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City Council Meeting Minutes . July 27, 1999 Page 8 t Ms. Kuharski introduced her family to the Council to demonstrate who will be affected by their 2 actions: her husband, John, and children, Angela, Dominic, Joseph, Michael and Chrissie. She 3 added that Chrissie lives on Wilson Avenue, and her own mother is within walking distance of 4 the family home. 5 Ms. Kuharski clarified that they have never had any flooding problems in 22 years, although 3 6 inches of overflow came through a window in 1997. She stated her family has not been 7 uncooperative and difficult in working with the City. She added they solicited community 8 support because they love their home and their community and do not want to be displaced. 9 Ms. Kuharski expressed disagreement with the assumption that removal of their home would 10 prevent flooding in the area. She stated there is no guarantee that this property would provide the 11 necessary flood protection. 12 Ms. Kuharski stated her family received a notice in August 1998 that the City wished to engage 13 in a "willing seller willing buyer" negotiation for their home. She added they were shocked as. 14 they had never had any flooding problems, and thought they had no choice but to cooperate and 15 negotiate a fair price. is Ms. Kuharski stated that her family decided they were not willing to sell their home, and she 17 presented a copy of a letter informing City Manager Mike Morrison of this decision. She noted 18 that nothing further was heard from the City until early April 1999 when the family was 19 informed that the home buyout program was being turned over to Evergreen Land Services. 20 Ms. Kuharski stated she and her husband met with representatives from Evergreen and a fair 21 price was discussed. She added they were informed that the issue would be presented to the City 22 Council for decision, and the representative from Evergreen indicated the Council had a number 23 of options including the decision to abandon the project. 24 Ms. Kuharski stated she and her husband received a call from Mr. Momson after a recent 25 Council worksession to inform her that their home was coming up for a condemnation decision 26 at one of the July Council meetings. 27 Ms. Kuharski stated she and her family have rights under state and federal laws, and their 28 position has not changed since August 1998 when they chose not to sell their home. She thanked 29 the many residents who attended the evening's meeting in support of her family, and for their 30 calls and letters of support. She urged the Council to consider the homes and lives involved in' 31 this important decision. 32 John Kuharski, 2709 Pahl Avenue, thanked the Council for the work done to solve the City's flooding problems. He stated the original engineering report recommended the removal of only 34 4 homes, and questioned why their home was added to the plan.