HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/10/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jif St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
OCTOBER 21, 2013
The meeting convened at 7:15 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan
Sanger, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt),
Communications Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
1. Property Acquisition Update: 4601 Highway 7
Mr. Hunt presented the staff report and results of the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
and advised that the subject property has some impacts with approximately 10,000 cubic yards of
soil/debris that would likely have to be pulled off the site. He pointed out the material was
placed over poor soils anyway and would have to come out regardless, adding that some of the
soil could likely remain on the site depending on how the site is covered at the time of
redevelopment.
Councilmember Santa requested clarification regarding the consultant's statement regarding the
relatively few soil borings and asked if staff felt there were too few soil borings taken by a
reasonable standard.
Mr. Hunt explained that the City's objective was to see what would likely be encountered in the
soil with approximately eight to ten bonngs taken and not over the entire site. He stated there
was a reasonable distribution of borings taken throughout the property, particularly in areas
where it was suspected there might be some contamination, as well as several borings taken
within the building itself.
Councilmember Sanger asked if Clear Channel has accepted the City's appraisal value. She also
asked if the City would be immune from liability for any environmental violations on the site.
Mr. Hunt replied the City has provided Clear Channel with the amount based on the appraisal
and it is not clear whether Clear Channel will come back and request more. He stated the
billboards at this location are on wood-framed structures and the appraisal is based on the
depreciated fair market value of the structure. He added the City is immune from liability for
any contamination on the site, adding the City will enter the property into the MPCA's VIC
program in order to obtain a No Association Determination.
Councilmember Sanger asked if the City believes it will get its money back if the City has to sell
the property to Met Council or some other governmental entity if the future use turns out to be a
parking ramp for the LRT station. She stated she does not want to be in a position of having to
give the property away or to sell it for a discounted price if it turns out that Met Council or some
other entity decides that this is a parcel they want for a parking ramp.
Councilmember Mavity noted this site would be part of the City's Business Park zoning district
that encourages parking with development and did not feel this was a site where you would put
only parking because the site has a higher use.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- October 21, 2013
Mr. Hunt stated that this property by itself is a very good redevelopment site and felt the property
has significant redevelopment opportunities with LRT. He added the City has made it
abundantly clear that it is looking for more than parking at this location.
Mr. Harmening acknowledged the municipal consent plans show surface parking in this area but
did not believe that Met Council would want to build long-term surface parking on this site
because the development potential is too great. He stated the City could include a condition
regarding parking as part of municipal consent and added the City is going to work hard to make
sure a parking lot does not happen in the way that is currently being proposed. He added if it
turns out that the Met Council wanted this property for parking, it would not be at a discounted
price.
Councilmember Mavity urged Council to remain cognizant of the fact that there will be other
redevelopment sites that the City will want to control and that this particular purchase represents
more than 20% of the available cash in the Development Fund.
It was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with purchasing the subject property.
The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
NancyStr�ity Clerk Jeff J i o M. or