09-11-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 28, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT, Continued Seals reported she and Council Member Printup attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new recreation center and that work will begin on the new building in the near future. Seals noted the Minnesota State Fair is going on. Walsh welcomed Dustin Rief as Orono's new City Administrator. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT 15. CONSIDER WAIVER OF BUILDING PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ICE ARENA Rief stated the purpose of this item is to consider a reduction or waiver of the fees associated with the ice arena improvements. Reeder noted the City Council tabled action on this item at their last meeting. Walsh stated the Orono Ice Arena is a nonprofit organization and that they have raised approximately $1 million to complete the proposed renovations. The permit fees amount to approximately $7,500 and that the ice arena association is requesting those fees be waived in whole or in part. Walsh stated since he is on the board of the organization as the mayor of the City, he will be recusing himself from voting on this item. Walsh noted any motion would require three out of four votes to pass. Crosby stated in his view the City should take these type of cases on a case-by-case basis. Crosby stated since the City Council is not a court of law, their action would not create a total precedent, and that in his opinion the request is reasonable. Crosby stated the ice arena adds a lot to Orono and the organization that runs it is a nonprofit. Crosby indicated he would be in favor of waiving the fee. Seals noted this item was tabled at the last meeting, and since that time she has spoken with a number of people, both for and against the request. Seals stated if the City waives the fees, the City would not be realizing that money as income and they would be required to spend less on other items, such as roads or other city services. Seals indicated she leans on the side of not approving it at this time until the City is able to implement a mechanism to deal with these requests. Dankey stated before the City starts waiving fees, the City should have a process in place to deal with those types of requests. Printup noted years ago some fees were waived but it was stopped because it became a slippery slope. In addition, the City Council has worked hard over the last several months on ways to reduce fees and that in his opinion it is too much of a slippery slope. The City Council took no action on this item. Page 3 of 4