Minutes - 2006/04/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council April 24, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 18 and Billboards. Mayor Marty stated that everyone in Mounds View will be faced with this. He stated this was posted as a topic for the Town Hall Meeting in the property owner and resident survey. He indicated he would like to find out what the residents are feeling about this issue. Councilmember Gunn stressed that all information needs to be provided to the residents in regard to why this is being done, how this came about and what led up to it. She stated there is a lot of information that they do not have. Councilmember Thomas stated that this is mostly an excuse to put off the issue. She stated the responsibility of the Council is to vote, and she commented that the Council makes a lot of decisions that have a huge impact and it does not poll the community to see how they feel. She stated that surveys are helpful but if every big decision was polled, the Council is not doing its job. She stated she is not willing to try to do her job by the whims and breezes of a poll because the results are always non-scientific. She stated she has heard from more than enough residents to make a decision. She stressed that putting off the decision is irresponsible. Councilmember Stigney stated that something as significant as putting billboards up on County Road 10 for the next 30 years is something that warrants resident feedback. He stated the Council should get resident feedback on all major issues. He stated it is the least the Council can do is to postpone the decision. He stated it is a significant issue that needs additional attention, and it is the Council’s responsibility to do that. Councilmember Thomas stated that it was not a significant enough issue to postpone it before it was changed in the first place. She stated the language that was changed was changed originally in the first place. She indicated the Council has gone back and forth on this issue, and it has always been the Council’s decision to make. Councilmember Stigney stated that what was changed was to re-allow billboards on County Road 10. Councilmember Thomas stated that when the Ordinance was first brought to the Council, County Road 10 was included, and it was taken out of the Ordinance at the last meeting, and tonight part of it was put back in. Mayor Marty agreed with Councilmember Stigney that this is a huge decision that will affect everyone coming and going from Mounds View. He stated the Council makes hard decisions, but it really hears about it when the decision is not the right one. He stressed residents to express their opinions if they feel one way or the other, to let the Council know. He asked residents to come to the Town Hall Meeting and let the City know they feel. He stressed this is a huge decision that will go for 30 years.