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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1978/02/21PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA A special meeting of the Mounds View City Council to receive public input regarding Project 1978 -1, Storm Sewer Improvements, was called to order by Mayor Pickar at 7:30 PM on February 21, 1978, at the Bel Rae Ballroom, 5394 Edgewood Drive, Mounds View, MN 55112. Members present: Also present: Mayor Pickar Councilmember Baumgartner Councilmember Rowley Councilmember Ziebarth Mayor Pickar introduced representatives of the city's consulting engineer firm for the storm sewer project, Short, Elliott, Hendrickson and Associates: Roger Short, Jerry Sunde, Don Christopherson, and Dick Moore; and Seegar Swanson, representing Ehlers and Associates, the city's financial consultant. Mayor Pickar stated that any written comments received would become part of the public hearing record and stated that comments had been received already from: Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Welter Emily Thomas Juris and Virginia Pogainis Thomas M. Willmus Arthur and Blanche Abbott Edmond and Helen Voltin Donald R. Miegel W. D. Barth, Jr. Mrs. John E. Whipple Richard H. Comben Howard Neisen Harry and Alice Johnson Clerk Administrator Achen Engineer Hubbard 2102 Oakwood Drive 7025 Pleasant View Drive 8290 Spring Lake Road T. M. Willmus Construction 8270 Spring Lake Road 7337 Spring Lake Road 2621 Clearview Avenue 2948 Springview Lane 2757 Sherwood Road 2832 Woodcrest Drive 5150 Irondale Road 7900 Red Oak Drive Mayor Pickar stated that written comments would be accepted at City Hall up to 4:30 PM on March 15, 1978, and would also become part of the public hearing record. Mayor Pickar stated that sore letters would be referred on to the engineers for answers to technical questions. Administrator Achen presented background of the proposed project. He stated that during the spring of 1975 Mounds View experienced heavy rains which resulted in flooding problems throughout the city. The City Council held two emergency meetings on the problems, which many residents attended and described their drainage problems. In response the Council ordered an engineering study to determine the solutions to these drainage problems. In November, 1974, Short, Elliott, Hendrickson Assoc., a consulting engineer firm, was selected to perform the study. Short, Elliott, Hendrickson submitted a plan to the Council in draft form in August, 1976. Two City Council work sessions were devoted to reviewing the firm's methodology, data and recommendations, and on November 15, 1976, the Council formally accepted the plah. The plan was approved by the Rice Creek Watershed District in May, 1977. February 21, 1978 Page 2 Administrator Achen reported that again in June, 1977, heavy rains caused flooding problems in Mounds View. As a result, on August 8, 1977, the City Council ordered a feasibility study on implementation of the drainage plan for the entire city. Several meetings with the City Council, consulting engineers, financial advisors, city attorney and staff followed in October and November, 1977. On November 28, 1977, the City Council formally received the feasibility study for a city -wide storm sewer improvement project and set a public hearing for February. 21, 1978. Administrator Achen made a slide presentation of water problems that had occurred after the heavy rains, showing locations around the city that were under water. Roger Short, of Short, Elliott, Hendrickson, introduced Don Christopherson, the project engineers, Jerry Sunde, the consulting hydrologisg, and Dick Moore, an engineer, and stated that they had begun working on the project in November, 1975, and that part of the contract had stated that the study was to be one of ground water control, as well as a study of surface water drainage. Mr. Short stated that the plan his 4irm has presented to the city uses a five year storm design, which means that the storm sewers will be constructed to handle a storm of the size that is likely to occur once every five years. Existing drainage facilities in Mounds View are of inadequate capacity to carry storm water runoff from even a three year frequency storm. The proposed drainage project would accommo- date full residential, commercial and industrial development of the city, and would provide a trunk system that could be expanded as needed when new homes or businesses were constructed on presently vacant lands. Mr. Short reported that virtually all of the city drains to Rice Creek with most of the drainage entering the Creek upstream of Long Lake. Project 1978 -1 would redistribute the drainage so that a major portion enters Rice Creek via Spring Creek, which is downstream from Long Lake. This feature would reduce runoff pollution of the lake and is an impor- tant element in the Rice Creek Watershed District's attempt to improve the quality of Long Lake. The three existing outflow points to Rice Creek are all to be expanded, with a second 54 inch pipe to be installed at the existing Hillview I -35W outlet. On Co. Rd. H east of Edgewood Dr. a 48 inch line will serve as the primary outlet, and at Spring Creek the existing 36 inch pipe under Co. Rd. H will be paralleled with a 48 inch line. Detention basins are planned in several areas to limit ponding during heavy runoff periods to specially designed sites. The largest basin is to be located north of the Scotland Green Apartments on Co. Rd. H -2, which will detain up to 93 acre feet of storm water and is designed to be part of Silver View Community Park. The second largest basin with 85 acre feet capacity is planned north of. New T.H.10 on Judicial Ditch No. 1 Mr. Short reported that the project is proposed to be constructed in three phases during the 1978, 1979 and 1980 construction seasons. Phase would include the detention basin north of Scotland Green Apartments, which will drain southward via a pipe along Silver Lake Road to Woodcrest Drive and then westward to Spring Creek at Knollwood Drive. Spring Creek will be cleaned to handle increased capacity and its outlet to Rice Creek improved. A 60 inch pipe will extend north of the Scotland Green detention basin, cross existing Highway 10 at County Road I, and T February 21, 1978 Page 3 continue north to Hillview Road along Eastwood Road. Phase I would also include construction of a small detention basin south of Hillview Road at Greenfield Avenue, with its outlet to be a 24 inch pipe installed on Oakwood Drive to flow eastward to the Rice Creek outlet at Quincy Street. Lateral storm sewers from County Road I and Jackson Drive would connect to this. Phase II would provide storm sewer laterals to connect the area generally north of Hillview Road and west of Long Lake Road to the Spring Creek trunk system built in Phase I. It would also include a 60 inch trunk system running from east of the Launching Pad Supper Club south across Highway 10 and County Road H to Rice Creek. To this system would be connected lateral lines draining the area generally north of existing Highway 10, south of County Road I, and west of Quincy Street. Phase II would also include lateral improvements to drain the area generally north of Hillview Road and east of Long Lake Road to the Rice Creek outlet at Quincy Street. Phase III would provide lateral extensions in several areas of the city to connect them with the three trunk systes established in Phases I and II. Mr. Short presented a slide presentation, showing how the proposed system would go through the City and the phases of the project. Mr. Sunde gave a geological background of Mounds View. He stated that between April 1975 and July 1975, the water level rose approximately 51/2 feet, and that in checking into other data available for the area, he found that the water levels that were experienced in 1975 were also experienced at other times, and had determined that rather than the 1975 instances being an extremely rare case, they were more the norm. He stated that the problem seemed more severe, however, because of the increase in housing. Mr. Sunde also stated that the proposed storm sewer system would not be a cure -all but would certainly help alleviate much of the problem. Mr. Short presented a graph prepared by Engineer Hubbard, showing the required capacity of the system versus the present capacity. Seegar Swanson, of Swanson, Ehlers and Associates stated that the project would be constructed in three phases and financed in three phases. He also stated that the cost estimates have taken inflation into account, and that all cost estimates were'mad6 on the high side. Mr. Swanson reported that the City had applied for Federal Assistance but was rejected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development but that outside assistance might still come through. Mr. Swanson stated that the Council has taken into consideration the fact that the northwest corner of Mounds View was recently assessed for storm sewer laterals under Project 1973 -4, and that property owners in that area would not be specially assessed for the new project. Other areas in the City would be assessed at a rate equivalent to that paid by the property owners included in Project 1973 -4, and that these special February 21, 1978 Page 4 assessments would pay 52 percent of the project cost, with the balance to be financed by an annual increase in the general property tax levy of not more than 3.76 mills. Mr. Swanson reported that the property assessed for storm sewers in Project 1973 -4 were assessed at an average rate of 3.97 cents per square foot, which is the same rate that will be used in Project 1978 -1. Non residential properties would be assessed double the residential rate, or 7.97 cents per square foot. The assessments would be spread over 20 years at 8 percent interest, with the first installments due in 1981. Mr. Swanson presented assessments on three hypothetical residential lots, to show what the residents could expect to be assessed. An 11,000 square foot lot would be assessed approximately $437.02, with the first payment in 1981 to be $65.55, and the last payment in 2001 to be $23.60, with the average annual payment to be $44.58. A 13,000 square foot lot would be assessed $516.48, with the first payment in 1981 to be $77.47, the last payment in 2001 to be $27.89, and the average annual payment to be $52.74. A 20,000 square foot lot would be assessed $794.59, with the first pay- ment to be $119.19, the last payment to be $42.91, and the average annual payment to be $81.05. Mr. Swanson reported that approximately 34 percent of the single family homes in Mounds View have a limited market value of $20,000 or less, 36 percent with a $30,000 limited market value or less, and 27 percent with a $30,000 to $40,000 limited market value, and only 3 percent above the $40,000 level. The annual tax impact on a levy of 3.76 mills would be $21.62 on the $20,000 home, $36.66 on the $30,000 home, $51.70 on the $40,000 home, and $66.74 on the $50,000 home. A business property with a market value of $50,000 would be taxed $80.84, a $100,000 business would be taxed $161.64, and a $150,000 business would be assessed $242.52. Mayor Pickar stated that a decision on the project would be announced by the Council at the March 27, 1978 meeting at City Hall. Mayor Pickar then opened the floor for citizen questions on the project. Mark Berube, 2118 Oakwood Drive stated that he had lived in Mounds View for 24 years and had never had water problems and that he felt the pro- blems being experienced now were due to building houses on swampy areas, and asked where that water was to go. Mayor Pickar replied that the intent of the project was to give that water somewhere to go. Mr. Short added that the lower the grade of the land, the more the City would be subject to flooding and stated that according to the contour map, only one -third of the City should actually have been built upon if they did not want to face the issue of drainage problems. Mr. Berube asked why 100 percent of the people were being asked to pay for the project when only 10 percent of the people had water problems. February 21, 1978 Page 5 Mr. Short replied that every person who owned a house had water running off it, which contributed to the problem for everyone else. Phil Johnson, 7474 Groveland Road questioned how the $437.02 assessment figure was arrived at, if interest was paid at 8 percent a year for 20 years. Mr. Swanson replied that the $437.02 was the amount of assessment, and that if it were paid in full when first assessed, there would be no additional cost, but if the property owner chose to spread it out over the 20 years, the interest would be added in. Duane McCarthy, 8060 Long Lake Road stated that he was interested in the square footage assessment and asked how much of a tax increase could be expected. Mr. Swanson replied that the year 2000 is the final payment year for the project and that the tax rate was based on what is presently used, and that no changes were taken into consideration in assessment formulas, and thus, if the State did change the formula, the rate would change accordingly. Mr. McCarthy questioned how much importance was placed on Well 25, which Mr. Sunde had used during the slide presentation. Mr. Sunde replied that he had chosen Well 25 just as a visual example to present, but that the study had included all wells. Bob Glazer, 2625 Hillview Read questioned why the project was brought up at a public hearing rather than a referendum. Administrator Achen replied that as written in Chapter 429 of Minnesota Statutes, a City Council decision is required and a public vote or referendum is not necessary. He added that a referendum has no legal bearing or weight and could only advise the Council of the public feeling, which is what the public hearing was intended for. Mr. Glazer asked what the criteria was for assessing benefit to property since many would be paying for the project but few would be directly benefitted by it. Mayor Pickar replied that not everyone would be getting assessed for the project, as anyone who had been assessed during 1973 -4 would not be assessed again. Mr. Glazer read the definition from the State Attorney General for deter ming benefit to property and stated that he did not believe all the homes would increase in property value. Mr. Swanson stated that the burden of proof is to show that the property in question increased in value and stated that the figures he had pre- sented earlier were not legal or valid until an assessment hearing is held. He added that at that time the City will obtain an estimate of increased market values but that if the increases could not be shown, the assessments could not be levied. He stated that the time frame for February 21, 1978 Page 6 the assessment hearing would be 1980. Mr. Glazer questioned how undeveloped property would be assessed. Mr. Swanson replied that assessments for unplatted land would be made based upon zoning classification of that land. In single family zones it would be assessed 3.97 cents per square foot and in commercial /industrial zones, 7.94 cents per square foot. Mr. Glazer asked what land would have to be acquired during the land acquisition. Mr. Short replied that private land for the impounding basis would have to be acquired, and construction easements across private lands. Fred Baty, 2316 Hillview Road questioned why there was such a difference between the dollar estimate in the legal notice, of $6,500,00 and that which was in the bulletin in March 1977 of $1,500,000. Administrator Achen replied that the the estimate in the bulletin had referred to the HUD application for just the east half of the City, east of Long Lake Road. He added that the west half of the City con- tained most of the difficult areas. Administrator Achen stated that HUD ranks the applications by order of priority, with priority being given to the poor and low income. Jerry Fahrmann, 7448 Spring Lake Road asked if a building moritorium would be a better answer to the drainage problem. Mayor Pickar replied that the Council had discussed a building mori- torium but that the land owers are presently paying taxes and have a right to build on their property. Mr. Short added that there have been flooding problems in the past, with water ponding problems and that while development has taken place since then, problems still would have occurred without the development. Mr. Fahrmann asked what the material taken while digging the holding ponds will be replaced with. Mr. Sunde replied that the ponds are filled with organic soils, 10 to 20 feet deep, so that they would not be penetrating the soils when excavating. Dennis Pietrek, 2280 Pinewood Drive asked what portion of the water problems could be attributed to poor maintenance. Mayor Pickar replied that the problems have been experienced because there was no place for the water to go, not because of maintenance problems. Dick Lind, 2244 Terrace asked how people on set incomes were going to be able to pay for the project, such as senior citizenF handicapped, and poor people. Mayor Pickar replied that there are regulations regard ig assessing February 21, 1978 Page 7 senior citizens and that they would be discussed at the time of an assessment hearing. Mr. Lind added that he felt anyone who built in an area with water problems should be responsible for putting in their own drain tile and sealing their basements at their own expense. Cathy Roth, 5108 Sunnyside Road stated that she felt there definitely were areas of Mounds View that needed a drainage system and asked what would happen if the project was not approved by the Council. Mr. Short replied that there were a number of different approaches open to the City but stated that the main problem was that most of the problem areas are a long way from an outlet, and that each area a reasonable distance from the outlet should be put in first, which would involve more expense than the other sections. He added that the critical development amounted to 80 percent of the total cost'.of the project. Mr. Short stated that the Council could decide to build just partial sections, which would be a partial solution. Phil Carlson, 8148 Red Oak Drive questioned why the issue was being handled differently that a school bond and why the citizens could not vote on it. Mayor Pickar replied that the law was written that way and that the best way for the Council to handle it was to get as much input from the citizens as possible. Mr. Carlson asked if municipal bonds would pay for the project and questioned why 8 percent interest would be charged if the bonds are tax free. Mr. Swanson replied that there is a cost to the City to provide install- ment payments but that each citizen has the right to pay his assessment in full when first assessed, and thus avoid any interest payment. Mr. Carlson questioned how he could be benefited by the project when he had never had water in his basement in twelve years. Mayor Pickar replied that benefit would have to be determined at an assessment hearing. Mr. Sunde added that the storm sewer project does not claim to solve everyones problems but attempts to reduce them as much as possible. David Perry, 2466 Clearview Avenue questioned how the cost effectiveness was planned if the project was not going to help people with water in their basements. Mr. Short replied that if everyone who had water problems calculated the gallons of water that went down the sewer at 36 cents per thousand gallons, cost effectiveness could be determined. February 21, 1978 Page 8 Glen Dawson, 2201 Lambert Drive stated that he had already paid for drainage problems once and should not be assessed again. Mayor Pickar replied that anyone who had not been assessed for the 1973 -4 project would be assessed with the 1978 -1 project. Mr. Swanson added that a good share of the benefit of a storm sewer system for a City is reduced street upkeep costs, and that a good portion of this project would be a benefit to the community as a whole and thus should be assessed to the whole community. Gary Appleby, 2308 LaPort Drive asked if bids had been received from other firms for the project. Mayor Pickar replied that nine firms submitted bids to the City for conducting the study, and that three were then selected to make a presentation, at which time Short, Elliott and Hendrickson was selected. Mr. Short added that a contract was signed with the City for a firm amount of money and that the study was completed for that same amount of money. Mayor Pickar added that the City has extreme confidence in the firm of Short, Elliott and Hendrickson. Lorraine Bonin, 8380 Pleasant View Drive stated that she lives in the northeast area that was already assessed for project 1973 -4 and stated that the residents of the area were assessed 100 percent of the project and wondered why the assessments for 1978 -1 would only be 52 percent, while the rest of the City would be required to pick up the remaining 48 percent. Mr. Swanson replied that 100 percent of the cost of the project were assessed earlier for a local system only, but that 1978 -1 includes major structures and installations that will include all parts of the City, and thus, water from all parts of the City will be travelling through the structure. Mayor Pickar added that the local system must tie into the major system and cannot be isolated. Mrs. Bonin stated that she felt it was the responsibility of each home owner not to build on a wet lot. Gerald Field, 2255 Lambert Avenue questioned if all the proposed lines were really necessary and questioned how large the hole would be between Lambert and Jackson. Mr. Short replied that all the lines were necessary and that the particu- lar one at Lambert and Jackson would be a 15 inch and 24 inch pipe and that the size of the hole would depend upon conditions at the time it was being dug. He added that easments would be required for the work. February 21, 1978 Page 8 Glen Dawson, 2201 Lambert Drive stated that he had already paid for drainage problems once and should not be assessed again. Mayor Pickar replied that anyone who had not been assessed for the 1973 -4 project would be assessed with the 1978 -1 project. Mr. Swanson added that a good share of the benefit of a storm sewer system for a City is reduced street upkeep costs, and that a good portion of this project would be a benefit to the community as a whole and thus should be assessed to the whole community. Gary Appleby, 2308 LaPort Drive asked if bids had been received from other firms for the project. Mayor Pickar replied that nine firms submitted bids to the City for conducting the study, and that three were then selected to make a presentation, at which time Short, Elliott and Hendrickson was selected. Mr. Short added that a contract was signed with the city for a firm amount of money and that the study was completed for that same amount of money. Mayor Pickar added that the City has extreme confidence in the firm of Short, Elliott and Hendrickson. Lorraine Bonin, 8380 Pleasant View Drive stated that she lives in the northeast area that was already assessed for project 1973 -4 and stated that the residents of the area were assessed 100 percent of the project and wondered why the assessments for 1978 -1 would only be 52 percent, while the rest of the City would be required to pick up the remaining 48 percent. Mr: Swanson replied that 100 percent of the cost of the project were assessed earlier for a local system only, but that 1978 -1 includes major structures and installations that will include all parts of the City, and thus, water from all parts of the City will be travelling through the structure. Mayor Pickar added that the local system must tie into the major system and cannot be isolated. Mrs. Bonin stated that she felt it was the responsibility of each home owner not to build on a wet lot. Gerald Field, 2255 Lambert Avenue questioned if all the proposed lines were really necessary and questioned how large the hole would be between Lambert and Jackson. Mr. Short replied that all the lines were necessary and that the particu- lar one at Lambert and Jackson would be a 15 inch and 24 inch pipe and that the size of the hole would depend upon conditions at the time it was being dug. He added that easments would be required for the work. February 21, 1978 Page 9 David Notaro, 2749 Ardan Avenue View as a good place to live and bought his home that there was a spent $500 to raise the level of a sump pump system. Mr. Notaro stated that with the out of the sewers into his yard of water in their basement. Mr. cerned with drainage runoff and neighborhood after the rain last City Council had been responsive NE stated that he had chosen Mounds that he realized at the time he water problem. He stated that he his yard, and put in drain tile and storm last June he had water coming and that his neighbors had 14 inches Notaro added that he was most con showed a film of the water in his June. He stated that he felt the to the issue. Bill Werner, 2765 Sherwood Road questioned how many people were affected by the flood. Mayor Pickar replied that approximately 70 homes reported that they had water problems in some way or another. Mr. Werner asked when the assessment hearing would be held. Mayor Pickar replied that a date had not been set yet as the Council must first make a decision on whether to do the project or not. Mr. Swanson added that he expected to be able to prove benefit at the assessment hearing and that assessments had to be made in a uniform manner, and that if the project is ordered, the assessment hearing would be tentatively set for 1980 after construction is completed. Mr. Werner asked who would be responsible for paying for the project if benefit could not be determined. Mr. Swanson replied that the City would have to change the assessment pattern, as the law provides. Mr. Werner asked what would be done with the input received from the public during the hearing. Mayor Pickar replied that everything would be taken into consideration and an answer would be forthcoming at the March 27 Council meeting, and added that the minutes were being officially recorded. Neil Loeding, 5046 Longview Drive asked how often the City could expect storms such as the ones in 1975 and 1977. Mr. Short replied that the 1975 storm was considered a ten year storm, and the 1977 storm a one year storm, and that the impounding basins would be set up for a 50 year storm. Mayor Pickar added that in assessing what the City's requirements were, Short, Elliott and Hendrickson took into consideration what the City could afford and what would do the job. Mr. Short added that his firm had been responsible for carrying out the design of the storm sewer system in his own neighborhood, and had February 21, 1978 Page 10 designed it on a five year basis. Mr. Short stated that his house sits low and he has a pond in back but has never had any water pro- blems in the six years the system has been in. Mr. Short also stated that it would be more expensive to evaluate each problem area individually and put in separate systems then it would to do the whole project at once. Ray Lang, 7435 Spring Lake Park Road questioned how the 130 acres of undeveloped land betwen Highway 10, County Road H2, Long Lake Road and Silver Lake Road are zoned. Mayor Pickar replied that part of the land was for Silverview Park. Mr. Lang stated that he understood the owner of the property was anxious to build but had been told by the City that he could not until the City water problems were solved. Mayor Pickar added that the land would be assessed the business rate of 7.9 cents per square foot, twice that of single family homes. Mr. Lang stated that he had a problem with helping to pay for a large company to be able to build. Mr. Siedlecki, 2749 Sherwood Road stated that he could not agree to paying for a system which would benefit just a few people and stated that he could not afford the tax increase as he was retired. He also questioned why the City Attorney was not present at the hearing. Mayor Pickar replied that the City Attorney was out of town on business. Owen Hakseth, 5141 Greenwood Drive questioned how much money had been spent already on the feasibility study. Mayor Pickar replied that $37,000 had been spent, out of the $40,000 that had been budgeted for. Mr. Hakseth questioned if the basement of City Hall had flooded during 1975. Mayor Pickar replied that it had and that litigation was pending. Mr. Hakseth asked what the maintenance and on -going upkeep costs of the pro- ject would be. Mayor Pickar replied that he was not sure of the actual cost but that it would be moderate. Mr. Hakseth questioned how long the system would last. Mr. Short replied that the system would be of Portland cement, which has been available for 50 years and is holding up fine in other areas. He added that some systems in Italy have been in existence for 500 years. Mr. Hakseth asked why the financing would be split betwen an assessment and taxes. Mayor Pickar replied that that had been determined as the most equitable way. Administrator Achen added that one factor had been keeping the February 21, 1978 Page 11 tax levy at 3.76 mills per year. John Blohum, 7832 Bona Road asked if the assessments were paid off if the tax levy would be considered an assessment if he were to sell his property. Mayor Pickar replied that it would not. Mr. Blohum asked how the Oakdale basin would be done. Mr. Sunde replied that the outlet would be lowered a couple of feet so that it would operate at a lower level. Mr. Blohum stated that he had put drain tile in his home after the 1975 flood and had not experienced any problem since then. Glen Westerhein, 2286 Bronson Drive stated that he had lived in Mounds View for 27 years and that his well had gone dry for the first time this past year. He added that he felt the City should use the system that was put in from Lambert Park, and that since he had previously paid an assessment he should not have to pay again. Mr. Swanson replied that if Mr. Westerhein had been assessed for 1973 -4 project, he would not be assessed again. Mr. Westerhein stated that he felt the existing pipes in the City should be used, rather than putting in a new system. Mr. Short replied that a complaint was received from one of Mr. Westerhein's neighbors last summer of water in their basement. Mr. Short also stated that he did not feel the present system was capable of doing the job required. Bill Doty, 3049 Bronson Drive asked if an environmental inpact statement had been done, saying that a storm sewer system should be put in. Mayor Pickar replied that the City had not yet been directed to do an environmental inpact study, but that the DNR was contacted for their approval of the project, which they did give. Mr. Doty stated that the City Council was voted by the citizens of Mounds View to represent the citizens of Mounds View and stated that he would like to know the plans of the Council in advance of any approval of the project, so that the citizens would have a chance to take action. Mayor Pickar replied that official action must be taken at an official meeting, and that meeting was scheduled for March 27. Mr. Doty asked how long it would be before work would start if the project was approved. Mayor Pickar replied that work would not start for several months. He also recognized that the Council represents the people of the City and stated that the Council would take all comments and facts into consideration before making any decision. Carl Schat, 2808 County Road H2 asked who would be most concerned with putting a storm sewer system into the City. Mayor Pickar replied that everyone in the City and government is concerned. He stated that when there was water in the homes in 1975 and flooded yards, citizens were in the Council chambers demanding that something be done to solve the February 21, 1978 Page 12 water problems. Mr. Schat asked what recourse a citizen would have who definitely did not want the system. Mayor Pickar replied that the hearing was a good example of how citizens could state their opinion. He also recommended that letters be sent to City Hall. Ernie Gustafson, 2525 County Road I asked if the system would guarantee that each and every home owner would not have any water problems. Mayor Pickar replied that that guarantee could not be made. Mr. Gustafson stated that there were two terrible storms in 1951, one in July and one in August, and that a system had been put in that time behind Bel Rae and that there had not been a water problem since then. Mr. Gustafson also stated that the older citizens must be remembered when assessments were made, as many were on fixed incomes. Jim Lossen, 2201 Lambert asked why a questionnaire could not be sent out to all the citizens for their input. Mayor Pickar replied that the legal notice of the hearing had been sent to inform everyone, and that they could verbally give their opinion at the hearing or send their written comments to City Hall. Mr. Loeding, 5046 Longview Drive asked what percentage of the Council was in favor of the project. Mayor Pickar replied that he could not answer for the whole Council and that the Council was getting input from the people and would be taking it into consideration before making a decision. Mayor Pickar also pointed out that many projects have been approved against the wishes of the majority, but were necessary, such as city water and so forth. Mr. Loeding asked if the City would be willing to put the issue to an unbinding referendum. Mayor Pickar replied that each citizen in Mounds View that was affected by the project had been notified and thus he did not feel a referendum would serve any further purpose. Steve Miller, 2614 Clearview questioned the market value versus the assessments and stated that he felt it should be known that the $437.02 assessment would end up being closer to $2000 if it were spread out over 20 years. He added that the market value on the property would not increase that much. Mr. Swanson replied that property values would increase considerably more than the assessment amount. Mr. Miller said he would rather live with the water problem for $2000. Lloyd Scott, 5100 Red Oak Drive stated that the storm sewer system which goes by his house is more than adequate and that he did not want to be assessed again. Mr. Swanson replied that if he was assessed for the 1973 -4 project he would not be assessed again. Peter Sargent, 2268 Hillview read a request of 104 citizens to the City Council, that the project not be approved. Ted Moore, 5454 Jackson Drive stated that he had lived in Mounds View February 21, 1978 since 1950 and had had water in his basement twice, due to his own neglect.; Mr Moore stated that he felt it was each individuals own responsibility to waterproof their homes. Richard Cherub, 5446 Erickson stated that he would like to thank the Council -for holding the public hearing and allowing citizens to express their opinions. Karen Weijard, 2273 Lois Drive asked what the surrounding communities to the Rice Creek Watershed district were doing to solve their problems. Mayor Pickar replied that each City has their own program and each are handling their own situations in the best way possible. Bruce Spitz,, 8400 Fairchild stated that it had not been proven that the project would serve the majority of the people or take care of all the problems. He also stated that he was confused on why an assessment hearing would be held after the project was completed. He also requested that the March 27 Council Meeting be held at the Bel Rae Ballroom again. Henry Becker, 7350 Spring Lake Road stated that he had already been assessed $2200 and asked if he would be assessed again. Administrator Achen replied that each case would be looked at individually. He also stated that many of the assessments people had mentioned may; have been sanitary sewer and water services, and not storm sewer assessments. Mayor Pickar thanked the citizens for their input and stated that all comments and written letters would be taken into consideration. Mayor Pickar closed the public hearing at 12:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mark Achen City Administrator Page 13