HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2020 Council Work Session Minutes Orono City Council
Work Session
Monday,January 13,2020
Council Chambers 5:00 p.m.
AGENDA
PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Walsh, Council Members Richard F. Crosby II, Matt Johnson
and Victoria Seals. Staff members present were City Administrator Dustin Rief,Police Chief
Correy Farniok, Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, Finance Director Ron
Olson and City Clerk Anna Carlson.
GUESTS: Fire Chief James Van Eyll & Resident Bob Erickson
1. Discussion of LA19-000063—Special Event Ordinance
Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart opened discussion by asking for
feedback from the City Council in regards to the Special Event Ordinance. Barnhart added
that staff has primarily reexamined what a special event is and not purposely tried to
reintroduce private parties as we did in 2017. Barnhart noted the goal for the Special Event
Ordinance was for cleaning it up and defining what actually could be considered a special
event. Barnhart mentioned the current ordinance focuses more on parades more than
anything else and coincidentally there have been no special event permits issued for parades
in the last two years. In terms of changes in the code, staff is proposing that all fireworks
events must gain final approval from the City Council.
Council Member Matt Johnson asked if a parade was still considered to be a special event.
Johnson mentioned that we have defined special events however, parade is not included in
the verbiage in the ordinance. Johnson also noted the ordinance specifies that a private event
is now defined as 20 parking spaces or more or special services, is that correct.
Police Chief Correy Farniok described that the purpose for the parking number is because not
all private events have a continuous flow of parking therefore a special event permit wouldn't
be required for all private events.
There was discussion of the use of verbiage of private party versus occasional party and
concern about the lack of definitions for some the terms within the draft before them. Staff
will provide a definition and clean up the verbiage so it is clearly defined in the final draft of
the ordinance.
Johnson asked if it is necessary that the Council needs to review the fireworks permits.
Rief mentioned that it is because of the impact it has on residents and to limit the number of
complaints.
There was discussion about the steps which are taken by administration,police, fire and
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water patrol for examination and approval for all fireworks events. Key points from
discussion were to have staff notify residents within a 1000 radius of the event and the effects
that it may have on the overall cost of the permit due to mailings. Also discussed was a plan
for city communications that could be provided through the city's listsery notification
system,website and newsletter for all fireworks events.
2. Parks Commission Tenures
Rief discussed that there was a misinterpretation in the code about tenures for the Parks
Commissioners. Rief announced that it is clear that there is a tenure noted in the code
however it was not easy to find. He is looking for direction from Council about updating the
Parks Commission section related to tenures for clarity.
Mayor Walsh mentioned that the code should be updated accordingly if it needs to be clearer
in any of the sections that pertain to tenures on commissions.
Adjourned: 5:54 p.m.
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Dennis Walsh, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Anna Carlson, City Clerk
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