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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />July 23, 1996 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />Puhlic Hearinl!. continued <br /> <br />Motion by Samuelson, seconded by Larson, to WAIVE THE READING AND <br />ADOPT THE RESOLUTION VACATING A PORTION OF THE 2ND ST. NW <br />RIGHT-OF-WAY. <br /> <br />3 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />Finance Director Margaret Egan presented the 1995 annual reports for the City and Fire <br />Relief Assn. The State requires reporting of all City transactions. The Relief Assn. is <br />operated as a separate entity, and requires a financial report. Staff commit~ 700 <br />hours/year to perform this reporting which an independent accounting firm has audited. <br />A Council worksession was held prior to review the result~. General Fund operations <br />showed an increase of $90,000 which will be used for property tax relief. General fund <br />reserves total $6,000,000, and $550,000 will be used for tax relief. <br /> <br />Samuelson thanked Egan and her staff for excellent and concise reporting document~. <br />Jim O'Brien, Councilmember of the Month, noted the quality of the reporting. <br /> <br />Motion by Larson, seconded by Samuelson, to ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF <br />THE 1995 ANNUAL REPORTS. <br /> <br />3 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. <br /> <br />Mattila presented a special use permit to install a digital wireless telephone antenna to a <br />water tower, 675 Forestdale, and construction of an equipment building. The antennas <br />consist of three 15 ft. high whip anteIUlas attached to the top of the tower for the first <br />five years. After that, antennas are removed and antenna panels are attached to the <br />railing. The panels are small (four ft. in length) and not visible from nearby parcels. <br />The building will be small and screened, and there will be occasional vehicles to monitor <br />equipment. Nextel Communications will lease the site from the City. The City <br />Engineer is satisfied with the plan, and the Planning Commission recommends approval. <br /> <br />Mattila said the Telecommunications Act of 1996 preempts cities from prohibiting <br />cellular antennas within city limits if the proposal complies with land use regulations. A <br />city cannot deny based solely on health concerns. The antennas comply with setback <br />and height standards, but the building requires a special use permit. City Attorney <br />LeFevere reaffrrmed that the provision prohibits New Brighton from denying zoning <br />approval based on environmental effects. Samuelson asked if there will be a lease <br />agreement. Fulton confrrmed the City is currently in negotiations. <br /> <br />Kathy Jerry, 733 Redwood, said her home is 200 ft. from the site. She noted research <br />indicating the tower will produce continuous exposure to radiation which may cause <br />childhood leukemia and cancer. Research is still in its infancy, but why should we risk <br />our children. She wondered how parents will feel about the antelUlas being so near to <br />Highview School. The law states Council cannot deny strictly on environmental <br />concerns, but Council could deny based on decreased property values due to the <br />antennas. If a subsequent health problem arose, would the City be liable and would <br />damages far outspend proceeds from a lease agreement? She asked why sites other than <br />residential were not selected. She requested an annual audit of exposure levels, and <br />asked that the antennas not be installed until more research is performed. <br /> <br />Public Hearin~ <br /> <br />2nd St. ROW <br />Report 96-157 <br />Resolution 96-052 <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />1995 AIUlual Reports <br />Report 96-158 <br />Report 96-159 <br /> <br />Cellular Antenna on <br />City Water Tower Site <br />Report 96-160 <br />Resolution 96-053 <br />