2017 06-20 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting minutes, June 20, 2017 Page 2 Some stations will have a park and ride. The public hearing closed at 7:45 p.m. Councilmember Lindner made a motion to support Resolution 2017-05, transmitting the City of Gem Lake support for the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Rush Line Corridor to the Rush Line Corridor Task Force, the Ramsey County Reginal Railroad Authority and the Metropolitan Council. Councilmember Artig-Swomley seconded the motion, motion passed. Audit Findings, Chris Knopik, CliftonLarsonAllen Chris Knopik presented the results of the City of Gem Lake 2016 audit. Because the City of Gem Lake now has an employee, the City will need to adopt an out-of-state travel policy. Mr. Knopik will provide samples for the city to adopt. Claims for the month of June, 2017 A motion was made by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley to approve the claims for June, 2017. Motion passed. Claims approved. Monthly Financial Reports Approved. A motion was made by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, seconded by Councilmember Lindner to make a $2,000 donation with funds received from the charitable gambling account to the White Bear Lake Food Shelf during the month of July, 2017. Motion passed. Purchase of Tom Hansen’s Field – Public Hearing The Mayor provided an overview of the public hearing. The proposal is to buy 18 acres, sell off part of the land to a developer, thereby the city controls the land and the development. Part of the land would be paid for with a CD with a 5 year term and part would be sold to the developer at $62,000 an acre. Over the years citizens have asked for a development of villa homes so they can stay in Gem Lake but not necessarily in their current home, 20 -25 villa homes projected to meet that need. In additional the villa homes would increase the tax revenue which will pay for all or most of the bond. The City of Gem Lake must respond to the Metropolitan Council with their requirements some of which include parks, growth, sewer, water for cities. Councilmember Bosak spoke. He has been on the council for over 20 years, he thanked the audience for attending and said we need your continued input every month, we need more involvement, said his agenda has always been towards keeping taxes as low as he can, he attended the Planning Commission meeting and felt that much misinformation has been circulated, for instance that the council has been denying developers, said that hasn’t happened, no applications have been denied. Bosak cited developments voted-in in Gem Lake, Hillary Farm, New Trax, water in the Hoffman’s Corners area to spur development and White Bear Montessori. Developers have come in floating ideas to put in something the land isn’t zoned for. Bosak said an ice arena was one example, another example was Landmark Development’s first concept sketch that was well like by the council and at 29 homes with a park, it was only a few homes over the density for the zone. They were encouraged to simply meet the zoning requirement and come back. But Landmark came back with a new plan that had 39 homes. Bosak said that he favored trails or a park because it had been asked for in citizen surveys but obviously a park or trails could only go on undeveloped property and geographically could never be adjacent to every home. Councilmember Artig-Swomley spoke, mirroring what Commissioner Bosak said, we want to preserve Gem Lake, we do have mandates from the state and federal government and it’s a balancing act. She has received feedback from citizens. In addition she reminded attendees that we are your neighbors and swear words and obscenities are not appropriate.