06-14-2007 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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`-- This cooperation doesn't seem to be happening in Lino Lakes now. The sewer and water back 32 years ago was only in the SW corner. At that time there was a plan was to run it up Lake Drive with no means to pay for it. There was no tax base. This concem is what led to the creation of the charter. A plan had to be put in place for the future. There was no intent to jeopardize the ability of a city council to run and manage a city. It was put in place to protect and manage development. It was not meant to halt development. Now the council and the commission are too far apart. They need to come back together and that is the responsibility of both parties. The charter needs to be tweaked and looked at based on how the city is today and not how it was at the time the charter was created_ Albert DeMotts A charter recommendation (written) was provided. He feels there are two ways to go about this issue.. He was on the charter commission back in 1984 and he wanted to check changes back then. He went through these recommendations with a lady in the League of Cities at that time. There would be an ordinance put in by City Council to change the city charter. This would add clauses to Chapter 8. However, none of the funds generated could be used for city water or sewer (this is the responsibility of landowner) or new roads (developer should pay for) nor for curb and gutter. Joe Meyer Joe lives on West Shadow Lake Drive. Referred to it as the worst road in city. There is no water, sewer, blind comers, standing water on road, the lake coming over road. The charter has failed to support this community. The first time all the improvements were suggested he had new house/water/sewer and he didn't need it but others already did. It had uneven support. Even now not everyone will vote for it but by now the majority living there will want it. He feels this system pits neighbor against neighbor. Everyone is looking out for themselves. This is not a good system. They get their community behind it but they can't others in the city to support it. An assessment won't work as the value to their property won't be increased by as much as the cost and this will go against the law. He feels that people won't vote for it if they don't directly benefit from the project. Imagine if the state worked this way? Would we vote to support roads in other cities? This charter provision will drag us back to horse and buggy days. Pat Smith Pat also lives on West Shadow Lake drive and was on the charter commission when they deliberated using statute 429 vs drafting the specific provisions in chapter 8. Even the council recommended changing charter and they have tried. The charter itself has become a very personal matter and has become leverage against the council. It has lived beyond its useful life especially in this provision. The Council has the responsibility to serve the community and they are limited in doing so. The commission and council need to get on the same page to serve the community. To save money overall we've seen the recommendations of the experts as to how to run and manage the city. We did the plans and hired the experts- follow their recommendations. Kurt Kinehorn Kurt is also a resident of West Shadow Lake Drive and he was the leader of the defeated referendum. He realized they have real problems on their street. They have a real need and it isn't being fixed. He has talked with many people on the street. Most everyone wants the street fixed. The issue is that there is a political problem. We are tying in city water and sewer. There is also the issue of dividing the properties up into smaller lots. He says there is really no leadership at all in these issues. The solutions -10-