Minutes - Council Work Session - 05/02/2006

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· Traffic is not likely to be an issue. The consensus of the Council was general agreement of the sketch plan with the 6-unit townhomes. The Council did not express concern regarding the land use change. 1) Lord of Life Housing Project City Administrator Norman indicated representatives of Lord of Life Church are present to discuss the Lord of Life Senior Housing Project with the Council. Natalie Haas Steffen, Lord of Life Church, stated the reason for coming to the Council this evening is to discuss with the Council a senior housing project Lord of Life Church has been discussing. She stated the church is progressing along the line of selling five acres of land to Augustana Corporation to build the senior housing proj ect. They are well enough along in this process to know this project could be carried off if the City would consider helping the church. She is here tonight on behalf of the church to remind the Council that the church has been very cooperative in some things the City wants to do, and the church has been willing to look far ahead with the City. The church has really changed the configuration of what they would like to do on their property to accommodate the City with the Highway 47 project. The church is happy to do that, but would like to remind the Council that the cost of doing business could be a great deal more if the church were not cooperative. The church is asking that the Council look at what they do in the community, and is asking for abatement of the City fees for park dedication, trails and other development fees. Ms. Steffen provided an overview of the reasoning for this request as outlined in the letter from Lord of Life Executive Director Wayne Skaff to the Ramsey City Council and Senior Staff dated 5/2/06. Wayne Skaff, Executive Director of Lord of Life Church, stated the church is a member of the community and their facility is the center of the community in many ways. He noted when the City needed to call an emergency meeting several months ago regarding a sex offender moving into the City, the church immediately made their facility available. The church provides service to the community in a park-like setting year round. The church is looking for help in the abatement of fees that makes sense to the Council and that the City can reasonably stand on. He stated this assistance from the City is really what will make this deal work or not work for the church and Augustana Corporation. Woody Nelson, President of Lord of Life Church, stated, in 2003, the plan being considered included 46 or 47 units. Augustana Corporation feels that is not likely a critical enough mass to justify full-time employees on site, and has indicated the number of units should likely be closer to 60. Mr. Nelson noted the church provided the City with an easement for the fire loop connection, which is in place, and the watermain is at the site boundary. Ms. Steffen stated the City has a history of being charitable, and should be able to forgive some of these costs, as was done for affordable housing. Councilmember Cook inquired about the financial ramifications of providing this assistance to the church. City Council Work Session / May 2, 2006 Page 3 of 10