05-29-2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, May 29, 2007 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (MAYORICOUNCIL REPORT, Continued) Murphy recommended the City obtain additional information concerning pervious driveways and asked whether City Staff is knowledgeable about the latest pervious products. Gaffron stated Staff is aware of some of the pervious products available. Gaffron noted the City does not have specific language prohibiting the paving over of pervious driveways should a homeowner desire something different and that he would caution the City Council to exercise discretion when approving pervious surfaces and rain gardens and giving the property owner credit on hardcover. Murphy suggested a top five list of items that are routinely denied by the City be compiled and put on the City's web site detailing the reasons why those items are not routinely approved. White commented the City should look at offering different incentives to property owners to do things that are more environmentally friendly. Gaffron noted a house on Kelly Avenue was granted approval of a two -strip driveway in approximately 1970 and that less than ten years later that strip driveway was converted into an eight -foot paved driveway. Gaffron stated generally strip driveways do not last and that the City has to be careful to not approve things that are not workable over the long -term. White recommended City Staff look at incorporating more pervious materials on City projects. Murphy reported that in his neighborhood they have found worms in their pine trees and that the worms • are eating the needles off the pine trees. Murphy stated the spruce trees are also expected to be attacked by a different type of worm in the next couple of weeks. Murphy recommended a notice alerting the residents about this worm and the need to spray their pine trees and spruce trees be put on the City's web site. Kempf stated when a house is in the 0 -75 foot zone or other types of situations where there is a concern with the hardcover, that it would be reasonable for the City to ask the property owners to replace their sidewalks and some of their other hardcover with pervious materials. Kempf stated the use of.pervious materials could be made a condition of a hardcover variance in certain applications. City Engineer Tom Kellogg noted the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is moving towards volume control in terms of storm water management and that the pervious materials or rain gardens may be more applicable in redeveloping lakeshore properties. Kellogg noted that pervious bituminous and pervious concrete is also available as well as other products. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT City Engineer Tom Kellogg had nothing to report. • PAGE 4 S