Minutes - Charter Commission - 06/01/1995 - Special Meeting

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the format he used was correct. He explained that there were basically three parts to the proposed Charter amendment. The first one is an introductory paragraph acknowledging that there are good reasons to expand the MUSA, such as the Anoka Electric Cooperative project and the current Ramsey Elementary School expansion, but that he thought that the past process used to expand the MUSA was not proper. The second provision was a catch-all, stating that it was not intending to do away with the planning process and the third part grants the citizens the right to vote on whether they like the idea of a MUSA expansion or not. Chairperson Steffen stated that he doubted if this procedure of a super majority of the Council being required is procedurally correct as proposed. He thinks it's the wrong place for a referendum and stated that he is not sure if it's legally correct for a line that was drawn by the Metropolitan Council. For instance, what if the MUSA is not requested by the City but by neighbors, should residents of the City, as a whole, be able to stop that. He further stated that Commission members should have an opinion because we're talking about form of government here. Terry Hendriksen stated that there is a perception that the representative govemment is not working as well as it should and it's working less well in Ramsey. The events surrounding the development of Fox Knoll was what started this. There were two executive style lots proposed that would have been compatible with the neighborhood. Staff argued to coerce the developer into urban densities with a significant burden on the adjoining neighborhood. Twenty-two homes in that scenario is like an apartment building next to you, it has the same impaCt. It's particularly offensive because of traffic access. He stated that he made a request for a moratorium and Council would not consider it and passed Fox Knoll on a three / two vote. Some of those members have a self interest in insuring development in the City of Ramsey. My attorney assures me the citizens have a voice in the character of the community. Our organizational intent was a moratorium and we had a very different group of people, but realized it would be moot after preliminary plat approval of Fox Knoll. Commissioner Donavan commented that he felt the negative mood has captured the citizens nationally but he doesn't have the perception of the same thing in the City of Ramsey. Mr. Hendriksen stated that he felt the Comprehensive Plan update, which has been on-going over a year, was politically manipulated in an offensive way. It falls more in an ethical rather than an illegal range, but some acts also are in the illegal range. Chairperson Steffen stated that we will hear all of this again and that we will probably read it in the paper. He further stated that the Fox Knoll plat was passed unanimously at the Planning Commission. Mr. Hendriksen stated that that's true. As a Commission member many times he has voted contrary to personal feelings because of laws that are on the books. In retrospect, one issue was left out of the Fox Knoll discussion and, had that come to light, he would have voted differently. He stated that he votes according to ordinances. Chairperson Steffen stated that there is a procedure on Comprehensive Planning, it's ail in a structure and we're saying here, if that doesn't stop what we want stopped, then we want to vote. That's not the way government is supposed to work. He further stated that you are alleging a self- interest, but that every one does have a self-interest, what's wrong with the procedure? We can't talk about Council having the wrong majority. Mr. Hendriksen stated that he ran in the last election because he was fed up. I feel there are honest ways of doing things, such as if Council is evenly divided on an issue, he stated its manipulation of the discussion if you wait until somebody is out of town in order to bring it to the Council table. Charter Commission/June 1, 1995 Page 2 of 4