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MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />JANUARY 8, 2004 <br />XCEL Jurek reported on the history of the property indicating that it was <br />ENERGY purchased by Xcel in 1954 and the substation was built a year or two later. <br />Jurek indicated that vegetation management vehicles have been parked on <br />the property since the substation was constructed. She pointed out that <br />this use existed prior to the City's adoption of its Zoning Ordinance in <br />1964. <br />Jurek indicated that she has been working with the City Planner and the <br />City Administrator to come to a joint resolution of this issue. As a result, <br />Xcel has applied for this CUP and is proposing to screen the outdoor <br />storage area from view. <br />Duray asked about the ownership of the vehicles. Jurek reported that Xcel <br />contracts out its tree trimming work, and the vehicles are owned by a <br />couple of tree trimming businesses. Jurek reported that employees of <br />these businesses drive to the substation each work day to pick up the tree <br />trimming vehicles leaving their personal vehicles at the site. At the end of <br />the workday, the tree trimming vehicles are returned to the substation. <br />Duray asked how many trucks were involved. Jurek estimated 6 to 10 <br />vehicles. <br />Knudsen asked if in approving the CUP, a maximum number of trucks <br />could be set. The City Planner indicated that either a maximum could be <br />set or the specific boundaries of the outdoor storage area defined and <br />trucks would have to be kept within those boundaries. <br />Knudsen asked what alternatives Xcel had if their request is denied. Jurek <br />reported that the issue goes to the reliability of the system. She indicated <br />that tree trimming is an important maintenance function, and the reason <br />they utilize this site is to get more of the workers because of lower <br />traveling times. Jurek indicated that Xcel had service locations in White <br />Bear Lake and Newport. <br />Weihe pointed out that typically contractors keep their equipment at their <br />own facility. Jurek again indicated that it was an efficiency issue. <br />Rheaume reported that he looked up the location for one of the tree <br />contractors and they are based in Spring Lake Park, just 10 miles away. <br />Rheaume asked what difference it made having the contractor leave to go <br />to a job from the Spring Lake Park location versus the substation on Rice <br />Street. <br />Jurek indicated that Xcel has used property it owns in the metro area for <br />these purposes. <br />2 <br />