Agenda - Council - 04/26/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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several community events in the City. The biggest of these is Happy Days, as well as the Volunlccr Appreciation Dinner, the Environmental Fair and Tree Sale, the Pet Clinic, Spring and I,'all Recycling Days, National Day Out, Kids Safety Camp, two car seat clinics, a bike helmet clinic, and a child safety project where gun locks were issued. He reviewed the set up of the City government and departments within the city. He commented on the tragic killings and explosion in the past year and commended the way the departments handled them. He indicated last year thc [guildi ng Department issued 166 single-family home permits and 399 townhouse permits, with a city valuation increase of l 10,119,200. He stated this definitely helps to hold the taxes dawn while providing services for the rest of Ramsey. The City had 344,000 square feet of business commercial expansion last year. He stated this coming year the City looks forward to thc continuing build out of Town Center and the start of the new Municipal Center. He thanked lh¢ City Council and all the help received from residents in the City. C ! T I Z E N I N PUT [5'ik Zactsch, 6521 154"' Lane NW, commended Dean Kapler for the work done in putting out thc fire over thc weekend. He stated even in Mr. Kapler's absence the fire was maintained and thc response was quitc good. It is his understanding that the home that started this fire had been cited previously For unlawful burning. He stated he would also like to discuss future housing at thc Gtm Club. The Department of Health has included lead and lead compounds on the list of agents reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. There should be due concern for this problem, given the seriousness of it. The Department of Health has a lead blood level monitor program. Ite thinks there should be some sort of appropriate consideration for the people that will be moving into this housing situation, and something should be provided for their health and satbty. [ lc noted the Mayor commented about the tax situation in his State of the City Address. Case No. 13 on the Consent Agenda relates to 18 million dollars in bonding, which will be quite a burden on taxpayers in thc future. It is unclear from the agenda what that money has been al located lbr. Dell l:rcdcricks, 7550 158th Avenue NW, commended the Fire Department for their work last Saturday. t Ie stated he would also like to thank the surrounding suburbs that helped out. The fire was a very dangerous situation and could have been catastrophic for the City. He stated he would als(> like to raise a concern that while the agenda for many work sessions are published on thc City website, the minutes are woefully out of date. The last minutes are back to March 8th. All ol' thc other minutes relating to the Council and commissions are quite accurate and updated on the wcbsitc within a week or two. He explained one of his concerns relates to the light rail. lie keeps hearing that Anoka County will bear the brunt of that cost, and he would like to know where the City of Ramscy stands on that. Mayor Gamcc stated in regards to Northstar, the bonding bill was approved. Sherbourne, Anoka, and I tennepin Counties will all be involved in the funding. At this time there is no cost from individual city budgets, and it is handled through the counties. He noted Richard Fursman is in attendance tonight. He explained Mr. Fursman was the former City Administrator in the city of Andover and was an asset in the work that was done on highway issues and bridge crossings. Mr. Fursman is now the City Administrator in the City of Maplewood. City Council/April 12, 2005 Page 4 of 35