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Motion carried. <br />C~tsc #li: Adopt Wetland Buffer Ordinance; Case of City of Ramsey <br />Mayor Gamec stated the Wetland Buffer Ordinance has been discussed at Length by the Council <br />and was introduced by the Council at the September 27, 2005 Council meeting. <br />Motion by Councilmerrlber Strommen, seconded by Councilmember Elvig, to adopt Ordinance <br />~tt)5-27 tcI amend City Code with the addition of Section 9.26 (Wetland Protection}. <br />1+r.Irthcr discussion: Councilmember Jeffrey thanked the Environmental Policy Board for their <br />~~%ork on this ordinance. Mayor Gamec stated the residents should understand there is a variance <br />procedure in place for unique situations. Councilmember Strommen indicated the intent of the <br />Gllvii•c~nmental Policy Board is that this ordinance be reviewed after it has been implemented for <br />a period of time. She noted the wetland map will be completed at approximately the same time <br />this ordinance goes into effect. Councilmember Pearson stated lae is in favor of property rights, <br />gild to hinl this ordinance infringes on the property rights of the landowner. The same effect <br />could be obtained by educating the public without taking the rights away from the landowner. <br />f Te stated he sees land in the City that i5 now under water that was dry land .years ago, and has <br />also seen the opposite; wetlands change. Councilmember Olson concurred. She stated there are <br />a loi cff things the City could be doing in regards to education that would accomplish what they <br />are crying to accomplish with- this ordinance. Wetlands come and wetlands go, but property <br />ril;hts remain. Mayor Gamec commented he has wavered both ways on this ordinance, and it <br />may take the ordinance going into effect to see how it will operate. He suggested they may want <br />t~~ wait to adopt the ordinance until the wetland map is completed. Councilmember Strommen <br />stated the wetland map will be a scientific inventory of the wetlands in the City, and there is not <br />much they can do to change the map that will affect this ordinance. Councilmember Cook stated <br />he agrees a large part of this could be handled by education, but the ordinance ean_ bring that <br />cchreatic~n to light. People often do not want to be educated until there is a reason for them to be <br />educated. 'T'his ordinance is a step in the right direction. Councilmember Elvig noted there is an <br />~illpcal process included in the ordinance if the mapping is felt to be unjust. The concern is to <br />l~r•otcct t11c wetlands as they grow as a City. His concern is regarding the people that sell to <br />developers that will squeeze in development down to the waters edge, and the ordinance should <br />br, in place to protect against the pressures coming to the City. <br />Mayor Gamec directed staff to schedule a review of this ordinance after it has been in effect for <br />a[~proximatcly six months. <br />n roll call vote was performed by the Recording Secretary: <br />Mayor (~amcc: aye <br />C`ounciirncrnber Cook: aye <br />C•OU11c11111CI71bCt' Elvlg: aye <br />Coutlcilmcmber Jeffrey: aye <br />Councilmcnlber Olson: aye <br />C`oLlncilmcnlber Pearson: nay <br />City Council /October 11, 2005 <br />Page 9 of 17 <br />-179- <br />