HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-93 Verbatim-Portion Bastian: Last summer we had a forum which was devoted to mosquito control
and for all the questions we had and the answers that were provided by the
gentleman from Canada - the doctor from Canada - who is a world renowned
mosquito expert, my recollection was that they left a number of things open
and when we had the opportunity on March 22 to look at the type of program
we would have in the City of Maplewood based on what we saw and heard at the
forum and discussions that have occurred since, as well as the number of
articles that have appeared in the daily metropolitan newspapers on mosquito
control, I believe there is a health-safety-welfare issue that we can
address in the notice provision. I do not want to have the Mosquito Control
people have some sort of loophole that allows them to say "Well, we tried."
Andy, what are we talking about - a circulation of getting to Maplewood
homes - about 15% of the homes? Do you have any idea? At one point I know
it was as low as 11%, but I think it's kind of gone up and we have some
other areas of the City, so we put a public notice in Maplewood-In-Motion,
it may be difficult for some of the property owners to assess where they are
going to be - so we have the greater issue that will come up a little bit
later - that we have other authorities telling us they do not have to
conform to our zoning, they are not going to have to conform to notice
provisions we want to enact, and at some point in time we are charged with
the health-welfare-safety of our residents and I don't have a problem with
the notice we passed in d. nor do I have a problem with them going to the
local newspaper, but there has to be some recognition that they are going to
have to do more than throw a 1", quarter-column type notice in the back page
of the public notices that we should almost require a news release, going to
the Maplewood Review and also the neighborhood sections, the Northeast, the
Southeast, the Northwest, wherever Maplewood gets covered, which is in a
number of neighborhood sections in the St. Paul paper, and even in the
Minneapolis paper, because now some people are taking the Minneapolis paper
over the St. Paul Dispatch for a daily newspaper in Maplewood. But there
has to be a news release saying there is going to be spraying or some
activity for mosquito control - if you are concerned, this is the number to
call to find out the locations. If that does, in fact, occur, then I feel
better about people with respiratory problems, or who have gone out with the
intent of attracting small animals or bugs - which is probably an inaccurate
generic term - to their yards, that we do not see that kind of activity
taking place unless people have adequate notice of what is going to happen.
Zappa: If we accept Item I-3 as printed, and add to it that staff will send
a letter to the St. Paul Dispatch/Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star
Tribune asking them to include this information in all of their Maplewood
residential areas, would that be sufficient for you? Then I think we've
done our job, because to protect the health and welfare of every citizen is
- we all know its a nice thought, but a lot of people don't want to protect
themselves. I think we should at least do that much and then get away from
this.
Bastian: I have no problem with that.
Zappa: Okay, then accept I-3, and then staff send a letter to the official
newspaper plus the St. Paul paper and the Minneapolis paper, incorporating
this information, and then everybody should be advised, and let them act
individually.
Bastian: Actually, the letter should go to the Mosquito Control, indicating
that
Zappa: With a copy to the Mosquito Control.
Bastian: Well, I would say the letter goes to them with a copy to the
papers.
Zappa: OK
Bastian: Would be the motion, otherwise, Mosquito Control may not be
reading the newspapers.
It has been moved and seconded to direct a letter to the Mosquito
Control, copies to the metropolitan newspapers and local
newspaper that would i ndi cate City policy and the direction we
are going.
Any other discussion?
Rossbach: Just for the record, I will vote in opposition to this. I voted
to have a public hearing - we did last week - then the second two I voted in
opposition because I felt we were hanging the suspect without a trial. We
said we would have a hearing about mosquito control, now we have proceeded
to ban them. So, for that reason, I just felt that we got the cart before
the horse and so I will not support this. That is my reasoning, not because
I necessarily agree or disagree with the Mosquito Control system.
Kathy ]uenemann, 721 Mt. Vernon: I have a question about writing to them
and them to the papers. There is no obligation of those papers to print
anything that comes from the City - if you've noticed, the coverage
sometimes is pretty sparse. I think it is a good start, but what you were
after to begin with, Mr. Mayor, was probably more what a lot of us had in
mind, because I questioned those people when they were here about
notification, because I personally don't want that stuff on my yard, thank
you, even though this is a democracy and what's for the good of all and all
that~unk, I'm not convinced it is for the good of all. And they told me it
was my obligation to find out - which I would like to argue with them in
some higher place with a highly polished table in it - but anyway, they said
I could find out by calling once a week. Now, excuse me, but is the average
citizen going to call the Mosquito Control once a week during the mosquito
season to inquire as to when they might be bombing your yard - you know -
and I'm just saying I think it's a step in the right direction, but I'm
wondering if - you know how the newspaper is - if something is more timely
Bastian: That's Condition D - that requires Metropolitan Mosquito Control
to provide advance notice, and the format to be presented to Mosquito
Control - I see that as the issue we're dealing with we have maybe a
little bit different policy than what comes out of the ordinance and if they
want to contest it then they are going to have to fight us as well as State
law. That's where I'm seeing it.
It has been moved and seconded - is there any further discussion?
If not, all in favor of the motion indicate by saying aye.
Vote: Ayes - Mayor Bastian, Councilmembers Carlson, Zappa
Nays - Councilmembers ]uker, Rossbach
3149 - tape 2