08-13-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 27, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 21 example of everyone saying they don't like the color green. If someone has different input, the Council is always glad to hear that. He said no votes will be taken; tonight is to hear the Applicant's vision. Ms. Benson said she understood and that no one wants to be inside with questionable social-distancing any more than necessary. Part of the issue is, she does not know what anyone else has written or what they might say because she is not involved in a formal campaign. Part of the difficulty is that the residents feel like they are not able to be engaged and hear commentary. She understands there will not be a vote tonight, but it is a little bit difficult when there's not an organized effort to feel like they understand other people's perspectives in their own community. It would be helpful if the City Council could say five or ten people could talk tonight, or whatever an appropriate number would be. Walsh said he would not have a problem if it started with a couple comments; if someone has something completely different to say, they come up, and the Council could see how it goes. He wants the Applicant to go first, and he might want to come back and talk about whatever things he did not feel were talked about correctly. If the Applicant decides to move forward based on all the conversation and what the City Council's vision is, then there would be a public hearing where people can come up and talk for ten minutes if they want to. Ms. Benson asked if, by "couple," he meant three and they could go from there. Walsh indicated that would be fine. Rief stated he believed he responded to between 40-50 emails and he could put them into a spreadsheet to make sure that, whether residents are within 1,000 feet or not, once the public process is started if the Applicant chooses to move forward, those people would be included. Ms. Benson said she would appreciate that and she did see Rief's email regarding the letter. She stated there's a difference between sending emails and hearing things. Johnson stated he wanted to make sure the procedure is understood. He said sometimes people come with a sketch plan of a development that they want to do and are asking for general feedback from the Council and they are taking no action. The Applicant then has the option to say, "Based on that, I'm going to make my changes and I'm going to the Planning Commission.” The Planning Commission has a process that would have public notice and people can come and be heard. Then it goes to the City Council and people again can come and be heard. So, there is a process in place for public input that is still ahead, assuming the application moves forward. Ms. Benson said she thought there was an expectation and maybe a misunderstanding that public commentary was welcome as an Orono resident even for an agenda item, but maybe she was wrong. Walsh stated that public comments were always for stuff that is not on the agenda. Ms. Benson clarified the public comments section is for people to make public commentary. Walsh agreed that public comments are for commentary that is not on the agenda. He said the Applicant first presents his story before it gets to the people talking about it.