7.4. SR 10-17-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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materials to implement a construction plan were identified and discussed. BNSF agreed to expedite flagging services, utility locations, and design coordination in an effort to maintain the current design schedule and deliver a reliable cost estimate by year-end. IX. Twins Baseball Stadium and Inter-modal Station Design Coordination The Minnesota Twins and Hennepin County have agreed to a funding plan for a new baseball stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The stadium site sits adjacent to the inter-modal station connecting Northstar commuter rail and the Hiawatha LRT Connection. The plan for the $478 million facility will include private funding from Twins owner Carl Pohlad and public money from the county in the form of a 0.15% sales tax. The Minnesota Legislature must approve any county invoking a sales tax. The Legislature did not do so during the regular 2005 session nor in the special session that ended July 13. Governor Pawlenty may call for a special session to address stadiums and other issues this fall. The property owners of the Twins ballpark site have teamed with Hines developers and announced plans for a major transit oriented development either with or without the ballpark. Stated plans include 1,000 residential units with a ballpark or a mixed-use development including 3,000 residential units without a ballpark. The property owners cite the inter-modal access afforded by Northstar and Hiawatha as key elements in their development plans. Staff continues to meet with both ballpark designers and the developers in an effort to come up with a design for the vertical circulation component that will not preclude either a baseball stadium or development. X. Procurement System Review The FT A conducted a procurement system review of Mn/DOT and the Metropolitan Council, including the Northstar and Hiawatha Projects. Staff from Leon Sneed and Associates arrived June 6 and departed June 24. The review team also visited Anoka County to interview NCDA procurement personnel and view NCDA procured contracts. Mn/DOT received the review team's draft report on July 29,2005. It described shortcomings they found in the overall procurement processes of each organization as well as shortcomings within specific contract files. Mn/DOT and NCDA will respond to the draft report by August 28, 2005. XI. Risk Management On August 4, 2005, the NCDA approved an agreement for broker/insurance consulting services with Marsh USA, Inc. The total contract amount, including options for insurance placement, is $567,400. The term of the contract will commence upon execution and will continue until July 31,2009. The scope of services includes four key areas, including: Monthly Report -14- Northstar Corridor Rail Project August 18, 2005