Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

                                                                                    October 17, 2006

            A special meeting of the City Council was called to order in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 17, 2006, all members of the Council having been duly notified of the meeting and the business to be transacted.

Present:            Vice Mayor Matt Brenk; City Attorney William Briggs; City Administrator Richard Grabow; Assistant City Administrator Lynne Krieger; Community Development Director Larry Remmen and Building Official Calvin Mayfield.

                                    Aldermen:         Anderson, Aune, Hannon, Heltemes,  Imholte, Tollefson and Tucker.

            Absent:             Mayor Larry G. Buboltz; Alderman Zeman; Finance Officer Louis Guzek; Public Utilities Superintendent Curt

                                     Punt; Street Commissioner Roy Estes; City Engineer Gary Nansen, Police Chief Kelvin Keena; Liquor Store

                                     Manager Bradley MacMaster and Fire Chief Jeffrey Swanson.  

            Upon Vice Mayor Brenk’s request, Community Development Director Larry Remmen summarized the reason for the meeting advising that earlier this summer, a retaining wall at River Hills RV Park was being built without a building permit.  The building activity was stopped by the City and the owner was told he needed to submit plans for a building permit and he also was advised of other options.  Mr. Remmen further advised that the City Council needed to make a determination whether or not the proposed retaining wall at River Hills RV Park is a substantial change to the Project. If it is a substantial change, then the City Council also needs to determine if the change has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact.  If the change is not a substantial change to the Project or if there is not potential for a significant adverse environmental effect, then an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the wall would not be required.

            Carl Malmstrom, Attorney representing the River Hills RV Park Developers,  spoke on behalf of the developers advising that the Developer has made application for a building permit for construction of the wall now and expressed that the wall is not a substantial change to the Project and there is no significant environmental impact.

            Dennis Kral , President of the Pelican River Watershed District, Patrick Kenney, Attorney representing Lakeview Township, Henry VanOffelen, Minnesota Environ-mental Advisor, Greg Vandgard, Lake Melissa and Sally Lake Association, Dick Alsop, Lake Detroiters also making note of his letter, and Ginny Imholte, Treasurer or the Pelican River Watershed, stressed that a EAW is necessary because the wall is a substantial change and significant environmental impact to the Project.

              Alderman Imholte, after questioning the developer, commented on leaving the site in its natural state and asked Vice Mayor Brenk to conduct a roll call vote so it will be recorded in the minutes that he voted for an EAW.  Alderman Heltemes and Hannon spoke in favor of an amendment to the EAW.  Alderman Hannon, expressed his concern relative to setting a precedence if an amendment to the EAW is not required.

            City Attorney Bill Briggs, upon the request of Vice Mayor Brenk, clarified what the Council would be voting upon as if a substantial change was made in the proposed project that may have the potential for significant adverse environmental effects, then a new EAW is required.

            Upon Alderman Anderson’s inquiry, P.K. Onstad the developer, suggested it would be to his advantage to construct the six sites without the wall.  Dennis Kral, Pelican River Watershed, referred to the Link Associates Engineering Report which concluded that the wall is necessary to construct the six sites and stressed there are other alternatives.

            A motion was made by Alderman Imholte, seconded by Alderman Hannon determining that the wall at River Hills RV Park may have the potential for significant adverse environmental impacts and the City requires an amended EAW.  Vice Mayor Brenk then called the question and the following vote was recorded:  Ayes:  Heltemes, Anderson, Hannon and Imholte.  Nayes:  Aune, Tollefson, G.L. Tucker.  The Vice Mayor declared the motion carried.

            There being no further business to conduct and without objection, Vice Mayor, Brenk adjourned the meeting at 6:42 P.M.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Lynne Krieger

                                                                        Assistant City Administrator