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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, September 24, 2007 <br />Minutes Page 18 <br />Councilmember Pust expressed her personal disappointment with Har Mar Mall <br />management. <br />Further discussion included the time-sensitive nature of the MnDOT project, with <br />final drawings due by the end of November, for bid in January of 2008, and sun- <br />set for federal funds in February of 2008; and possible alternatives to pursue to <br />achieve the much-needed realignment of the intersection to reduce safety issues. <br />Councilmember Kough opined that small businesses needed to be retained in the <br />community, rather than big box retail, and referenced recent newspaper articles <br />about long-time tenants losing their leases at Har Mar.. <br />Councilmember Ihlan concurred with Councilmember Kough's observation about <br />long-time tenants losing their leases; and opined that it was an issue that the City <br />Council needed to be concerned about when PUD applications come forward. <br />Ms. Bloom reviewed area intersections, conflict points, and safety issues; cuing <br />and access issues for area businesses on the west side of Snelling; traffic studies; <br />and the need to retain all or a portion of that frontage road. <br />Mayor Klausing volunteered himself or another elected official to assist staff in <br />their discussions with Har Mar representatives to explain the realities of the situa- <br />tion; and expressed his personal frustration with their unwillingness to have pre- <br />liminary discussions at a staff level. <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that such a discussion should include the larger vi- <br />sion and Har Mar plans; and their intention to terminate certain leases in the mall, <br />while not being willing to talk to their tenants about altering access points to in- <br />crease safety. <br />Further discussion included access rights; public rights-of--way; proof of public <br />necessity and damages if condemnation were considered; potential removal of a <br />portion of the project to allow additional research and to find other funding for the <br />signal portion of the project; and who had been noticed of the in proposed infor- <br />mational meeting later this week. <br />There was no clear consensus to direct staff on whether to hold the proposed in- <br />formational meeting with residents on Skillman; and the decision was left at the <br />discretion of staff. <br />c. Ramsey County Citation -Consider Approving a Ramsey County Court Ci- <br />tation for property at 2424 Dale Street <br />Community Development Code Enforcement Officer Don Munson reviewed this <br />long-term code enforcement property; violation notices sent to the previous prop- <br />erty owner; staff learning of a new owner in August; and subsequent meetings, <br />