05/12/2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 12, 2003 APPROVED 1 Mayor Bergeson noted that a public hearing had already been held but asked if anyone in the • 2 audience would like to provide additional input. 3 4 Barbara Bor, 7707 20th Avenue N., Hugo, representing the HERON Group, read a prepared statement 5 thanking the Council for listening to the environmental concerns expressed by the neighborhood. She 6 noted that the Council will be taking action tonight without an actual plan being presented which 7 would allow for a full environmental impact analysis. Ms. Bor stated that should the Council vote in 8 favor of a negative declaration regarding the need for an EIS, it will not negate the neighborhood's 9 concerns. She advised that a draft letter has been written by the HERON Group to Eagle Brook 10 Church to clarify the statement made by the Church Operation Director at the last Council meeting 11 that HERON was unwilling to meet with the church. 12 13 Ms. Bor stated HERON's statements to church staff since the presentation of a larger project vision 14 and the roll out of a conceptual drawing at a neighborhood meeting has indicated they would meet 15 with the church board and BWBR when a submitted plan is available. 16 17 Ms. Bor requested that after the Council's vote, staff summarize the next steps to send the Council's 18 ruling and the RGU summary of the EAW to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). She stated 19 that she would like to receive copies of the correspondences that will be sent to the EQB and to hear 20 formally from the Environmental Board regarding the date the EQB receives the City's ruling. 21 22 Scott Anderson, Director of Operations for Eagle Brook Church, stated they look forward to working 23 with the Council and staff. He noted the EIS worksheet was completed and they look forward to 24 taking the next steps. • 25 26 Councilmember Dahl stated Jerry Berg contacted her, asked if tonight would be a public hearing, and 27 if he would be allowed to speak tonight. She stated she informed him it would not be a public 28 hearing and it would be up to the Mayor and Council whether he was allowed to speak. 29 30 Mayor Bergeson stated a willingness to listen to Mr. Berg's comments. 31 32 Jerry Berg, Assistant Coordinator for the Lino Lakes History Project, commented on the County and 33 State agencies that had concern with the area. He read from a DNR correspondence mentioning the 34 Heron area and natural community of cattail marshes. He also read from the State Archeologist's 35 correspondence stating it would have been desirable to include maps with the project to identify the 36 location of features. 37 38 Mr. Berg stated several people have asked him why, if this is such an important historical area and 39 large habitation of American Indians, the Indian community has not been involved. He stated he is 40 involved and in contact with several leaders of the Dakota Council and other groups. He stated they 41 are concerned about this and their homeland and hope the Council recognizes that. He stated if the 42 EAW is approved, he would suggest having an archeologist with the developer to follow and 43 investigate prior to work. Mr. Berg advised the Council of a previous project in another metropolitan 44 location where they found human bones when they started to dig. He asked the Council to make sure 45 the project is handled correctly. 46 47 Community Development Director Grochala stated the letter Mr. Berg referenced was dated July 19, 48 2002 and did identify some issues. He advised that included in the EAW is an additional letter from 3