1999-09-14• MIl~TUTFS -MOUND HRA -SEPTEMBER 14, 1999
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Mound, Hennepin County,
Minnesota, met in a regular session on Tuesday, September 14, 1999, at 7:00 p.m., in the
Council Chambers at 5341 Maywood Road, in said City.
Those present: Mayor Pat Meisel; Councilmembers Andrea Ahrens, Bob Brown, Mark
Hanus, and Leah Weycker; Acting City Manager Fran Clark; Financial Director Gino
Businazo; City Attorney John Dean; and Secretary Sue McCulloch.
Mayor Meisel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p. m.
APPROVE AUGUST 3, 1999. NIINiTTES.
MOTION by Ahrens, seconded by Brown, for approval of the August 3, 1999,
minutes. The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried. 5-0.
APPROVE AUGUST 101999. MINUTES.
MOTION by Hanus, seconded by Ahrens, for approval of the August 10, 1999,
minutes. The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried. 5-0.
• DISCUSSION: HIRING A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING COORDINATOR -TIM
PROSSER. EHLERS & ASSOCIATES.
Mayor Meisel stated the City Attorney and she had a number of discussions about this topic.
Mayor Meisel stated there is a need because the Acting City Manager is extremely busy with
handling her own tasks effectively and efficiently. Mayor Meisel stated the City currently
does not have any experts on staff that could fill this position temporary and she is very
concerned about the implications of this position not being handled temporarily to date. In
the past, Mr. Prosser has done an excellent job for the City of Richfield.
Mayor Meisel stated the types of things he would be assigned aze redevelopment, auditor and
road issues with the Metropolitan Council, Lost Lake relocation concerns, and coordinating
with appropriate people to accomplish tasks that are assigned. Mayor Meisel stated there is a
current list of twelve items that will need continual attention along with timeline dates that
need to be met. Mr. Prosser is willing to adjust his fee to $110 per hour. The projected
amount of time he will be spending per month will range from 24 to 45 hours. This may be
higher or lower, depending upon the workload assigned to Mr. Prosser. Mayor Meisel
stated hiring Mr. Prosser will be more efficient because he is an expert and well trained to
handle the situation at hand.
Mayor Meisel explained that Mr. Prosser also works full-time at Ehlers & Associates and he
• is looked upon with respect by co-workers. Mr. Prosser appeazs to be amulti-talented man
with knowledge that will greatly assist the City of Mound.
MOUND HRA MINUTES -SEPTEMBER 14, 1999
• Councilmember Hanus stated this appears to be a common practice, by other cites as well, to
hire a consultant when the city does not have an individual staffed with this knowledge.
Attorney Dean stated some cities do have full-time staff to accommodate, but what the City
of Mound is proposing could never be filled by another staff member by just taking on more
workload. Attorney Dean is well-informed of Mr. Prosser's knowledge and stated the City
of Mound should feel very fortunate to have him on board. The monies that are be paid to
Mr. Prosser are monies that are still available due to the absence of an available staff
member. Attorney Dean stated that consultants merely are hired to fill gaps of full-time
employees.
Attorney Dean stated an example of a problem that exists stemmed from the lack of support
in this area is the tax increment document at hand. Presently the survey of the district had
not been completed and did not get scheduled in a timely manner for review and thus is
incomplete. Documents are now starting to "slip through the cracks" so Mr. Prosser would
be an appropriate individual to fill those cracks. Attorney Dean stated Mr. Prosser will
present a project with a timeline and it will be followed through properly.
Attorney Dean stated Mr. Prosser can be terminated at any time by the City and the City
should be certain not to feel any obligation to Mr. Prosser when that decision to terminate
has been made by the City.
• Brown stated he certainly sees the need for an expert and supports the hiring of Mr. Prosser.
MOTION by Brown, seconded by Ahrens, to hire Mr. Prosser of Ehlers &
Associates as the City of Mound's Tax Increment Financing Coordinator.
Discussion
Councilmember Hanus stated that he approves of Mr. Prosser with his friendly amendment
of $110 per hour.
Councilmember Ahrens stated in her eyes Mr. Prosser is the appropriate person to hire. She
stated that if we do not hire a consultant then we would have to hire a staff member to
accomplish this task and an expert temporarily seems appropriate.
Councilmember Weycker stated she is a little reluctant because of the budget increase but it
would appear the City has no other alternative at this time.
Councilmember Ahrens stated if we would not hire Mr. Prosser then, more than likely, an
attorney would be doing this work, thus billing the City anyway.
Councilmember Brown asked if we can take monies out from the funding and the League of
Cities. Attorney Dean stated that the City can use monies from funding but cannot use
monies from the League of Cities.
The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried. 5-0.
2
MOUND HRA MINUTES -SEPTEMBER 14, 1999
CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR VACANT PROPERTY ON
SHORELINE DRIVE (NEXT TO SUPER AMERICA PID #113-117-24 34 0063 &0075
FROM CK DEVELOPMENT CO./BALBOA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
Attorney Dean stated this is a revisitation of the Balboa property. At the last Housing and
Redevelopment meeting, the Council authorized an earlier version upon further review of
some concerns that were raised. Attorney Dean stated an alternative or proposed agreement
was revised and the agreement as it currently is presented today has two significant changes.
1. There is now a request for $5,000 of earnest money. This is a very reasonable amount to
be requesting. If the agreement is terminated for any reason, the City is entitled to a full
refund of the earnest money.
2. Previously, there were a number of contingencies that gave rise to the City to possibly
terminate the agreement. The contingencies to date have been reduced. The agreement
states that if everything is not in order and in agreement with the City of Mound by
November 27'", the City of Mound can walk away freely from this agreement and get its
earnest money back. The time before the 27`~ of November will allow the necessary title
work to be completed, all environmental issues to be addressed, and all work necessary
to complete the transaction. On November 27`~ it will be decided if the agreement is
signable and will proceed at that point.
• Attorney Dean stated the 27`~ of November was picked as the date to allow time to purchase
the property. Attorney Dean also stated the closing will probably take place some time in
early January, 2000.
Attorney Dean stated the agreement has been improved and stated he would like direction
from the Council to execute the agreement.
MOTION by Weycker, seconded by Ahrens, to approve the purchase agreement
recommended by counsel. The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried.
5-0.
ADTOURNMENT.
MOTION by Ahrens, seconded by Weycker, to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried. 5-0.
Francene C. Clark, Acting City
Manager
r
Attest: Council Secretary