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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-23 Council Minutes66 CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 23, 1997 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mayor Larkin called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M. Members present were: Mayor Larkin and City Councilors: Ken Guenthner, Dixie Lindsley, Ernie Mayers, and Ken Kluck. Also present: City Administrator Bob Derus, City Planner Gary Eitel and Building Inspector Loren Kohnen, Wastewater Issues Committee Members Tom Sydloski, Buddy Gleason, and Tony Ruppert, and Police Chief Paul Schutte. There were approximately 80 people in attendance at the meeting. SET AGENDA There were no changes made to the agenda. PUBLIC HEARING - THREE ALTERNATIVES FOR PROVIDING SEWER SERVICE TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA Mayor Larkin explained the purpose of the meeting and opened the meeting for public hearing at 7:06 p.m. Beth Baily Allen and Richard Houck were at the meeting from the North Hennepin Mediation project to moderate. They introduced the procedures for the meeting. Each presenter was given 20 minutes for their presentation. Paul Jacobs from the Hennepin Rural Utilities Cooperative was the first presenter. He gave a general background of sewer service and alternatives for the City, both in the downtown and for the balance of the City, and he briefly explained his proposal. He also informed the audience that there would be an open house on Friday, February 28, 1997, at which time his proposal would be explained in greater detail. Vince Vandertop, from Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates, was the next presenter. He presented information and background to their study. Steve Johnston, from Landform Engineers, was the last presenter. He was representing the proposal of Ebert, Backus and Hay for a privately funded sewer system to serve approximately 400 acres. At 8:23 P.M. the meeting was opened for public comment on the issue. The following is a summary of the public comments and the answers to the comments: Ken Wuori, 6503 Horseshoe Bend Drive: Advised spending the $132,000, and questioned the actual cost of over -sizing. Vince Vandertop responded that the $132,000 pays for the over -sizing. Steve Johnston explained that their proposal contained a provision to pay approximately 68% of the cost of the pipe over -sizing. Mary Scharber, 7970 Strehler_R_oad: Requested written documentation of the options, because 20 minutes is not enough to understand each option. She also asked for comments on who benefits with each option for rural property owners. Vince Vandertop explained that their final report would be available at the end of March. He 67 also explained that there would be increased tax base and service opportunities. Steve Johnston explained that the benefit is additional tax base, stabilization of taxes, and added convenience. Paul Jacobs explained that no one has discussed the secondary effects of each proposal, noting that the road systems will be impacted by the central sewer proposals. Geor2e Gmach. 22600Oakdale rive: Noted he is outside the 40 year sewer plan. He explained the deficiency of small on -site septic systems by relating an experience on Macanac Island in Lake Huron. He also explained that, with on -site systems, there is a greater need of maintenance, noting that the trade-off between on -site and central sewer systems is a one-time, permanent fix, vs. a number of multiple systems. He also explained that the cooperative had no finances, no liability, or developer to pay for a permanent system. Let the people that are using the system pay. He also stated that secondary effects will occur in Corcoran if development leapfrogs over the city into Wright County. Paul Jacobs responded by relating the failure in Grays Bay last year, stating there is failure in municipal systems. He also explained that the PCA requires monitoring. He addressed the financial ability of the cooperative being a member -owned system. Part of their goal is clustered development. He also noted that regardless what Corcoran does, the leapfrogging will occur. Steve Johnston noted that, with the Grays Bay spill, news of the spill was immediate. You don't know about on -site failures immediately. He asked how the cooperative system could treat effluent as efficiently as a downtown metro sewer system. The City of Loretto wants to tie into the metro system. There will be 500 homes in 200 acres, or 500 on 5000 acres. 2.5 units/acre is not high. Townhouses have a density of 10 to 12 units per acre. Developers do pay for the secondary impacts - they pay for the upgrade of roads in the area. Vince Vandertop addressed the secondary effects. Land prices have sky rocketed. That is one of the first signs of increased pressure for development. Paul Jacobs explained how the monitoring would work with the cooperative proposal. The PCA likes the concept because of the monitoring. The homeowner is not tied to failure in the backyard. There is a monthly bill. It is the same whether there is a failure or not. He also explained the advantage of the cooperative proposal in preserving agricultural land. Jon Kingstadt, with the HRUC group, questioned the preliminary plat for Ebert's property, and if there will be a required land use plan amendment. Steve Johnston explained that Ebert's property is guided commercial. There would be the requirement of a land use plan amendment Vince Vandertop, explained that with their proposal, the comp plan would have to be updated. Tom Caswell from the Metropolitan Council was present to address the comp planning requirements of the Metropolitan Council and generally what the role of the Met Council is in regional planning. Paul Jacobs raised a question of equity for those within the sewer district which choose not to develop, referring specifically to the Chastek property. 68 Ron Thomas, 6575 Old Settlers Road: "I have 40 acres outside of downtown, so I have no interest. It seems like there is a window of opportunity, regardless of how we use the land." He advised the Council to look very seriously at funding the $132,000 to preserve the option. A resident questioned how the $132,000 would be financed. Administrator Der -us explained that it would be through TIF funding. Bill Halverstad, Old Settlers Road: "Corcoran is a rural community. What we are talking about here is summarized as "lifestyle". Give the co-op a chance. This is technology that needs to be heard. Last summer I heard Pete Gillen form the PCA express support for this. It sounds like the co-op could save each household thousands, which could save the city millions." Kathy Schendel, 20400 County Road 10: "What would be the cost under the Backus/Ebert proposal to get sewer to our property?" Steve Johnston explained that the current plan did not provide any capacity for sewer to their property. Diane Walli 6861 Olde Sturbridge: Directed her comments to the City Council. "I live just South of the proposed sewer district, so I have a direct vested interest. I have not heard any clambering cry for downtown sewer. I don't buy that this is our one and only chance for sewer to downtown. People moved here for the rural lifestyle. I don't mind driving a few miles to the store. I am concerned that the taxpayer will pay for the secondary effects, like police, snow plowing, road improvements, etc. To me, the prospect of 2.5 units per acre is daunting. On thousand more people in a small area. City taxes are minimal. The smaller pipe line will set a precedent for other lines in other areas in the future." Stan Chastek, 7600 Maple Hill Road. "I have a greenhouse and 40 acres. With the Backus and Ebert proposal, what happens to the pipe? I'd like to be sure that my property is not designated as open space." Ken Weber: "I'd like to know if any of the City Council has any concerns that, by attaching to the sewer, if it will give more influence to outsiders making our decisions for us." Mayor Larkin. "I don't care what others say. I don't want Corcoran to be a Maple Grove or a Plymouth. For 20 years I worked in Hennepin County Tax department. More people and more business do not drive down the taxes. If that were the case, St. Louis Park and Bloomington would have lower taxes." David Foy, 8115 County Road 116: "1 bought 10 years ago. The last few months I discovered I live in downtown Corcoran. I live on 15 acres and I enjoy the rural lifestyle. I am a relator, and in the last 10 years I have had mixed opinions about growth. It doesn't work for everybody. Met Council tells us how to live They are not elected, they are strangers telling us how to live. I've got a couple of college degrees and I'm confused." Chuck Lymangood, Plymouth: "I want to make two points: 1. Met Council does not have legislative authority. They do the review and comment 2. Second, I favor the Bonnestroo process because it works. Also spend the TIF funds, because the legislature is going to take it away." Kevin Casserly, 21985 County Road 117: "I appreciate the window of opportunity for sewer. C (� I'm concerned that the mobile home park will be removed if the sewer comes in. And it's the one V J area of low cost housing in the city." Jim Korn, 7938 Maple Hill Road: "If it takes 2.5 units per acre, I am not really for it. The reason I came here is lifestyle." The Council recessed for approximately 20 minutes. At 10:25 P.M. they resumed the meeting. CONSENT AGENDA There were questions on the Nick Faue and Jim Reader claims and for the garage door repair. Moved by Guenthner, seconded by Lindsley, to approve the following consent agenda items: -Approval of List of Claims #42 - 95 -Approval of the Cash Balance Statement dated January 17, 1997 -Approval of the January 9, 1997 City Council Minutes Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION Correspondence No action was taken. Payment to Jim Rader for Damage to Vehicle by Plow There was a short discussion. Lindsley suggested that the City do a police report right away in the future. Moved by Larkin, seconded by Lindsley, to approve the payment. Motion carried unanimously. Update on the Loretto/Corcoran Joint Water System Mayor Larkin commented that the Loretto Mayor called to ask to meet with the Council at the next meeting. Derus noted that he is on the agenda. Sewer Task Force Mayor Larkin explained that Frank Jedlicki asked to serve on the sewer task force. That led to a discussion of the membership of the sewer task force. Moved by Guenthner, seconded by Kluck to expand the membership of the committee by one more resident at large. Motion carried unanimously. Paul Jacobs - Various Information Mr. Jacobs distributed a packet of information and briefly spoke to the City Council about the following issues: l . Proposal to partner with the city for improved city design and management 2. Secondary Impacts by connecting to metro sewers 3. Planning and zoning administrator can impact taxpayers 4. Equitable downtown planning requires all area owners share any density increases 5. comparisons of 3 wastewater systems proposed in 1996 for downtown 6. Estimating the probable cost of sewer and related development proposals. There was a brief discussion. No action was taken. 70 Chamber of Commerce Use of Small Room Bob Derus explained that the NW Suburban Chamber was interested in the use of the small room.. There was a brief discussion Moved by Guenthner, seconded by Lindsley, to authorize Bob to negotiate with the Chamber for the use of the small room. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN Mayor Larkin adjourned the meeting at 10:55 P.M. ATTEST: City Administrator Mayor