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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 9, 1998 0 Page 16 1 Mr. Swanson stated he did not believe Councilmember Cavanaugh. 2 Cavanaugh stated that is because Mr. Swanson has not had an opportunity to see the master plan. 3 Mr. Swanson stated he did not care about the master plan. The storm water will bring 4 contamination of dirt and grime into his yard and the grass will not grow. 5 Mayor Ranallo asked Mr. Swanson if he was open to listening to the engineer explain the plans 6 for the property. 7 Mr. Swanson stated he was not. He is an Engineer by training himself and knows from 8 experience that there is nothing that can be done with a flood basin that he would be comfortable 9 with. He just wants the City to leave it the way it is because he enjoys it the way it is. 10 Marks explained that in 1991 the City decided to perform a computer analysis of the rainfall that 11 simulated different levels of rain and where the water would flow. One thing that this study 12 showed is that the property owned by Mr. Swanson was a prime location for a temporary holding 13 pond so that the water will flow a little later and not overfill the system. This item has been on 14 the table for quite some time. Mr. Swanson stated he has heard about the issue and read articles in the P a P er. He called the 16 City Manager and was told that if the plan was approved by the City Council and they were 17 planning to take his property,he would call Mr. Swanson. A couple of weeks ago his wife 18 received a call stating that it was discussed at a Council meeting that they may take his property. 19 After further discussion with the City Manager, Mr. Swanson stated he was led to believe that if 20 he did not agree to sell his property,the City would consider condemning his property. Mr. 21 Swanson again stated fighting this is a financial burden and a traumatic emotional experience and 22 that he did not see City government at work very well with these attitudes. He asked if the City 23 was willing to condemn his property to obtain it. 24 Mornson stated he had never threatened Mr. Swanson with condemnation of his property. Mr. 25 Swanson had contacted the City and asked what the process would be. Mornson stated he had 26 explained that the Engineer is putting together a plan of how the area will look once the ponding 27 is in place for Problem Area#5. A neighborhood meeting will then be held for negotiation of the 28 acquisition of several properties in the area. Mr. Swanson had then questioned the process if he 29 refused to sell his land and Mornson stated he had answered that Staff would then ask the City 30 Council if they want to take a next step which would be to authorize the City law firm to begin 31 condemnation proceedings. This is the typical process in a public improvement project. 32 Mr. Swanson stated he did not want to sell his property. He asked that the City just leave him alone.