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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-1995 Council Minutes Special Meeting6 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ! I HELD NOVEMBER 14,1995 ROLL The Orono City Council met on the above date with the following members present: Mayor Edward J. Callahan, Jr., Councilmembers J. Diann Goetten, Charles Kelley and JoEllen Hurr. Councilmember Jabbour was absent. The following represented City staff. City Administrator Ron Moorse, Building and Zoning Administrator Jeanne Mabusth, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffron, Finance Director Tom Kuehn, Public Works Director John Gerhardson and Recorder Lin Vee. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Callahan at 8:02 a.m. Liveable Communities Act - Resolution #3641 Moorse gave a brief description of the Liveable Communities Act and referred to the memo dated November 8, 1995 for additional information on how Orono's 1980 Community Management Plan already addresses affordable housing policies and goals. The resolution reflects what is already in place regarding housing goals. Moorse stated that if Orono wants to participate in the Livable Communities Act Program for 1996, the City must elect to participate in the following steps: 1. Adopt a resolution by November 15, 1995. 2. Negotiate long -term (10 -15 years) housing goals with Met Council. 3. Met Council needs to approve the long -term goals by January 15, 1996. 4. Once goals are approved, City must formulate an action plan by June 30, 1996. 5. Beginning in 1998, Met Council will measure progress City is making toward the housing goals on an annual basis. Moorse explained that the whole idea of the Liveable Communities Act is to maintain and increase the supply of affordable and "life cycle" housing in suburban areas. "Life cycle" housing is defined as a range of housing that can match life styles of people through their life cycle, i.e. single, married, children, empty nesters, etc. Hurr felt that area communities are already providing such housing options. Moorse noted that Met Council has agreed to "cluster" or sub - regional planning for meeting housing needs. A study could be done of area communities, such as Spring Park, Long Lake and Minnetonka Beach, to see if needs are being met by the current housing supply. Hurr questioned Orono's responsibility to spend $15,000 per year on affordable housing - related activities. Moorse explained that the City is currently spending that amount of money on housing rehabilitation. There are three potential programs for funding that relate to affordable housing, none of which Orono would probably be eligible for. Cities who are doing major projects may have access to some of these grant funds. • 1 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 14,1995 46 Hurr asked how the $15,000 amount was calculated. Moorse explained there was a formula used based on the City's tax base. There would be no financial responsibility in 1996, but the $15,000 obligation would start in 1997. It does not have to be spent on new housing. Hurr did not feel there was a problem with affordable housing, noting areas such as Crystal Bay and Navarre with housing under $115,000. Kelley asked if the money could be spent on other improvements such as sewer or roads which would also make housing more affordable in some areas. Moorse felt arguments could be made to support such cases. It was moved by Hurr, seconded by Kelly, to adopt Resolution #3641 Participation in the Metropolitan Liveable Communities Act Local Housing Incentive Program. Vote: 3 ayes, 0 nays. Mayor Callahan did not vote. Status of Potential Neighborhood Sewer Projects and MUSA Amendment Application Gaffron referred to the November 13, 1995 and October 18, 1995 memos as well as a draft copy of the MUSA Amendment Application. Gaffron gave an update of responses from the neighborhoods. North Long Lake and the Long Lake Country Club have not officially responded but both are going through a petition process. Orono Orchards has not responded at all. Bay Ridge has submitted a petition for sewer dated October 19, 1995. Foxhill submitted a letter representing the Foxhill subdivision (not in favor) but not the Shoreline Drive residents (some favor sewer). A building permit was denied at 1860 Shoreline Drive due to a non - conforming septic system which needs to be upgraded at the time of a building permit application. The owners requested consideration to begin their project pending possible sewer installation in the near future. Edgewood Hills is in favor of pursuing the possibility. Fox Ridge and East Long Lake have given no response. Bracketts Point has submitted 11 of 12 petitions in favor of sewer. One resident has not responded but indicated he may be in favor under certain conditions. Webber Hills has submitted a petition also. 28 out of 34 are in favor of sewer (not the 100% the City would like to see to make a commitment). Jim Dillman has requested consideration as his property on Willow Drive is adjacent to a sewered area. There are other similar cases throughout the City. Gaffron noted the MUSA Amendment Application has some blanks which need to be completed. He referred to the "Non- Related Issues" listed at the end of the application. Met Council has asked the City to discuss transportation, housing, stormwater management, etc. as part of the MUSA application but these are really not related to the sewer issues. 2 • MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING • HELD NOVEMBER 14,1995 Gaffron suggested two options for the Interim Strategy for Reduction of Nonpoint Source Pollution: I . Ask Met Council to delay imposition of the Interim Strategy requirements. 2. Incorporate, by ordinance, NURP Standards and Best Management Practices into the existing Code without doing a comprehensive stormwater plan at this point. These have already been included in the Comprehensive Plan. Moorse noted that approximately $50,000 has been included in the 1996 budget process for a stormwater management plan. Hurr suggested that Mary Smith be kept informed and ask her to be present at all meetings with Met Council and Orono. Gaffron asked if all ten hot spots plus the school district property and hockey site should be included in the application. Hurr responded that as much as possible should be included in the application. Callahan agreed adding that additional units should also be included for potential properties adjacent to the existing • MUSA boundary, possibly 50. Gaffron commented on the Rural Density Analysis noting that Met Council has already agreed that Orono is exempt. Transportation includes the Highway 12 issues that are still not resolved. Kelley added that County Road 6 and 15 are also being studied. Moorse noted that there are many positives in relation to Orono's transportation plan. Gaffron thought it would take at least 2 -3 weeks to complete the application before final review by Council. Met Council has 60 days from the date they receive the application to review and respond to the application. Hurr suggested that Council and Gaffron meet with Mary Smith prior to meeting with Met Council, probably in early December. Callahan noted that even with the MUSA application and the ten hot spots identified, there are still approximately two- thirds of Orono's properties with sewer /septic problems that are not addressed by inclusion in the MUSA boundaries. Goetten thanked Gaffron for the time and good work in preparing information for the MUSA • Amendment Application. 3 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING • HELD NOVEMBER 14,1995 Goetten asked for direction with the Bouchard property on Shoreline Drive as she had also received a call from the property owner. Kelley suggested a Letter of Credit so that if the MUSA line does not go through in two years, a new septic system could be installed. Moorse also suggested a Waiver of Appeal in terms of assessing the property owner for the cost of sewer installation. Potential Availability of the Hennepin County Library Property at Old Crystal Bay Road and Highway 12 Moorse lead a discussion of the City's interest in the Library property. Goetten felt the City should purchase the property so they had some control over what was developed on the site. Kelley asked the size and cost of the property. Moorse responded that it was two acres, appraised at $227,000 in 1994. Hurr asked about the possibility of selling other City properties. Moorse commented that a letter had been received by Mr. Harstad who lives near McCulley Road. He expressed an interest in purchasing property that was excess right -of -way after McCulley Road was constructed. One four - acre buildable lot and two smaller lots are available. The property has a potential value of $120,000 or more. Gerhardson noted this parcel was almost five acres in a five acre zone. Mabusth added that . a variance would be required for building but noted that Mr. Harstad did not want to build on the property nor did he want anyone else to build on it. Harstad also hopes to acquire a parcel from Ken Turnham. With the acquisition of two smaller parcels owned by the City, he would have a connection to the Turnham property. It was moved by Callahan, seconded by Hurr, to purchase the Library property and investigate the sale of the McCulley Road property. Vote: 3 ayes, 1 nay. Kelley opposed the purchase of the Library property as there are many properties that could be bought for $227,000. Moorse confirmed that the City would review the appraisal and other similar properties to determine a value for the property. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Mayor Callahan to adjourn at 9:02 a.m. gd;Wardl. Callah Jr., Mayor 4 •