Minutes - Council - 07/26/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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also agreed to solicit the assistance of Anoka County by requesting information on the condition of County Ditch 4/3 which provides the drainage outlet for this area. The response received indicates that a beaver dam south of Xenon Street N.W. was found and removed, The City also received a copy of the County ditch inventory. The inventory describes this ditch as poorly maintained. Since its construction in 1889, the drainage way has never been thoroughly re-ditched. Maintenance has consisted of removing obstructions as they are discovered. Mr. Jankowski reported that the City agreed to refer any wetland filling to the attention of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Phone calls were made by the City of Ramsey to Conservation Officer Jason Jenson on May 4, May 10 and May 11, 1994. A meeting was held with City Staff and Lieutenant Kathy Hamm, the District Conservation Officer overseeing wetland violations in this district. Ms. Hamm has indicated that she would issue citations and refer a request for a determination on the jurisdiction of the wetland area north of 153rd Avenue N.W. to the Waters Division of the DNR. Mr. Jankowski reported that the City is still awaiting response from this department. Upon reviewing prior commitments made by the City, it was found that on February 14, 1989, City Council adopted a resolution authorizing $2,500 for minor grading and culvert installation to provide a drainage outlet to the area adjacent to 156th Avenue N.W. It appeared the intent of the resolution was to authorize Staff to obtain waivers of trespass from affected property owners to allow drainage improvements to be done. Mr. Jankowski stated that he had spoken to Pete Raatikka of Hakanson Anderson and was told that not all of the affected land owners would agree to allowing the ditching work completed. As a result, the ditching elements of the drainage improvements were not done. Mr. Jankowski reported that it is not known if the City Council or the City Attorney were informed of the inability to obtain these easements. He explained that the City has, from time to time, made arrangements to address these drainage concerns; however, it is unclear what the intended solution was. He suggested that possibly much of the discussion regarding this issue was verbal. He felt that the minor ditching referenced in the feasibility study for the street paving did not involve complete ditching throughout the length of the low areas. Mr. Jankowski suggested that if the City decides to proceed with the ditching of a drainage way between culverts #1 through #4, the present construction cost of the work possibly may not be substantially more than the $2,500 that was initially identified in 1989, providing the prqject can be done with a single piece of equipment and excavated material can be left along side of the ditch. To accomplish the work, however, the City would need to have legal access to the property and would also need to obtain the necessary environmental permits for the work. Mayor Gilbertson inquired if Mr. Hendriksen's property is in a flood zone. Mr. Jankowski replied that the topographic mapping expected from MarkHurd should define the boundary area of the wetland. Mr. Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, stated that he thought there would be a "meeting of the minds" and that he and Staff could agree on this issue. He added that he still has a great deal of faith in the conscience of this Council. He felt that Council would agree that there are many errors in Mr. Jankowski's presentation of this issue and that Mr. Jankowski's presentation is very "skewed". He presented a number of aerial photos and summarized the following: May 9, 1965 - 156th Avenue N.W. has just been constructed. There was not a culvert placed on the property even though the owners requested it. Such request is mentioned in the minutes. There is no evidence this was a wetland prior to construction of 156th Avenue N.W. The drainage ditch came off of County Ditch #3. Tilleskjor's built their house in the mid-1960's. He presented a 1969 aerial photo and summarized that it shows that water has backed up north of the street because there is no culvert. He stated it also shows the drainage ditch that goes to the County Ditch - designed to drain this wetland. He explained that it shows an obstruction City Council/July 26, 1994 Page 11 of 27