04-20-2004 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 20, 2004 7 11. CIY ADMNISTRATOR’S REPORT: A. Lake Jane Landfill – Ground Water The Acting City Administrator reported that he had conversed with the “Closed Landfill” staff person at MPCA regarding the comments of Gloria Knoblauch as to potential Lake Jane Landfill groundwater contamination. He reported that although MCPA had no knowledge of any recent Lake Jane Landfill “evaluation”, the MPCA staff will draw ground water samples from their monitoring wells south of the landfill within a week and conduct a full spectrum test on those samples. If suspicious findings result from the tests, MPCA will conduct the same tests on private wells immediately south of the landfill site at MPCA expense. Gloria Knoblauch presented a memo received from other MPCA staff. The memo advised her of testing firms that the residents south of landfill could contract with, and the probably costs for such testing. B. Comprehensive Plan – Metropolitan Council Council member Johnston observed that the Met Council has an incentive to negotiate with the City now that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the City’s appeal regarding the Met Council’s rejection of the Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan. He suggested that the City shouldn’t close off that avenue and that the City continue talking with the Met Council to obtain a better definition of what they may be prepared to entertain as a compromise solution. He added that by that strategy the City at least hasn’t walked away from that opportunity. Johnston also said that in order to prevail the City needs to assemble as many allies as possible supporting our cause. He suggested that it seems that it is bad practice that the City is not at last talking to the Met Council. The Acting Administrator reported that during the council’s discussion in the executive meeting, there were some hints that the Met Council may want to settle out of court, but he had nothing in writing. Council Member DeLapp said he was concerned that the Met Council might think that the City wants to meet them half way, which, in his opinion, would destroy the City as we know it today because of the population shift that would result in urban development throughout the City in any undeveloped land that could potentially have access to sewer. Mayor Hunt stated that, officially, there is nothing new on the table from the Met Council. Council member Siedow said that the City just can’t go with how one person thinks on this issue. He stated that he believes the City could meet the Met Council at some point. The City Planner volunteered to work with the city’s attorneys to contact the Met Council and find out for certain if there was a settlement offer.