Minutes - Council - 11/12/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Johnson stated that the City has to be conducting studies in order for .the moratorium to be adopted. City Attorney Goodrich replied that that is their intention. Mr. Johnson stated that MnDOT is not asking for the moratorium. He stated that they stand opposed to the moratorium because they are 8 to 10 years away before any action will occur on the Highway #10 corridor. He questioned why the City would undertake putting a moratorium in place that impacts businesses that currently exist in the City and provide jobs. He did not think it .was fair for the City to take this action. He questioned what would happen in 2.5 years from now. The difference they see is that the City wants to be in a more advantageous place to write down the property values. City Attorney Goodrich replied that many of the issues were discussed at the last Council meeting. From a legal standpoint, if the ordinance is adopted, it is only done so to determine if the official mapping process should be put in place. They are not saying that the official map process will be put in place. It is for that reason that the Council is looking at adopting the moratorium. Mr. Goodrich reviewed the state statute pertaining to the official mapping process. Victor Sacco, Holiday Companies, stated that he has worked with City staff on many projects and feels they have high integrity so he believes them when they say that the City has the ability to place the moratorium on the property. That being said, he is opposed to the moratorium. They are paying property taxes and doing what the City has asked them to do and it would be a form of restricting their property rights by adopting the moratorium. Douglas Hills, 7445 Highway #10, Ramsey, stated that he was opposed to the moratorium. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the worse possible scenario would be the existing Council adopting a moratorium that is repealed after the first of the year. He recommended tabling action until after the first of the year. Motion by Councilmember Hendriksen, seconded by Councilmember Anderson, to table action until after January 1, 2002, when the new Council is in place. Further discussion: Councilmember Anderson inquired if there were any legal time concerns with delaying action. City Attorney Goodrich replied no, but suggested that the Council would probably want to re-introduce the ordinance at that time as well. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he did not want the new Council to inherit something that they might have to undo. City Attorney Goodrich noted that it takes three affirmative votes to pass or deny the adoption of the ordinance and the same votes will be required for tabling action. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Hendriksen, Anderson, and Kurak. Voting No: None. Absent: CouncilmemberZimmerman. City Council/November 12, 2002 Page 8 of 22