HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995.05.02 CC Minutes - Special Council meetingMINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 2, 1995
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Fran Miron at 7:30 PM.
PRESENT: Goiffon, LaValle, Leroux, Miron
City Administrator, Robert Museus
OSM engineer, Pete Willenbring
MNDNR, Moll/ Shodeen
RCWD, Kate Drewry
ABSENT: Debra Barnes
The purpose of the meeting was to hear public comments regarding future
City improvements and management of the water level of the Homestead
Avenue pond located north of C.R. SA and east of Homestead Avenue. Molly
Shodeen, area hydrologist for MNDNR, provided an introduction to the
meeting, and stated that the DNR had established an ordinary high water
level for the pond. Pete Willenbring gave a description of the area, and
stated that the purpose of the project was to establish a final management
plan for the pond, taking into account the concerns of area residents,
the DNR, and the RCWD.
Ms. Shodeen then opened the meeting for discussion. Ed Waller stated that
he believed that there had already been an agreement made to bounce the
pond's water elevation by 2' in order to avoid excessive discharges of
storm water downstream during the growing season, and that he believed the
pond should be drained in the spring and allowed to fill up during the
remainder of the year. Doug Blanchard stated that there should be a
designated water elevation maintained by the City, and that he was
concerned for the runoff impact on the Waller fields. Ted Jacobson
preferred to keep the pond at the current elevation, as when it dries up,
it smells and becomes a mosquito haven. He also stated there was some
potential for dredging out the pond to create more capacity for water
storage. Mike Anderson stated he was representing Lorraine Wolf, a
property owner just downstream from the pond's outlet, and explained that
they had filled in a portion of the front yard of Ms. Wolf's property
approximately two years ago, and installed a 40' culvert. Discharge water
from the pond collects on Ms. Wolf's property degrading its use by the
family, and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Jim Brevig stated
that an elevation had been agreed upon during litigation in the 70's, and
that the culvert had been placed at a lower elevation by the City. He
stated that he wished to have the pond at a high enough elevation to
maintain water frontage on his property, and that evaporation in summer
brings the level down naturally. He also indicated concern regarding the
septic systems on the Blanchard and Atkinson property.
Pete Willenbring asked the audience whether the current elevation of the
pond was acceptable, and the residents indicated that the pond level is
about where they would like it to be. Pete then summarised issues raised
during the meeting, which included aesthetics, wildlife, impact on septic
systems, and downstream drainage.
Molly Shodeen thanked the residents for coming to the meeting, and Pete
stated that a management plan for the pond would be developed in the next
two -to -three months.
City Council meeting of May 2, 1995
Page 2
LaValle made motion. Goiffon seconded, to adjourn at 9:20PM.
All aye. Motion Carried.
Hobert Museus, City Administrator