Minutes - Council Work Session - 10/29/2013

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Mayor Strommen thanked Development Services Manager Gladhill and staff for their assistance and work in this process, including the open meetings with residents. She referenced the recommendations section of the Draft Statement of Policies and questioned if the group found those issues to be true and whether the comments found under those issues were appropriate. Planning Commission Chairperson Levine commented that this is nothing new but simply tweaking what is already in place to make the corridor more flexible. He believed that the DNR has been very accommodating throughout this process. Environmental Policy Board Member Bentz referenced the issue of grandfathered protection and expressed concern with properties that may become nonconforming. Development Services Manager Gladhill noted that the DNR is reviewing how they could protect those properties that would become lawful nonconforming structures. He addressed issues of expansion and rebuilding. He noted that staff would work to determine if the timeline for rebuilding could be lengthened. Environmental Policy Board Member Bentz questioned the erosion rates at the bends in the river. He noted that a property could have been conforming but due to erosion, the property no longer meets the setback requirements. Development Services Manager Gladhill stated that staff will look at that further, noting that rates of erosion are different throughout the corridor. Environmental Policy Board Member Valentine commended staff for their work thus far as he believed the issues of concern were included. Mayor Strommen confirmed that the issues of concern have been included in the Statement and she believed it was a nice balance of providing comments to the DNR and also leaving room for the information that is not yet known. Councilmember Kuzma questioned if there were funds available to assist a resident with erosion problems. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson noted that there may be funds available through the Anoka Conservation District, noting that the funding covers design costs and does not necessarily cover construction type costs. He noted that comment was heard at the public process meeting. Councilmember Kuzma referenced the LRRMWO, which has a trip scheduled to float the Mississippi River in the spring in an attempt to document areas of concern. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson confirmed that in the past ten years it is obvious that the river is shifting. City Council Work Session / October 29, 2013 Page 3 of 11