Minutes - Council - 01/09/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITIZEN INPUT Ed Hamilton, 6615 Highway #10, Ramsey, stated that the snowmobilers in the area do not have any respect for private property. He indicated that snowmobiles have been brained in Coon Rapids, Anoka and part of Andover and he feels that the City needs to take some type of action regarding snowmobiles because there is too much traffic along Highway #10 to have snowmobiles. Mayor Gamec replied that the Police Department does have a Police Officer on a snowmobile to help patrol the violators. Kerry Manuel, 15668 Juniper Ridge Drive NW, Ramsey, inquired as to the status of the proposed Comprehensive Plan. He also stated that he had read in the newspaper that the Mayor of Eagan has found that the authority the Met Council claims regarding the Comprehensive Plan process is not valid and requested that the Ramsey City Council follow their lead. Mr. Manuel also requested that the Density Transition Ordinance be addressed by the City Council again and inquired if any further work had been done on the ordinance. Councilmember Anderson replied that the Council discussed the Density Transition Ordinance briefly during a work session and directed staff to contact Hoisington Koegler to assist the City in the process. Brent Smith, 15620 Yakima Street NW, Ramsey, stated that he had contacted a couple of law firms regarding the special election and the adoption of the Density Transition Ordinance. He presented the Council with a letter from Edwards & Malzahn, Ltd. which stated the following: "This office has been retained by the Ramsey Neighborhood Protection Committee to bring to your attention what appears to be a serious failing on the part of the City Council to comply with the provisions of the City Charter. Section 12.12 of the City Charter states as follows: "The Council shall by ordinance, resolution, or other appropriated action make such regulations as may be necessary to carry out and make effective the provisions of this charter." Section 14.2 of the City Charter deals with community development standards, as does the recently rejected ordinance (Case No. 12). It is clear that the recent rejected ordinance was drafted to implement the language of Section 14.2 of the City Charter. Pursuant to Section 12.12, you, the members of the City Council, have an affirmative duty to pass ordinances "as may be necessary to carry out and make effective the provisions of this charter". I believe that Section 14.2 has been a part of the City Charter for at least three years. The failure, on the part of the City Council, to comply with the requirements of the City Charter that you pass ordinances to enforce the language of the charter, is clearly a dereliction of your duty to the taxpayers of this city. Please be advised that your failure to comply with the mandatory language of the charter may subject you, and the city, to appropriate court action." Mr. Smith also stated that they have presented the opinion that the City received from Kennedy and Graven regarding the Charter Amendment and they have indicated that Kennedy and City Council/January 9, 2001 Page 4 of 35