Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP April 5, 1976 j, CITY 01 ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 5, 1976 AGENDA 1. Call to Order - 7:30 P.M. 2. Interview - Donald Nelson 3. Engineer's and Planner's Report/Metropolitan Council Position Paper - !B:OO P. M. a. Discussion on above b. Action on above 4. Selection of Building Inspector/Assesor/Tree Inspector --- j CITY 01 ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 5, 1976 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Richard J. Schneider, April 5, 1976, 7:30 P.M., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard N. W. for the purpose of interviewing Donald Nelson for the position of Building Inspector/Deputy Assessor. Councilpersons present: Holasek, Rither, VanderLaan, Windschitl Councilpersons absent : None Also present: City Building Official, James Thurston; City Clerk, Patricia K. Lindquist. Mr. Nelson was interviewed by the Council following a written test covering the position. The same questions were directed to Mr. Nelson as those asked of the other applicants on March 30, 1976 (see minutes of 3/30/76). * ~:< ~, * * >J:; "r: * >J:; :0:' >J:; >}:: >;.: ~, ~, i.' * A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was call to order by Mayor Richard J. Schneider, April 5, 1976, 7:50 P.M.. at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard N. W. for the purpose of reaching a decision on the acreage requirements and commercial/industrial development in the Rural Planning District. All Councilpersons present. Also in attendance were: City Engineer, D. R. Kasma; City Planner, Westly Hendrickson; City Clerk, P.K. Lindquist; and approxim~tely 100 resid~nts. < :\1, :í~~! -.,; ,) " ,j :: '~':.U( fi',i' _' . Mayor Schneider explained to the audience the events and City Council and Metropolita~ Council Meetings that had transpired during the past two months relative to t~e Comprehensive Development Plan and the A-95 Review for the FHA Loan Application. Engineer Kakma reviewed for the Council and audience, his letter of April 1, 1976, covering the meeting of that day attended by T. K. D.A. representatiyes, Mr. Hendrickson and himself, and Metropolitan Council staff, Messrs. James Barton and Sandy Dean. The questions presented to Metro CoJncil by T.K.D.A. and the responses for same were explained in detail. Three alternatives were stated by the Council Staff, any of which could insure la favorable A-95 Review: I. Amend the Plan changing the 2 1/2 acres back to 10 acres in the Ru~al Planning District. 2. A116w a dwelling unit density of 40 units per section. 3. Undertake a study to prove that the City can provide services to the rural area on lots of 2 1/2 acres consistent with Metropolitan Council requirements. Special Cou.__il Meet. ~ _ 4/5/76 I Minutes _ Page 2 Mr. Kasma noted that the third option could take up to twelve months at a cost in excesS of $15, 000; and would ultimately delay any action on the A-95 Review, and thus virtually lose the FHA loan at this time. A map had been prepared by the Engineer to show the areas in the City which already had exceeded the 40/640 density requirement. This was shown and explained to the Council-note was made that over half the sections in the rural area were undevelopable under this 40/640 density. Mr. Kasma also reviewed his meeting with Mr. Pu1scher of Springsted, Inc., relati ve to the taxing districts; and his letter of April 5 indicating the comparat ively negligible effect an increase in City taxes would have on the total per property owner's tax. The following citizens offered comments as shown; (Staff responses are indicated in parentheses.) Jerry Elfert - Asked the engineer if there would be a problem inasmuch as the 40/640 density requirement had already been exceeded to such a great extent. (Yes, it would be a problem in that n~ development would be permitted in many areas of the City. ) Al Schrupp - Requested a definition of urban and rural areas and reasons for same. (We are going by Metropolitan Council definition- the Federal Department of Agriculture shows 10 acres to be the rural section.) Asked what chance the City had of securing a 5% FHA loan without Metro Council approval. (None) Que stioned the fact that if commercial and industrial development were not allowed in Andover, other cities would be getting our tax dollars. ( (Comrriercial/industrial development will be permitted in the , Urban IPlanning District. ) Ted Lachinski - Stated that he did not like the idea of consentrated development in his area; and that the northern suburbs should get together and set up a uniform development policy. Earl Slgfrid _ Asked how Metropolitan Council obtained the authority to decide whether or not Andover received an FHA loan. (The state Legislature gave them the authority-apparently felt I that they needed these powers.) Stated that he felt that Andover should ¡take Metropolitan Council to court and fight such authority. Bob Nehring _ Stated that a Supreme Court decision had upheld 5 acres; and that no-one has a "concrete" plan. Also that Metropolitan Council population projections indicated a "0" growth. (We do not I know that Metro Council's population figures are incorrect. ) [ Special Council Meeting - 4/5/76 Minutes - Page 3 Lawrence B. Carlson _ Stated that he did not believe it was pos sible to fight for something that you did not believe in-it was his opinion that there would be a negative report from the engineers and planners inasmuch as they had opposed dropping the 20 acres in the C. D. P. to 10 acres; and that Metropolitan Council is dividing the community, and that we should fight and fight hard by bringing a united front forward. Noted that his legal counsel felt that Andover would have a good case against the Metropolitan Council and the F. H. A. Arnold Cox - Stated that as Mayor of the City of Ramsey, he would offer cooperation and assistance to the City of Andover, should they decide to oppose Metropolitan Council requirements. Robert McClure - Informed the Council that to him it appeared that those citizens promoting schemes to fight Metropolitan Council in court had nothing to gain at the present time; and would be fine, however not now when there was a chance of losing the FHa loan and affecting so very many people. Don Hlllblade _ Stated that he did not agree with Metro Council in many things that they do, but could not see any sense in fighting for a lost ~ause at this time; and if the Council committed the 76-1 Impro~ement Project to the higher interest rate, everyone would pay. Informed the audience that he believed that those persons wanting to fight should begin donating to a fund for that purpose. Also noted that on the 76-1 project, the interest amount between the 6%'and 80/0 would be $400,'000. Gary Jenzmierer _ Stated that he believed it to be a waste of time and money to fight a big governmental unit; and that he was led to believ9 at the public hearings on 76-1, that an FHA loan was 'quite definite. Jan Pabche _ Asked what would be wrong with going to the 8% for 20 years-the total cost would be less. (Most people only live in one horrie for an average of 7 years, therefore, the interest savings for the Iyear s over that would not help them-the interest payment would amount to approximately $100 per year more during the 6 or 7 rears they were living in the house. Also other projects would be in jeopardy if the Community Development Plan were not app'roved by Metropolitan Council. ) [ Wally Arntzen - Stated that the very same people who were now asking to ''unite and fight" had the opportunity a year ago to do just that when the legi~lature posf¡l"0ned action on the "Land Use Bill", to allow time for public input; and that the Andover City Council had not even attempted to negotiate with Metropolitan Council prior to the past few weeks to reduce the 10 acre requirement. (An effort was made to work together, on the "Land Use Bill", however, differences of opinions between the communities resulted in no action. ) Special Cou, .1 Meetl - 4/5/76 I Minutes _ Page 4 Ken Orttel - Informed the Council and audience that he believed that there would be a devaluation of property in the rural area-assessments are temporary, but taxes are long term; and if there is a devaluation in property there would have to be compensation and that would cost the entire City. (It is up to the Council to decide if they want separate taxing districts, and to decide what the tax base would be.) Art Jaworski - Asked Mr. Kasma if the 75-1 Improvement Project required 24 home starts each year to pay the principal/interest on the loan, and if they did not get these starts, who would pay. (Yes, we do need the 24 starts, and if we do not get this the entire City will pay. ) Jerry Elfert - Stated that it appeared to him that the communities have had difficulty in getting together in the past, and wondered how it could be done nOw. (It is first necessary to understand what we are going to "fight"--we are not understanding that the Metro Council has done a lot of "leg work" to arrive at their requirements-we cannot afford to do this, and the individual commmlities and or county areas afford to establish sewage disposal plants, airports, transportation systems, open spaces, etc.) Harold: Braastad - Stated that as a member of the Ham Lake Planning and Zoning Commission, they were coming up with a statement on , providing on-site sewage disposal systems on 2 1/2 acres that would meet requirements. (Sewers and septic systems can be handled in the manner in which Ham Lake and Andover are proposing, but there is alsolconcern by Metro Council for police protection, fire protection, street maintenance, etc.) HarlaJBlessum - Noted that it was a little late now to try to change Metro Council - especially when the FHA loan was hanging in the I balance. MOTION by ìindSChitl, seconded by Rither, to adopt the following resolution: WHEREAS, the City is desirous of obtaining a favorable A-95 Review from the Metropolitan Council which would enable the City to be eligible for Farmers Ho~e Administration Loans, Federal Grants, and other Federal Funding that bay be available, and WHERJAS, the City has immediate need for a favorable A-95 Review in order to p~ovide the least cost interest rate for the sewer project in the Red Oaks, Ndrthwoods, and Green Acres Additinns, and WHERJAS, in the future, the City may desire to apply for Federal Grants or other Federal Funding. I ¡ Special Cou.._i1 Meet, .; - 4/5/76 Minutes _ Page 5 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Andover City Council hereby agrees to amend its Community Development Plan by July 1, 1976. The amendments to the Plan shall include the following: I. Residential development in the Rural Planning District shall not be allowed on any lot of less than 10 acres. 2. Commercial and Industrial development shall not be permitted in the Rural Planning District except for agricultural related development. Vote: Yes _ Rither, VanderLaan, Windschitl; Present - Holasek, Schneider (goes against everything that is democratic. ) Motion carried. MOTION by Rither, seconded by VanderLaan, to direct the Planning and Zoning Commission to hold the prerequisite public hearings in accordance with M.S.A. 462, regarding the proposed and agreed upon amendments to the Community Development Plan. Vote: Yes - Schneider, Rither, Vander Laan, Windschitl; Present - Holasek. Motion carried. Selection of Building Inspector/Deputy Assessor/Tree Inspector The following persons were under consideration for the position: I. Donald Nelson 2. Dennis Rambow 3. Allan Zepper Mayor Schneider informed the Council that he had personally contacted some of Mr.' Zepper';g previous employers and associates and received , ' favorable reports. Discussed were qualifications and salary requests of the above three applicants. , I MOTION by IWindschitl, tohire,All"n Zepper at a salary of $14,000 per year; and that in 90 days we increase the salary by $1,000. Discussion on this policy not being consistent with that for other employees. No second. I MOTION by Schneider, seconded by Windschitl, to employ Allen Zepper at a starting Isalary of $14, 000 per year, with an evaluation review at 6 months to ~n increase of from $500 to $1000. Vote: Yes - Schneider, Holasek, Wir\.dschitl; No - Rither, VanderLaan (do not feel we are , . Motion carried. prepared to pay thlS type of salary. ) Adjournment MOTION by findSChitl' seconded by Holasek, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. ~,,1 . -~ /11} l'V'Ii\(,. M~,~urne "11:30 P.M. LJ 'I I ,/~ ,/?, c. J Œ;JVf Patricia - Clerk Of