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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes • August 11, 1998 Page 5 1 Mornson reported that letters, as revised by City Attorney Soth, have been sent to the two 2 remaining property owners of the home buyout program. 3 Mornson noted the Harding neighborhood informational meeting is scheduled for tomorrow 4 night. He updated the Council with regard to the feasibility report for Silver Point Park and 5 estimate of fill that would need to be removed from the Park. Mornson advised of the concern to 6 find an appropriate location to place the fill since this would save a significant amount of money. 7 Staff is suggesting the fill be bid out as an alternate. Mornson stated this issue will be discussed 8 in more detail in September. 9 10 Mornson advised that a petition was filed today by group of property owners from Harding Street 11 as follows: "We the undersigned,pursuant to Minnesota Rules Part 4410.110, do hereby 12 petition requesting the preparation of an environmental assessment worksheet(EAW) in the 13 matter of the implementation of the Comprehensive Water Management Plan (the Project) 14 proposed by the City of St. Anthony Village. The Project includes the implementation of flood 15 mitigation measures with a budget of approximately$6,000,000 and includes financial 16 participation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Hennepin County Block 17 Grant funds, and the State of Minnesota. Potential adverse environmental effects include 18 alteration of natural drainage patterns, loss of wildlife, loss of irreplaceable mature trees and significant stands of vegetation, destruction of natural and manmade resources, and substantial 0 social and economic impacts in areas of the proposed construction." 21 Mornson advised that it is the opinion of the City Engineer and City Attorney that the process is 22 as follows: An Environmental Quality Board (staff member) determines if this is a valid petition 23 within three to five days. If the petition is not valid it is submitted back to people. If the petition 24 is valid the EQB submits it to the responsible governmental unit(typically the city of the 25 project). However, this petition is asking that the City not be the responsible government unit 26 since the City is doing the project. If so, the City has a certain number of days to get legal and 27 engineering opinions and adopt a resolution saying the EAW is not necessary. There is then an 28 appeal period to declare an EAW is needed or necessary. If that occurs, all work freezes until the 29 EAW is completed. Mornson advised that he asked the City Attorney if the projects should be 30 stopped and the City Attorney said that as long as the City has not approved any construction, or 31 issued construction bids or grading permits,they can still do research, background and feasibility 32 studies, and hold the Harding neighborhood informational meeting. However, that is up to the 33 Council to determine. 34 Brent Gunsbury, 2701 30th Avenue NE, stated he is looking forward to the Council instituting 35 alternates that do not involve the Silver Lake holding pond. He stated he is curious to see the 36 plans for the area and looks forward to seeing all of the Councilmembers in attendance at the 37 informational meeting.