Minutes - Council - 12/10/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tom Gamec, 16021 Neon Street NW, Ramsey, asked Council to consider holding off on adoption of this ordinance. A lot of problem have come up in the past with the Charter and assessment policies. There has been a lot of misunderstanding as to how sewer and water is handled. The total assessment ordinance in the Charter has to be reviewed. The Comprehensive Plan has to be resubmitted in 1998. A lot of the Charter and the Comprehensive Plan do not coincide and he felt they need to complement each other. The MUSA line should be reviewed. As far as voting on the MUSA, fight now there's a developer outside the MUSA, Burger King, and they are having problems because of no City utilities. This will cause business problems. $60,000 could be generated by commercial development that could take place, therefore, he would hate to see commercial development stop. As far as the vote on the MUSA, these percentages have to be looked at. One thing that was kept in mind during the drafting of the Charter was how to protect residential areas. He suggested that the grace period for hook up has to be looked at again. Another issue that needs to be dealt with is the health, welfare and safety issue. The whole issue of the Charter and Comprehensive Plan should be discussed by the Planning Commission, Charter Commission, Mayor and Councilmembers, etc., plus informed citizens. A lot of things are just not understood. He suggested there should be an informal meeting with the existing neighborhoods right outside the MUSA and right inside the MUSA. You can not do it at a general meeting because of a lot of hard feelings when you mention City sewer and water. Explaining what it is and how it's handled would be a big help. If people are informed, things go a lot better. He cautioned that this will take a long time to do. He felt this ordinance will take some time. There is a three-year timetable before the fee would start so we have time to work on it. The other question is whether or not this change is really needed. He asked the Council to let the future City Councilmembers, staff, residents, commissions, etc. work on this. More attempt to educate people would be a lot better and easier for Council. Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard NW, Ramsey, suggested if Tom Gamec's attitude had prevailed two years ago, it would not have been necessary to amend the Charter twice. A lot of overtures have been rebuffed by staff and the Charter Commission. He stated he did not enjoy walking around in the rain for signatures. He would have much preferred to negotiate. He asked who wrote this ordinance. City Attorney Goodrich stated he did. Mr. Hendriksen asked if Mr. Goodrich believes it meets the provision of the Charter amendment. Mr. Goodrich replied that it was written with the intention of implementing the Charter amendment and under the authority of the existing Charter under 12.12. In the past we have done an ordinance to give body to the exact wording of the Charter. That was the intent of this ordinance and to implement the Charter as it was adopted. Mr. Hendriksen agreed with the philosophy but asked Mr. Goodrich if he actually reviewed it in terms of being a legally supportive document. He (Hendriksen) did not believe it was. Mr. Goodrich responded that the purpose of this hearing is to hear comments. It's not intended to strike out at any group. Mr. Hendriksen noted Section 2, third sentence, and stated there are properties in this City for which City Council ordered sewer and water to pass by which are not obligated to pay any assessment whatsoever. As you read through here, you will find that properties the City is not entitled to collect assessments on, the City is trying to collect on them. Mr. Goodrich offered that perhaps we should have "available" defined. City Council/December 10, 1996 Page 8 of 25