Minutes - Council - 01/22/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Hendriksen inquired as to how many of the cities that staff contacted offer an exception to the requirement. Community Development Director Frolik replied that none of the four cities that she spoke with have any type of exception. Councihnember Kurak noted that they are only talking about areas outside of the MUSA and over ten acres in size. What they are trying to do by allowing the exception is allow farmers to farm their land without encumbering the property with drainage and utility easements. She stated that she personally knew of an instance where there have been drainage and utility easements over wetland and the City has dug ponds. She felt that what was being proposed was fair for residents in the City of Ramsey. Councilmember Zimmerman replied that the entire parcel would not be placed under a drainage and utility easement, only the portion the City would deem necessary. City Engineer OIson explained that the proposed policy does not preclude the City from asking for drainage and utility easements. If a property owner agrees to the drainage and utility easements, it would save them the step of having to identify drainage patterns on the property. Councihnember Hendriksen stated that it seemed as if other cities require the dedication of wetland and yet the City of Ramsey would be taking the opposite approach. He felt the solution might be to require that all wetlands be encumbered with drainage and utility easements unless the property owner requests a waiver and proves that it is not needed. If they as a Council make a conscious decision not to acquire the wetland, it should be done under a very careful process with proof being presented why the easement is not necessary. Councihnember Anderson questioned what the City Attorney's opinion was regarding the policy. City Attorney Goodrich felt that there were sufficient safe guards in the policy as proposed, but noted that he did not see any problem with Councilmember Hendriksen's recommendation either. City Engineer Olson inquired if Councilmember Hendriksen was suggesting that the City require the delineation of all wetlands, but give the property owner the opportunity to prove that the drainage and utility easement is not necessary. Councilmelnber Hendriksen replied yes. City Engineer Olson explained that the policy as it was presented would require any plat within the MUSA that included wetlands would automatically be encumbered by a drainage and utility easement. What the policy would allow for is anything outside of the MUSA and over ten acres the City Engineer would be able to make a determination as to whether the drainage and utility City Council/January 22, 2002 Page 6 of 25