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to see Ramsey develop. Along with that, Agenda Item Case #7 involves a small step to <br />accommodate a business in a place where it is believed businesses should develop and allow it to <br />develop in a way that is less expensive and more environmentally sound. She stated she can see <br />rationale to take action in a positive way on that request but the Council needs to make <br />assurances to residents that it does not want to ram sewer into every parcel of land in Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen stated the City needs to think about what the City's ordinances say <br />now, particularly when dealing with sewer issues, that may have to be changed in order to give <br />citizens assurance that putting sewer into a place where it is not wanted is not the Council's <br />intent. She stated that she does not think the City has the staff expertise to do that at this point <br />and suggested the Council consider if the professional planning firm should look at the <br />ordinances in conjunction with that and change them, if necessary. Councilmember Haas Steffen <br />stated that she is comfortable with leaving this and trying to be accommodating in Agenda Item <br />Case #7 but she also wants to give assurance to residents that they will be protected in the land <br />planning going on now. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he has lived in Ramsey for quite a while and also served on the <br />Planning Commission with Councilmember Zimmerman and acted on extending sewer. But, at <br />no time, has the City forced anyone to connect to sewer and water. He noted there are properties <br />in the area of sewer utilities that are not forced to connect and there is no reason to hit existing <br />residential areas that do not want the service. Mayor Gamec stated if you look at the actions of <br />this Council they have never once gone into an existing residential development and forced <br />connection. There are even safeguards indicating the residents do not have to connect until they <br />sell their property. Mayor Gamec stated that he feels the Councilmembers have no desire to <br />force connection by existing people and there is no reason to do so. He pointed out that the <br />landfill area has sewer available in case there is a pollution problem and it is needed but residents <br />are not forced to connect. Mayor Gamec noted this charter issue is taking away from the City's <br />tax base and the Council's goal is commercial development. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen stated if this is the consensus of the Council then there should be <br />no objection to directing staff to negotiate with the current land planner to review ordinances to <br />assure the very thing stated as being the consensus. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he would have no objection. He stated when he was serving on the <br />Charter Commission they address how a residential area could petition for sewer and water, but <br />this may be easier to deal with through an ordinance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that she would like to direct staff to negotiate with <br />Hoisington Koegler to have them address ordinances and give some assurances to residents that <br />this move is not to sewer the entire City. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated he could give an inventory of what is in the charter and ordinances <br />to protect the residents from forcing sewer and water into existing residential neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to refer the <br />legal opinion as to the validity of Charter Section 14.1 dealing with modification of the MUSA <br /> <br />City Council/June 9, 1998 <br />Page 18 of 27 <br /> <br /> <br />