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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, June 20, 2016 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> <br /> Page 1 <br /> <br />10. #16-3840 CITY OF ORONO, TEXT AMENDMENT: TEMPORARY FAMILY HEALTH <br />CARE DWELLINGS, 8:40 P.M. – 8:49 P.M. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated during the 2016 Legislative session, the Minnesota legislature enacted a law allowing <br />“temporary family health care dwellings” in Minnesota. These dwellings are 300 square feet, usually on a <br />trailer, that are connected to the houses’ electivity and water sources, contain a sewage tank for pumping <br />and can be placed anywhere on the property. The legislature noted that these drop houses provide a <br />viable housing option for patients needing care provided by others but not necessarily in a hospital or <br />nursing facility. <br /> <br />The statute allows a city to opt-out of the requirements of this statute. To alleviate possible confusion and <br />to avoid situations where a property owner may place a temporary family health care dwelling as a guest <br />house, the proposed ordinance opts out of the statute. <br /> <br />Staff recommends approval of the text amendment. Barnhart noted this was not on the City’s list of <br />priorities but it was identified by the Council in early May that this should be moved to the top of the list <br />prior to the statute becoming effective in September. <br /> <br />Schoenzeit asked if it is like a blood mobile or a library mobile. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated there is actually a company out there that provides this service. The dwelling basically <br />consists of 300 square feet with a holding tank for the septic. The dwelling can be hooked up to water <br />and electricity from the main house and is essentially an addition that is parked in the yard. <br /> <br />Thiesse asked if this is something the City might want to allow. Thiesse stated he can understand the <br />concern about maintaining some control over it but that it might be something the City would want to <br />discuss a little bit more. <br /> <br />Barnhart stated the mobile dwellings are designed to provide avenues for people to get healthcare and that <br />Mr. Thiesse raises a very valid point. Barnhart noted the City’s ordinance already prohibits it and that he <br />did not want to have an ordinance that prohibits it and then have a statute that allows it. Barnhart stated <br />Council <br />Exhibit C <br />16-3840