2017.02.07 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Manager Lotter stated staff would be willing to work with the homeowner's association in order to draft a letter to the County and state. He supported the Council's recommendation to complete the treatment in 2017 and noted a joint effort could be made in 2018 to complete the treatment. He hoped state and County funding could be secured by that time. He discussed how the City could communicate the treatments with the lake association and other interested parties. Councilmember Strub questioned if the City would have to address Pike Lake if action was taken to treat Long Lake. Ms. Beckman believed the homeowners would be willing to assist with the treatment expense so long as the County and state were also providing assistance. Councilmember Jacobsen supported City Manager Lotter's recommendation. Mayor Johnson stated this was a one-year deal. She stated City would then continue to work with the homeowner's association along with the County and state to secure additional funding for 2018. City Manager Lotter stated the next step would be to arrange a meet with the homeowner's association in order to establish the proper method of communication and to draft a formal communications plan. He stated he was authorized to approve this purchase without Council action. Mayor Johnson recommended the item be brought back to the Council on February 28th in order for the matter to be discussed publically prior to being authorized by the City Council. Councilmember Bauman hesitated to make a comment because she lives on the lake. However, she believed the City has always been good stewards of its natural resources. It was her hope that the lake owners would participate in the future treatment of the lake. She understood the treatment of the invasive species would benefit the entire community. Councilmember Burg recommended Lake Restoration be prepared to provide information on the environmental impacts of the treatment at the February 14th and February 28th City Council meeting. AN Option Dlscussloll Gundlach reviewed where the City was at with APi. She provided the Council with a handout on recent developments and noted she met with AN late last week where the terms were discussed. She indicated the five-year option was discussed by both parties and staff requested an answer from AN prior to this evenings meeting. The email response from AN was reviewed and it was noted AN was interested in purchasing the property now for $5 per square foot. AN would then make annual lost tax increment payments ($62,206) starting May 1, 2018 until the property develops. This payment would be a competitive offer to the Pulte option. She provided further comment on the differences between the Pulte and APi options. She stated if the Council was comfortable with the selling the land now, staff supported the sale along with the annual lost tax increment payments. She recommended the purchase agreement be structured in such a manner that a 30,000 square foot office building would be built in five years that would match their current building. She noted the purchase agreement could also include a clause stating the land could not be resold to a tax-exempt entity. If the Council supported this option, staff could be directed to begin working on the purchase agreement. Mayor Johnson stated in the long run the City would receive less taxes from homes than on a commercial development. Gundlach reported this was the case.