|
Mounds View City Council October 11, 1999
<br />Regular Meeting Page 17
<br />hearings without the three-minute rule, to provide for a free flow and exchange of ideas and
<br />. thoughts, and the decision should be based upon this. He explained it may be this Council's
<br />legacy to raise the franchise fee and set money aside for street funds, which is very admirable,
<br />however, the matter will always "smack" of the "Bel Ray backroom deal," or the telephone
<br />operated water meters, unless the people are provided the opportunity to have full input.
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated one of the things he sees as different with this Council, is the number of
<br />Task Forces, committees, and citizen's groups which are given the charge of examining many of
<br />the issues. He explained that good citizens have spent a fair amount of time, and this City has
<br />spent a fair amount of money over the year for facilitators and the like, to determine solutions to
<br />problems. He commented the reports are given, the Council accepts them, and the
<br />recommendations are then put on the shelf to collect dust. He explained the Streets Policies
<br />Committee was given the charge of researching the background of this issue, and to recommend
<br />a comprehensive street policy to the City Council. He noted this group was open to everyone,
<br />and in fact, extended the time it was open for citizen participation, because they desired the
<br />citizen's input. He explained the committee's recommendation has been provided to the
<br />Council, the Council has accepted it, and the matter will not collect dust. He stated they are
<br />listening to the citizens.
<br />Mayor Coughlin explained, in regard to "sneaky, backroom dealings," as even the documents on
<br />the Council Chamber walls can attest, the issues have been out in the open for months, and every
<br />single meeting was open to the public. He commented he was pleased to see Mr. Obert in
<br />attendance, adding that his testimony at a recent Planning Commission meeting indicated he was
<br />• not paying much attention to City business. Mayor Coughlin stated there have been countless
<br />opportumhes for information, and m fact, Council Member Quick had insisted the Council
<br />provide two public hearings to discuss the Streets Policies Committee report. He explained this
<br />report contained a recommendation to reduce the assessment rate to 25 percent, and a
<br />recommendation to create along-term fund dedicated to the infrastructure. He stated with the
<br />exception of the committee members, no one attended those hearings. He noted the entire report
<br />was published in the Mounds View Matters, and was reported on in the newspapers, however,
<br />nobody showed up for the discussion.
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated every opportunity has been extended for comment, at every step along
<br />the way. He advised that every citizen has a responsibility to remain informed of the issues. He
<br />reiterated they had attempted to provide notification, and the hearings were published. He added
<br />it might have been done better, as they all make mistakes and can play "hindsight is 20/20,"
<br />however, he would not allow the Council to be painted with the brush that they are not listening
<br />to the citizens, and are trying to "ramrod" an item through. He stated this was a difficult issue,
<br />and he would rather be at home with his family, however, this is his responsibility as a good
<br />steward of the entire community.
<br />Naja Werner, 2765 Sherwood Road, asked Mayor Coughlin if the proposed funds were being
<br />set aside simply to cover the costs of re-surfacing of the streets, or if these projects would
<br />involve tearing up the infrastructure.
<br />. Mayor Coughlin stated this depends upon the specific project, and what it requires. He
<br />explained some roads will simply be ground up and recycled, like Spring Lake Road and County
<br />Road I. Some roads, such as County Road H-2, in light of its truck traff c, may actually have
<br />been deteriorated, in terms of the substructure.
<br />
|