Minutes - Council - 02/13/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey City Council conducted a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 1996, at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW, Ramsey, Minnesota, 55303. Members Present: Mayor Glen Hardin Councilmember Carolyn Beahen Councilmember Sheila Beyer Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Councilmember Gerald Zimmerman Also Present: City Administrator Ryan Schroeder City Engineer Steve Jankowski Administrative Services Manager Linda Waite Smith Police Chief Mike Auspos Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik City Attorney William Goodrich CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hardin called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CITIZEN INPUT Becky Lemke, 14361 Uranium Street NW, Ramsey, reported she was approached to sign a petition for another proposed Charter amendment regarding sewer and water projects. She asked several questions of the individual who was circulating the petition such as "what happens in the case of well contamination, or a septic system polluting the area, does this leave property owners without options, etc. The only reply she received was "The City can't force you to hook up to City water and sewer". That appeared to be the only issue that mattered to this person. Her questions were not answered. She suggested that the group calling themselves the Ramsey Residents for Responsible Government are giving people half troths and not explaining factual information. They are using tactics to get a knee-jerk reaction from people. When you mention City water and sewer to any resident on a private system, they will most likely sign anything to prevent a costly improvement in their area. Ms. Lemke stated she did not sign the petition and reiterated the fact that her questions had not been answered. The "slam the door" approach written into the proposed amendment scared her as a property owner with a private well and septic system. It does not leave an option for situations that may arise in years to come. She continued that if a property owner lives near undeveloped land and an improvement project affects their property, those are the risks that are assumed when they purchased adjacent to that undeveloped land. As an owner of property that was adjacent to undeveloped land, she had first hand experience with that issue. "We did not agree with everything that was put in place, nor did we write unnecessary amendments to undermine the current Charter. I see this amendment as written without regard to possible future consequences." This proposed amendment may sound good in theory, but she questioned if Council is going to be able to grant an exception in extenuating situations. She felt this amendment would pit neighbor against neighbor that no amount of mediation will resolve. This amendment can be viewed as non-progressive, option limiting, an administrative nightmare, and very destructive to property values that really leaves no option for neighborhoods to work together. She suggested that the Ramsey Residents for Responsible Government need to be held accountable for City Council/February 13, 1996 Page 4 of 32