Agenda Packets - 2005/09/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 22, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 45 1 Councilmember Stigney noted that getting $5 million cash could add $250,000 a year for the next 2 20 years to offset the tax base. At that point the Medtronic’s project will be over and then it will 3 bring in $1 million a year. He stated as much as he respects the attempt to oppose, he thinks they 4 are all on the “wrong page” and no one has convinced him to the contrary. He stated he asks 5 what could be better but no one has an answer to that so he is a Councilmember who is proud to 6 vote for it. 7 8 Ayes-4 Nay-1 ( Marty) Motion carried. 9 10 Councilmember Gunn read into the record the e-mail statement submitted by John Murphy, 11 resident of Mounds View. 12 13 (1) Resolution 6581 City of Mounds View Resolution Authorizing Sale of 14 City of Mounds View Property to the Mounds View Economic 15 Development Authority 16 17 Community Development Director Ericson stated the City Attorney recommends that action be 18 taken on this item. 19 20 Mr. McCarty stated when we first began discussion about getting a better exchange of ideas, they 21 went on the long-standing precedent that they were honored by the Council and sought out 22 guidance from staff to assure the petition was in the correct form. He noted Ordinance 760 23 references the validity of Chapter 12.05 of the City Charter and was adopted and put in place 24 accordingly. He stated there are many reasons and precedents we could consider. Mr. McCarty 25 asked those who do not want this to go to the voters, what strikes fear in their heart to have 26 residents vote on this issue. He asked if we are so full of ourselves that we don’t want them to 27 vote. He again asked what is the fear to let residents vote 28 29 Councilmember Flaherty stated it does not “strike fear in him” and he has said all along he has 30 no problem with the petition if that is what the people want to do, they should be able to do that. 31 He noted the Council just voted on the sufficiency because there were not enough signatures and 32 the question is invalid. He stated he asked the City Attorney if there was recourse and the answer 33 was yes, there is recourse. He stated he is not afraid of the resident’s vote. 34 35 Mr. McCarty stated there is no recourse other than going to court. 36 37 City Attorney Riggs stated they have the ability to challenge, go to court, or come up with a 38 different opinion. He stated there are other ways to approach this and he is sure they have 39 explored those options. 40 41 Mr. McCarty stated the only recourse is to go to court and it is unseemly to him that they would 42 have to go to court and fight their own money with their own money. He stated the Council can 43 embrace the democratic process by an advisory election and not endanger the City’s position. He 44 stated that to just throw out a document that has been rallied around for years is just not right and 45