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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_6_5_2012Council discusses infrastructure financing, franchise fee At a work session prior to its regu- lar meeting, the Council discussed infrastructure financing and the possible creation of a new source of revenue to fund such things as sidewalks and trails. The Council discussed the City’s special assessment policy for funding street improvement pro- jects. Under the current policy, the costs of most street reconstruc- tion projects are assessed to area property owners. The City pays for related utility improvements. After reviewing several options and scenarios, most City Council members indicated support for modifying the terms of the assess- ment. For example, the City might offer a lesser interest rate or ex- tend the payback period for larger assessments from 10 to 15 years. Council members also seemed interested in the City paying for any sidewalks installed as part of a project. Council members also discussed establishing a new franchise fee. Earlier this year, City Manager Scott Neal introduced the idea of this new revenue source to fund improvements to the City’s net- work of sidewalks, trails and other non-motorized transportation infrastructure. A 1 percent fran- chise fee paid by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, the City’s two regulated private utilities, would generate more than $900,000 per year. Council members showed support for a franchise fee and suggested additional uses for the revenue, such as new street lighting. Staff was directed to determine what the City’s annual need might be for additional infrastructure im-provements so that when the Council considers the matter again in the future they will be able to better determine what the franchise fee should be to cover those expenses. Golf Dome to be rebuilt on Braemar Boulevard site The Council voted to rebuild the Braemar Golf Dome on its current site. In February, the Braemar Golf Dome caught fire and collapsed. The dome fabric, artificial turf and dome building sustained signifi- cant damage. While the City was studying the feasibility of building a sports dome, its consultants were asked to determine if a sports dome and golf dome could be built together on land near the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility. Because of the environmental cleanup necessary on the site, the consultants found that it would not be financially feasible to co- locate the two domes on the site. Site improvement costs such as new concrete foundations and construction of a new admissions building would not be covered by insurance. For that reason, the Council decided to rebuild the Braemar Golf Dome on its current site on Braemar Boulevard. The new Braemar Golf Dome is expected to be operational for the 2012-2013 winter season. Council hires consultant to study Art Center operations The Council hired Sutton & Associ- ates to study the operations of the Edina Art Center. In December 2011, staff mailed a Request for Proposal (RFP) to 30 consultants to provide a compre- hensive analysis of the Edina Art Center. Only two consultants sub- mitted proposals in the response to the RFP. In March, the Council rejected the two proposals and directed staff to work with the Art Center Board and its Working Group to refine and narrow the A summary of the June 5 Edina City Council meeting June 8, 2012 Volume 14, Issue 11 Council Connection Upcoming meetings:  Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. June 12  Park Board, 7 p.m. June 12  Planning Commission, 7 p.m. June 13  Energy & Environment Commission, 7 p.m. June 14  City Council, 7 p.m. June 19 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Finance Director John Wallin 952-826-0410 Parks & Recreation Director John Keprios 952-826-0430 Community Development Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833- 9520. The text of this publication will be available online at www.EdinaMN.gov. www.EdinaMN.gov scope of the original RFP, negoti- ate with the two consultants and request them to resubmit new proposals. Just one consultant, Sutton & Associates, chose to resubmit a new proposal. The Art Center Board Working Group and staff recommended the Council accept Sutton & Asso- ciate’s proposal for the study, which will include an analysis of operations, marketing, advertis- ing, benchmarking and legal com- ponents. The study will cost $21,000. Sutton & Associates will begin work immediately and should complete its work in August. Once complete, the City Council and Art Center Board will hold a joint work session during which the consultant’s findings and recom-mendations will be presented. Developer proposes housing for Southdale Center The Council reviewed a develop- er’s concept for housing at South-dale Center. StuartCo. is proposing to develop the southeast corner of the Southdale Center site with up- scale, market rate 10- and 6-story apartment buildings and a 3-story townhouse building. The proposal would include 232 units with parking underneath the struc- tures. Primary access would be off 69th Street and from the Southdale frontage road. StuartCo. presented its sketch plan for the project to the City Council. Council members gave their opinions on the project and expressed their interest in en-hancing pedestrian connections in the area. If StuartCo. decides to move for- ward with the project, officials will request rezoning or a conditional use permit with variances.