Minutes - 2005/08/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 22, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 40 way. If the Council does not continue to follow the rules, they will become party to the bankrupting of Mounds View. Councilmember Gunn asked what is the difference between resolution (2) and the most recent one. City Attorney Riggs answered that the title is clarified but the rest is fairly consistent. Jan Brink, 7800 Gloria, stated she will speak loudly because some cannot understand what they are saying. She stated they oppose the proposed contract by Medtronic because of what they are willing to pay and that TIF is not in the best interest of Mounds View. They feel there can be a better deal for Mounds View. Ms. Brink asked for the integrity of the Council to let the citizens vote. Stan Meyer, 2812 Sherwood, asked who determined that the 200 signatures were not registered voters. He stated he knows that the 30 signatures he got were registered voters. City Administrator Ulrich stated he is charged with making that determination and has detailed notes on which signatures are not valid. Mr. Meyer asked how that can be challenged. City Administrator Ulrich stated there is a 30-day window to challenge the determination. Mr. Meyer asked if only City Administrator Ulrich did the work. City Administrator Ulrich explained that three staff members worked on it under his supervision. Mr. Meyer suggested that • City Administrator Ulrich didn't do the work but signed it. Councilmember Thomas cautioned Mr. Meyer on his statements about staff and said she knows that City Administrator Ulrich did work on that project. Mr. Meyer stated that it is the right thing to let this go to a referendum. He stated they could go on and on but he doesn't want to go down that road. He stated that 1,200 people signed the petition on some hot days and it was not a massive effort, about 30 people collecting signatures. He stated he only got turned down four times and was able to convince many people it was the thing to do. He stated if there is merit to this deal, it can be debated fully and put to a vote, which gets the Council off the hook. He stated he does not accept that the Council has the kind of power to put the City on the hook for 25 years. Councilmember Flaherty stated as far as the Council having the power, they were put into these seats by 100% of the residents and the petition is only 15% of the residents. He pointed out that the other 85% of the residents who either did not sign the petition or were not contacted. He noted that the phone survey clearly stated it but the petition committee was not satisfied with that so they decided to bank it on the Charter. However, the question is not valid and there are not enough signatures. Stan Meyer stated that a phone survey "doesn't mean squat" and is completely worthless. • Councilmember Flaherty asked why the petition is any better.