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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982/01/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 11 , 1982 • 1 . Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Mayor Phyllis McQuaid • 2. Roll Call The following members were present at roll call : Ronald Backes Keith Meland Lyle Hanks John Ralles Jerrold Martin Mayor McQuaid Also present were the City Manager and the Director of Public Works. 3. Water Polisy Report The Mayor announced that the special meeting had been called in order to give the City Council an opportunity to consider the water policy report. She asked the City Manager to discuss the report. The City Manager indicated the report was a reaction to the lack of progress which has been made in addressing the contamination problem. Specifically, he said that the report was a product of many staff discussions which had occurred following the release of the Hickok report. The City Manager indicated that the report had been distributed to members of the groundwater committee for their review and comment on January 7, 1982. Therefore , he said that staff has already received some comments which should be discussed with Council . First of all , he said that the statement on page one referring to the computer sinulation model being prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey which had not yet been completed should be deleted. The City Manager indicated that this deletion was recommended because new develop- ments on this model are in progress. He said that a second change in the report involved a re-writing of the second paragraph on page 2. He indicated that this re-writing was necessary to avoid any insinuations about the work performed by Hickok and Associates. He said that the consultants had done their job consistent with the direction given by the State. Mayor McQuaid said that she felt the report was a very good one and that it exerted leadership that had been lacking in the process. Councilman Martin said that as he read through the report, he became con- cerned with the amount of money that had been expended and the lack of results to date. Councilman ileland asked who had authorized these studies. The Director of Public Works said that -the City did not initiate any of these -11 - Special City Council meeting January 11 , 1982 major studies but that there was some City participation through periodic discussions andthe selection of consultants. flavor McQuaid commented that it was difficult to explain to people why we don't have standards. She said that sometimes it seems as though St. Louis Park is beinn used as a laboratory. Mike Convert/ of the Minnesota Department of Health was invited to make comrnents regarding the report. Mr. Convery stated that for any of the measures suggested in the report, a problem existed with finding adequate hfuninh g. He In said that the State has been errphasizina the recovery of addition, he said that the State has been viewing the Suoerfund as a possibility but cautioned that the Federal government wants to receive a comprehensive package of strategies and not something that is calling for incremental action . Convery said that many of the recommendations, in his opinion, are consistent with the State's approach. Councilman Martin said that he was in favor of a wide dimmination of the re- port. He emphasized his concern for the establishment of standards . It was moved by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Martin, to adopt the water policy report and a projected time line for implementing the incremental approach outlined in the report. Councilman Strnhl entered the chambers. Councilman Hanks said that the City Council needs to begin considering what will happen if we do not have adequate funding to implement solutions to the water Problem. He suggested that some citizens may be ready to accept some risk associated with the water. He also commented that if we were unable to get support for the water policy report, the City should begin to take some steps toward solvinn the problem. The motion offered by Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Martin, was adopted on a 7-0 vote. The City Manager indicated that distribution of the report would begin this week and that an outline of a lobbying program would also be developed.- Councilnan Hanks said that he hoped the State agencies would support this new arrproach. He said that in the last year, the nroblem has snread far too much to continue without taking decisive action. Mr. Convery asked to make a ser comments on the use of PAIi standards. He told the City Council that the standards that are currently heino used are based on a r der,rl report and that they are "riot completely arhitrary." He admitted that. there w�•rr� many ,r:.flurpl ion; inherent in these standard. anti that no cost- I�enefit an,riv . 1: has been p 'rforrw•►) to date. However, he still maintained that the unofficial standard: bear :ore health relationships to risk posed by PAH compounds. -12- Special City Council meeting January 11 , 1982 4. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. on the motion of Councilman Hanks , seconded by Councilman Strohl . The motion passed 7-0. c;;; 4L An440.;e..47 or Attest: v o 2/1-1 j----e_.1--1-11Ait2f Sharon Klumpp Recording Secretary -11-