Minutes - Council - 05/14/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Community Development Director Frolik noted that while they are doing further research on the issue, staff will follow the City Attorney's opinion that current use of a helicopter in the City is a violation. City Attorney Goodrich stated that he would do some research on the issue and report back to the Council. Case #12: Consider Market Analysis Study City Administrator Norman stated that during the March 25, 2002 Ramsey Town Center Task Force meeting, Development Consultant Mike Mulrooney made the recommendation based on the need for having sound economic development available, which would be helpful in order to track interest of a quality development for the commercial portion of the project. The Task Force made the recommendation to the City Council for such a study. Mr. Mulrooney contacted a firm that is frequently used in the Metropolitan area that provides such services. Associated Retail Consulting (ARC) has provided a proposal for Council consideration. ARC would describe the scope of the project as being a study, which would include a full market analysis of the City of Ramsey along with its surrounding effective retail trading area, and determine a timeline- oriented threshold for potential retail to service the area. This threshold perspective would reveal the present day potential for retail categories, as well as the five and ten-year longer-range potential of the categories based on population growth. Other yearly thresholds may be identified depending upon the rate of population growth of the region in the coming years. The proposal by ARC includes a cost projection of approximately $25,000 to complete the market analysis. Staff recommended that the source of funding for the study come from the Council contingency fund. Councilmember Anderson stated that she had thought part of the Calthorpe study included a market analysis and inquired if there was a way to not duplicate what they may have already done in an attempt to keep costs down. City Administrator Norman replied that ARC would be going beyond the Calthorpe study. Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if the market analysis will be focused on a specific geographic area. He stated that if they are going to do a market analysis he wants to make sure that they look at the entire area and factor in what already exists. Secondly he wants a credible source of information on what the net affect is on residential in the City. Everything he has heard is that residential is a net tax loss. City Administrator Norman replied that he is working on a quote from Juran and Moody regarding the net impact study. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if it would be possible to use TIF Funds to fund the study. City Administrator Norman replied that he would research that information. City Council/May 14, 2002 Page 29 of 36