Minutes - Council - 07/08/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Elvig inquired if the City gets the official mapping process started will that be any level of commitment by MnDOT. Mr. Tinklenberg replied that it is a very low commitment. He explained that all official mapping does is position the project to be ready if there are funds made available. That is why they have studied the potential of federal funding. If there are federal funds that become available then he was fairly confident that it would provide the incentive MnDOT would need to find State dollars. City Administrator Norman noted that the official mapping process does make the City immediately available for funding to purchase property if it becomes available. Councilmember Elvig stated that they need to continue to push for both the North Star Corridor and Highway #10 improvements until something gets done. Some of the funding the City is looking to receive has to do with interchanges and one of the things he is hearing is that the crossing at Ramsey Boulevard and Highway #10 is important to the success of Town Center. Mayor Gamec replied that that intersection is already fully developed, which is why he felt that the moratorium was more appropriate from Ramsey Boulevard to the west. Councilmember Elvig stated that cash in hand is a big deal, which is why six months is a very important factor for him. He felt that this process was a good first move to find out the interest of MnDOT and the Federal Government, but he was not willing to say that he will go beyond this first step. Mayor Gamec inquired if the moratorium would only be on the north side of Highway #10. City Administrator Norman replied yes. Motion by Councilmember Cook, seconded by Councilmember Strommen, to introduce an ordinance to establish an interim moratorium ordinance, north of T.H. #10 and south of the BNSF Railroad from Ramsey's common border with Anoka to the common border with Elk River, for a six month period to provide the City and MnDOT the opportunity to establish a schedule for the official mapping of the T.H. #10 Corridor. Mayor Gamec called for public input. Jim Deal, Highway #10 NW, Ramsey, stated that if the City wants to buy his land at market price it is available. The time frame is a State issue, not a City issue. He expressed concern that the City has the cart ahead of the horse. He thought that the State should be coming forward with the time frame. Mr. Deal thanked the Council for having The Tinklenberg Group meet with the property owners to explain the process. He stated that if they are looking at ten years before the Highway will be improved, the City needs to look at the economic impacts of officially mapping the property. City Council/July 8, 2003 Page 12 of 30