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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Minutes of February 14, 2001 Committee of the WholeROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 14, 2000 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the Committee of the Whole Work Session was held on February 14, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Busho called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Cisewski, Edwards, Riley and Klassen present. Staff members in attendance were City Administrator Tom Burt, Police Chief Kalstabakken, City Planner Pearson, Community Development Director Parsons, Human Resource /Communications Coordinator Graff, and Finance Director May. City Administrator Burt gave background regarding the planned remodel for City Hall. Costs for the project were initially estimated to be about S2 million dollars. However, after investigation by staff of all of the associated costs, the estimate is now $3.1 million dollars. Finance Director May then reviewed the alternatives for financing the project considering the new price tag. He outlined the different fund sources that could be accessed. He recommended that the City buy down the $1 million dollars of the debt and issue a total of $2 million in debt. If the project were financed for 20 years the payment would be $180,000 per month, consist with the originally budget amount. Council brought forth the following concerns and suggestions. Mayor Busho stated that she thought the project should be financed over 20 years, but she did not want to use street or storm water funds to buy down the project. Council Member Klassen was concerned about what impact buying down the debt for the City Hall project would have on the Streetscape Project. Council Member Edwards asked if the entire project needed to be done right away, could items such as furniture and computers wait until later? City Administrator Burt replied that if furniture and other equipment is not purchased now it would be in competition with other projects in the CIP. Council Member Cisewski wanted detail on how the project got to be a $1 million more than originally thought. Burt noted the largest overrun was that the interim move of city staff and keeping all city services operational had not been configured into the estimated cost of the remodel. Council Member Riley wondered how long the space would function for the Police Department. City Administrator Burt asked Council to wait until hard costs have been defined through the bidding process. Once the costs were defined, it would be more apparent where costs in the project could be cut. Council had consensus to move ahead with this city hall remodeling proposal. Formal approval to go out for bids will be brought to the March 6 Council Meeting. Council would like to review bids received at the April Committee of the Whole meeting. Connemara Avenue The Council reviewed the proposed future alignment and alternatives for the developing area north of Biscayne Pointe and extending east towards Akron Avenue. Acting City Engineer Weiss was given the go -ahead to discuss crossings with the railroads. The Council endorsed the conceptual grade- separated crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad. ROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 14, 2000 Transfer of Development Rights City Planner Pearson explained the request from Mr. Richard Cliff to acquire development rights from Ms. Wicklund so that he could sell 40 of his 76 acres. The Councilmembers present were not comfortable with the idea, primarily because Cliffs land is in the future MUSA area. Staff was given direction to prepare a policy that would only permit transfer of development rights in the permanent agricultural area for future Council review. Mining Report Update The Council members present concurred «ith allo «ina Dahlgren, Shardlow and Uban to proceed with the end -use plan for mining, but to hold off on the inventory and ordinance preparation to limit costs. Staff will prepare alternatives for future Council review regarding future mining areas and permit processing options. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Thomas D. Burt, City Administrator The City Council Agenda Packet is Clerk's File 2001 -06. 2