Agenda - Council - 08/25/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Mistionc To work together to reipoiibly grew our comma nityr, and to provide quality, cert-oliBcdwe, and efficient government services. CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 08/25/2015 Submitted For: Patrick Brama, Administrative Services By: Patrick Brama, Administrative Services 7. 3. Information Title: Consider Policy Direction for Various Uses on Leased City Owned Land Located on U.S. Highway 10 Purpose/Background: PURPOSE Consider policy direction for "outside sales/ outside storage/ outside display" uses on leased City owned land located on U.S. Highway 10. BACKGROUND (why is this discussion coming forward now?) This discussion is before the Council as a result of a pending request for the expansion of an existing lease agreement between the City of Ramsey and M&G Trailer Sales. Currently, M&G Trailer Sales is leasing about 40,000 square feet of City owned land for the purpose of outside display/ storage/ sales. This lease agreement is set to terminate on April 22, 2019. Attached is the lease agreement. M&G Trailer Sales would like to expand (amend) their current lease agreement to include approximately double the size of their leasable space (about 85,000 square feet total). BACKGROUND (why does the City own so much land along Highway 10?) As part of pending/ planned improvements for U.S. Highway 10/ U.S. Highway 169 in Ramsey, the City (or MnDOT) needs to secure property for future right-of-way (ROW). A commonly utilized method to secure ROW is a MnDOT funded, Metropolitan Council administered, program known as the "right-of-way acquisition loan fund" or RALF. The City has purchased fifteen "RALF" properties along U.S. Highway 10 to date, and additional purchases will likely be made over time in order to facilitate the planned Highway 10 upgrades. In many cases, the City has leased back City owned RALF properties to the private sector for commercial use. The benefit of leasing back properties to the private sector is property taxes are generated, and the City retains active local businesses. BACKGROUND (why does the M&G request result in a policy discussion at this time?) The City Council adopted a new strategic plan in 2015. This plan included a "strategic initiative" to: improve the image of key corridors such as U.S. Highway 10; further more, the plan included a "tactic" to: proactively implement corridor improvements through public investment and code compliance initiatives. Staff anticipates this initiative to commence later this fall. The policy discussion regarding corridor improvement will likely continue into mid -2016. Additionally, the City's development team consistently receives concerns and comments from various parties related to the image and reputation of the City of Ramsey (in terms of development). The viewshed of U.S. Highway 10 in Ramsey is perceived to be generally negative, and often may be the only portion of Ramsey that people observe. As a result of the two items above, Staff has responded to M&G Trailer Sales request by indicating a policy