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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,August 28,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT,Continued <br /> Seals reported she and Council Member Printup attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new <br /> recreation center and that work will begin on the new building in the near future. Seals noted the <br /> Minnesota State Fair is going on. <br /> Walsh welcomed Dustin Rief as Orono's new City Administrator. <br /> CITY ADNIINISTRATOR'S REPORT <br /> 15. CONSIDER WAIVER OF BUII.DING PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PLANNED <br /> IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ICE ARENA <br /> Rief stated the purpose of this item is to consider a reduction or waiver of the fees associated with the ice <br /> arena improvements. <br /> Reeder noted the City Council tabled action on this item at their last meeting. <br /> Walsh stated the Orono Ice Arena is a nonprofit organization and that they have raised approximately <br /> $1 million to complete the proposed renovations. The permit fees amount to approximately$7,500 and <br /> that the ice arena association is requesting those fees be waived in whole or in part. Walsh stated since he <br /> is on the board of the organization as the mayor of the City,he will be recusing himself from voting on <br /> this item. Walsh noted any motion would require three out of four votes to pass. <br /> Crosby stated in his view the City should take these type of cases on a case-by-case basis. Crosby stated <br /> since the City Council is not a court of law,their action would not create a total precedent,and that in his <br /> opinion the request is reasonable. Crosby stated the ice arena�dds a lot to Orond and the oi'gan�zation <br /> that runs it is a nonprofit. Crosby indicated he would be in favor of waiving the fee. <br /> Seals noted this item was tabled at the last meeting, and since that time she has spoken with a number of <br /> people,both for and against the request. Seals stated if the City waives the fees,the City would not be <br /> realizing that money as income and they would be required to spend less on other items, such as roads or <br /> other city services. Seals indicated she leans on the side of not approving it at this time until the City is <br /> able to implement a mechanism to deal with these requests. <br /> Dankey stated before the City starts waiving fees,the City should have a process in place to deal with <br /> those types of requests. <br /> Printup noted years ago some fees were waived but it was stopped because it became a slippery slope. In <br /> addition,the City Council has worked hard over the last several months on ways to reduce fees and that in <br /> his opinion it is too much of a slippery slope. <br /> The City Council took no action on this item. <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br />