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of Blaine that could not develop. <br /> <br />Councilmember Pearson reiterated that all of Council is opposed to the 4 in 40 policy but <br />sometimes things get dictated to the City; the City is hoping to get the policy changed. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that City Council is concerned about the property owners and the impact <br />of the 4 in 40 policy; they are also concerned about the future development of this city so it <br />does not become a concrete jungle. Many of the policies that emit from this particular City <br />Council are to make sure that the overwhelming density does not happen. To that end, <br />these policies are consistent with those objectives. As far as Council agreeing 100% with <br />how they are implemented, they do not by any stretch of the imagination. <br /> <br />Therese Barthold - 1206 Bunker Lake Blvd., Andover, Mn 55304 - Inquired as to who <br />needs municipal sewer and water and if there is a way to get it other than from Metro <br />Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley replied that the primary reason for the need to extend sewer and water is the <br />desire for Ramsey to continue it's development plan so utilities can be extended to areas <br />where City Council said utilities can go. <br /> <br />Therese Barthold - Inquired if there is currently any threat to anyone's health because of <br />contaminated water; if not, why is the city negotiating for an extension of services. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that the City doesn't know that anyone's health is at risk because of <br />contaminated water but why should the City wait to extend utilities until someone's life is <br />affected. <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann stated that cities without municipal sewer and water do not grow; Ramsey <br />wanted to grow; Ramsey fought for 15 years to get sewer and water to it's border; <br />everyone in Ramsey will benefit because having those services available will increase <br />property valuation and that in turn increases the City's tax base. <br /> <br />Mr. Otto also noted that Ramsey has about a one year supply of vacant lots in the urban <br />area; typically, cities want enough vacant lots to last 3-5 years; when a community has less <br />than a 3-5 year supply of urban lots, lot prices become artificially inflated. <br /> <br />Jake Baahold - Stated that the City is forcing development in the southeast portion of the <br />City at the price of property owners in the northern portion of the City. The property <br />owners in the noah are paying double -- once through decreased property value caused by <br />4 in 40 zoning and again through city participation in tax increment financing projects. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley noted that only the users of the municipal sewer and water system are assessed <br />for the service. Metro Council restricts development in the outer limits of the 7 county <br />metro area in order to be able to accommodate a greater number of people in a smaller <br />geographic area. Mr. Hartley noted that the City is going to use all the arguments it can to <br />convince Metro Council to change their density policies that were established 20 years ago. <br /> <br />Janet Kimbler - 6421 Green Valley Road ~ Stated that she believes many of the land owners <br />are not present because the meeting notification leads a person to believe that the 4 in 40 <br />policy has been adopted and the property owners have no choice. Now, the City is <br />indicating that they are going to fight to change the density policy. <br /> <br />City Council/August 28, 1989 <br /> Page 7 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />