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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10B - Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT FEBRUARY 17,2009 108 STEVE ALBRECHT, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JERIL YN ERICKSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR DANETTE PARR, CDNR DIRECTOR CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE JEFFERS POND INTERPRETIVE CENTER BUILDING COMMITTEE AND PROJECT SCHEDULE Introduction The purpose of this agenda is to appoint members to the Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center Building Committee and to establish the project schedule. Historv. The final plat, PUD, Development Contract and related documents for Jeffers Waterfront (aka Jeffers Pond) set aside 1.3 acres of land from Wensmann Homes and a contribution of $500,000 as security in the form of stocks for the construction of a Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center (IC) building. In August of 2007 the City moved forward with a project to build a $1.6 million Interpretive Center. The City's partners included ISD 719 and the Jeffers Foundation. In the fall of 2007, due to a failed school referendum, ISD 719 dropped out of the project and, subsequently, additional funding from the Jeffers Foundation was withdrawn. Based on the project not moving forward the City utilized the $280,000 that had been allocated for the Interpretive Center from the General Fund to purchase 30 acres of land at Pike Lake for a future community park. After the Jeffers Foundation paid the architect and owner's representative fees together with the material costs for the floating boardwalk at upper Jeffers Pond, approximately $420,000 of the original amount provided still remained for the Interpretive Center project. Current Circumstances The $420,000 in funding sunsets in 2011 if not utilized by the City for an Interpretive Center at Jeffers Pond. For that reason City Staff recommends pursuing constructing an Interpretive Center utilizing only the available funds. City Staff is proposing that the Council establish a committee to pursue this option. Staff recommends the following members for the committee: Mayor Haugen, City Councilor LeMair, City Manager, Public Works Director, Finance Director, CDNR Director, Parks Supervisor, Building Official and two School District Representatives. In addition to establishing the committee a preliminary schedule has been developed for City Council consideration and adoption. www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 Prooosed Schedule Establish Committee & Project Schedule Council Authorization to Proceed IC Design Bid IC Award Bids Begin Construction IC Complete Substantial Construction IC Final Completion Grand Opening February 2009 March 2009 March - May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 February 2010 May 2010 June 2010 Conclusion Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution establishing the Jeffers Pond IC Building Committee and project schedule. Funding available is limited to the funds provided by the Jeffers Foundation and the facility will be much smaller than originally proposed. Additionally the financial instruments provided by the Jeffers Foundation to guarantee the $420,000 commitment are worth substantially less than that amount due to the current economy. The City has requested that the Jeffers Foundation recollateralize these instruments to the appropriate value prior to proceeding with the project in accordance with the agreement. The Jeffers Foundation had not recollateralized the instruments as of 2/11/09. ISSUES: Staff has had preliminary discussions with ISD 719 to ascertain their level of interest and ability to participate in the project. ISD 719 has expressed interest in participating however the Board has not formally considered any participation. Such action would be accomplished once the Council has taken action on this agenda item. ALTERNATIVES: The alternatives are as follows: 1. Approve a resolution establishing the Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center Building Committee and adopting the project schedule. 2. Table the Resolution for a specific reason. 3. Deny the Resolution. RECOMMENDED Alternative No. 1 MOTION: I Reviewed b~J j~~ Frank Boyles, City iaQer ~ J 4646 Dakota Street S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION 09-xx A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE JEFFERS POND INTERPETIVE CENTER COMMITTEE AND PROJECT SCHEDULE Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, As part of the Jeffers Waterfront (aka Jeffers Pond) development, the Jeffers Foundation provided the City $500,000 to construct an Interpretive Center on 1.3 acres of land dedicated to the City within the Jeffers Pond Development; and WHEREAS, Approximately $80,000 of the original $500,000 was used in developing the original Interpretive Center project and for construction of the floating boardwalk at upper Jeffers Pond; and WHEREAS, The securities pledged to guarantee the $500,000 have depreciated in value and that Mr. Oberg on behalf of the Jeffers Foundation has agreed to add securities to restore the balance to $420,000; and WHEREAS, An Interpretive Center must be constructed by January 18, 2011 or the funding reverts back to the Jeffers Foundation; and WHEREAS, In order to meet the 2011 deadline, City Staff recommends implementation of the Interpretive Center project using the funding provided by the Jeffers Foundation; and WHEREAS, Establishing a Jeffers Pond IC Building Committee with the following members is recommended: Mayor Haugen, Councilor LeMair, City Manager, Public Works Director, Finance Director, CDNR Director, Parks Supervisor, Building Official and two School District Representatives of their choosing; and WHEREAS, The proposed project schedule as detailed in the agenda report is adopted. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein as if fully set out herein. 2. Prior to proceeding with the interpretive center project the Jeffers Foundation must provide updated funding in accordance with the agreement between the Jeffers Foundation and City whereby the City agreed to accept certain securities in lieu of cash until such time as construction of an interpretive center was to begin. 3. A Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center Building Committee consisting of the following members is created: Mayor Haugen, Councilor LeMair, City Manager, Public Works Director, Finance Director, CDNR Director, Parks Supervisor, Building Official and two School District Representatives of their choosing. R:\Council\2009 Agenda Reports\02 17 09\lnterpretive Center reso.doc www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 4. Funding for the project will come from the funds donated by the Jeffers Foundation or other non-city funds unless authorized by the City Council. 5. The Building Committee shall develop and adhere to a schedule which assures completion of an Interpretive Center building by January 18, 2011. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 1ih DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2009. YES NO I Haugen I Erickson I Hedberg I LeMair I Millar Haugen Erickson Hedberg LeMair Millar Frank Boyles, City Manager R:\Council\2009 Agenda Reports\02 17 09\lnterpretive Center reso.doc