Agenda - Council - 05/26/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Public Works Municipal Center, Members Present: Also Present: PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Committee conducted a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the Ramsey 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. Chairperson Chris Riley Councilmember Jill Johns Councilmember Melody Shryock City Administrator Kurtis Ulrich Public Works Superintendent Grant Riemer Community Development Director Timothy Gladhill City Engineer Bruce Westby 5.01: Consider Recommending Council Approval of draft Assessment Agreement for Ridgepoint Residential Development Public Improvements, Improvement Project 15-21 City Engineer Westby reviewed the staff report. He noted Randy Diers and Don Kveton were present to represent Village Bank. The property owner is Village Bank, and they are not able to fund the improvements to the land directly. They have requested the City enter into an agreement with the bank and assess the improvements back to the bank. The City would conduct the improvements and the inspections. He stated the City has done this type of arrangement once before, with Legacy Christian Academy. However, he pointed out, that was a larger project. This project is little risk to the City. The City Attorney has noted the City is not obligated to approve this request, though his opinion is that this is an option if the City would like to allow it. City Administrator Ulrich asked if Mr. Diers would give a history of this project. Randy Diers, President of Village Bank, explained they have had this property for four years, and have tried to sell it for three years as it is currently zoned, which is commercial. There has not been interest. He said as they considered the property further, they started to envision residential lots, especially because of the proximity to the river. He stated they were aware of the soil issues that had to be considered. He noted the bank owns the property, but the bank is not a developer. He explained regulation is rather specific in this type of situation. One stipulation is the bank cannot be in speculation of real estate. In order to ready the property for development, the construction loan needed has been prohibitive to the developers that have shown interest thus far. He said the Bank had decided to ask the City for help in this issue and created the project to be of no risk to the City. Don Kveton, Chairman of the Board of Village Bank, explained he has been living in Ramsey for 16 years. He is committed to follow through on the proposal. He noted that the real estate language in the banking law could be interpreted several ways. He stated he would like to keep this entire project as clean as possible to preserve both his and the Bank's reputations. He said he also wants to do what he can to keep taxes down. He reviewed some of the homes they have sold and areas he has developed. He commented this is a nice piece of land, and there will be nice homes. It is hard to show the land as