INFORMATION #2 03-31-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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o ?003 11955 CHAMPLIN DRIVE, CHAMPLIN, MN 55316-2399 · (763) 421-8100 · TDD 421-5547 March 24, 2003 Commissioner Penny Steele Board of Hennepin County Commissioners A-2400 Government Center Minneapolis, MN 55487-0240 RE: City of Dayton Resolution #04-2003 Dear Commissioner Steele: I have received a copy of your letter dated March 10, 2003 and I am quite puzzled by your comments. While I appreciate your support of a local government unit's right to control its own affairs, I feel your comments have missed the mark on this one. First, it is important to note that under current local and state law an amendment to a City's comprehensive plan can only be effectuated by a supermajority vote - in this case four out of five. Your comment that the Dayton City Council has "determined this decision... [to] be in the best interests of their city" is actually not the case at all. In fact, the City Council, by failing to get the necessary votes needed to make such an amendment, has actually determined the opposite to be true. By passing a Resolution directing its staff to prepare a Plan amendment which would eliminate the Mississippi River crossing from its Comprehensive Plan knowing full well that there is insufficient support to allow such an amendment to legally be made is nothing more than wasteful government spending (which I believe you are also against). Second, even if the Dayton City Council had garnered the necessary votes to actually do what you claim they have done, any such action would go far beyond controlling its residents' own interests. Regional transportation issues cannot and should not be dictated by individual communities at the expense of its' neighbors. Imagine the chaos, and added expense to our overall system, that could result from individual cities having ultimate veto power over the creation or expansion of roadways, bridges, etc. Not long ago the residents of Dayton approached our City Council and chastised us for even considering closing a residential street that Dayton residents had become accustomed to using regularly as a means of avoiding the higher traffic on Dayton River Road. For reasons of safety and practicality the road was left open for the benefit of the regional system, but to the detriment of Champlin residents. Every resident in the Twin Cities Metro area suffers from overcrowded roads and traffic congestion. However, the solution is not to allow individual cities to close their doors to development of the regional system, while at the same time benefit from those cities that carry their share of the load. I hope that you will consider these comments and share them with those with whom you have shared your March l0th letter. Singffrely, ~ . Boy Mayor ~ The City of Champlin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Auxiliary Aids available upon request with 48-72 hours notice.