08-09-1993 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council Page Seven Regular Meeting August 9, 1993 Councilmember Blanchard stated that she recalls, that in 1991 there were several meetings regarding this subject. These meetings were highly publicized -- special flyers were sent out, articles were present in the newsletter and public notification was made in the newspapers. Blanchard stated that she attended those meetings and the overwhelming wishes of the people in attendance was not to have a utility. In February of 1991, Blanchard stated that because the adoption of a Surface Water Management Plan was mandated to be in place, a resolution was adopted to approve the Plan with the stipulation that all references to a utility be stricken. The resolution passed on a 3/2 vote.__Blanchard recalls that at that same time, it was announced that there would be no implementation of the Plan until there was some funding from the state or federal government. Councilmember Blanchard stated that, in her opinion, the informational meeting held in July was not highly publicized. There were no special notices sent to the City's "stakeholders" regarding the public hearing. The informational meeting was very poorly attended. Councilmember Blanchard stated that the Council is not listening to the people and that it is deplorable. Therefore, Councilmember Blanchard encouraged the Council to vote no on the Surface Water Management Utility until the citizens are better informed and have the opportunity for more public input. • Mayor Linke stated that he concurred with part of Councilmember Blanchard's statement, but stated that if the City doesn't look at the future and plan for the future the City will have the same problems in twenty years as it does now. There needs to be a solution to the problem of financing the projects that need to be accomplished and the City will not receive any funding from the state or federal government. It will be up to the City to solve the problems and find a way to financially take care of them. Councilmember Blanchard stated, in her opinion, the City has not given the citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on this utility. There needs to be more public input before the Council makes a decision on this utility. Mayor Linke stated that the public was informed regarding the meetings on this utility. Linke stated that he announced the meeting on cable during one of his programs and that it was well publicized: on the outside sign board and in various other places. Mayor Linke stated that one cannot go get the citizens from their homes and bring—them to the meetings. Richard F. Wolens, owner of North Suburban Schwinn and President of the Minnesota Business Association stated that traffic flow is down and sales and revenues are down for his business, the hardware 111 store and the liquor store in the shopping center as well as the restaurants.