 in funding for the proposed Noise Wall Extension on the South Side of Trunk Highway 10. Economic Development Coordinator Backman explained that as part of the process for the new Mounds View EDA March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 2 Medtronic campus project, the City of Mounds View sought legislative action during the 2005 Legislative Session to eliminate the reverter clause on the former MnDOT property. Economic Development Coordinator Backman noted that MnDOT obtained an appraisal on the 40-acre parcel that indicated the value was approximately $3,470,000 or $86,000 per acre. He explained discussions between the Federal Highway Administration and MnDOT determined that 64 percent of the value was the “federal interest” that would be subject to the reverter clause. He stated that following negotiations, it was agreed that any dollar amount above the $1 million paid by Medtronic on behalf of the City, would not be borne by the City or Medtronic. He stated that the Administration would support a supplemental budget appropriation during the 2006 Legislative Session to satisfy the federal interest. Commissioner Gunn arrived at 6:36 p.m. Economic Development Coordinator Backman explained that in March 2006, the governor submitted the supplemental budget recommendations, which included a transfer of $1.2 million from the General Fund to the Trunk Highway Fund for consideration for land conveyed. Economic Development Coordinator Backman explained that State Representative Connie Bernardy is seeking to add amendments to the Governor’s supplemental budget bill that will direct $1.2 million to specific projects that would benefit the City of Mounds View and surrounding communities. He noted that State Representative Connie Bernardy specifically is requesting that $400,000 be directed to the proposed Noise Wall Extension on the south side of State Highway 10, and $821,000 be directed to the North I-35W Corridor Design Concept. He explained the latter is a Scoping Study that would identify and evaluate design concepts for I- 35W, including Trunk Highway 10 and the County Road J/Lake Interchange. Economic Development Coordinator Backman explained the $400,000 appropriation for the sound wall is in addition to the $300,000 that MnDOT has programmed for the project. He stated the City of Mounds View will pay sound wall project costs that exceed $700,000. He explained that in discussions with Ehlers, a local match for the sound wall is a TIF eligible activity. He noted that the legislation has the support of DEED and Medtronic. He commented that both parties are willing to speak to legislators in support of the specific amendments. Economic Development Coordinator Backman explained this is an opportunity for the City to solve the longstanding problem for the Laport Meadows neighborhood. He noted these supplemental dollars will get spent on road-related projects. He stated the question is what projects they get spent on. Economic Development Coordinator Backman offered to answer questions. Vice-President Stigney asked why MnDOT would not pay the additional costs instead of just $400,000. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated it has to be recognized that this Mounds View EDA March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 3 is a political process and support must be received from other legislators. He stated they need to see that there are other projects that benefit beyond Mounds View that need to be passed. He added it is not uncommon to see a match up to 50 percent, so if the City can keep costs down to 20 percent or less, that would be beneficial for the City. Vice-President Stigney asked if it has been considered to go 50 percent for the sound wall and 50 percent for the other. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated it had to be pushed to get to the point it currently is at. He stated different amounts were discussed, but the message received was that a local contribution is desired as well. He noted the question is if the City can minimize that to the greatest extent possible. Commissioner Gunn asked if this will bump up getting the $300,000 from MnDOT. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated that the City does not want to see the $300,000 disappear and get the $400,000 instead. He noted MnDOT is under pressure to fund many different projects, but the intent is that MnDOT has programmed $300,000 to Mounds View as discussed previously. He explained the intent of this supplemental appropriation is to add another $400,000 to equal $700,000. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated it may be possible to seek more, but there is a political reality of what can be supported by various legislators, as a majority is needed to support this. Commissioner Gunn noted the City has had problems trying to get the $300,000 from MnDOT. President Marty stated the City has not applied for it because there are no spoils to go along with it. Commissioner Thomas stated the City did not request the $300,000 because the City does not have the rest of the dollars to complete the project and was not ready to start building. President Marty stated the City should accept the $700,000 and move forward. He stated one of the things holding this project back was the fact that there have been no street reconstruction projects to get spoils from the streets to help with the berm. He stated Medtronic has paid for park dedication, which indicates Medtronic has pulled the permits, and they are going to have a lot of fill to haul out of the site. He stated he would like to see the fill come across the highway and be used on the berm. He stated he would like to see this project started this year with the $700,000. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated Medtronic is moving dirt in a big way at the site. He explained that Medtronic has been hauling top soil out and moving other soil in to where the buildings will be going. He stated the question is timing and how quickly can one do something. He stated the issue is where to store the soil while one is trying to get ready for berm or having other types of walls. Mounds View EDA March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 4 President Marty asked if the City could start the engineering to get this sound wall going. Director of Public Works Lee stated he recommends the City works with MnDOT to have MnDOT take the lead on this project, since it is a MnDOT wall on MnDOT property. He stated if MnDOT is unwilling, the City can step up and be the lead agency, but it makes sense to have MnDOT lead the project. President Marty asked if MnDOT can be contacted once the resolution is passed, before MnDOT hauls out the fill from the golf course, to try and figure out where to put the fill. He suggested the earth and berm part would be filled in and the rest would be constructed as needed. Director of Public Works Lee explained there will be a grading plan created as part of the project, and permits from Rice Creek Watershed will be required, as well as an erosion control plan. He stressed that the City needs to get going on this fairly quickly. President Marty asked if the project can be done this year. Director of Public Works Lee stated it depends on discussions with MnDOT. He noted that MnDOT may not initiate the project until 2007 or possibly in the fall of 2006. President Marty noted there is a lot of fill coming out of the golf course area, and suggested it could be used before MnDOT pays to haul it out. Director of Public Works Lee stated the quickest way to approach the project is to make it into two phases, where the first phase is grading to be done by the City, and the second phase is the construction of a wall by MnDOT after the fill material is set in place. President Marty noted there have been talks about a wall for awhile, and he would like to see it get done. Commissioner Gunn asked if there are preliminary plans for this project. Director of Public Works Lee stated there are no construction plans, but the feasibility report and cost estimates have been done. He noted this information was turned over to MnDOT. He noted the engineers for the company that worked on it are no longer with that company. President Marty stated one concern is that MnDOT might forget about the $300,000, and stressed the City needs to jump on this to capture the whole $700,000, and contribute what the City needs to get the project going. Director of Public Works Lee stated MnDOT has a noise wall construction program, so they are constructing walls every year. He noted it is easier to have MnDOT add into their program than to have the City take the lead. Commissioner Thomas stated that there will be difficulty in getting these funds. She stated it has Mounds View EDA March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 5 got a trial to get through because every dollar that goes to the City means MnDOT does not get to put that dollar towards something else, in a department that is significantly under funded. She stated the money will get spent, but the question is where it goes. She stated getting the funds to come to Mounds View will be a challenge. She noted the entire amount is currently not allocated to a specific project. She noted the City will work hard to get the funds, but it is not a guarantee or promise and the City will be lucky to get it. President Marty stressed that the City should call on Medtronic and anyone else to help lobby for these funds. He noted it has been a big headline topic at the Capitol, so the City will take all the help it can get. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated the supplemental budget the governor submitted was done on March 14, 2006. He noted that in discussions with MnDOT, they were not aware of the $1.2 million, and they did not have it programmed. He explained because of this, there is a one to two week window for this opportunity. Economic Development Coordinator Backman stated that there is a time sequence of things. He stated Rehbein Excavators is working on the site preparation of the Medtronic project and will be moving 70,000 cubic yards of material. He noted there are only so many places to put fill in the interim basis. He stated the City should interact with Rehbein and Medtronic. He noted the closer the haul is, the easier it is for Rehbein, but then the City would have the cost of moving it again. He stressed there may be some planning involved, but it is a good opportunity. MOTION/SECOND: MARTY/GUNN. To Approve Resolution 06-EDA-218 Supporting a Supplemental Appropriation before the Minnesota Legislature that would provide an additional $400,000 in funding for the proposed Noise Wall Extension on the South Side of Trunk Highway 10. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Mike Supanski, 2385 Laport Drive, stated he has been a resident of the area for 25 years. He thanked the EDA for moving forward at this point in time, as it is a big issue for the neighborhood. He stated there is a lot of space to dump dirt in Arden Park, and noted there is already some dirt that is being dumped there. 8. REPORTS None. 9. NEXT EDA MEETING: Monday, April 10, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Mounds View EDA March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 6 10. ADJORNMENT President Marty adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Recorded and transcribed by: Annette Anderson TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.