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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 26, 2001 Page 5 they not tie the hands of the development community, by getting too specific. Mr. Rapp added that if 2 the City is too specific, they limit their choices as well as the quality and responsiveness of the 3 development community. Instead, he urged the Council to focus on a general framework, that is 4 flexible and allows for input by the developer. s Mr. Rapp continued by stating that it is a partnership between the City and the developer. He indicated 6 that they would clearly document everything that the community has said, and that it would be included 7 in their recommendations in the Concept Plans. Yet, he added, they had to allow the development s community to have a stake in the project with them. Mr. Rapp identified other communities (Burnsville 9 and St. Louis Park) that have gone through large-scale re-development projects, who learned that 10 being too specific on the front-end cost them time, money, and choices in the end. 11 Mr. Rapp stated that their role is to get them to the point of having Concept Plans to examine, but 12 stated they will not make a recommendation to them as to which Plan they believe they should choose. 13 Then, he added, Ehlers and Associates, will represent them through the process of selecting a 14 developer, and learning the financial implications associated with the project. Councilmember Horst asked what, specifically, would be provided them. Mr. Rapp responded that they will receive the cost of the project, the implications for the city, and the feasibility in the 17 marketplace. 18 Councilmember Horst added that, looking at some of the criteria, it seems ambitious. Mr. Rapp stated 19 that the people working on the project have a tremendous amount of experience, and that some of the 20 information to be distributed at the next meeting is already prepared. 21 Mr. Rapp stated that, collaboratively, they will work with a developer on details like color of brick, 22 and placement of architectural features. Councilmember Horst added that the details have bogged 23 down this process in the past, and asked what the skeleton was going to look like. Mr. Rapp indicated 24 that there would be two Concept Plans to examine. 25 Mr. Rapp continued that there would exist criteria associated with each particular Plan, such as 26 estimated cost per square foot used in anticipating the level of development they would want to see 27 there. Mr. Rapp stated that they would need to decide on the removal of the building. He added that 28 was an implication that would be identified within the report. 29 Mr. Rapp stated that the City always has the option to do nothing, and that it was important that they 30 be aware of that. R1 Mayor Cavanaugh stated that, when they started this process, it was implied that they retained DSU in 2 order to give them a recommendation. Mr. Rapp responded that they would be giving them two 33 Concept Plans, each with pros and cons attached to them, and an indication that the market would 34 respond to both of them, but in different ways.