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referendum vote by the second quarter of 1988, Council could hold an <br />advisory election. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley stated that one of the confusing aspects of this issue is that <br />there are several acts involved that don't necessarily as an individual act <br />mean the city is going to proceed with an airport project but make it <br />possible to take another step. The issue of airport safety zoning has more <br />to do with 'does the city acquire property to secure the safety zones?'. <br />Another issue that is very relevent in the overall picture is 'does the <br />city involve itself in the acquisition and improvements to an airport?'. <br /> <br />Councilmember Sorteberg noted that a negative answer to securing safety <br />zones would relate to the completion of the airport. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley agreed and stated that Council could ask the question now of <br />whether or not the airport is wanted, but as the Airport Commission points <br />out, all the information that would be helpful in making the decision is <br />not in yet. <br /> <br />Councilmember DeLuca inquired if airport safety zoning is required of <br />private airports as well as municipal airports. <br /> <br />Mr. Otto stated that the airport is privately owned and Minnesota statutes <br />allow for any city with a public use airport within it's boundaries to <br />implement airport zoning. <br /> <br />Councilmember DeLuca stated that some sort of airport safety zoning is <br />justified because the facility exists and is used by the public. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that if Council were to adopt the zoning ordinance, it <br />would become effective 30 days after publication. In that 30 day window, <br />citizens have a right to petition a referendum on whether the ordinance <br />shall become effective. No petition means the ordinance is effective. An <br />effective ordinance affects property rights of individuals; if Council <br />adopts the ordinance, they should be sure they want it to be effective. <br />The citizens also have the option to petition to initiate an ordinance that <br />would ban Council from allowing airport zoning to go into effect or <br />creating a municipal airport. Mr. Goodrich stated that another section of <br />the Charter says that Council can hold an advisory election on any issue. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cox stated that his motion at a previous meeting was for an <br />advisory election to get a consensus of the public for Council to base it's <br />actions on. Councilmember Cox stated that the airport issue affects the <br />city with respect to tax base, stimulating economic development and the <br />public. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that if there were an advisory election, staff would <br />field a special issue of the Ramsey Resident Newsletter to present the <br />facts and it is assumed that residents on both sides of the issue will <br />present their cases. If there is a referendum, Mr. Goodrich stated that he <br />is not sure Council would want to take part in having an issue presented; <br />it would be more appropriate for the two sides to take over. <br />City Council/September 22, 1987 <br /> <br />Page 9 of 18 <br /> <br /> <br />