05-08-2017 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,May 8,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 16. #17-3922 CITY OF ORONO,TEXT AMENDMENT: WETLANDS REGULATIONS— ORDINANCE NO. 196,Third Series.—continued Round-Up and dandelion deterrent. Printup stated sometimes they go off topic and get emotional but that he is having a hard time making the connection. Dankey indicated she does not agree with Council Member Printup and that if you allow people to go closer to the buffer,there will be creep because that is the way people are. Dankey stated she is fine with the setback the way it is. Printup indicated he is okay with the desktop wetland delineation. Dankey stated some of the delineation maps seem a little extreme and that she is not sure how accurate they are. Crosby stated he would like to see that more defined and that the Council could consider allowing things that will not interfere with the wetland. Walsh stated the Council could also leave things as is and simply allow fire pits within the setback. Barnhart noted a recreational fire is 3 x 3 x 3 and a fire pit can be any size. Seals stated she is undecided about the data that was submitted and whether the setback should be changed at this time. Seals stated in her view the City can do better than Option 1 or Option 2 but that in her view people will creep closer to the wetland if the setbacks are reduced. Seals stated she would like to keep everything the same until the Council looks at it further. Seals stated in her view a larger setback will not solve all the problems that Long Lake is having since there are other factors that need to be addressed. Seals noted the Planning Commission said they don't have enough information and she also does not feel she has enough information. Seals suggested the Council invite the Watershed District to one of the Council's work sessions to talk about why the buffers are the way they are and what the impacts are. Seals stated she would like to have a larger discussion about what can be done to improve the water quality of the various lakes. Crosby stated he would also like somebody from the Watershed District to speak with the Council and that perhaps the City can be a little flexible by allowing fire pits within the setback. Dankey commented it unfortunately is too late to make the setbacks and buffers better since the homes are already there and that a 100-foot buffer is never going to happen. Walsh stated it appears the City Council is in favor of the desktop wetland delineation and to send this back to Planning Commission to look at setbacks,possible flexibility for some items within the setback, and to obtain additional information from the Watershed District before a final decision is made. Seals moved,Printup seconded,to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 196,Third Series,an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Wetland Regulations,Option 1. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Page 32 of 34