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The new rules are aimed at protecting scenic areas and setting consistent standards to replace the confusing array of
state and local regulations for residential and developed areas. The rules will seek to balance residential, commercial
and recreational river uses.
Landwehr expressed surprise when told about the exemption request. He noted that at his last meeting with city
officials in October, electronic polling showed that most of those attending liked the DNR's effort to modify rules to
address local concerns.
"It's a fear of the unknown, is what that sounds like," Landwehr said of the resolution. "I guess we will have to see if
the Legislature wants to take that on. ... We will continue to work with the cities and move forward. We are not
proposing a heavy hand here."
As required, the DNR sent a rule-making update this month to leaders of the Legislature's natural resource
committees. The report noted that the DNR is responding to local concerns about a variety of issues.
The DNR estimated that it will take an additional $175,000 to finish the rulemaking and more than $75,000 to create
model city ordinances and work with the Metropolitan Council to track ordinance updates.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, heads the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. He said he felt it was
unlikely that the Legislature would exempt a handful of cities that didn't want to comply with the new rules.
"The bottom line is the rules are there to protect the river and water quality. It's a public resource. Minneapolis and a
lot of cities get their drinking water from it," Marty said. "If the rules are reasonable, why would you want to exempt
one group? If they are not reasonable, lets make some changes."
Schulte said he and others appreciate the DNR's efforts to address local concerns. "We just don't know how much of
those things [concerns] will make it into the final rules," he said. "We are concerned the rules will come out too late for
us to act on them, and we would be forced to live with them," he said.
"Some people think they should be able to kayak down the river and feel like they are in the 1700s and not see any
buildings or smoke coming out of chimneys," said Schulte, who lives in Coon Rapids and served on its City Council.
"But going through the heart of a suburb that is just not what we are shooting for. ... The topography north of
Minneapolis is completely different. It is more residential up here."
County lobbyist Kathy Tingelstad noted that the eight north metro cities have 74 percent of the 1,108 residential
parcels along the 72-mile corridor. She said the Anoka County cities of Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka and Ramsey
have 449 residential parcels on the Mississippi. On the Hennepin County side of the river, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn
Park, Champlin and Dayton have 371 parcels.
Tingelstad noted that supportive local legislators have a limited window in the upcoming short session to fix potential
problems with the draft rules, which may not be released until March.
"We are trying to send a message," she said. "If that means drawing a line in sand with this resolution, that is the only
thing at our disposal at this point."
Jim Adams -- 612-673-7658