10-26-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 24 22. LAND ACQUISITION OF 365 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD NORTH Rief stated 365 Old Crystal Bay Road North is a property currently owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. In August there was a discussion regarding future use of that property for the facilities and services of the City of Orono. They have gone through the Title Commitment and the Environmental Assessment and it is all satisfactory. Attorney Mattick reported his office has reviewed the forms and resolutions and everything is in order at this point. Johnson moved, Seals seconded, to approve Resolution dispensing with statutory requirements for review by Planning Commission of acquisition of property and to approve Acquisition of Property from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Crosby asked what the total cost of the acquisition is. Rief replied it is $340,000 for the land, with Attorney Mattick’s fees added to that. VOTE: Ayes, 4 Nays 0. CLOSED SESSION The meeting will be closed as permitted by §13D.05, Subd. 3(a), to evaluate the performance of the City Administrator, Dustin Rief. Walsh moved, Crosby seconded, to move the Closed Session to the next Council Meeting. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. Walsh welcomed Ms. Ms. Johnson to the podium as she was not there during the earlier portion of the meeting. Robin Johnson said regarding Consent Agenda No.) 11, LA20-000062, she is a property rights person, believes in allowing people to build, and sees benefits to building on that corner. In 2019, that property was valued at $21,000 and they paid $285 in taxes across the street, they’re paying $360,000 for 2 acres, so build it, bring it up, it’s good for the neighborhood and she sees all the benefits. Plus, it is an older couple and they obviously have a beautiful vision for living in that home. She is not here to request they do not build; instead, she is simply concerned about three remaining issues. The biggest is the traffic safety issue and noted she will bike home in the dark tonight and when she hits the hill on County Road 19 and North Arm Drive, it is a blind turn over the hill and people are driving 50, 60, 70 miles per hour. She noted the last 2-3 years the traffic density has really increased on County Road 19, and she did some research after her initial visit to the Planning Commission and talked the Orono Police Department, who said there really is a higher conce ntration of accidents on that blind corner and the challenge is that it is a Hennepin County Road. She leaves the solution in the Council’s hands but noted she will not go to sleep tonight well knowing a house will be built on that corner with a driveway right there on