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planning process. The City would be seeking proposals for professional planning <br />services to assist in the identification of redevelopment/brownfield sites and planning <br />solutions related to underutilized industrial properties located within the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen asked if this would obligate the City to do anything other <br />than look at what the proposals say to which Ms. Sherman replied no. <br /> <br />Couneilmember Zimmerman inquired if we limited the boundaries of this RFP to which <br />Ms. Sherman replied, no, however if City Council chooses to limit the boundaries, that <br />would be fine. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Hendriksen to <br />approve the RFP and authorize staff to distribute it to the list of consultants presented. <br /> <br />Motion carded. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen, Hendriksen, <br />Anderson and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. <br /> <br />Case #7: Discussion of Northern Natural Gas Company Pipeline <br /> <br />Community Development Director Sherman stated that Northern Natural Gas Company <br />is intending to install a 16-inch line within an existing easement that currently has an <br />eight-inch line in the northern part of Ramsey. The line provides natural gas to NSP and <br />Minnegasco and is needed to provide service to the area. The line is 14.7 miles long and <br />runs from Hugo to Elk River. The company will be acquiring additional easement rights, <br />some are proposed to be temporary and some are permanent. She noted that the City <br />does not have a review requirement for installation of this type of pipeline. Permits for <br />the right-of-way are required and the gas company has submitted information for the <br />permits required. They have also submitted requests for additional easement necessary <br />for the installation of the pipeline on City owned land and also are working with <br />individual property owners in regard to easement acquisition. Ms. Sherman explained <br />that staff has discussed the pipeline with the City of Andover, the Minnesota Office of <br />Pipeline Safety (MOPS) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The <br />City of Andover requires a special use permit for the installation of pipelines and in this <br />case it was an amended permit since a permit exists for the existing pipeline. FERC is <br />the federal agency responsible for the review and approval of the pipeline design. MOPS <br />is the state agency that monitors the installation and operation of the pipelines in the state. <br />Ms. Sherman pointed out that because the pipelines are federally regulated, FERC is the <br />agency that has final jurisdiction. Remote shut-offs are not required in the regulations <br />and are not proposed to be installed with the pipeline. The plans the City received were a <br />general description and layout and did not include detailed construction documents that <br />would have been required for a formal review. She noted that the City of Andover is <br />relying on FERC to review the plans for safety concerns. With regard to Ramsey, there <br />has been mention of issues about the shut-off valves, etc. We do have the opportunity to <br />ask for a number of things. They are required to get additional easements; therefore, we <br />have an opportunity to work with them. FERC can apply for a blanket approval and we <br />would be filing protest against that type of approval. The City of Andover has sent in a <br /> <br />City Council/March 23, 1999 <br /> Page 14 of <br /> <br /> <br />