INFORMATION #2 03-31-2003o ?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.
Mike Opat, Hennepin County Commissioner
James Jadwin, Mayor, City of Dayton
Peter Bell, Metropolitan Council
Frank Pafko, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Joseph Strauss, North Metro Mayors Association
Northwest League of Municipalities, c/o Gary Eitel, City of Rogers
Dan Erhart, Chairperson, Anoka County Board of Commissioners
Tim Cruikshank, City Manager, City of Anoka
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator, City of Elk River
Alan Madsen, City Administrator, City of Maple Grove
Michael Robertson, City Administrator, City of Otsego
James Norman, City Administrator, City of Ramsey
February 26, 2003
RE: Northwest Corridor/Mississippi River Bridge Crossing
Dear Government Officials and Administrators:
12260 S. Diamond Lake Rd.
Dayton, Minnesota 55327
(763) 427-4589 ~,~,~
Fax (763) 427.3708
The Dayton City Council wishes to notify MnDot, adjoining commtmities and jurisdictions, of its
intent to review the transportation plans for the City of Dayton. The majority of council members
are not in favor of a future Northwest Corridor/Mississippi River bridge crossing that has been
proposed through the City of Dayton. Further, the City Council adopted the attached resolution,
Resolution 04-2003, at its February 11, 2003, regular City Council Meeting. This resolution
authorizes City Staff to begin the process of amending the Dayton Comprehensive Plan to remove
the Northwest Corridor/Mississippi River bridge crossing as a contemplated transportation option.
In the year of 2002, Dayton residents generated and signed a petition opposing the Northwest
Corridor/Mississippi River bridge crossing. The petition represents over 1/3 of Dayton's registered
voters. A copy of the petition was sent to MnDot.
It is generally thought by a majority of the council members and Dayton residents that a Northwest
Corridor/Mississippi River bridge crossing would not provide any benefit to the City of Dayton.
This proposal would destroy community character, open space, and many other fealures that
Dayton's residents value.
Please be advised, our City is beginning the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process. If you have
any questions, please contact me or Dayton City Staff. Thank yOtL
Sincerely,
es'l{dwin, Mayor
of Dayton
Cc:
Anoka County
City of Anoka
City of Champlin
City of Elk River
City of Maple Grove
City Otsego
City of Ramsey
Hennepin County
Metropolitan Council
Minnesota Department of Transportation
North Metro Mayors Association
Northwest League of Municipalities
Attachment: Resolution 04-2003
Letter from Commissioner Penny Steele
PENNY STEELE
COMMI33IONER
BOARD OF HENNEPIN
COUNTY
612-348-7887
FAX-612-317-6119
penny, steele@co,hennepin.mn.us
COMMISSIONERS
A-2400 GOVERNMENT CENTER
MINNEAPOLIS. MINNESOTA .5,5487-0240
March 10, 2003
RE: City of Dayton Resolution #04-2003
Dear Government Officials and Administrators,
I recently received a copy of the Dayton City Council's Resolution #04-2003 directing
city staff to prepare an amendment to the Dayton Comprehensive Plan.
I have always been a strong proponent of each citizen's right to self-determination and a
local government's fight to local control. The City Council of Dayton works hard to act
in the best interests of those in their community. In this capacity they have determined
this decision will be in the best interests of their city.
I think it is important to recognize and support their fight to make such a determination.
Sincerely,
Penny Steele
Hennepin County Commissioner
PS:cd
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