Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/20/2007

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TO: Heidi Nelson City of Ramsey FROM: Jodi Ruehle The Tinklenberg Group DATE: February 16, 2007 RALF Update RE: Attached please find a status report regarding right-of-way acquisition activities conducted by The Tinklenberg Group along the officially mapped portion of Trunk Highway 10. These acquisitions have been purchased utilizing the RALF (Revolving Acquisition Loan Fund) program administered by the Metropolitan Council. The spreadsheet identifies those parcels which have been, or are currently in the process of being acquired by the City of Ramsey. Also listed are those properties who have communicated interest on some level to enter into the program should funds be made available. At this time no additional monies are available in the RALF program, however, the Met Council has set aside, and is holding funds to purchase the EZ AutolTodd Bialon and Doug and Julie Hills properties. The Met Council did decide to levy for funds in 2007 which would bring approximately $3.2 million back into the program - those funds will be made available in June/July of this year. The majority of the acquisitions completed to date have been purchased with monies put back into the RALF account as a result of improvements in the Eden Prairie Highway 212/312 corridor. The next significant installment of funds is expected to occur when MnlDOT moves ahead with construction in the TH61 0 corridor, however it is unknown when these improvements will actually move forward. Specific to the two remaining properties identified on the spreadsheet, it is uncertain if the Bialon acquisition will move through and additional communication is necessary to confirm that the leaseback arrangement will be negotiable. The Hills parcel is in final stages, however the Phase 1 and 2 environmental testing has identified small amounts of petroleum based contamination in the soils on that parcel, and we are working with Mn/DOT and legal counsel to determine whether or not this is truly a significant issue, or if additional testing will prove otherwise. We will continue to work with MnlDOT to ensure that all issues are resolved prior to a final purchase. There are a number of discussions taking place in terms of initiatives to introduce into this year's legislative session regarding the need for additional funding that would support corridor preservation activities; it is our hope that these conversations will result in an increase in resources to continue these efforts. The City of Ramsey has made tremendous progress in this regard, and is a perfect example of how advance acquisitions can save significant dollars for transportation improvements along a major transportation corridor in the state.