HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2019 Council Work Session Minutes Orono City Council
Special Work Session
Monday, October 14,2019
Council Chambers 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Walsh, Council Members Richard F. Crosby II, Aaron Printup,
Matt Johnson and Victoria Seals. Representing staff were City Administrator Dustin Rief,
City Attorney Soren Mattick and City Clerk Anna Carlson.
Guests: Residents William Wolfson, Yousry Elshazaly, and Scott Brown
1. Receive and Discuss proposals to purchase City Parcels on Crystal Bay Road.
a. Proposals:
i. William L.Wolfson,3407 Crystal Bay Road proposal to purchase
PID:1711723430115 for$50,000
ii. Yousry Elshazaly,3415 Crystal Bay Road proposal to purchase PID:
1711723430117 for$50,000.
iii. Scott A. Brown,3435 Crystal Bay Road proposal to purchase PID:
1711723430119 for$50,000.
iv. Jon and Kelly Eiss,3445 Crystal Bay Road proposal to purchase PID:
1711723430123 for$50,000.
City Administrator Dustin Rief presented the proposals to the City Council. Rief invited the
proposers to the work session to discuss their proposals. He mentioned if the Council decides
they would like to entertain the proposals the meeting would be closed for discussion at the
regular meeting scheduled for later tonight.
Mayor Dennis Walsh noted the Council should figure out if they want to sell and if they do want
to sell, does the option need to be opened up to all residents for sale. Walsh also mentioned the
Council should consider discussing how much to sell the lots for if they chose to go that route.
He added figuring out how to do that is another discussion. He also mentioned that he
understands the proposers have made proposals and what that entails but the discussion should
happen.
City Attorney Soren Mattick noted that it would be wise to figure out what you want to do with
the land and then figure out who you would want to open it up to.
Council Member Aaron Printup mentioned that the City has said no to the sale of these
properties for years and it could be a mute subject.
Council Member Victoria Seals asked if these four properties have bathing and boating rights.
Mattick responded by mentioning that the definition of bathing and boating rights normally does
not include having docks. He added nearly eighty or so homes have bathing and boating rights.
Seals stated she was open to putting a dock in and later determining a number for spots available,
and then possibly open up an option for reserving the docks.
Orono City Council
Special Work Session
Monday, October 14, 2019
Council Chambers 6:00 p.m.
Guest William Wolfson asked if the City could legally do that.
Mattick mentioned that the City created the ordinance for docks and it has the authority to
change it because what is being discussed is not technically against state law.
Walsh introduced a third option which would be, creating a long term lease so the properties
adjacent could have a dock there but may not allow them to own. He noted by having the City
maintain ownership over the land and developing an annual lease could possibly work.
Seals noted that if we keep ownership that would be ideal.
Walsh mentioned that it seems the option to sell may not be of interest of the Council, but the
City can look into some type of lease.
Council Member Matt Johnson indicated he feels differently about the two inside lots versus the
outside lots. Johnson stated the City should take whatever revenues it can get from selling these
properties and use it for improving other access areas. He presented another concept for the lots
discussed. Johnson noted the city could consider vacating that easement and add it to Wolfson
property to make it contiguous. He added it would take 60 feet of lakeshore to get four docks in
there. He also added that the City could then use the revenues gained from the sale of the
properties here to improve the area.
Printup added that he still is not in favor for selling City land.
Walsh mentioned that there may be an opportunity to discuss this concept with the Parks
Commission.
Johnson mentioned that he asked the current Parks Commission chair if there has ever been
discussion about access areas and that the commissioner feels that we should support them.
Wolfson added that residents would end up using our private street for an appropriate use, by
using it as a landing.
Crosby commented it seems when there isn't a vested interest, it tends to not be maintained. Ile
stated he has mixed feelings regarding the issue.
Walsh would like the staff, attorney and land owners to get together to figure out a lease for the
land for each four lots.
Johnson mentioned that we have other people that have rights and how does it affect them.
Mattick mentioned leasing the land doesn't necessarily distinguish the boating and bathing
rights.
Orono City Council
Special Work Session
Monday, October 14,2019
Council Chambers 6:00 p.m.
Walsh mentioned that it wouldn't affect the public access. The growth could be improved.
Rief asked are we looking at a dock for each parcel or something different.
Walsh indicated the City would like to have a lease for each parcel. We will leave it to staff to
determine cost and policy. We solve the problem, they get the dock and the city keeps the land.
Printup reiterated that the city is not interested in selling the land.
Adjourned: 6:43p.m.
ATTEST:
,OAP
Anna Carlson, City Clerk Dennis Walsh, Mayor