08/15/2005 Planning Commission Minutes

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' MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,August 15,2005 6:00 o'clock p.m. (Other issues,continued) they have concerns regarding sufficient parking,ingress and egress,vehicular traffic,and community events that serve alcohol. Good stated in general if something impacts the safety of a pedestrian, increases the traffic, speed,noise,the department can comment on the amount of resources it would take to support that type of operation. Berg noted there are a couple of businesses that have outdoor seating currently. Berg inquired how outdoor seating impacts those areas. Good stated they addressed issues in those areas related to safety in the parking lots,how to prevent vehicles from hitting the pedestrians and the safety of pedestrians on the sidewalks. Rahn commented outdoor seating is becoming increasingly more popular. Jurgens inquired whether the police department has any records that show how safe a particular area is. Police Chief Good stated they are able to research premises for incidents that happen on that particular site but that they do not record incidents on the basis of where they were consuming alcohol prior to an incident happening at another location. Bremer inquired whether there is anything that could be added to an outdoor seating area that would help alleviate her concerns. Good noted an emergency exit needs to be provided,but that she has also seen in some spots in Minneapolis that the fencing is permanent,which would help to keep people inside the area where alcohol is allowed as well as plastic cups and other debris. Good pointed special arrangements need to be made for serving alcohol outside the establishment,which is done through the state. Good stated the police department also has concerns about parking across the street from various establishments due to safety reasons. Good stated it is important for the police department to have a good working relationship with the owners of the establishments and that they need to be wary of over-serving someone. Good stated in her view the people of the community are vigilant in helping to keep the amount of crime down in Orono. Berg inquired whether there are gangs that are hanging out in the Orono area. Police Chief Good stated there is some gang activity going on in the City as well as some meth labs and other drug activity that goes on. Kempf inquired whether the police department patrolled the event at Fletchers and how that event went. Police Chief Good says they have major concerns regarding the type of event that was held at Fletcher's recently and that they will be speaking with the Spring Lake City Council. Good stated it is very PAGE 19