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12-13-2011 WSMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Raspberry Room - 6:30 p.m. The meeting was started at 6:31 p.m. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council members Rick Brausen, Kristi Halverson, Bruce Rowan, Cheryl Youakim, City Manager Mike Mornson, Director of Economic Development Kersten Elverum, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard; Representative from Klodt Inc. John Bell; Representatives from Blake School Ken Nivala and Marc Bogursky; Representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Shawn Ruotsinoja and Peter Tiffany; Representative for Johnson Building Chris Winter of the Niclas Group and Stephen Knowles of Knowles Blunick Architecture Ltd. Park Nicollet Site Update Ms. Elverum reviewed the history of the request for proposal for redevelopment on the vacant Park Nicollet Clinic site located at 8th Avenue South and 1 st Street South. Mr. Bell, representing Klodt Inc. updated Council on the status and intent of his company for redevelopment on the site. Mr. Bell stated Klodt is partnering with Sidal Reality and the background behind this partnership. Mr. Bell reported that Klodt is also interested in the Lutheran Digest property and possibly the Elks site. He stated soil testing on the area will begin soon. Mr. Bell discussed what the concept of the site may look like depending on the purchase of additional properties. He presented a concept drawing. Ms. Elverum stated the City applied for an Art Place grant for the site to support an artist's live/work environment. She is still waiting to hear whether it will be granted. There was discussion on what materials may be used, the style of what the new building may look like and how the proposed project would fit into the City's vision for the 891 Avenue connection between the future light rail station and downtown Main Street. Mr. Bell asked about revising the current agreement price by capping it if the Lutheran Digest property is purchased to provide for a larger complex. Ms. Elverum asked Council if Klodt inc. is still the preferred company for the project and if so to cap the pricing structure if the additional lot is added. The Council had a great deal of positive feed back on the project. They agree that Klodt should continue with the project. I'a-c 2 Blake School Concept Plan Representatives of Blake School Mr. Nivala and Mr. Bogursky presented the concept plan for the campus expansion for the Hopkins's site. It includes the properties the school purchased on Harrison Avenue. Mr. Bogursky explained the Campus Master plan for the site. The Master plan will extend over 20 years but Blake School has identified four projects as their top priority. These include replacing the grass athletic field with an artificial turf field, construction of a lower school dining room, addition of a new field house and to improve the traffic flow though campus. Also discussed was the need for additional water retention capacity on their property. There was discussion in regards to the flow of the current traffic and how the new road would be designed. School buses would not be used on the new road routing. Also discussed were the existing houses on their property and how they will be utilized in the future. Discussion centered around one of the houses that may be used as a daycare and what issues would be required with it. Council agreed that this concept was one of the most favorable that has been presented to them. Council directed the representatives from the school to touch base with the neighborhood committee followed by a concept review process that would include a broader neighborhood meeting. If the concept is acceptable the next step would be approving a memorandum of understanding to detail conditions. 2012/2013 MPCA Landfill Consolidation Proiect Representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Mr. Ruotsinoja and Mr. Tiffany discussed the need to upgrade the landfill in Hopkins. They would consolidate the waste to provide a waste -free buffer zone between the landfill and adjacent properties to make it safer. Mr. Ruotsinoja, the Land Manager for the MN Pollution Control Agency explained the current Hopkins landfill is ranked number 2 out of 112 on the Closed Landfill Program (CLP) for risk priority mainly due to the methane gas issues at the site. Mr. Tiffany, the Project Engineer explained the process of consolidating the current landfill and reducing the footprint for 26 acres to 16 acres. He discussed the finish process would reduce the risk to the public and environment. He explained the agency would relocate waste from the edges to the middle of the site, install a new cover, replace the active gas extraction system, improve the drainage and install two passive vents. He stated that after the waste is relocated to the center, it will be covered by a barrier of soil, then a 40 -mil thick plastic liner and lastly two additional feet of soil. According to the plan, the soil will be reused from the area and there will not be a need for excessive trucking at the site. Page 3 There was discussion regarding the land use, the fencing after the foot print has been reduced and how the gases are monitored. Also discussed was the possible odor during the construction phase. The representatives were seeking direction from the Council on the best way to notify the surrounding residents. Council suggested meetings on site of the surrounding developments and also at city hall. The City will provide address information to the MPCA. Johnson Building Ms. Elverum recapped the project proposed for the Johnson building located on 810 First Street S. The owner is proposing a concept that involves two phases. In phase one the existing building would be partly demolished and reconfigured as a retail/office project. To assure the City that phase two is accomplished an agreement with a final date to which either the owner, Mr. Dahl, would need to complete the phase or the City would have the ability to purchase and complete it. Ms. Elverum acknowledged if the property changes from warehouse to commercial the City may need to work with the owner regarding the City owned parking lot in the area. Mr. Winter and Mr. Knowles summarized what may work best for the location during phase one. Mr. Winter stated that the redevelopment would by marketplace driven. In phase two, he talked about the company's opportunities for the site to try to attach more businesses to Hopkins. There was discussion on what would happen to the existing businesses located on the property, what the concept for the new businesses in the building may be there in the future and what they may look like. Ms. Elverum stated that the owner would like direction on what the City's intent is for a partnership. She stated that the City had basically three options: option one; the City is not interested; option two; have the owner provide more visual concepts for the future structure and option three; go to the Zoning & Planning Commission to keep the discussion going. The Council would like to continue with the project. They would like to see a bigger picture of the whole building and what it may look like in the future and to bring the project back to a work session. Home Rehab Loan/Grant Program Terms Ms. Beard gave an overview of the CDBG allocations program in regards to the home improvement loan/grant program terms. The terms had changed in 2007 when the total loan to value ratio was changed from 100% to 90 %. Staff recommends that the value ratio return to 100%. There was much discussion regarding how the loans/grants can be used, where the property values information comes from, what would happen if the property is foreclosed on and if the amount should remain at $ 25,000. Page 4 Council directed staff to change the value ratio back to 100 % and to keep the maximum loan amount at $25,000. OTHER: • Council Member Youakim stated she attended the LRT meeting. The committee is still looking for a management office and some committee offices are still vacate. • City Manager Mornson reported: 1. The current Attorney fees will be raised from $132 an hour to $145 per hour. He reported that the increased rate is still lower then many surrounding cities. 2. He and Amanda Birnstengal from the Center of the Arts are meeting larger companies regarding the City. 3. The City received a grant from Hennepin Parks to be used for improvements to Maetzold Field. • Mayor Maxwell stated the sound system in Council Chambers is working. With no further business to discuss there was a motion by Council member Brausen and a second by Council member Youakim to adjourn the meeting at 10:37 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kris Luedke ATTEST: Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor