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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, June 10, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 19 of 32 (9. #13-3606 LUKE KUJAWA OF YOUR BOAT CLUB, 1444 SHORELINE DRIVE, CUP AMENDMENT, Continued) Kujawa stated there was also a comment made at the Planning Commission meeting that Your Boat Club cannot even manage 20 boats, much less 30. Kujawa pointed out they are not managing 20 boats but are actually managing 78 boats on eight different bodies of water. In 2012, there were over 12,000 family boat outings throughout the various locations and every one of them they have great relationships with the marina owners and the municipalities that the boat clubs operate out of. Kujawa indicated they are also working with Forest Lake to build a marina inside their city park. Kujawa commented it seems that he is struggling here with some of the things raised at the Planning Commission but that he has been in the industry for the past 30 years and has addressed any issues that have arisen during the time the boat club has been in operation in Orono. Kujawa stated he would like to address specifically the comments raised by Matt Johnson. Kujawa commented he does not remember ever having an issue with a neighbor where the neighbor will not approach him to bring up any issues. Kujawa stated it is interesting they are a good enough neighbor when they want to borrow a tool or come onto the property and that they were blindsided at the Planning Commission, which seems to be a petty way to attack something. As far as the particular issues raised by the Johnsons, Kujawa indicated he is in agreement the house is a wreck and an eyesore. The property is probably one of the worst properties in the city. The boat club is not allowed to operate out of it and not allowed to lease it, which makes it difficult to clean it up. Kujawa noted some of the kids that he hires seasonally have paint ball guns that they were shooting after work as well as having barbecues at the property. Kujawa stated that sounds more like a residential lakeshore use than a commercial use and that he is not sure what the concern is there. In addition, the Johnsons have invited the boat club staff over to their house for beer after hours. Kujawa stated any issues with the residential property are now all water over the dam because they do not have anything to do with the house anymore. Kujawa indicated he has no evidence of loud parties occurring at the house. As it concerns the night of the Planning Commission meeting, a couple of employees were removing stuff from the house. The police found absolutely nothing going on that was above and beyond hanging out at a residential property, which did not jive with what was being reported. Kujawa stated they were never asked by the Johnsons to clean something up and that they were blindsided at the Planning Commission meeting, which seems awfully petty. Kujawa noted there are occasionally boats parked in that lot but that he did not know it was an issue. Some of the boats were being staged there because the ice was not out on the lake yet but they have been removed. Kujawa noted one of the main boats they are showing in the pictures does not belong to the boat club. As it relates to the concerns raised by Richie Anderson, Kujawa noted three years ago Mr. Anderson told the City that the only reason he was trying to stop Your Boat Club from getting the conditional use permit was because he had the only conditional use permit in the City of Orono for a boat club and that would make his property more valuable. Kujawa stated Mr. Anderson is now coming before the City talking about gas, parking and pedestrian traffic. Kujawa commented Mr. Anderson does not want him to put retail gas in because he does not like competition very well and has the only retail gas operation on this side of the lake. Item #02 - CC Agenda 06/24/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 06/10/2013 [Page 19 of 32]