Minutes - Council - 01/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LRRWMO does not deal with. They are separate entities with a different scope, scale and focus. She stated the EPB also deals with education and outreach. For example, the EPB worked on the tree preservation ordinance, and out of that came the Ramsey Tree Book which outlines desirable species that are encouraged to be planted in the City, along with species that are not desirable or are actually bamied from being planted. Councilmember Elvig pointed out that he sees the EPB planning board as much more proactive and the LRRWMO as being much more reactive, permit driven and site specific. The LRRWMO is not specific necessarily just to Ramsey. He stated he is pleased with what the EPB is doing. Councilmember Look stated he had the opportunity to sit in on some of the LRRWMO meetings of which City Engineer Jankowski serves as the chairperson. The LRRWMO does have a permitting process and has authority in preventing development from going through. He stated he is not concerned about the education. His concern is that when they broaden the scope of what the EPB does, whether this Council is willing to commit to environmental specialist engineers to ensure that what the EPB recommends is sound science and not just a trend that is being recommended. He stated he does not see any sort of dollars committed to ensuring that is the case. He pointed out that at the last City Council meeting the Chair of the EPB had said that the City Council had encouraged through the approval of a plan that the board can operate the way they are, and therefore they are frustrated. He stated he is not sure the Council wants to stand behind the items listed on this work plan by approving it. Councilmember Strommen stated the EPB does not have a budget, and this work plan does not deal with that. She stated she believes with all the projects the EPB has worked on they have had that expertise, which the City has paid for, and it has come forward case by case. The City has history with the EPB that they should look at, rather than to pull out hypothetical examples of what could happen. Councilmember Dehen requested clarification that the open space referendum under the first bullet point is being approved as an item of the work plan. Interim Community Development Director Frolik replied this would be included in the work plan, but not stating that the EPB will continue to pursue it. This will be at the Council's direction. The EPB would watch for additional opportunities and alternatives in this area. Councilmember Dehen stated his understanding of the open space referendum process at the last City Council meeting was that it would be discussed at the Council's visioning session as to whether or not they would be pursuing that as a Council. It is surprising to him based on Mayor Gamec's and his comments that this is included on the work plan. He does not know that it is appropriate to be approving a work plan that has ties to an open space referendum. He pointed out that Councilmember Strommen abstained from commenting on the open space referendum at the previous City Council meeting. He stated if there is an approval of an agenda for the EPB that includes the open space referendum he is a little uncomfortable having that approved by this Council. Councilmember Strommen requested clarification regarding Councilmember Dehen's concern. City Council / January 22, 2008 Page 11 of 22