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<br />Councilmember Dehen asked why the City couldn't do any of this with our own staff. He stated <br />that he doesn't understand why the City would hire consultants. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Olson stated that he feels consultants are needed because he isn't a <br />finance specialist and doesn't have the slightest idea of what the market will or won't bear right <br />now. He stated that there are a lot of things in the LSA proposal that would be extremely <br />beneficial, for example, a consultant can pull information and experience from all over the <br />nation. He stated that Jim Lasher has worked on a similar project in Eden Prairie. He stated that <br />he feels it will be good to have someone with experience to help the City through the process, <br />especially as the vision may be changing a bit. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that the frustration to her is that when R TC, LLC started down <br />the financial slide, they came to the Council with a lot of claims about the market realities and <br />asked for changes. She stated that now the City is in a situation where the bank is telling us <br />information and the City has been relying on that information and what developers have been <br />telling us. She stated that the City then has to try to evaluate this information knowing that those <br />parties all have a self interest. She stated that she has been frustrated that the City has not had its <br />own independent experts giving us information. She stated that she doesn't know the realities of <br />the finances on this project and doesn't understand how viable the plan is or even what the City <br />needs. She stated that the City is sitting in sort of an adversarial position right now, and feels the <br />City needs information and experts on our side. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that, in his opinion, the Council is not the most qualified group of <br />people to drive a project. He stated that he thinks this is what developers are for. He stated that <br />he thinks the City has always been open minded about saying that it is willing to talk about <br />potential projects. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen asked what would happen if a developer came to the City and said <br />that it needed to do a big box development. She stated that the City wouldn't know if it was <br />really the best for the City or just for the developer. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that if the Council didn't feel competent to make that call, then the <br />City could bring in a consultant. He stated that bringing in a consultant now just seems like <br />putting the "cart before the horse". He stated that he would like to spend the money when there <br />is someone at the table and there is a specific proposal to consider, not right now, when nothing <br />is happening. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Olson stated that is what the whole lawsuit is about and whether the <br />development agreement will stand, or not. He stated that if the City gives up on the development <br />agreement and the land is sold to Target, for example, the City wouldn't have a way to say no. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he wasn't suggesting that the City give up on the development <br />agreement. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated that one of the areas where consultants like LSA can assist the <br />City is helping to "redraw the picture" of what the RTC will be. He stated that the City has said <br /> <br />Ramsey Town Center City Council Subcommittee Work Session / July 22, 2008 <br />Page 2 of 10 <br />