Minutes - Council - 04/17/1989 - Joint with Anoka CC and Development Committee

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JOINT MEETING OF THE ANOKA CITY COUNCIL AND RAMSEY CITY COUNCIL/DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE COMMUNITY ROOM OF ANOKA CITY HALL MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1989 The joint meeting of the Anoka City Council and Ramsey Development Committee was called to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Community Room of Anoka City Hall. The meeting was arranged at the request of the City of Ramsey in order to discuss issues of mutual interest. Representatives present from the City of Ramsey included Mayor Gary Reimann; and Councilmembers Richard Cich, Ken Peterson, Stephen DeLuca, and Alan Pearson; Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Jerry Zimmerman; Economic Development Commissioners Darrell Fults and Glen Hardin; Ramsey staff members David Hartley, City Administrator; and Mark Banwart, Economic Development Director. Representatives from ~he City of Anoka were Mayor Stephen Halsey; and Councilmembers Gerald Cotten, Lorraine Hostetler, John Mann, and John Weaver; staff members Mark Nagel, City Manager; Robert Kirchner, Community Development Director; and Ray Schultz, Public Works Director. Hartley chaired the meeting and introduced Ramsey Economic Development Director Mark Banwart who addressed a proposal from the City of Ramsey to the City of Anoka relating to transportation needs, specifically the possible connection of proposed McKinley St. in Anoka with the Ramsey Industrial Park through the Seed property. Mutual benefits of said hookup would include Ramsey's access to the Thurston Ave. bridge and Anoka's opportunity to take advantage of a larger land mass for larger industrial developments. Banwart added that there may be a possibility of other road accesses over Burlington Northern and Highway 10 overpass possibilities in the future. Kirchner reported that this possibility was raised to both the Anoka Planning Commission and the Economic Development Commission, neither making a firm recommendation to City Council. The Planning Commission reportedly considered the road hookup in a positive aspect for circulation purposes, but raised questions on the types of standards regulating the two adjacent areas and their compatibility. They also queried how this hookup could benefit the City of Anoka. Weaver, responding to Council's position, suggested a trade-off: Exchange of Thurston Ave. north through the project where it dead ends for the carry-over of Highway 47 over the bridge in order to avoid funneling traffic through the Anoka County fairground area. Highway 47 would be carried over Thurston Ave. Hartley stated that this possibility was discussed by their Council, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Commission and the decision was made not to pursue that, noting opposition from residents in the Flintwood Hills development that it not be a State highway. The area is presently developed and would create additional costs to pursue this proposal at this time. Mann hoped that the two cities could avoid creating a speed track along McKinley, suggesting a road be turned to the northeast up along the old Ramsey school. Reimann and Fults feared that residents in the Flintwood Hills area and busi- nesses along Highway 47 would oppose this change. Mann felt that the new mall traffic would enhance the Highway 47 businesses and his suggested route would be located behind the Flintwood Hills area, thereby eliminating the fear of a thoroughfare. Mann explained that traffic could go up Highway 10, over Thurston and continue north without hitting a stop sign the whole way. Peterson stated that he is opposed to going by Flintwood, but felt the route suggested up to the City Hall may be a workable possibility, and then maybe creating an access to get on to Highway 47. Pearson concurred, pointing out that that area is open now. Cich also agreed that traffic not be routed by Flintwood Hills. Halsey felt that the suggested route up to the old Ramsey town hall was worth pursuing, pointing out that National Ag, recently relocated in Anoka's industrial park, will be concerned with standards set west on McKinley, preferring to avoid the use of metal buildings in the industrial area. Hartley felt it appropriate that the two communities exchange standards with regard to the industrial areas that abut each other whether there are roads there or not. He felt that common standards could be agreed on for the two areas. Hostetler concurred with this exchange, but pointed out that Anoka has established high standards for their industrial park. Hartley suggested that the two cities' industrial park ordinances be reviewed for compatibility.