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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-30-19842184 RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA Special Meeting No. 34 - April 30, 1984 Agenda Item A-1 E-1 President Postier called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M., the following members being present: President Postier, Aldermen Allen, Bluhm, Duffy, Powers, Solinger. Absent: Alderman Strain. The call of the special meeting was read by President Postier, the same being called for the Initiating a law suit against the Federal Prison Environmental Impact Statement and any other business the Common Council may deem proper. Two Resolutions are considered at this meeting. One is for the authorization of the entering into li.tigation on the Federal Environ- mental Impact Statement and the other resolution requests the Minnesota, -Environmental Quality Board to order preparation of a man- datory EAW on the Federal Bureau of Prisons proposal and that this be prepared because of the nature and location of the proposed project in the flood plain; Also that this fulfills the requirements of the Citizen's petition that this review should commence. Duffy moved, Powers second to adopt Resolution No. 229-84 - for. the City to.enter into litigation on the Federal Environmental Impact Statement. Alderman Solinger wanted to make a statement as follows: " I wish to make one final appeal to my colleagues on.the Council and to the Mayor to stop what appears to be an action that may permanently scar the beautiful history of Rochester as a caring community. After researching the Federal Prison and prison hospital system -making that trip to Butner and Springfield -to see first hand how their psychiatric and medical treatment centers were operated and talking individually with citizens of those communities on a random basis and finding out that in general they didn't have any fears of their facilities and were a positive factor on the economy of the community. And also basing my decision on response in my Ward and the City I made a decision. That decision was to accept this proposal. To help our City grow and fulfill some of our many needs in jobs, education , the economy, solid waste and enter an intergovernmental relations. I only ish that other members of the Council would have tried to take that little extra time to research the total impact of the Federal Prison System medical center and not have allowed this negative outburst y certain opponents to create these unfounded fears in the citizens Inds. I do understand the natural fears of some people and feel that we should respond to their needs as. time goes on-i'f the Federal rison Hospital does eventually be approved. I further believe that his action does not have the possibilities to win a case - it only as the possibilities of delaying the case and I firmly believe that delay is not the proper expenditure of our public dollars. I urge you o stop this now. Thank you." ,lderman Bluhm asked for a motion to table this motion for 10 minutes resident Postier stated that this was proper. Bluhm moved, Solinger econd to table this motion for 10 mi.nutes. Ayes (5), Nays (1). resident Posti.er voting nay. Motion carried. e Meeting was called to order by President.Postier. RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA = 85 Special Meeting No. 34 - April 30, 1984 Agenda Item E-1 Powers -:moved, Al l:en:s:ecdnd:to remove the tabled statement by Alderman Bluhm from the table. Ayes (6); Nays (0). Motion carried. Alderman Bluhm's statement: I too have the following statement to.make and I beg of you to give me consideration as I have not had time to write this down. I have been involved in this thing since day -one I guess and I took a stand from day one based on the opinions of the constituents of the City of Rochester of the majority of the constituents I would say - As things developed throughout; the whole process of negotiating the Federal Prison facility within the City of Rochester, the City Council as a whole has totally been'',nege:l..ected as part of the discussions that relate to the community, particularity in the consideration of compatibility of land use regulations, consideration of facil:ity.,and many other things. There has been strong opposition to the Federal Prison by what we think is the majority of the City of Rochester. As a result of the opposition, the State of Minnesota has got involved in a pressure tatic asking the Task Force in the City of Rochester and the citizens to accept the Federal Prison facility because of the fact that it is going to tie up to the 2 + 2 program, which everybody wants, and tie it to the solid waste program which we are all concerned about and have to support. My personal opinion here is that we who have taken a stand against the establishment of a Federal Prison, and I will put it bluntly, I think the pressure fror the State of Minnesota to the City of Rochester,in this particular case, is totally unwarranted. It is a local -issue and should be settled locally. I think this kind of politics, in.my personal opinion, stinks. I do support the fact that we do have to have a solid waste program, somebody is going to have to have it. It is the obligation of the County of Olmsted to handle that process, take care of solid waste. We have to support that wholeh'ear.tedly as the City of Rochester an& certainly want to support the 2 + 2 program. Therefore, because of , I guess , my mixed emotions on this thing on what to support and what not to support, I will tell you right now, I can't go either way, and that is the way it is going to stand as far as I am concerned. Having no further comments from the Council, President Postier asked for the vote. Having a roll call vote, Aldermen Duffy, Powers and President Postier voted aye. Ayes (3), Aldermen Allen and Solinger voted nay. Nays (2). Alderman Bluhm abstained. Motion carried. Resolution No. 229-84 was adopted. Powers moved, Duffy second to approve Resolution No. 230-84 Requesting the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board to order preparation of a mandatory EAW on the Federal Bureau of Prisons proposal because - of the location and nature of the proposed project in the flood plain Agenda Item E-1 E-2 E-3 RECORD OF OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY %OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA Special Meeting/No. 34 - April 30, 1984 Upon roll call vote , Aldermen Duffy, Powers and President Postier voted aye Ayes (3), Aldermen Allen, and Solinger voted nay. Nays (2), Alderman Bluhm abstained. Motion carried. Allen -moved, Bluhm second to approve the request for a temporary street closing on May 3, 1984 for a portion of First Avenue S. W. from the alley at First Bank to the corner of Third Street S. W. from 12:00 noon to 1:00 P.M. to kick off button sales for the Rochesterfest '84. Ayes (6), Nays (0). Motion carried. Powers moved, Allen second to approve the Kirby sidewalk sale on May 5, 1984 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P..M. in front of their store at 515 First Avenue S. W. Ayes (6), Nays (0). Motion carried. Having no further business, Allen moved, Duffy second to adjourn the meeting. Ayes (6), Nays (0). Motion carried. City Clerk 1