01-13-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 9, 2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Walsh also suggested limiting the number of special events. He asked if there is a number that would be reasonable so that somebody can't have special events every Friday and Saturday night. He asked what is defined as a special event. Barnhart stated they spent time defining what a special event is and asked the City Council to look at it carefully. Johnson said the information defines what a private event is and what a special event is. A private event is a special event but a private event has its own definition. In large part, it distinguishes that it's 20 or more on -street parking spaces at the same time. Walsh stated the City found out it is impossible to police that because no one knows whose cars they are. There was a concert event, and the police had no way to verify whose car was whose and whose car was going where. Johnson stated that was his thought exactly. He said the language states "open houses held as part of a home tour." He thinks they were addressing the Parade of Homes and things like that, but there's a lakeshore tour that goes on four times a year and all the brokerages do it in the same four-hour window on a certain date. They are not getting a permit from the City. Barnhart noted the City is issuing a number of special event permits for home tours throughout the year. Johnson said in that specific example it seems the City is overreaching and asked how to get it defined to protect abutting property owners from issues. Walsh said it is a difficult issue and the City Council spent a lot of time and has never come up with a silver bullet. For instance, the police said the 20 cars idea does not work. Johnson said if they park 20 cars on their lawn, they can sneak by the definition. Walsh agreed they can if they have a big enough yard, and there are a lot of big yards in Orono. Barnhart stated that was an excellent point and asked, if you park a vehicle on your property, what is the concern from a street traffic standpoint or blocking of visibility. Other issues may trigger the special event such as the amplified noise or the hours, but not the number of cars parked on your own property. Crosby asked what other Cities were doing. Barnhart said it is all over the board. Walsh noted the City spent a lot of time with the concert event trying to figure things out. Printup said as soon as you think you have it figured out, it bumps up against something else that causes problems. Walsh stated you do not want to tell somebody who wants ten girlfriends or buddies over for beers that they have a special event. Page 26 of 34