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CITY COUNCIL <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />The Ramsey City Council conducted a closed session on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at the Ramsey <br />Fire Station Number I, 15050 Armstrong Boulevard NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br /> <br />Mayor Thomas Gamec <br />Councilmember Todd Cook <br /> <br />Councilmember <br />Councilmember <br />Councilmember <br />Councilmember <br /> <br />David Elvig <br />A1 Pearson <br />Sarah Strommen <br />Jerry Zimmerman <br /> <br />Councilmember Patti Kurak <br /> <br />Also Present: <br /> <br />City Administrator, James E. Norman <br /> <br />CALL TO ORDER <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec called the closed session of the City Council to order at 5:35 p.m. <br />CLOSED SESSION TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION <br /> <br />1) City of Ramsey v. Thomas R. Kurak, et. al. <br /> <br />Paula Callies, Kennedy & Graven, stated that they had contacted Maryland Michaels, who deals <br />a lot with family law and condemnation issues, to assist in proceeding with the mediation <br />process. Her rate is $195 per hour and the estimated total cost for the mediation would be <br />$2,000. Ms. Callies explained that mediation is a non-binding negotiation to try and resolve the <br />issues and come to an agreement between the two parties. At that meeting, Ms. Michaels would <br />be the mediator, attorneys representing both parties would be present as well as the Kurak's, a <br />member from City staff, and one member of the City Council. She noted that it would not be <br />appropriate to have the entire Council at the session. In discussing the idea of mediation with the <br />Kurak's, they have stated that they do not want to share the cost since the action was initiated by <br />the City and they feel they have incurred a lot of costs already. The Kurak's are concerned that <br />that issue might not be resolved and then they would be paying a cost for nothing. Ms. Callies <br />noted that it is not unusual for the City to pay extra costs in condemnation actions, but there is <br />not a requirement for the City to do so. As the City's Attorney, she feels it would be worthwhile <br />for the City to proceed with mediation and pay the additional cost. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if it would favorable in the eyes of the judge if the City <br />were to proceed with the mediation process. <br /> <br />City Council/April 1, 2003 <br /> Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br /> <br />