Agenda - Council - 04/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Gamec recessed the City Council work session at 8:28 p.m. Mayor Gamec called the regular City Council work session back to order at 8:40 p.m. 2) Town Center Review Board City Administrator Norman explained that there is language in the Ramsey Town Center development agreement and the new zoning ordinance pertaining to the creation of a Town Center Review Board. The Council previously has had a great deal of discussion regarding the Review Board and there was not a good consensus on how to form the Board. Since that time staff has been working with the language and came to the consensus that it made more sense to establish a technical advisory board utilizing staff, as well as expertise in the field. Staff has suggested that Jim Lasher from LSA Design, the City's Economic Development Consultant Mike Mulrooney and Commercial Architect Kathy Anderson be included on the Board. The City Attorney has drafted language of how the Board would be established to act more as a technical advisory committee, which was presented for Council review. The Board would provide technical advice to the decision making boards and the City Council. City Attorney Goodrich reviewed the proposed resolution establishing the Town Center Review Board. Councilmember Kurak stated that it seemed redundant to have staff serve on the Review Board since they are part of the development process already. It would seem that they would want different opinions. Another concern she had is why would the City be hiring consultants to serve on the Board and who is going to be paying for those consultants. Assistant Director of Public Works Olson stated that staff needs to bring in some outside expertise to help address some of the issues. City Administrator Norman explained that staff has sat in meetings where people patronize them stating they don't understand market realities, which is why he feels very strongly they need to have experts on their side. Councihnember Kurak inquired as to who is going to pay for their services. Assistant Director of Public Works Olson replied that he felt that the developer should pay for those services. Councilmember Kurak replied that she had a big problem with that because the Town Center Review Board is something that the developer agreed to in the Development Agreement and now the City is changing things and requiring them to pay for establishing the Board. City Administrator Norman noted that LSA Design already has a contract with the City that the City Council has authorized. Kathy Anderson has designed many Town Centers and could provide staff with a great level of expertise. City Council Work Session/March 15, 2004 Page 6 of 10