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HRA 06/08/1989 - 29665� CITY OF FRIDLEY HOIISING AND REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING, JIINE 8, 1989 ________________________________�__��_____��___________�_�______�_ CALL TO ORDER• Acting Chairperson Meyer called the June 8, 1989, Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL• Members Present: John Meyer, Duane Praire, Walter Rasmussen Members Absent: Larry Commers, Virginia Schnabel Others Present: Jock Robertson, Executive Director of HRA William Burns, Director of HRA William Nee, Mayor Dave Newman, HRA Attorney Rick Pribyl, Finance Director John Flora, Public Works Director Jim Casserly, Molzahn Casserly Bob Boisclair, Boisclair Corp. Dick Bienapfl, Waterford Group Timothy Nichols, 7777 Washington Ave. S., Edina ^ Liv Horneland, Coldwell Banker APPROVAL OF MAY 11, 1989, HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES• MOTION by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to approve the May 11, 1989, Housing & Redevelopment Authority minutes as written. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON MLYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. a 1. CONSIDERATION OF BOISCLAIR CORPORATION REDEVELOPMENT COIdCEPT FOR SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE/MISSISSIPPI STREET: Mr. Robertson stated that at the last meeting, the HRA directed City staff to work with Mr. Boisclair and his staff on an economic and financial analysis of the project. That analysis was received from Jim Casserly on Tuesday morning and it was delivered to the HRA members Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Robertson stated Mr. Casserly is at the meeting to explain his major conclusions which are summarized on the front page of his memo dated June 2, 1989. The summary is that the project will need n ,� HOIISING & REDEVELOPMENT ADTHORITY MEETING, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 2 assistance in excess of $5 million in the land to produce its $26 million development, and the site will only provide about $1.2 million for the developer. The balance of the approximately $5 million will have to be generated from outside the site. Mr. Casserly stated it is always difficult to summarize this kind of development proposal. It is a very extensive proposal, and he saw himself as not questioning or considering the merits of the proposal, but only analyzing the kinds of costs involved if the HRA and the City Council are interested in pursuing the proposal. Mr. Casserly stated he wanted to make it very clear from the beginning that, in his judgment, the developer has made a very conscientious and honest analysis of the kind of public funding that will be needed to make this proposal work. If anything, the developer may have overstated to a certain extent the amount of monies that will be needed to make the project work. Mr. Casserly stated that given the kind of development that is envisioned by this proposal, it requires a lot of multi-family housing. Because of the density and the high use of the site, there is no way this kind of development can take place without a very substantial public investment. It is compounded by the fact that it is a redevelopment site. As stated before, when they get involved in redevelopment, they have this never-ending issue. It may cost the HRA $4 million to do the acquisition and basic preparation of the site. It is not a$4 million site; it is a�1/2 -$1/4 million dollar site. So, the problem they always have and that they cannot escape is that in the hands of the developer, it is not worth to the developer what it costs the HRA to get it. Mr. Casserly stated the budget he has worked with has been fairly consistent for the last 18 months. It is approximately a$4 million budget to do the acquisition/demolition/relocation and some public improvements that are needed to go with the site. This particular $25 million would generate almost $4 million so that this particular development would be able to do all the things the HRA wanted to do in terms of the acquisition/demolition/relocation. Unfortunately, to make this kind of development work, it needs an additional approximate $5 million, and that becomes the crux of the problem. It is just not possible to generate any more money from that site. There is 20 years left on the district, which means the iiR� will get, at the very best, 18 full years of increment, but probably more like 16-17. The second constraint is just the size of the site itself. Mr. Casserly stated the numbers the Boisclair Corporation has suggested are not different than the numbers one of the earlier proposals suggested--the same $25-27 million range. The HRA worked on that proposal for several years trying to make those numbers ^ work. That proposal did not work either, because the developer � needed funds from outside the site. The HRA is now confronted � HOIISING & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING. JIINE 8. 1989 - PAGE 3 again with that same issue. To give the HRA a sense of what that means, they can think of it in these terms: A site will normally sustain about a 6- 1 ratio. If they are going to put $4 million into a site, they need roughly $24 million of valuation. So, if the HRA has a$4 million budget and they need another $5 million, they have to have approximately another $30 million of valuation to borrow from somewhere within the development program. Mr. Boisclair stated their initial purpose for developing the high degree of clarity of the numbers is to get at the issues as quickly as they can, because they have land sellers who need a commitment of substantial front-end dollars before they can move on the development; plus he just wants to make sure all the issues are on the table before they proceed much farther. Mr. Boisclair stated that, in his estimation, the project is highly feasible from the market perspective. They are very excited about this opportunity, and have been very confident that it will be an affirmative decision. With that in mind, they are doing some pre- leasing efforts so they do not lose any time on the retail side of it. Mr. Boisclair stated that as far as the cost of the project, they have used outside construction people who have a great deal of ^ experience in mixed use proj ects, and they are using their good inputs at this early low level drawings for budgetary purposes. They have been checking these from outside sources as well, so they are very confident that what they are showing the HRA is a fair and accurate representation of what is needed. Mr. Boisclair stated they are also having discussions with FHA. FHA's sense currently is that they are not too anxious to underwrite much of anything regardless of the location because of the major overbuilt status, generally speaking, in the marketplace. They have a meeting with FHA next week and they hope to convince the FHA of this project and this type of density. He stated FHA's main concern is mid-rise, and he feels Boisclair has answers to satisfy FHA's concerns. Mr. Casserly stated that until the HRA has some resolution of some of their other projects, they are not quite sure what their position is. Mr. Prairie stated if it wasn't for the Lake Pointe project, this would not be as difficult a decision to make. Mr. Meyer stated the Lake Pointe project is the HRA's top priority. It is a very heavy burden hanging over their heads and before they get into something equally as challenging financially, they have to proceed very carefully. � '� 80IISINa & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING. JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 4 Mr. Robertson stated after the staff financial analysis, Mr. Burns brought this up informally with the City Council on Wednesday, June 7. Mr. Burns stated that the Council expressed a lot of reservations about the Boisclair project as proposed, based primarily on (1) the necessity of borrowing from other districts; and (2) the developer himself because of his past projects. He stated Mayor Nee may want to elaborate a little on this discussion. Mayor Nee stated the Council's main concern is jeopardizing funds for the potential development at the Lake Pointe site. Secondly, it is a philosophical question of where they stop and start returning tax base to the jurisdictions. When they have a big project like this, they ask themselves: "What is in it for us?" Even though it is a nice project, the Council generally feels it should be self-supporting. In other words, whatever is done there should be financed out of the increment generated from that location. Mayor Nee stated he did not think the Council is real rigid on that, but they do feel strongly that the HRA should stay liquid and have capital available for what they might have to do at the Lake Pointe location. Mayor Nee stated he did not think there was any question about Mr. �,., Boisclair's ability to put the project together. The Council's main concern is drawing out increment in the district that ought to be liquidated. Mr. Burns stated it is important to know that the discussion with the Council was an informal, and the Council was not expecting to discuss it. The comments made were largely comments made by individuals. There was no vote or consensus, and he thought Mayor Nee has captured the essence of the individual comments that were made. Mr. Robertson stated Chairperson Commers could not be at the meeting, but he had called to comment on the agenda items. On this item, Mr. Commers' feeling is that the HRA should not try to adopt a hard and fast rule on the borrowing policy, but to try to keep the options open and decide on a case-by-case basis. He certainly did agree with trying to keep their options open for solving the Lake Pointe problem first. Regarding Mr. Boisclair's reputation, Mr. Commers had stated that in the end, Mr. Boisclair has to demonstrate his financing capability to his own financiers, and Mr. Commers would defer that judgment to people wiser than himself. Ms. Horneland stated the HRA wanted to know that when Mr. Boisclair came back to the FiRA that he was the developer of choice as far as the sellers are concerned, and that is the case. The sellers have gone through severe scrutiny, financially, and in the amount of ^ capability of what he has done, and Mr. Boisclair mustered very � HOUBINa & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETINa, JIINE 8. 1989 - PAGE 5 well. The sellers are very comfortable with Mr. Boisclair at this point. Mr. Meyer stated he shared the opinion of Mr. Commers that the financial community who will be backing Mr. Boisclair is better able to judge any financial problems than is the HRA. Mr. Casserly stated given the HRA's present situation and their present state of negotiations, staff is preparing a sample analysis of what happens when different things are done. They truthfully do not know what assumptions to use and may not know for awhile. Ms. Horneland stated that from a market standpoint, Boisclair has what it takes to make this project go, and the project could be up and running and doing something for the community in short order. There is a soft market for office and it could be a long time before anything happens with office. Ms. Horneland stated it comes back to the issue of the sellers waiting for something to happen. They are back to square one, the same position they have been in for ten years. The HRA has to give some serious consideration to what they want to do with the owners of the property if this project is not going to go, and it is not going to be a Tanurb-type project. � Mr. Prairie stated it is very difficult to let a nice development like this go, but they have not had a development that required this much assistance from the HRA. Mr. Newman stated he did not suggest the HRA take any action that might foreclose any future consideration of this proposal if the developer would decide to modify the proposal. Mr. Boisclair stated he is here to serve the will of the community; and if it is the City's will to downsize the project, he would certainly look at it. He has expended a significant amount of time and dollars, but the important thing is that assistance outside the district is available. Mr. Newman suggested the HRA reject Mr. Boisclair's proposal at this time to do an approximately $25 million development in which Mr. Boisclair is requesting approximately $5 million in assistance beyond what is generated from this site. Mr. Prairie stated that at the last meeting, the HRA said that philosophically they might be willing to take money from outside the district if the numbers worked out. Mr. Boisclair stated he is willing to study a reduction in the scale of the development. � � HOIIBING � REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 6 Mr. Newman stated that from what the HRA said one month ago, they are not automatically rejecting Mr. Boisclair's proposal, but they have to weigh a number of factors, and that is why they asked Boisclair to submit a proposal. Mr. Meyer stated Mr. Boisclair could spend a great deal more money trying to make the development happen, and still the HRA might reject it because of Lake Pointe. Mr. Boisclair stated the natural reaction he would give at this juncture would be to go to a wood frame construction, but the end result quality-wise will not be the same. They would drop the density down from 325-350 units to 220-225 units with wood frame. They can definitely look at that, and that would reduce the outside subsidy needed. Mr. Boisclair stated he would be willing to sit down with the HRA, Mr. Casserly, and City staff to discuss the range of probability of subsidy required for the different kinds of projects. Mayor Nee stated the Council is becoming uneasy about the diversion of tax base for purposes of housing subsidy at the expense of the school districts and everybody else. As far as the housing for the elderly, they are having that same feeling. They have not ^ discussed this thinking with the HRA. Mr. Robertson stated he thought it would be worthwhile for Mr. Boisclair to explore a scaled-down version of the development proposal. MOTION by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to deny the proposal presented by Boisclair Corporation for a$25 million development and direct City staff to meet with Mr. Boisclair and his associates to attempt to come to some proposal that is agreeable to both parties. Mr. Rasmussen asked if there is really a need for Mr. Boisclair to work with City staff. Is the concept good even if it is scaled down in size? He did not think it would be. He felt the HRA has enough to handle right now with Lake Pointe and other things. He thought the more direct and honest approach is to turn the proposal down now. Mr. Meyer stated he shared Mr. Rasmussen's concern, but the HRA has been honest and up front with Mr. Boi�clair and if he is still willing to spend money and energy in pursuing it, maybe something good will come from further discussions. Mr. Prairie suggested they put a short term time frame on the discussions (30 - 60 days) so that this does not drag on for a long �"� time. � � �� 80II8INa � REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 7 Mr. Rasmussen asked if there are other developers interested in the site. Ms. Horneland stated they have dealt with a number of developers on this project. Starting out in the process, they had developers that would do housing and retail and also that would do just strictly retail. The market studies that came back on the retail leasing showed it was an impossibility to do the large scale retail type center so they went to the apartment complex type development. That limits the developers that do apartments and retail together. There isn't a significant number of those, and they have had discussions with the ones that do. They have all proposed a similar project to Boisclair's. None of them has said they would do a significantly smaller project. Whoever the developer is would still have to be responsive to the dollars that are available. Ms. Horneland stated the biggest questions at this point are: If staff is working on the numbers to determine what is available, yet there is the tremendous uncertainty because of the Lake Point project, is there a certain amount they are going to be applying to the Lake Pointe over and above whatever is already in there, or is the amount already in there? Can the HRA really determine an amount that is reasonable and feasible for Mr. Boisclair's project and that it be done, even if the project is scaled down significantly? Mr. Meyer stated he did not know if the HRA could answer those questions either now or perhaps in the immediate future. Mr. Boisclair stated, unfortunately, the name of development is to assume risks, so he appreciated his responsibility and he would assume the risk of progressing further to see whether or not there is a match. Mr. Boisclair stated there is a window that opens July 1 for tax bond authority which will only be available the first part of 1990. He asked if there could be a dual track given them in terms of advising to the City Council that bond inducement is not tantamount to the project approval, but allows them to have the opportunity to make an application to FHA, and allows them to continue the process and save considerable time. Mr. Rasmussen stated he is still opposed to continuing with this project, but he is willing to go along with a 30 - 60 day time frame if the rest of the HRA members wished to do so. Mr. Boisclair stated he felt they can respond to the HRA in a timely manner. Mr. Newman stated he felt 60 days would be an adequate amount of time. � �'1 � HOQBINa 8 REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETING. JZJNE 8, 1989 - PAGE 8 Mr. Casserly stated it does not require too much of staff's time to have an understanding of how much increment can be generated from the Boisclair development, so time is not a problem. The problem is going to be for Boisclair to figure out if they need $500,000 from outside the site or $3,500,000, because he did not believe a housing project can be done without some assistance. He was not sure if the valuation is ever going to cover the amount of assistance necessary. The HRA is really stuck with having to take money from outside the site. MOTION TO AMEND by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to deny the proposal presented by Boisclair Corporation for $25 million development and direct City staff to meet with Mr. Boisclair and his associates to attempt to come to some proposal that is agreeable to both parties, within a time frame of 60 days. Mr. Burns stated the project looks very nice and a project the City would like to have on this site. However, from the standpoint of timing, the ideal thing for the City might be to have the 60 days on the other end. There remains a lot of uncertainty even with a scaled-down proposal until they have some more time to work out the other problems and look at other issues. He felt uneasy about trying to devote a lot of intense staff time on this. With the Onan project, the Lake Pointe project, and other staff commitments, he questioned whether the 60 days is in the right place. Sixty days might be better placed 60-90 days from now. Mr. Rasmussen stated he agreed with Mr. Burns. Mr. Casserly stated there are really some fundamental decisions the HRA is going to have to make: 1. 2. Does the HRA want to put tax increment monies into a housing project, into rental subsidy? Is the HRA is going to take money from outside the site? In response to Mr. Prairie's question of how much assistance the HRA can provide Boisclair without jeopardizing the Lake Pointe project, Mr. Newman stated if the HRA wants an interpretation as to how much money is safe, the answer is zero. Mr. Pribyl stated he is very concerned at this point in time, because of the dollars that might have to be utilized, and there is so much uncertainty as far as what solutions might be resolved. As far as a comfort level, zero is a good comfort level for him, because he has no idea how to respond to a question about how many dollars the HRA has available. They have no idea what kind of dollars are available, because they do not yet know what the solutions are. � HOIISINa � REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETINa, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 9 Mr. Meyer stated if Mr. Boisclair is willing to pursue this, knowing the negatives, there is always the hope that something might develop that would meet with the HRA's approval. Mr. Burns stated he did not want to discourage redevelopment. They want to encourage redevelopment. However, at the same time, it is his personal feeling that he did not think the City can realistically be in a position to know whether they can commit money to Mr. Boisclair's project until they are farther along in solving the Lake Pointe problem. Mayor Nee agreed. He stated it would be great if Mr. Boisclair was interested in the project 18 months from now. Ms. Horneland stated, again, there is a significant issue and that involves the sellers of the property. They have gone through this process for 10 years, and they have gone through the process of working with developers and coming in with a proposal with Tanurb to try to keep the market proposal at a number that would work with the City and with the HRA. They discovered a Tanurb project will not work. If Mr. Boisclair is allowed to work with staff on a project that works, but an agreement is not reached, then the owners are back to square one where they have been for 10 years. They would be perfectly happy then to have the HRA take the �,-1 property out of the redevelopment district and let them be. Ms. Horneland stated she does represent the owners of the property also, and they should be taken into consideration. Mr. Newman stated the City has taken the owners into consideration. With Tanurb this past year, the City worked at a pace that the property owners requested; and now the owners have to recognize that the HRA needs some additional time. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, MEYER AND PRAIRIE VOTING AYE� RASMII38EN VOTING NAY, ACTING CHAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 2-1. 2. CONSIDERATION OF COST-SHARING POLICY FOR FRIDLEY PLAZA RAMP: Mr. Robertson stated this is the issue of paying for the maintenance costs for the Fridley Plaza Ramp. The annual estimated maintenance costs for the ramp are approximately $6,000, and every four years there would be some sealing and striping for an additional cost of $3,500/year. Since the City and the tenants of the Fridley Plaza Office Building are going to be the main users of the ramp, although it is open to the general public, staff is recommending the HRA and the City split the annual and periodic maintenance costs. The HRA could pay its share out of�, the $800 received from rent of the parking space from the owners of the '� Fridley Plaza Office Building. �� HOIISINa & REDEVELOPMENT AIIT$ORITY MEETING. JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 10 Mr. Robertson stated Mr. Burns presented this suggestion to the City Council on Monday, June 6, and the Council concurred with this concept. Chairperson Commers did not like this, but will go along with staff's recommendation; however, he does not want this to be construed generally for other HRA projects. Chairperson Commers feels the HRA should not be in the business of being an operational agency. Mr. Burns stated he is also proposing that the agreement including these terms, as well as a separate agreement that provides for the transfer of the land on which parking ramp sits to the HRA, be handled at the June 19 Council meeting. MOTION by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to approve the sharing of maintenance costs with the City for the Fridley Plaza Ramp. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOOSLY. 3. CONSIDERATION OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR KITTERMAANIADVANCE COMPANIES COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION PROJECT: Mr. Robertson stated the HRA reviewed this material at its May �..� meeting, and the HRA directed staff to prepare a draft development agreement to be brought back for the HRA's consideration. That draft development agreement was included in the HRA packet for this meeting. Negotiations have been going on between Mr. Newman and Mr. Kitterman's staff. As of Tuesday, June 6, they are essentially in agreement. Mr. Newman would give an update. Mr. Newman stated it appears they are in agreement on the basic concept. There may be some fine tuning to be done yet, but as in the past, staff has looked to the HRA for approval of the general concept and the overall layout. He believed this agreement is consistent with the HRA's discussions and is a fairly safe investment in light of the fact that the work has been completed and he believed it will meet with the HRA's satisfaction. MOTION by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to approve the development agreement in concept and direct staff to execute a final development agreement. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, AI�L VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIBD IINANIMOIIBLY. 4. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING TAX INCREMENT DISTRICT NO. 9, CENTRAL AVENLTE, ONAN: Mr. Robertson stated this proposal grew out of a discussion Mr. /"1 Burns initiated with the Onan Corporation this past winter. They are initiating a business retention activity that they intended to � HOIIBING & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETINa, JQNE 8, 1989 - PA�3E il keep ongoing. Onan which is held as part of Cummins Diesel which is part of the Hawker Sidley group, a United Kingdom Corporation, is trying to decide where to centralize their research and development facility. Onan has scattered sites in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. They also have large plants in Indiana and in Georgia. Mr. Robertson stated the City feels this is a classic TIF district type of application where essentially this is business expansion/ business retention. Staff is recommending a course of action so they can be in a position to offer the best possible inducement for Onan to locate that facility in Fridley and capture the additional taxes and jobs that go with it. Mr. Robertson stated the City is in a somewhat awkward position because normally they would try to negotiate a package first and then establish the tax increment district. Unfortunately, the Legislature has pre-empted what would be the normal course of action by proposing to change the tax increment law which would essentially not allow the City to put this type of proposal together. Anticipating that the legislation would pass, with the concurrence of Chairperson Commers, staff set the wheels in motion to set up the district before the anticipated effective date of the Legislature. With the Governor vetoing the Omnibus Tax Bill for ^ which this TIF modification was attached, that has not imposed the same deadline. However, it is staff's recommendation that they do proceed, simply because they do not know when or if that legislation might still be done in special session. Mr. Robertson stated Mr. Casserly could explain a little more how this is structured and the necessity for the IiRA considering the series of recommendations listed in his June 1 memo if the HRA wishes to keep this option open. Mr. Casserly stated there is not much to add to what Mr. Robertson has said. He stated this is just keeping the HRA's options open. Onan has been thinking in terms of expansion apparently for some months if not several years, and they are taking this very seriously. If there is ever a reason to have a tax increment program, this is a very good reason. Staff also saw this as an opportunity to include in the district some of the junkyards and other things that have long been problems. MOTION by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to approve Resolution No. 3, "A Resolution Modifying the Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Project No. 1 and Modifying the Tax Increment Financing Plans for Tax Increment Financing Districts No. 1 Through PTo. 8 to Reflect Increased Project Costs and Increased Geographic Area within Redevelopment Proj ect No . 1; and Creating Tax Increment Financing District No. 9 and Approving and Adopting the Tax �"� Increment Financing Plan Relating Thereto". �"1 HOIIBING & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY ME�TING, JUNE 8, 1989 - PAGE 12 IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTIN(� CHAIRPER80N MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBI,Y. 5. INFORMATION ON MOORE LAKE COMMONS LANDSCAPING: Mr. Robertson stated this is a progress report on what has been done with the landscaping at Moore Lake Commons as of the end of May. 6. ESTIMATES• GREENMASTERS - LAKE POINTE MAINTENANCE MOTIOIJ by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to approve the estimate for Greenmasters in the amount of $4,644.14. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERBON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED DNANIMOIISLY. 7. CLAIMS (1895-1899�: MOTION by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to approve the check register as presented. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTINd AYE, ACTING CHAIRPER80N MEYER ;� DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. 8. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Acquisition of Lots on Central Avenue Mr. Robertson stated the HRA had received at the meeting two pages, the first page was the HRA's Conceptual Capital Improvement Plan dated 12/21/86 which the HRA adopted at that time. Under "Moore Lake", they had $150,000 to be used for park expansion along Central Avenue. Mr. Robertson stated that staff is recommending that since they are now in a situation where Moore Lake Commons is happening and that there are three lots available, the HRA consider the purchase of these lots that are presently on the marketplace. Mr. Robertson stated that attached to the Conceptual Plan is a map showing the location of the three lots and their current asking prices. It is the opinion of Leon Madsen, City Assessor, that these prices are too high. He would ask the HRA to give him the authority to try to negotiate a sale of these lots within the guidelines of comparable property as determined by Mr. Madsen. Mr. Robertson stated Mr. Burns has consulted with the City Council on this and they are very favorable to this proposal. � '--1 HOIIBINa & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETIN(3, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 13 MOTIOIJ by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to authorize staff to proceed with negotiations on the sale of the three lots along Central Avenue, the total cost not to exceed $150,000. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTINd AYE, ACTIN(3 CBAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBLY. b. Fridley Plaza Ramp Mr. Robertson stated that at the last meeting, the HRA had requested a tour of the Fridley Plaza Ramp, so he had asked Mr. Flora to lead that tour. Mr. Robertson stated he also wanted to bring to the HRA's attention that three bids were advertised, one on the landscaping, two on the signage, and three on some asphalt repair work. When the bids came in on the signage and the landscaping, there was only one bid on each. When advised of this, the City Council was very concerned and wanted a report from staff and an explanation of why only one bid was received and a list of the companies to whom bid specifications were mailed. The Council is reluctant to award the bids until they get this information. Staff wanted to make the HRA aware of this. Also, if the City Council delays until they get the information, there are some potential im�lications. `� Mr. Robertson stated that regarding the landscaping, while it might be advantageous to delay a month because they get into tree planting time closer to the fall, there is also some question of whether the bidders will have the necessary stock still available to complete the landscaping plan yet this year. Mr. Robertson stated there is also the question that until the underground irrigation gets connected, there will be no irrigation and the landscaping will have to be hand sprinkled or done by hose. It will be more labor intensive and take more staff time to accomplish. Mr. Flora stated that regarding the asphalt, because there was some urgency to get this work done, the bid was awarded for the asphalt repair. Mr. Rasmussen stated it is his feeling that there should be more than one bid received for the landscaping and lighting projects. Mr. Meyer agreed and stated the projects deserve more than one bid. Mr. Flora stated that unless some landscaping is put in, depending on the summer they have, they could experience some erosion of the dirt along the walls between the road and the ramp. � Mr. Robertson stated that regardless of what action the HRA takes, some temporary signs are going to be needed for structural safety HOIISINd & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETINa, JIINE 8, 1989 - PAGE 14 reasons on the upper ramp to limit the load limit and some overhead device to prevent trucks from driving onto the upper ramp. Mr. Robertson stated it is his recommendation that the HRA withhold awarding the bids until the Council receives the information needed. Mr. Meyer suggested the City reject the bids and call for new bids to be taken with an appropriate deadline. Mr. Rasmussen stated he did not think there is any alternative but to get some new bids since the Council is concerned about this. Mr. Robertson asked that staff be given the discretion to set new completion times to get more competitive bidding. MOTION by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to reject the bids for the landscaping and exterior signage for the Fridley Plaza Parking Ramp, and to readvertise for bids; and to direct City staff to set new bid completion deadlines to encourage more competitive bidding. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTINa AYE, ACTINa CHAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBLY. Mr. Flora stated that because the bid received on the asphalt repair was below the original estimate of $20,000, and it was important to complete the ramp and associated parking area for 49'ers Days activities, the City Council awarded the contract for asphalt repair. MOTION by Mr. Prairie, seconded by Mr. Rasmussen, to concur with the action taken by the City Council to receive and award the bid to Northwest Asphalt, Inc., for asphalt repair of the Fridley Plaza Ramp in the amount of $12,565. IIPON A VOICB VOTE, ALL VOTIN(� AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON MEYER DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. The tour of the ramp was postponed until more members can be present. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Rasmussen, seconded by Mr. Prairie, to adjourn the meeting. IIpon a voice vote, all votinq aye, Actinq Chairperson Meyer declared the June 8, 1989, Housinq and Redevelopment Authority meetinq adjourned at 9:20 p.m. r"1 HOIIBING & REDEVELOPMENT AIITHORITY MEETIN(�. JIINE 8, 1989 - PA(3E 15 � Respectfully submitted, ' � C�� yn Saba Recording Secretary /"� �,