HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04-13-1998 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
April 13,1998
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at 5:50
p.m. in the Medicine Lake Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on April 13, 1998. The special
meeting had been called by Mayor Tierney.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Johnson, Spigner, and Black.
ABSENT: Councilmember Bildsoe, Wold, and Preus.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Public Works Director Moore, Community
Development Director Hurlburt, Public Safety Director Gerdes and Deputy City Clerk
Hoffman.
Community Development Director Hurlburt presented information on the proposed Hennepin
County Public Safety communications tower to be located at 1145 Shendandoah Lane. She
said the plan would require a change in zoning ordinance language, as well as a conditional
use permit for construction of the tower. She said because of the location of the tower an
environmental study was mandatory, but an environmental inventory statement was not
required. She said the new tower would be more stable than the existing tower, in order to
accommodate the radio and dish equipment required by the new communications
technologies. She explained three options that were reviewed in the site selection process,
along with the final proposal.
She said one option would place the tower on City property at the Public Works Maintenance
Facility. She stated that option would require more land than the Public Works Department
was able to offer. She said a second option would have used two towers of differing heights.
She stated that option would have required that the tallest tower be nearly as tall as the one in
the final proposal. She said a third option would have used a tower supported by guyed wires,
and would have placed the wire support bases in different locations on the site. She said that
restricted the placement of the tower because of underground heating and electrical ducting.
Director Hurlburt said residential concerns were raised when computer simulated images of
the final proposal were shown. She said if the tower is relocated, it would need to be taller,
because of changes in the terrain and the tower placement in relation to other towers in the
county system. She said some tower would still needed at site for the Adult Correctional
Facility needs. She said space and cost estimates weighed in the project, as well as delays in
implementation of the system if a new site is chosen.
Roger Laurence, a telecommunications specialist with Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, said
the process has already been going on for about a year, He said the process was slowed down
by environmental study.
Adopted Special City Council Minutes
April 13, 1998
Page 2
Councilmember Johnson expressed concern over the potential for antenna and dish clutter on
the tower. Mr. Laurence explained that structural load capacity would limit additional
equipment allowable.
Councilmember Spigner discussed other possible locations for the tower at the facility. Mr.
Laurence explained that four sites were reviewed, with an effort to keep the tower as far
inside the grounds as possible. Underground utilities were one deciding factor in location,
along with the tower location in relation to the golf range facility.
Director Hurlburt said there was a June 5 deadline for a decision on siting. She said changing
the location could require a new or revised environmental assessment worksheet.
Mr. Laurence explained that a ripple effect would occur with any delay, and would mean the
project would be held back 12 to 18 months.
Mr. Laurence responded to questions about limiting the number of antennas on the tower. He
explained the structural design had a maximum load capacity which would limit the number
of additional dishes and towers without putting a structural strain on it. He said all towers in
the County's system need to be up and in place in order for the entire system to work. He said
delay in the placement of one tower would put constraints on the entire system.
Councilmember Black asked if the project is such a critical site, why it was the last to come
up. Mr. Laurence stated that it was not the last to be submitted, but is the last to be approved.
Pat Ujifusa, 1315 Harbor Lane, said she felt Plymouth is losing its positive aesthetic
appearance. She asked that councilmembers think of the aesthetics of the site when
considering the issue.
Councilmember Johnson said she believed the facility has worked well as a good neighbor
within the city, but she said there is much going on at the site which is not attractive.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM.
zl— I
Kurt Hof , Deputy City Clerk