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<br />Mayor Gamec arrived at 6:32 p.m. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund indicated property taxes and relocation are not covered by RALF. Also a <br />lot of the costs in the Hill and Boike property are not currently RALF funded. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Nelson explained, if successful, acquiring those projects costs would <br />be billed to the Metropolitan Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig inquired about the funding source for the projects that are not currently <br />covered by RALF. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund explained currently there is a negative account balance with interest <br />earnings paid to the PIR Fund for borrowing the funds. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated something important that has come to his attention is that The <br />Tinklenberg Group acquired funding and the City turned over about $800,000 to the County to <br />take the lead on the Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard exchange design work. He <br />expressed concern that the funds were turned over in September, it is now April and the funds <br />are still sitting. They have lost three quarters of a year on the project by not keeping it in-house <br />or pushing it, and the City is struggling to pay fees to keep the project active. They will be <br />completely out on the appropriation if they do not make the project happen. He stressed that the <br />City's appropriation requests need to be ready to go in December. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Olson indicated he received a letter from the County last week stating that <br />the County agrees to do the advance construction on this project and signed copies of the new <br />contract will be sent to the City. This will provide the preliminary engineering for the Sunfish <br />Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard interchanges. It includes the advance work for <br />acquisition. He explained there was a not to exceed amount of $250,000 on the grant that was <br />used for the first phase of Highway 10. The Tinklenberg Group's work on that project should be <br />completed with no additional costs coming forward. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated one of her concerns from the past is to make sure they are <br />using The Tinklenberg Group where they are really needed. They need to be aware that the City <br />is billed every time the consultants attend a work session or provide input, and the costs need to <br />be managed efficiently. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Nelson indicated staff is seeking direction with regard to the level of <br />funding for the work to be completed in 2007 and the allocation of Council Contingency funds <br />for that purpose. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen suggested that an amount be set in the Council Contingency Fund <br />and periodically reviewed. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session I March 27, 2007 <br />Page 2 or 5 <br />