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City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 1999 • Page 7 1 Mr. Archambault stated the water flow observations can not be correct as he has never seen an 2 engineer on site making calculations, and most information obtained by them must be anecdotal. 3 Mr. Hubmer stated he and other engineers have met with over 70 residents since 1997, and have 4 documented and surveyed flood elevations, as well as obtained several hundred photographs 5 from residents taken during the 1987 and 1997 flood events. He added he has spent a.lot of time 6 in the community and all available information has been recorded. 7 Mr. Archambault thanked the Council for their efforts on behalf of the City, and expressed 8 appreciation at their willingness to listen to residents. He expressed the importance of obtaining. 9 facts, and added he believes the engineers are supplying estimates which no one can measure or 10 predict. He urged the Council to consider the benefit gained when weighing dollars against 11 human suffering. 12 Judy Makowske, 2919 Rankin Road, stated she was a Councilmember in 1987 and voted not to 13 take any action to relieve the City's flooding problems. She added she is glad the Council is 14 taking action now, but expressed her belief that they may be going too far. She asked the 15 Council to vote against the resolution to take the Kuharski home. Ms. Makowske stated the residence houses a family of 8, and as another home of that size would 10 not be available, the community which would lose their activism. She added the City should 18 look at other options, and consider possibly purchasing this property at a later date to coincide 19 with the changing needs of the Kuharski family. She urged the Council to recommend that the 20 engineers look at another parcel of land for this project. She expressed her belief that the project 21 is being driven by available federal funds rather than common sense. 22 Ms. Makowske asked the Council to request that the engineers go back to the drawing board and 23 find a harmony for the City's topography and community. 24 Tom Deegan, 2616 Pahl Avenue NE, stated he has resided in the City for 3 years although he 25 grew up in Northeast Minneapolis and is familiar with the City. He expressed frustration that he 26 suffered flood damage recently to his car which was parked on the street in front of his house. 27 Mr. Deegan stated he supports the implementation of the project, an integral part of which is the 28 construction of holding ponds. He added he does not like to see people displaced, but he 29 expressed his support of eminent domain as a means to solving the City's flooding problems. 30 Mr. Deegan stated he has never received any communication from the City with regard to 31 contractors who have done work in the community. Cavanaugh expressed his surprise, as the 32 contractor in question has been on site and easily accessible since the project began. Mary Ann Kuharski, 2709 Pahl Avenue,thanked the Council for their efforts toward solving the 34 flooding problems, and commended them for their decisions.