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Councihnember Zimmerman asked what fund this would come from. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated the recommendation is to utilize a loan from the Public <br />Improvement Fund and be paid back over a series of years. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated if Northstar is successful there will probably be a new round of funding for <br />stations, and the Northstar Commuter Coach may be eliminated and new train station sites built <br />with more capacity. He stated within five to seven years, he thinks other sources of money and <br />grants would become available the same as now. Then the City would have the opportunity to <br />work with the developers and landowners. In addition, an issue is who will run the site; the City, <br />County, Burlington Northern, or the land owner. He stated he does not think the money for the <br />commuter rail in the Town Center will be a problem and prefers to not look at the worse <br />alternative. He stated a future Council will have to look at that with the development of the land. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen agreed with the need to provide this resource and stated he is <br />supportive of that. He noted the Mayor's comments were filled with speculation. He stated that <br />at one point the City also did not think it would be a problem to drill wells on someone's <br />property but had to go through condemnation to get the wells drilled and provide drinking water. <br />Now the Council is back to talking about putting a $600,000 facility on someone else's property, <br />knowing it will have to be moved, and thinking someone else will pick up the costs. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that is taking a negative view of it and whoever is here will have to <br />negotiate it with the land owner when the time comes. He stated in five to six years the future <br />Council will have to decide who will operate it but for now this does not bind the future Council <br />since when the lease expires, the City is out of it and MnDOT will take it over. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated he does not think that is what the lease says or what will <br />happen. He stated if the City can prevail upon them to spend $600,000 in that way, the City can <br />probably prevail on them to pay $600,000 in another way. He stated if the Council is counting <br />on a "White Knight" to ride in and fork over the $600,000 then we certainly can use the <br />$600,000 in a better way than to build a Park and Ride. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that is pure speculation. He stated it is his opinion that Councilmember <br />Hendriksen is trying to protect the City but he is saying a figure ($600,000) the City would never <br />have to get involved with. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated the lease says the City has to provide the State with an <br />equivalent replacement Park and Ride facility if the site becomes temporary. He stated this is a <br />legally binding contract and the City would be obligated to do that so it is the Mayor who is <br />speculating that the State of Minnesota will not enforce the agreement that is before the Council. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated he thinks the Town Center Task Force should consider where the site <br />should be. <br /> <br />City Council/August 5, 2002 <br /> Page 6 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />