Minutes - Council - 08/14/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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predicated on a severe lack of capacity in the Metro Area for landfill space. If Ramsey's action to reduce the tipping fee to make the Waste Management site more competitive with the Elk River Landfill results in the financial failure of the Elk River Landfill, then Ramsey has taken action to increase the desire to have another landfill in the Metro Area and it is possible that landfill could be located in Ramsey. Ramsey's long-term goal to avoid Site "P" may be facilitated by not encouraging the use of capacity at the existing landfill. Mr. Hartley noted that if the Council reaches the conclusion that there is balance between the additional fill received at the landfill and the dollars paid for the reduction in tipping fee, then the City should also be prepared for all other businesses to come before it with requests for reduced taxes. Mr. Hartley stated that he recommends that the City Council reject Waste Management's request and recognize the long-term goals of this community and the limited return on investment in the form of reduction of revenues. Mr. Otter stated that the reduction in revenues generated from the tipping fee would be more than off-set by the anticipated increase in volume rate expected if the tipping fee is reduced. Mr. Otter stated that the landfill has a usable life and as a business it will not be able to survive another seven to eight years at the rate of 70 or 80 tons of volume a day. Mr. Otter noted that with the condition he has suggested, if the site does not receive additional volume over 100 tons on an average daily basis over a month, the tax credit would not be put into place and there would be no revenue lost to the City. Mr. Otter stated that the anticipated increase in volume that would result from the tax reduction would help to get the site back on schedule with the timeframe established in the conditional use permit for vertical expansion. A1 Tinklenberg of Anoka County stated that he is present to answer questions and not encourage any Council action. Mr. Tinklenberg explained that Anoka County recently took action to equalize the surcharge amounts of Anoka County with Hennepin County. Mayor Reimann stated that he wants to see the Anoka Landfill site completed as soon as possible and requested Mr. Hartley and Mr. Don Otter to work jointly to prepare a report that will show the dollar impact to Ramsey based on current volume rates and projected volume rates with tipping fee reductions. Motion by Councilmember Pearson and seconded by Councilmember DeLuca to table action on Waste Management's request for a reduction in the landfill tipping fee until the next regular City Council meeting scheduled for August 28, 1990. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Reimann, Councilmembers Pearson, DeLuca, Cich and Peterson. Voting No: None. The City Council recessed at 9:20 p.m. Mayor Reimann called the meeting back to order at 9:35 p.m. Case g9: Request for Additional Information Regarding Gateway North Industrial Airport Mr. Otto stated that per Council's inquiry of July 10, 1990, he has researched and determined that with the proposed development at Gateway North Industrial Airport, it can be expected that operating and maintenance costs would be approximately in the $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 range. MnDOT's annual participation for operating and maintenance expenses for the facility would be $6,500.00 per year leaving a cost to the City in the range of $3,500.00 to $8,500.00 a year. Mr. Otto stated that also in response to a Council inquiry of July 10, 1990, he has contacted other cities to determine whether or not they perceive their airport as an asset to the community. Mr. Otto stated that he has contacted the cities of Rush City, Princeton and Buffalo. Mr. Otto stated that the CITY COUNCIL/AUGUST 14, 1990 Page 12 of 20