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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday March 13,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 15. #17-3897 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: SPECIAL EVENTS—Ordinance— <br /> Tabled—Continued- <br /> Brian Gerard,680 North Arm Drive,stated he did read through the ordinance and that he has some major <br /> issues with it. Gerard stated it comes down to definitions and what is the definition of an occasional party <br /> or a crowd. Gerard stated he frequently will have a dinner party where people will spend the night and <br /> the next day they might go boating or have a fire. Within a couple of weekends he would need a permit. <br /> Gerard indicated he is also a real estate agent and that some weekends they might do two open houses and <br /> two more the following weekend. Gerard stated he would have to pull a permit for the fourth one. <br /> Gerard indicated he has talked to other residents and they feel the City should not be dictating how often <br /> someone has a dinner party. Gerard stated the way the ordinance is written, it would be hard for residents <br /> to stomach. <br /> Walsh stated in his view the Council agrees with him. <br /> Cindy Hilger, 585 South Brown Road, stated the Council has spoken to a lot of issues that she has with <br /> the ordinance and that in her view the City will not be able to enforce it. Hilger indicated she lives on a <br /> property that is highly visible and if the Council was to take her property and put it at the center of a half <br /> mile circle,there would be, at a minimum,21 properties that are either hidden by trees, gates, or long <br /> driveways. Hilger stated those 21 properties are basically invisible but someone would be able to count <br /> the number of cars in her driveway. Hilger stated the City is basically asking her to police her neighbors, <br /> which is not her job, and that she resents being asked to do that. Hilger stated it is big brother at its finest <br /> and that she is not sure this is how people want to live. <br /> Gail Blackstone,4465 Forest Lake Landing,stated she lives in the neighborhood where the incidents <br /> occurred last summer and she did not feel disrupted at all during that period. Blackstone indicated she <br /> was not aware of the previous public hearing that had been held but that she is concerned about the broad <br /> expansion of the definition for private events. Blackstone stated anyone with extended family that lives <br /> in the area,particularly those with children and siblings of those children,this could impact their holiday <br /> parties and family get-togethers. Blackstone stated the ordinance has the potential to be unevenly applied <br /> and in her view it is overreaching. <br /> Walsh stated in his view the ordinance is too broad and difficult to enforce. Walsh stated the City does <br /> not need more regulations. Walsh noted the City does have an ordinance on the books today but that the <br /> City has had problems enforcing that. Walsh stated the City Attorney has said if you cannot enforce <br /> certain regulations,you should get rid of them. Walsh noted no public comments were received at the <br /> Planning Commission but that the Council has received some input on it tonight and it appears the City <br /> Council is in agreement with those comments. <br /> Seals moved,Crosby seconded,to table Application No. 17-3897,City of Orono,Text Amendment: <br /> Special Events. <br /> Printup commented the City has to be careful to not get into situations where there are a lot of loopholes. <br /> Walsh stated he feels bad for the neighbors but the Council has to consider what is enforceable and what <br /> is not. Walsh stated he wants to avoid unintended consequences. <br /> Page 27 of 32 <br />