02/16/2012 EDAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 begin the extension to the north to accommodate that and provide impetus for further commercial development. The city completed a feasibility study to determine costs. The cost is $895,000 to complete Phase 1 of the extension and bring public utilities to the site. This cost would be split by the two benefitting property owners. One of the property owners does not want to pay these assessments and is challenging the assessment. The council will have to determine if it wants to move forward. Ms. Schwartz noted that the city performed an Alternative Urban Areawide Review, which includes most of the east side of the city. Lino Lakes was also the first city to do a resource management plan with the watershed district citywide. This environmental review will streamline approvals and costs for developers, as well as use best environmental management practices. b. Charter Commission Referendum Updates Ms. Divine explained that the city has a charter commission. Members are appointed by a district judge. The commission’s job is to frame and amend the city charter. The commission is proposing amendments to the charter, including a tax cap. Mr .Kassner asked what the purpose of the charter commission. Ms. Divine reviewed the history of the charter and the impetus for it being established. Its main purpose was to protect citizens from being assessed for roads and utilities to serve new development. However, Section 8 of the charter has been an issue for years because it makes it difficult for the city to reconstruct local roads. Some roads in Lino Lakes are beyond their useful life and need to be reconstructed. According to the charter, if the city is going to assess benefitting property owners for any of the costs of reconstruction, the question must go to referendum. In the past 30 years, only one referendum has passed. City officials are growing increasingly concerned that older roads cannot be reconstructed when they need to be, the city cannot plan a reasonable reconstruction schedule, and the city could face very high costs eventually as the problems continue to grow. She noted the city council is discussing placing a ballot question to amend the charter to make it easier for the city to reconstruct roads. Mr. Stranik noted that most other cities operate under state law, which allows the city to build roads and assess a fair amount to benefitting property owners. The city charter overrides state law. After further discussion, Ms. Divine noted that the charter language is complex, ambiguous and confusing and a lot of misinformation has been disseminated over time. c. Industrial Area Review Ms. Divine notified EDAC that the March meeting would be a joint EDAC/P&Z meeting to discuss changes to the city’s industrial zoning ordinances. Staff and a consultant have been reviewing them and will recommend changes that have potential consequences to future development of the industrial areas of the city.