09-12-2022 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 12,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. need of supporting the wall so the hill does not cave into the lake.The received an emergency variance, the project has been completed, and now the hill will not go anywhere. Seals is married to an engineer and when an engineer is willing to sign off and put their license on something the City Council should trust the engineer. Seals moved,Crosby seconded,to approve LA22-000038-1354 Rest Point Circle,Variance- Resolution No.7280.VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0,Walsh Abstained. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Olson gave a presentation noting they had a very good month in August for building permits at around$93,000.They are at 83%of budget for building permit revenue and he thinks they will probably exceed budget on that line item. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR REPORT Oakden shared her department is very busy and they have issued six new homes since the last City Council meeting,five addition or interior remodel homes,and 97 total permits were issued since the last meeting.They also closed 25 code enforcement cases with 35 open cases. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick had nothing to report noting they would discuss labor negotiations in the Closed Session. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 19. Fox Street Preliminary Planning and Engineering Presentation Edwards gave an update noting the City has been looking at the eastern end of Fox Street for a number of years regarding a pavement repair project. In April the City Council directed Staff to make it a focus for the 2023 construction season. The road presents some unique challenges and opportunities so they looked at a feasibility study by Bolton and Menk.He also shared the City received a neighborhood petition asking the City to ask about dedicated bike and pedestrian facilities within the right-of-way;since then they have had comments in support and against such features.Edwards stated one person who wanted to be here tonight was unable to and asks the City to postpone. Dave Martini,Bolton and Menk gave a presentation on the Fox Street improvements noting it is a blacktop road that varies from 4 inches to 18 inches.There is cracking and settlement due to the unstable base running through wetland areas.Mr.Martini showed photos of the road on screen and shared potential options including mill and overlay($463,750)which is less expensive and extends the life of the pavement.However it does not provide a long-term solution to the wetland area,and flooding that happens. Mayor Walsh stated in 2014 when they visited this,they City Council did not want to spend a half million dollars for a temporary fix.This is the approach they have started taking regarding more of Orono's roads which is why they are seeing more curb and gutter in the City to guide the water.The reason they put this project off is to be sure the City had enough budget to solve the nature of this road that was not constructed correctly. Mayor Walsh thinks mill and overlay should not be the option as they said no to that six years ago. Page4of9