04-09-2018 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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