07/22/08 Twon Center WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Councilmember Dehen asked why the City couldn't do any of this with our own staff. He stated that he doesn't understand why the City would hire consultants. Public Works Director Olson stated that he feels consultants are needed because he isn't a finance specialist and doesn't have the slightest idea of what the market will or won't bear right now. He stated that there are a lot of things in the LSA proposal that would be extremely beneficial, for example, a consultant can pull information and experience from all over the nation. He stated that Jim Lasher has worked on a similar project in Eden Prairie. He stated that he feels it will be good to have someone with experience to help the City through the process, especially as the vision may be changing a bit. Councilmember Strommen stated that the frustration to her is that when RTC, LLC started down the financial slide, they came to the Council with a lot of claims about the market realities and asked for changes. She stated that now the City is in a situation where the bank is telling us information and the City has been relying on that information and what developers have been telling us. She stated that the City then has to try to evaluate this information knowing that those parties all have a self interest. She stated that she has been frustrated that the City has not had its own independent experts giving us information. She stated that she doesn't know the realities of the finances on this project and doesn't understand how viable the plan is or even what the City needs. She stated that the City is sitting in sort of an adversarial position right now, and feels the City needs information and experts on our side. Councilmember Dehen stated that, in his opinion, the Council is not the most qualified group of people to drive a project. He stated that he thinks this is what developers are for. He stated that he thinks the City has always been open minded about saying that it is willing to talk about potential projects. Councilmember Strommen asked what would happen if a developer came to the City and said that it needed to do a big box development. She stated that the City wouldn't know if it was really the best for the City or just for the developer. Councilmember Dehen stated that if the Council didn't feel competent to make that call, then the City could bring in a consultant. He stated that bringing in a consultant now just seems like putting the "cart before the horse". He stated that he would like to spend the money when there is someone at the table and there is a specific proposal to consider, not right now, when nothing is happening. Public Works Director Olson stated that is what the whole lawsuit is about and whether the development agreement will stand, or not. He stated that if the City gives up on the development agreement and the land is sold to Target, for example, the City wouldn't have a way to say no. Councilmember Dehen stated that he wasn't suggesting that the City give up on the development agreement. City Administrator Ulrich stated that one of the areas where consultants like LSA can assist the City is helping to "redraw the picture" of what the RTC will be. He stated that the City has said it will be flexible, but there isn't anything out there showing a picture of what it will look like. He Ramsey Town Center City Council Subcommittee Work Session / July 22, 2008 Page 2 of 10