Minutes - Council - 04/14/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Ramsey, Councilmembers Elvig, Jeffrey, Dehen, Look, McGlone and Wise. Voting No: None. Case #7: Approve Acquisition Resolution 09-04-XXX, Related to City Project #08-29, Alpine Park Watermain Loop Assistant City Engineer Himmer reviewed the staff report. Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember McGlone, to approve Resolution #09-04-079 for the acquisition of the required property interests for City project #08- 29, Alpine Park watermain loop. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Ramsey, Councilmembers Elvig, McGlone, Dehen, Jeffrey, Look, and Wise. Voting No: None. Case #8: Consider Introduction of Ordinance to Repeal City Code Section 9.26 Entitled Wetland Protection; Case of City of Ramsey Environmental Coordinator Anderson reviewed the staff report. Motion by Mayor Ramsey, seconded by Councilmember Look, to introduce an ordinance repealing Section 9.26 "Wetland Protection" of Chapter 9 of City Code. Further Discussion: Councilmember Elvig stated that there has been a lot of time spent on this ordinance by the past Council and noted that it is a very tricky ordinance. He stated that he likes the recommendation from the Planning Commission to revisit the trouble spots rather than repeal the ordinance, and noted that he doesn't think the ordinance has been tested. He stated that to adopt this repeal so quickly feels ill advised. He stated that this Council was not around when developers were trying to pull all sorts of things, which is why this ordinance came about. Mayor Ramsey stated that this ordinance took several years to get together and he is pushing this because he doesn't want to see people who are trying to sell their property affected by this ordinance for a few more years. He stated that he is in total support of a cooperative process similar to the Comprehensive Plan process. He stated that he is also not against buffering, but is against the current process. Councilmember Wise stated that he agrees somewhat with the sentiments of the Planning Commission. He stated that he thinks there may be a happy medium, and suggested that if there isn't a compromise within 9 months to a year, then the current ordinance can be repealed. Councilmember Dehen asked what this ordinance does that the Wetland Conservation Act that is Countywide doesn't do. Environmental Coordinator Anderson explained the difference between the two and noted that the Wetland Conservation Act deals with filling, excavating or impacting the wetland and our ordinance deals with upland areas. Councilmember Look expressed his concern with having both setbacks and buffers and noted that he is in. favor of the repeal, at this point. He stated that he also supports citizen involvement in putting together a better ordinance. Councilmember Elvig stated that his concern is if this is repealed, there will be exposure of the City to property changing hands and ghost plats that may come in and developers trying to do what they had done in the past. He reiterated that this is City Council / April 14, 2009 Page 10 of 17