HomeMy WebLinkAboutcomments for March 16, 2021, city council meetingFrom:djbucheck@comcast.net
To:Charles Cadenhead; Kristina Handt; Julie Johnson
Subject:comments for March 16, 2021, city council meeting
Date:Tuesday, March 16, 2021 2:54:15 PM
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Ann Bucheck
2301 Legion Avenue N
Lake Elm MN 55042
I ask to have my comments read aloud and placed in the record
for the March 16, 2021, city council meeting regarding discussion
for the design of a new city hall/fire hall.
The question before the council this evening is, do you wish to
move to the Design Development Phase regarding a new Lake
Elmo city hall? I urge you to choose not to do so for a variety of
reasons.
The idea of a new city hall was presented to the public in 2018,
however there has not been open discussion or public hearings
on the project since that time and the cost has escalating from
$10.2 million in 2018 to $14.6 million now, an increase of 43%.
This is a different project, different costs and so the discussion
needs to renew. Your background information stated that it was
hoped that an article could be in the St. Paul Pioneer Press
generating publicity and information about it. This publicity needs
to take place before you move forward, not after. You need
public input and this can only be gained if you fully inform the
public, especially in this time of closed city council meetings due
to the Coronavirus.
I was disappointed that none of the committee meetings were
publicized and open to the public. The membership was
composed of people whose jobs were being impacted by the
project, but not by those who would be paying for it for the next
20 years. It was unfortunate the Environmental, Parks and
Planning groups were not included, however it’s not too late.
The background stated that it was being planned for “more
growth to happen”. Can you tell the public what is being
planned? In 2017 the BKV group projected a population of
10,500 in 2020, 14,100 in 2030, and 18,200 in 2040. If you count
all the approved unit developments in Lake Elmo at this point and
multiply those units by the Metropolitan Council’s count of
population per unit, what would be the population once they are
occupied? Where are we on the scale of meeting the expected
population growth? Is the city expected to slow growth after we
meet the expectations or are there plans to continue at an
accelerated rate?
What is the actual price? I have seen $14.6 million, $15.3 million,
and I don’t know if that includes what is being called the “paving”.
If there are any change orders once construction begins the
price usually only goes higher, not lower. If there is any plan to
sell the present city hall building, what would be a “ball park”
selling price? It stated an average homeowner would pay
$149/year for 20 years for the new city hall. I don’t believe the
price will decrease since it was stated there may be a desire to
hire more personnel in five different areas. Development does
not pay for itself, even though it is often cited differently by
developers/politicians and this is a good example of it.
I urge the council to not move forward this evening, but rather to
address unanswered questions, do your homework, inform the
public, be transparent and honest with the citizens. Please hold
public meetings in a safe manner so the citizens may view the
project, not on a small computer screen, but full size.