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04-09-2018 Council Minutes
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04-09-2018 Council Minutes
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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,April 9,2018 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 20. LA18-000023—CITY OF ORONO,AMEND ARTICLE XI OF THE CITY CODE <br /> RELATED TO WETLANDS AND WETLAND SETBACKS—Continued <br /> Barnhart noted the City did receive two letters in opposition to any change. <br /> Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance as drafted. <br /> Walsh noted a person can walk in the buffer area but would not be allowed to mow or fertilize it or <br /> construct a structure in that area. <br /> Walsh stated this review originally came from the City's Development Review Committee. Currently the <br /> Minnehaha Creek Watershed District requires a setback of 25 feet and the City Council is now looking at <br /> whether they should continue with the additional 10-foot setback that is required by the City. Walsh <br /> noted the change would allow firepits and swing sets to be located in that 10-foot area but other structures <br /> would not be allowed. <br /> Cassandra Ordway, 1145 County Road 6,stated the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District does have an <br /> ordinance for wetlands and wetland setbacks,but that the MCWD has to look at a very large district, <br /> which includes both rural and residential areas. Orono is a very special rural area and it has taken a lot of <br /> work and thoughtful consideration over many years to protect the wetlands in Orono. Ordway stated in <br /> her view what the City has been doing in partnership with other cities has been very positive and has been <br /> moving the area forward in water quality. Ordway stated she hopes the City Council realizes that the <br /> Minnehaha Creek Watershed District includes Edina and areas closer to the Cities and that the MCWD's <br /> regulations are more district based and not specific to Orono. <br /> Ordway stated she also is not sure there has been enough citizen input on this item and that a few people <br /> have called her who indicated they had not gotten notice of the meeting tonight due to a change in the <br /> listserv. Ordway commented she is not sure if there is a lot of understanding about this discussion tonight <br /> and that some further input might be desired. <br /> Ordway stated she wants to make sure the City Council thinks about the long-term impacts of the change. <br /> While they are only talking about 10 feet plus 25 feet,no study has been done to see how that will impact <br /> the wetlands in the future. Ordway stated it is very hard,once a regulation is made more lenient,to get <br /> those areas back. <br /> Ordway stated in her view there is a compromise that can be reached,and that the City should have some <br /> scientists and experts look at the long-term effects. Ordway stated one of the questions that should be <br /> addressed is whether this will change the infiltration into the wetland. Ordway noted they know there are <br /> always encroachments into the buffer/setback area,and that if there is only a 25-foot buffer,there likely <br /> will be fire pits and playgrounds put closer and closer to the wetland. Ordway stated Orono has fought to <br /> keep that distance for preservation of the water quality and that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District <br /> looks at it more from a regional point of view. <br /> Ordway noted the City is currently working on its Comprehensive Plan update and that they should <br /> question how this will fit into the Comprehensive Plan as well as the City's water management plan. <br /> Andy Johnson,Lecy Brothers Remodeling, stated he is in favor of the proposed change but that he <br /> completely understands the concerns of the previous speaker about losing the extra 10 feet. Johnson <br /> noted Orono is the only city that has this extra setback and the Watershed District takes their job very <br /> Page 7 of 16 <br />
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