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City Council Minutes August 21, 1998 • Page 2 ~~~ that the project does not meet that standard, it should not order the preparation of the EAW. Mayor Gehrz noted that the University had faxed the city a few hours before this meeting, requesting that the city not take action on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet. Gehrz asked Attorney Knutson if there would be any reason why the city should delay making this decision. Knutson stated that there was no reason that the city council could not act on this issue; the city is required to make a decision within 30 days, which expires soon. Knutson stated that he could not foresee any information that would come to light within the next few days that might change the city's response to the petition. The city is required to act on the petition because it has been named as the Responsible Governmental Unit, even though the University disagrees with this designation. Engineer Maurer presented his findings in a letter dated August 13, 1998. Maurer stated that there are several unresolved issues with respect to the proposed stadium. Among the unresolved issues cited in Maurer's letter are noise, traffic generation, parking capacity, water/sewer capacity, archaeological significance of the area, and potentially hazardous chemicals that may have been stored at the greenhouses adjacent to the proposed site. Maurer believes that an EAW would be an appropriate method to gather • information and address each of these areas of concern. Councilmember Kuettel asked if it was common for an Environmental Assessment Worksheets to be completed even when it isn't specifically mandated by law. Attorney Knutson answered that developers often will voluntarily complete an EAW even when it is not required, just so that all environmental issues are addressed from the beginning. The University was asked to voluntarily complete an EAW and declined to do so. Mayor Gehrz noted that Consulting Planner John Shardlow had submitted a letter to the city recommending that the city order the preparation of an EAW. In his letter, Shardlow cites unanswered questions regarding noise, traffic, the potential location of an Indian trail through the site, the possible storage of pesticides on the adjacent property, and the historic status of the Gibbs schoolhouse as reasons for ordering an EAW. Councilmember Gibson Talbot read aloud the proposed findings of fact regarding the petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed soccer stadium. Following this reading, Gibson Talbot suggested that statements regarding the property's archaeological significance, potentially hazardous chemicals on the adjacent site, and unresolved questions about water and sewer capacity be added to the findings of fact, in accordance with concerns raised about these issues by the city's engineer and consulting planner. Councilmember Hustad moved adoption of the findings of fact with the amendments as • proposed by Councilmember Gibson Talbot and to order the preparation of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet.