05-11-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 11, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 11. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL POPULATION AND HOUSING PROJECTION RESPONSE LETTER (continued) Gaffron stated the letter can certainly let the Metropolitan Council know that the City can meet their responsibility and their goals by guiding sufficient property for potential high-density if that kind of development should occur. McMillan asked if Staff would be opposed to removing that sentence. Gaffron indicated that would be fine. Levang asked if the Metropolitan Council is simply providing some numbers and not asking how many will be townhomes and how many will be apartment buildings. Gaffron stated this is an amendment to their housing plan. Gaffron stated once it is in the Metropolitan Council's plan, they will generate a system statement for housing that comes out as one of the City's guidelines for doing the next Comprehensive Plan update. Once the Metropolitan Council provides that to the City, it might provide clearer direction. McMillan stated in her view it is good to go on record stating the City's concerns. Walsh stated it is good to state the obvious to stay consistent with what the City is doing. Printup noted over the last 30 years, the City did not come close to gaining what the Metropolitan Council projected. Printup stated it is difficult to argue with these absurd numbers. Gaffron stated this is not the right forum for raising that point and that there will be opportunities every ten years to argue that. Gaffron stated including it in this letter will probably not result in any progress on that point but that the City will raise it at the appropriate times. Gaffron noted the Metropolitan Council is responsible for seven counties with different perspectives and different goals. The Metropolitan Council has to provide something that meets the standard for every city and it is likely that there are cities at one end of the scale and there are cities at the other end of the scale in terms of goals, policies, and future plans. Levang moved, Cornick seconded, to approve the response letter to the Metropolitan Council with the removal of the sentence referenced by Mayor McMillan. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT 12. WATERTOWN ROAD AND STUBBS BAY ROAD REHABILITATION AWARD Edwards noted the City has been working on this project since last May when Bolton & Menk presented a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of Watertown Road and Stubbs Bay Road. At the October 27 meeting, the City Council approved engineering services for survey, design and bidding of reconstruction by reclamation of Stubbs Bay Road from Watertown Road to Bayside Road and Watertown Road from Stubbs Bay Road to Old Crystal Bay Road. In March of 2015, the Council approved the plans and authorized the City to obtain bids. Page 13 of 25