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Request for Council Action continued <br />page 2 of 2 <br />October 23. 1997 <br />City Policy Regarding Burning Permits <br />We have obtained a copy of the burning ordinance for the City of Shorewood. This City is <br />comparable to Orono in development density, especially in the areas around the lake. Their <br />ordinance is slightly more restrictive than Orono’s. Shorewood requires an annual permit for <br />recreational fires up to a 3-foot diameter size. <br />Orono allows 3 foot diameter recreational fires plus log disposal fires up to 8 feet in diameter and <br />4 feet high by permit. The current permit is valid for 30 days wiA one additional renewal <br />allowed. There is no cost for the permit unless all of the site requirements are not met on the first <br />inspection and the site must be reinspected. The intent of the firw permit is to encourage residents <br />to obtain a permit, so we have notification of burning sites. All bums must be reported to the <br />Police Department. <br />We are recommending that the one change be made to the City’s burning policy. This change is <br />to issue an annual permit for burning versus the existing 30 day permit with one renewal allowed. <br />This annual permit would be valid for one year from the date of issuance and would not be <br />renewable. Before issuance of the permit, a site inspection of the proposed burning area would <br />be completed by the zoning staff. To encourage residents to obtain a permit, the current policy <br />of not charging should be continued. The existing policy of charging $20.00 for a reinspection <br />if all the permit requirements are not met on the initial inspection should be continued. The <br />existing requirement for police department notification before each bum should also be continued. <br />This policy change should reduce the number of permit renewals and new permits for residents <br />who want to have recreational or log disposal fires several times throughout the year. The same <br />level of notification will still be provided as residents will need to inform the police department <br />each time they wish to bum. In the event of inappropriate burning or residence complaints, a <br />permit could be revoked any time and penalties assessed if warranted. Residents who comply with <br />the terms of the ordinance, and are careful to minimize impacts from burning activities, will be <br />able to bum for a full year without renewals or obtaining new permits. These one year permits <br />will not be renewable, so a new permit and site reinspection will be required on at least an annual <br />basis. <br />COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED: <br />Motion to confirm the City's existing burning policy except for changing the time period for <br />burning permits from 30 days with one renewal allowed, to an annual permit with no renewals <br />allowed.