03-09-2010 Council Work Session Minutes

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Orono City Council Committee of the Whole March 9, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers • Gaffron stated that it will take about a week to get the Comp Plan to the Met Council following the public hearing and Met Council probably won't act on it until May. CommonBond is about a month ahead of where they should be in relation to the city's Comp Plan process. • Council agreed that the CommonBond concept stage will take more than one Planning Commission and Council meeting and the applicant should submit their application and allow the Planning Commission to do as much as they can in one meeting to move the process forward. • Gaffron expressed concern about the city's commitment to project. Both the applicant and staff need direction about the city property before additional money is expended without Council support. • McMillan questioned if the Council would move forward if grant deadlines were not an issue and expressed concern about the timing given the city's workload in the next 3-6 months. • Curtis noted that the City Attorney is a good partner in the team and will be very helpful. This is a typical application and will follow the normal process. She suggested a meeting with Kellogg, Gaffron, Novak, architects and herself on Thursday afternoon to discuss further details. • White stated he would discuss a redevelopment agreement with the City Attorney. • Murphy stated the Council's task is to determine if they want to move forward. White, Bremer and Murphy were in favor of moving forward. McMillan had reservations about the timing of the project. • Council will need to collectively determine how to handle transfer of the city property. Olson commented that if the land is sold, the money goes to the general fund; and fees go to stormwater or sewer funds, etc. • Curtis distributed a brochure that Evelyn Turner put together entitled "Thinking of Buying a Lakeshore Property in Orono?" 3. Emily Program Follow-up • The City Attorney will not be available for the April 12 Council meeting. • Curtis reviewed the direction staff will follow based on the Council meeting. o Additional information will be obtained regarding traffic, parking, intensification of use, lighting, hours of operation and what programs are operating out of the first floor. o The City Attorney will review how the use fits into the definition of hospital and provide interim use permit information. o One or two council members, the City Attorney and staff will meet to discuss prior to the next Council meeting. • Murphy commented that the Peterson letter was well written. The process has been good and narrowed down to a land use issue—either it fits or it doesn't. • Code language should be reviewed and revised in the near future. The definition of a hospital from the 1968 code is a good example of how definitions can change over time. • The data practices request was discussed. A copy of everything provided to the requestor should be kept on file at City Hall. In addition, a complete set should be copied to the City Attorney and Mayor. 4. Zoning Prosecution Services • Olson reviewed the change in zoning prosecution services suggested by Curtis last year. • The City Attorney, Soren Mattick, is much more familiar with zoning issues than Ken Potts, even though his hourly rate is higher. • Council approved using the City Attorney, Soren Mattick, for zoning prosecution services. • McMillan asked if there is any impact on the contract with Ken Potts. Olson confirmed there is no impact. 5. Comp Plan Discussion Page 3 of 5