10/26/1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26,1998 Since the five (5) Year Plan has been put in place, the City has relocated 37 businesses. That will generate an estimated $8 million in new taxes. Mr. Wessel stated he feels confident the City can reach their goals. C1. Environmental Board Comments - Mr. Wessel referred to a memo outlining the response of Environmental Board members to Item #1 of the Lyden/Dahl Compromise Plan. The vote was 3-2-2 regarding the issue of stopping all plat approvals for residential development projects until the Environmental Inventory and Management Plan is completed. Three (3) members voted no, it is not necessary to stop all plat approvals. Two (2) members voted no with qualifiers. Two (2) members voted yes, it is necessary to stop all plat approvals until the Environmental Inventory and Management Plan is complete. Mr. Wessel stated the Environmental Inventory and Management Plan will be adopted as addendum's to the Plan upon completion. C. Response to Council Work Session Issues 10/19/98 - Alan Brixius - Mr. Brixius stated he was requested to respond to the Lyden/Dahl proposal and look at a MUSA alternative. Mr. Brixius reviewed the Lyden/Dahl proposal and commented on their issues. 1. An interim policy will be immediately adopted whereby no plat will be approved until such time as the Environmental Inventory & Management Plan is completed and in place. Recognizing the serious nature of the tax base imbalance, key business developments may possibly be excepted from this policy if environmental concerns are satisfied by meeting a list of conditions (to be defined). Mr. Brixius stated the Comprehensive Plan addressed the issues of housing, economic development, diversity of land use, economic development community facilities growth, management, and tax base. He stated the focus of the Lyden/Dahl proposal is measured to stop growth. 2. The Comprehensive Plan under current consideration, when adopted, shall remain in effect until the year 2020 AD. After its adoption, any proposed amendment must be approved by a majority vote of the citizens. An ordinance to this effect will be adopted concurrently with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Brixius stated this would require a referendum for a text amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. This takes decision making away from the Council. It would require another process for any kind of consideration of a change in land uses. It is another step that would delay the process and be expensive for City planning decisions. 3. Inasmuch as the Comprehensive Plan Task Force has determined that no Hydra Soils are buildable, an ordinance will be created treating all Hydra Soils in exactly the same manner as wetlands are currently treated. This ordinance will be adopted at the time that the Comprehensive Plan is adopted. Mr. Brixius had no comment. 4. There will be no expansion of the MUSA or additional "MUSA bank" until such time as the City tax rate has remained at or below 20% for the preceding three (3) consecutive years. Additionally, the City's tax base must also consist of 14% or more Commercial and