Laserfiche WebLink
372 <br />COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 15, 1993 <br />to communicate with the Charter Commission. He said he felt that <br />this issue came as a political issue. He further explained that <br />if a potential business gets wind of a controversy between the <br />City Council and the Charter Commission, they may get "cold feet" <br />and locate in some other city. Mr. Smith explained that the <br />Charter Commission members learned a lot from the presentation by <br />the City Engineer because of the Apollo Drive project. He <br />further explained that the proposed Charter change to State <br />Statute 429 in some areas of the City is very business pro- <br />active. Mr. Smith said, "the last thing we (Charter Commission) <br />needs to do is put up fences". <br />Mayor Reinert asked where does the City Council and the City <br />Charter stand now on the Apollo Drive improvement project? He <br />noted that the Charter Commission has not made a public statement <br />regarding whether or not they feel that the City violated the <br />City Charter. Mr. Smith said that the matter is still under <br />review by the League of Minnesota Cities but he personally did <br />not feel that there was a violation of the City Charter. Council <br />Member Kuether asked if the Charter Commission could prepare a <br />statement to that effect so that it could be read at a Council <br />meeting. <br />Mr. Smith explained that after the presentation by the City <br />Engineer to the Charter Commission, the Commission feels that <br />there is a tremendous amount of imbalance in the way area and <br />unit charges are being collected. He further explained that the <br />charges are being paid by property owners who connect to the <br />sanitary sewer and municipal water systems. As these persons <br />connect, their tax base is broadened and this benefits all <br />property owners in the City. Mayor Reinert said this is unique <br />to the Lino Lakes City Charter. However, he felt that it was <br />important to shorten the time span for getting improvements to <br />commercial properties so that Lino Lakes could be more <br />competitive in attracting new businesses. <br />Mr. Schumacher noted that only eight (8) of the 15 Charter <br />Commission members were present at the December 2, 1993 meeting <br />and asked if there was a problem. Mr. Smith said that there will <br />be an effort to contact all members prior to another meeting. He <br />noted a different balance on the Charter Commission which <br />reflects a true balance of the community. He also said he did <br />see a struggle in the next five (5) years but as the community <br />changes so must the Charter and there will be problems. Mr. <br />Smith also noted that he would be resigning as chairman at the <br />next Charter Commission meeting unless a petition is received <br />against the new ordinance adopting State Statute 429 in three (3) <br />specific areas of the City. Mr. Smith felt that the Chairman of <br />the Charter Commission must be pro -active or the Charter will not <br />PAGE 2 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />