04/28/2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 28, 2003 APPROVED 526 when they proposed to upgrade their steam facility was over a million dollars. He stated an EIS is a 027 big, expensive, deal, and could take a year or more. 528 529 Councilmember Reinert asked if in the instance City Planner Smyser mentioned, anything further was 530 found with the EIS. City Planner Smyser stated that project did not have a typical EAW, they knew 531 an EIS would be needed and went straight to that. 532 533 Councilmember Reinert indicated what he is trying to see is if an EIS would produce more 534 information, and if not, why they have them, since they take so long and cost so much. He stated the 535 church has been very professional, and he is not against them at all, they just picked a very 536 environmentally sensitive area to build. He is trying to see why some things require an EIS, and what 537 is usually found out from them, and why the consensus is that an EIS will not provide more 538 information. He stated he has heard the answers before, but they have a lot of citizens here who have 539 spent a lot of time digging up compelling information. 540 541 City Planner Smyser indicated an EIS looks into specific issues, such as the archeology study that 542 was mentioned. When they were building Highway 55 they found an underground spring system 543 they did not know was there; that is the type of situation you would then want to do an EIS to address. 544 If an EAW finds a significant environmental issue that requires further research, an EIS would be in 545 order. They have not seen anything in this EAW that would require the added research of an EIS. He 546 advised that concerning the heron, the DNR has stated they do not believe an EIS would provide them 547 with additional information. All of the environmental issues are being addressed in other ways, by 548 Lino Lakes' staff and other regulatory agencies. He thinks the EAW has told them what the issues .49 are, and they can be addressed individually during site design. 50 551 Mayor Bergeson noted that none of the Council is experts on environmental issues or the EAW, and 552 they have to rely on those who are, which is why there is a long list of agencies to submit the EAW to 553 for comments. He advised that when they make a decision, they have to take that into consideration. 554 555 Councilmember O'Donnell asked about the State requirements brought up by Mr. Jost. City Planner 556 Smyser stated he thinks it is great when people get interested in the State rules, but he does not agree 557 with Mr. Josts' interpretation. He indicated staff took longer on this to review the comments when 558 they came in, but he does not think the City is required to do something or make a different decision 559 than they choose now because that review took so long. 560 561 City Attorney Hawkins offered he is not familiar with EAW rules, so he would have to defer back to 562 City Planner Smyser. 563 564 Councilmember O'Donnell indicated that for purposes of discussion, they will assume they are in 565 compliance. City Attorney Hawkins agreed, and indicated he could look into it if needed, but he is 566 not in a position now to comment. 567 568 Councilmember Reinert indicated a lot of people at the microphone gave the Council a lot of 569 information and asked them to look it through. He asked if they had a deadline or could take some 570 time with this. City Planner Smyser stated the City has already taken a long time with this, and the 571 applicant has been patient. He indicated if there is an issue with the City taking so long, it would only 72 exacerbate that to delay a decision. However, if Councilmember Reinert is asking if the City is in a W73 position where they must make a decision tonight, no, they are not. He just believes it should go 12