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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, September 24, 2007 <br />Minutes Page 22 <br />should be that the Council needed to make sure they did their job right the first <br />time; and then listen to the court if they tell you something different in the future <br />Councilmember Roe opined that the lesson he took away from the Twin Lakes <br />litigation, was primarily that of resolution of a development contract at that time, <br />and the impacts of agreements related to any pending litigation. Councilmember <br />Roe further opined that it was better to understand the impacts of any PUD <br />Agreement with Northwestern College, and if there should be an unfavorable out- <br />come to litigation, to have knowledge of those impacts to take into his considera- <br />tion ofany agreement. <br />City Attorney Anderson advised that there was no provision in law that relieved <br />the City from their obligations based on the 60-day review period for land use de- <br />cisions; and further advised that the City Council had an obligation to take action, <br />unless the applicant made null and waived the 60-day rule, based on MEPA <br />16.D04, Subd. 10. Mr. Anderson noted that the applicants were not involved in <br />any litigation; and he was not aware of any court hearing scheduled to-date. Mr. <br />Anderson noted that, if there was a successful challenge to the City's negative <br />declaration that additional environmental review was necessary, and the court de- <br />termined that there should have been a positive declaration for further environ- <br />mental review, then the court would vacate approval previously granted, and that <br />would be the impact of any decision. taken by the City Council tonight. In terms <br />of the merits of the PUD, Mr. Anderson opined that there was no impact on that <br />issue currently before the City Council. <br />Councilmember Roe clarified City Attorney Anderson's comments; opining that <br />the one issue with Twin Lakes litigation, was the existence of a contract with spe- <br />cific terms related to what happens if everything were to fall through. Council- <br />member Roe further opined that the PUD Agreement was a specific land use deci- <br />sion with obligations on both parties; and while not specifically noted in language <br />of the PUD, if the court ruled against the City, the judge would vacate the PUD <br />Agreement. <br />City Attorney Anderson concurred with Councilmember Roe's interpretation; not- <br />ing that the PUD Agreement was a permanent permit approval versus develop- <br />ment contract; and unlike a contract, the court could determine that they'd vacate <br />a permit approval. <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that the document certainly looked like a contract to <br />her; and in terms of being irresponsible for not taking action on a land use case, <br />opined that it would be more irresponsible for the Council to take action, not <br />knowing what additional environmental review and required mitigation may be <br />required. Based on the 60-day review period rule, Councilmember Ihlan opined <br />that it should be the college's desire to have a court ruling before proceeding, and <br />wasting everyone's time. Councilmember Ihlan opined that there were legitimate <br />