02/12/1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 22, 1996 December, 1995, January, 1996 which firmly states that they do not want to pay for any road improvements. Why were these petitions ignored? Ms. Walseth said that she believes it is presumptuous of the City to assume that the property owners are going to change their minds. The City is walking on thin ice when it takes for granted that they will be financing a portion of the road project by collecting almost one-half of a million dollars from a meager 21 abutting properties who have spoken loud and clear that they do not want any assessments. Ms. Walseth said that because of this, she said she did not understand why assessments were mentioned in the October, 1995 feasibility report. Ms. Walseth said she wanted clarification of whether or not the current residents will be assessed and what is the meaning of the frequently used term, "future assessment"? Mr. Ahrens explained that there are no proposed assessments to the property owners along 12th Avenue and Holly Drive. The residents are not proposed to be assessed for the project as outlined in the feasibility report. The reference to future MSA assessments, refers to if the properties were to be developed, they would be assessed for road reconstruction in the same manner as Trapper's Crossing is proposed to be assessed. If the City Council adopts an approval motion for this project, it could include language that a certain development should pay a certain dollar amount for the improvement. Mr. Ahrens addressed the confusion caused by the legal notices in the Quad Press. He explained that the Charter requires that the City state in writing to the property owners what their proposed assessment will be. The notice to each property owner said that their assessment would be zero. He also noted Ms. Walseth's reference to Resolution No. 95 - 159 which states, "The council will consider the improvement of such streets in accordance with the report and the assessment of abutting property for all or a portion of the cost of the improvement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429 and Section 8 of the Lino Lakes City Charter ....". This is generic language and there is no assessment proposed for the residents along these streets. Ms. Walseth continued by stating that the City Council should re-evaluate the Planning Consultants, who operate from outside agencies, role in our City. In reference to Trapper's Crossing, Alan Brixius from Northwest Associated Consultants repeatedly recommended the approval of the preliminary plat. One of the judgment criteria for approval, as stated by Mr. Brixius, was that the traffic generation of the proposed use be within the capabilities of the streets serving the property. In the December 6, 1993 Northwest Associated Consultant planning report, when Trapper's Crossing first started, the report went even further to say that Holly Drive and 12th Avenue are of adequate size as collector roads to move traffic in and out the project. In all the latest feasibility report. it states that the road reconstruction will cost $1,952,000.00. Ms. Walseth asked who is responsible for this $1,952,000.00 misjudgment? Does the City really need this type of advice which would put its finances in a bind? Ms. Walseth said that she wanted to address some problems involving housekeeping. First, she said she wanted it documented that she is upset with the City for putting her PAGE 7