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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_98Feb25CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING • MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 25, 1998 ~ ~ r~ ;:: Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7:04 p.m. PRESENT Gehrz, Hustad, Kuettel, and Jacobs. Also present was Hoyt and Asleson. ABSENT Gibson Talbot (arrived later.) COMMUNITY FORUM There was no one wishing to take advantage of the community forum. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11, 1998 Minutes were approved by unanimous consent. Councilmember Gibson Talbot arrived at 7:05 p.m. • CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Councilmember Kuettel moved to approve the following consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously. 1. Disbursements 2. Licenses 3. Approval of agreement for use of fire training facilities 4. Authorization for the purchase of cable television equipment POLICY AGENDA DISCUSSION ON THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CENTRAL RAMSEY WATERSHED Administrator Hoyt reported that the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) had received a petition requesting that the Central Ramsey watershed be formed into a watershed district. If BWSR approves the petition, it would eliminate the Central Ramsey Watershed Management Organization (WMO), a joint .powers entity of municipalities, that is currently managing the watershed. Steve Woods, the consulting engineer who staffs the Central Ramsey WMO, • explained that the Central Ramsey WMO had operated with the understanding that most municipalities would take care of water issues within their municipalities. Therefore, the Central Ramsey WMO was fairly inactive over the years. Recently, the WMO was dealing with issues like the management of the Troutbrook stormwater interceptor and water quality in Lake Como and McCarrons Lake. City Council Minutes February 25, 1998 • Page 2 ~'~ ``" Matt Moore, representing BWSR, stated that the petition requesting the BWSR form a watershed district for Central Ramsey required prompt action by the agency. A public hearing is scheduled for April 6, 1998. He said that if BWSR determines that a watershed district is the best water quality management tool for the Central Ramsey watershed, BWSR would consider four options: 1 ~ making Central Ramsey a stand alone watershed district, 2) making Central Ramsey and Southwest Ramsey a combined watershed district, 3) adding the Central Ramsey watershed to the existing Ramsey Washington Watershed District, or 4) adding Central Ramsey and Southwest Ramsey to the Ramsey Washington Watershed District. Susan Schmidt, a citizen member of the Central Ramsey WMO and a member of the District 10 Environmental Committee, explained that the goal of the petition to BWSR was to address water quality issues, especially those affecting Lake Como. She said that after research, the committee believed that a watershed district provided the best opportunity to do this. Tom Peterson, staff to the Ramsey County Board of Soil and Water Conservation . said that a watershed district probably made the most sense to handle water management issues for this area. He said that it would be important to pay attention to whether or not the best way to handle these water issues was combining with Ramsey Washington, which has more development issues than the fully developed Central and Southwest Ramsey watersheds. Robert Vogel, elected supervisor to the Ramsey County Board of Soil and Water Conservation, stated that the Board favors the combination of Central Ramsey and Southwest Ramsey into the "Capital Region Watershed District". Mr. Vogel offered his office's assistance for administrative and technical assistance to the new entity. The council discussed the most cost efficient and representative way to provide water quality to the Central Ramsey and Southwest Ramsey watersheds. County Commissioner Janice Rettman said that having direct access to the appointed managers on the watershed district was important to citizens in these areas, especially because they will be taxed for maintaining water quality. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 98-05, DETERMINING COST TO BE ASSESSED AND ORDERING PREPARATION OF THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE 1998 LARPENTEUR AVENUE STREET IMPROVEMENTS • A motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve Resolution 98-05, determining cost to be assessed and ordering preparation of the assessment roll for the 1998 Larpenteur Avenue street improvements. The motion passed unanimously. C7 City Council Minutes February 25, 1998 Page 3 ~! APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 98-06, CALLING FOR HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 1998 LARPENTEUR AVENUE STREET IMPROVEMENT A motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve Resolution 98-06, calling for hearing on the proposed assessments for the 1998 Larpenteur Avenue street improvement. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. C_~C~ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary ,. ~~ Susan L. Gehrz, Mayor •