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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, September 19, 2011 Page 3 b. John Kysylyczyn,3083 N Victoria Street Mr. Kysylyczyn referenced a recent on-line article in the online Roseville Patch related to the City's efforts to build a new fire station. In the personal commen- tary portion of the article, Mr. Kysylyczyn noted the statement made that past City Councils didn't pay close enough attention to fire department facilities, creat- ing the need to get a project accomplished today. While not concerned that there was no apparent malice meant, Mr. Kysylyczyn opined that there were apparently some on the City Council who did not have a thorough understanding of the fire station issues and past efforts to address those issues. Mr. Kysylyczyn provided a history from 1999 when he was elected Mayor of Roseville and his platform to invest in public safety. Mr. Kysylyczyn referenced various studies completed, and.available at City Hall or on its website, the refe- rendum in 2002 as the first step to empty out Fire Station #1 through renovation to City Hall and the Public Works facility to relocate fire administration and com- puter support; a study performed by the League of Women Voters on fire stations subsequent to that referendum; and the most recently completed study Mr. Kysy- lyczyn noted that the original intent was to build a fire station on the property be- hind the Roseville Branch of the Ramsey County Library; however, since then the library had expanded onto that property. Mr. Kysylyczyn noted that some of the current City Councilmembers were present on the City Council from 2007 — 2009 and should be familiar with this history; and while a new fire station is a definite community need, the City Coun- cil should not allege that the project has been sitting around with no one doing anything about it; opining that it was in process until 2005 when the City Council dropped the ball. Regarding a referendum and based on his tenure as mayor, Mr. Kysylyczyn opined that there would be no fear of the City Council in taking such a project to the voters, since the projected cost was only for $8 million; and further opined that the City Council should put their trust in the residents and let the voters de- cide. Mr. Kysylyczyn advised that, when he hears negative comments about the City Hall project, his response is that the majority voted for the project, and that serves to stifle comments. 4. Council Communications,Reports and Announcements Acting Mayor Pust announced a joint meeting on October 4, 2011 of the Shoreview and Roseville Human Rights Commission and a presentation on Project 515 about laws dis- criminating against same sex couples. Acting Mayor Pust announced a harvest event on October 2, 2011 sponsored and hosted by the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program; scheduled between 2:00— 5:00 p.m. with the public invited.