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Glen Hardin echoed this concern, he wanted to make sure that ample meetings for negotiations <br />had been conducted and his recommendation was that the staff and members of the EDA have <br />one last face to face meeting with the ownership group before authorizing condemnation <br />proceedings. Then, at that meeting, show the City's intention to begin condemnation. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman said that the EDC has been involved since June, when the City first came to them <br />for their recommendation regarding the City pursuing the purchase of more industrial park <br />property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen said that the City Council could not afford $22,000 per acre and as <br />a member of the City Council, she would not support spending that. The City went into <br />negotiations willing to pay the original asking price for the property of $1,500,000, but since <br />then, it has doubled in price. She was not willing to spend $22,000 on any property even if it did <br />have city sewer and water, especially when the intention is to turn around and give the land <br />away. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner asked if the EDA and the City Council approved going ahead with condemnation <br />proceedings, how would the process go from there? <br /> <br />Mr. Norman said that the City would pay for an appraisal, the owners would pay for an appraisal, <br />and he believed the third appraiser would be appointed by the court, and that cost would split <br />between the City and the owners. <br /> <br />Mr. Hardin asked what the price of industrial park land is in the Anoka and Ramsey industrial <br />parks with improvements. <br /> <br />Mr. Mulrooney said that the County Assessor's office has a tough time deciding on a dollar <br />amount because the land is given away. However, in Coon Rapids where the land is not given <br />away, they are receiving up to $1.50 per square foot, but he thought that the reason for that price <br />was the limited supply available, also the additional holding costs for the developers of the <br />properties. In addition, when you are purchasing a smaller lot, you can afford to pay a higher <br />price per acre. Whereas, with a large property as discussed here, it becomes less feasible. <br /> <br />Mr. Hardin clarified that he would just like to know the full price with improvements. If the full <br />price is less than $1.50 per square foot, and according to his calculations, they come closer to <br />$1.00 per square foot, it is more feasible. <br /> <br />Mr. Mulrooney agreed with the calculation. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Mr. Hardin to approve the use of <br />condemnation by the City Attorney following one last face to face meeting with the landowners <br />and two Economic Development Authority members who are not Councilmembers, and staff. <br />The representatives of the EDA will be named by the Chairperson. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Councilmembers Haas Steffen, Anderson and Zimmerman, Mr. <br />Hardin,, Mr. Kent, Ms. Scheiber, Mr. Wagner, and Mr. Riley. Voting No: None. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/January 12, 1999 <br /> Page 6 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />