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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995.06.12 CC Minutes - Special Council meetingMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL - JUNE 12, 1995 A special meeting of the Hugo City Council was called to order at 7:15PM by Mayor Pro Tem LeroUX. Members Present: Barnes. Goiffon, LaValle. Leroux. City Administrator, Robert MUseus Miron (arrived at 7:20PM) The first item of business considered was a request by Scott and Desiree Rotter, 13635 Fiona Ave., to encroach on a city drainage easements on their property to stabilize the soil and landscape the property. The City Administrator informed the Council that Mr. Dale Eklin, of the Rice Creek Watershed District, had reviewed the request to encroach on the south easement and stated that the watershed would have no objection to the proposed landscaping. Immediately to the south of the Rotter's property is an out.lot owned by the City which is a wetland and the water from the encroachment would flow into this area. Mr. Rotter provided the Council with a letter from his neighbor to the north, Ms. Jennifer Burkett, stating that she had no objection to the Rotter's encroaching on the City's drainage easement adjacent to her home. The Council expressed concerns that the addition of landscape timbers to the north of Rotter's property would redirect the water onto the Burkett's property and potentially cause problems in the future. During these discussions Mayor Miron arrived and assumed responsibility for chairing the meeting. L.eroUX made a motion, seconded by LaValle to approve the Rotter's encroachment into the City's drainage easement on the south side of their property in accordance with the landscaping plans provided and to deny encroachment into the drainage easement into the north. All aye, motion passed. The Council entered into discussions with Mr. Howard Lestrud, the general manager of Sell Publishing, regarding the State of Minnesota's Open Meeting Law, the Data Privacy Act and the issues of contention between the City and Mr. Lestrud. Mr. Lestrud was accompanied by Mr. Marti:. Anfinson, Minnesota Newspaper Association. Mr. Joel Jamnik, Senior Intergovernmental Relations Representative of the League of Minnesota Cities was also in attendance. Mr. Anfinson stated the positions of the Minnesota Newspaper Association regarding the Open Meeting Law and Data Privacy Act. He stated that the Association was interested in maintaining all meetings of all governmental bodies open to the public, and that city councils need to establish an environment of mutual trust with the reporters covering their meetings in order to avoid misunderstanding and distrust. The City Council raised issues regarding the accuracy of the reporting of City Council activities which misrepresented the Council's intentions and actions at various times. Mr. Anfinson stated that an adversarial relationship between members of the press and local government was healthy and that the council should be concerned with the accuracy and effect of reporting over time rather than in individual articles. Mr. Jamnik provided comments regarding the League of Minnesota Cities position on the Open Meeting Law. As the next item of business, the City Administrator provided the Council a letter to Taymark, Inc. of White Bear Lake, indicating the City's willingness to work with the company in expanding in the City of Hugo. The city attorney recommended changing the wording of one paragraph to clearly define that, though the City is willing to pursue the possibility of issuing industrial bonds to support this project, the authority of the City to issue such bonds is not guaranteed. Council member Barnes also recommended changing the wording of one paragraph to indicate that the City is involved in the planning of the extension of Falcon Avenue rather than has determined to do so. Leroux; made motion to approve the letter to Taymark. subject to the recommended changes, seconded by Goiffon. All aye, motion passed. The Council discussed the development of the Svoboda property located north of Flay Ave. and west of Trunk Highway 61 as a site for the new post office. A potential financing plan prepared by the City's Finance Director was reviewed by the Council and concerns were raised regarding the higher than expected costs for development of the site. Other potential locations for the post office were considered. Specifically, removal of buildings in the downtown area to make way for redevelopment and moving the site to the Bald Eagle Industrial Park where the development costs would be less expensive. The sites for redevelopment in the downtown area were considered to be as, or more, expensive than the Svoboda property and the site in the industrial pares: was ruled out due to the location which would remove the post office from the downtown area and make it's use inconvenient for postal patrons from Centerville, Lino Lak.es, and May Township. L.aValle made motion to direct staff to complete the purchase of the Svoboda property, seconded by Leroux;. All aye, motion passed. Additional discussion was held regarding the use of the site of the post office in order to keep the post office in the City's commercial area and to avoid conflict with adjacent communities and the business owners in the community. L.aValle made motion, seconded by Goiffon to direct staff to make an offer to sell one acre of the Svoboda Property to the U.S. Postal Service for use as a postal site at a cost of $90,000. All aye, motion passed. The Council discussed the status of Mr. Dean Atkinson's Mining Permit. Leroux made motion, seconded by Goiffon to direct the city attorney to send a letter to the attorney representing Mr. Atkinson, stating that the City has considered and rejected Mr. Atkinson's argument that the operation of the rock crusher at his gravel pit is a lawful, nonconforming use, and to direct Mr. Atkinson to submit an application for a mining permit in accordance - with City ordinance. All aye, motion passed. Council member Barnes requested an update on the status of the City's drainage utility ordinance and the Council indicated a draft ordinance should be prepared for their consideration at the first meeting in July. Goiffon made motion, seconded by Barnes to adjourn at 1�►:55PM. All aye, motion passed. Robert Museus City Administrator