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Home My WebLink About12-06-2021 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 6,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Dennis Walsh,City Council Members Matt Johnson,Aaron Printup,Richard Crosby III,and Victoria Seals. Representing Staff were City Attorney Leah Koch,City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, Finance Director Ron Olson,and City Planner Melanie Curtis. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. TRUTH IN TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING 1.2022 BUDGET HEARING a.2022 Budget Information Mayor Walsh opened the public hearing at 6:01 p.m. Finance Director Olson shared a presentation noting the purpose of this meeting is to talk specifically about the budget and the tax levy. Taxes are figured by the Hennepin County Assessor who looks at properties,market trends,and adjusts property values within the City.Mr. Olson clarified in looking at a home's market value, 1%of the first$500,000 and an additional 1.25%of any value over$500,000 is the tax capacity of any individual property.The property tax rate starts with a City coming up with a property tax levy for the year, dividing that number by the total City tax capacity,adding all of the properties together and then dividing that by the tax capacity which gives the tax capacity rate.This year's budget tax levy is$6,900,000 divided by $41,394,000 tax capacity equals a 16.78%tax capacity rate for Orono properties in 2022.A property's tax capacity multiplied by the City's tax capacity rate gives the net City tax.Mr. Olson gave a real example of the tax impact on a$1,036,000 home in Orono.Mr.Olson noted Orono has one of the lower tax rates in the County. He walked through the City's 2022 budget and tax levy in further detail including general fund,facilities fund, pavement management,parks,and debt service and bonds. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 6:29 p.m. h. Adopt Final 2021 Levy Collectible in 2022 c.Adopt Final 2022 General Fund Budget d.Adopt the 2022 Special Revenue Funds Budget e.Adopt the 2022 Enterprise Fund Budget Printup moved,Seals seconded,to approve the 2022 Property Tax Levy,2022 General Fund Budget,2022 Special Revenue Fund Budget,and the 2022 Enterprise Fund Budget. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 6,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. CONSENT AGENDA 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 22,2021 2. COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 22,2021 3. CLAIMSBILLS 4. 2022 ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS 5. ADOPT 2022 FEE SCHEDULE 6. ADOPT 2022 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 7. AUTHORIZATION TO DISBURSE CLAIMS 8. NON-WAIVER TORT LIMITS 9. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR NON-UNION EMPLOYEES 10. LA21-000029—ROBERT D.ERICKSON,365 WESTLAKE STREET—CORRECTION TO LEGAL DESCRIPTION IN RESOLUTION 7211 11. LA21-000061—FINAL PLAT PENCE LANE 2ND ADDITION,2710 WALTERS PORT— RESOLUTION NO.7234 12. LA21-000066—CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: SECTION 78-72 LOTS OF RECORD—ORDINANCE NO.265,THIRD SERIES AND SUMMARY ORDINANCE NO. 266,THIRD SERIES 13. LA21-000070 THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL—TERRIE DEBAKER,3447 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD,CUP TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SERVICE STRUCTURE—RESOLUTION NO. 7235 Crosby moved,Printup seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. PRESENTATION 14. LMCD Representative Update—Richie Anderson Mr.Anderson was not present at the meeting. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director shared the building permit slide,noting November doubled and almost tripled the previous November at$62,000. They are at 109%of the$425,000 budget. Page 2 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 6,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 15. LA21-000069—Jeff Hoxie—Hoxie Homes o/b/o William& Alena Severson,4635 Tonkaview Ln,-Variance and ROW Encroachment Alena and William Severson,Applicants,were present. Staff presented a summary packet of information.In November the Planning Commission held a public hearing and the Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the application as submitted and encouraged the Applicant to work with the City regarding an encroachment agreement to address the non-building improvements within the right-of-way. Staff recommends denial of the application as it is proposed and suggests the Applicant redesign the project to achieve a ten-foot minimum setback from the front property line for the second story addition including any overhangs. While the existing portions of the home cannot be expanded or rebuilt, Staff recommends addressing the non-building improvements with an encroachment agreement. Ms. Severson stated they have lived in the City since 2009,have three kids, and are looking to add on to the home as it is a two-bedroom, one bathroom house. She introduced the architect Mike Eckert,noting they want to add a second story and that they moved it off the property line,removing the existing garage to add a kitchen and a new garage. Johnson asked to see the site photos on screen. Mayor Walsh noted the City Council has seen a few similar instances in the past months.In each instance the Council has told the Applicant that they cannot build in a non-conforming location;he noted a ten- foot setback is pretty standard for a house and this one is 30 feet. Johnson stated it is not the Applicant's fault that the City allowed the home to be built in front of the setback in the 1950's.He stated it is a primary dwelling which is different than a garage in his mind. However,it is further expansion of a non-conformity. Mayor Walsh noted with a 30-foot setback they will not get conformity,but if the Council sets that aside because of practical difficulty and asks what the standard would be on a normal lot,he could see 10 feet. He noted they are not present to redesign houses for people but should give direction to the Applicant, including an encroachment agreement. Seals noted Ms. Curtis' note in the packet that there are other opportunities for expansion which do not further encroach toward the front property line and asked for further clarification. Curtis noted if square footage is the goal the Applicant has an area(noted on screen)to pull a footprint addition out rather than going up. Mayor Walsh said they could also say they will give the Applicant 10 feet off the property line and they cannot go closer than that.He would like to give guidance to the Applicant. Mr. Severson noted there are large shade trees in the backyard they are trying to save. Mayor Walsh replied that is not a practical difficulty. Page 3 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,December 6,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. 15. LA21-000069—Jeff Hoxie—Hoxie Homes o/b/o William&Alena Severson,4635 Tonkaview Ln,-Variance and ROW Encroachment—Continued Seals stated that is more of a want than a need and unfortunately the builder put the house in the wrong spot. She thinks if the Applicant wants to get space,they will need to cut some trees down. The City Council noted they are willing to give 10 feet and table the item.The Applicants agreed. Printup moved,Crosby seconded,to table LA21-000069,4635 Tonkaview Ln,-Variance and ROW Encroachment.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Leah Koch is happy to be present this evening to fill in for Attorney Mattick. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT Edwards noted Staff as a whole is moving towards year-end activities including wrapping up the budget. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Printup noted the following day is Pearl Harbor Day and wished everyone a happy belated Thanksgiving and early Merry Christmas. Seals thanked the Staff and Parks Department for the great job making the Christmas Tree Lighting amazing and that many people commented on the fireworks. Crosby noted they had everything at the event, Santa,fireworks, s'mores,food...he said Orono is a great place to live and he feels very lucky. Mayor Walsh takes his hat off to the donors and organizers of the event,to Public Works,Park Department,the Park Commission,Police Department, and it was nice to see something take off the way this event has. ADJOURNMENT Seals moved,Printup seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 7:03 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: WA. Anna Carlson,City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 4 of 4