HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-09-2015 Council Work Session Minutes Joint w/Planning CommissionMINUTES OF THE
ORONO CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT WORK SESSION
Wednesday, November 9, 2015
5:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Lili Tod McMillan, Council Members Jim Cornick Jr., Lizz Levang, Aaron
Printup, Denny Walsh; Planning Commission Members Denise Leskinen, Kevin Landgraver,
Bruce Lemke, Christopher McGrann, Loren Schoenzeit, Jon Schwingler, John Thiesse, Planning
Commission Alternate Janice Berg
Representing Staff were City Administrator Jessica Loftus, Community Development Director
Jeremy Barnhart, Senior Planner Mike Gaffron, City Planner Melanie Curtis, City Attorney Soren
Mattick, and City Clerk Diane Tiegs
Mayor McMillan called the work session to order at 5:02 p.m.
Community Development Director Barnhart reviewed the meeting's purpose and process. A list
of 38 identified items was provided for group discussion. The list contained 22 items carried
over from previous years. The goal is to prioritize the list for action in 2016, determine if items
should be removed or new items added. The Council and Planning Commission will vote High,
Medium, or Low on the issues to determine the order they will be addressed.
Barnhart reviewed the items with Council, Planning Commissioners, and Staff. Barnhart stated
that Item 18 Septic Code needs review to determine if the City standards are higher than they
should be compared to the county and state.
City Administrator Loftus commented that Item 20 Heliports has been on the list for a few
years. The group may want to consider removing this item if there are no plans to address this
issue.
Mayor McMillan stated that Item 20 Heliports is tricky and should consideration be given there
would be issues on how to enforce a code since the City has no authority regarding air space
and water. She also questioned whether it is even prudent to put something in the City Code
addressing heliports.
Barnhart said that Item 23 Half Story definition was the top priority for Staff that was in need of
clarification.
Barnhart relayed that Item 24 Vacation Rentals is currently under review.
Barnhart stated that Item 27 Nuisances is an opportunity to examine the entire code and look
at the code from an enforcement perspective.
Barnhart said that Item 30 Existing Grade Definition should be reviewed to improve the
understanding of the required criteria.
Council Member Printup said Item 32 Cul-de-sac Length should be changed since most requests
for longer are approved.
Barnhart asked if there should be other items added to the Planning Commission list.
Mayor McMillan stated perhaps drones should be addressed at some point. She also said guest
house or mother-in-law structures could be added to the list. These both are issues the City
may have to address in the future.
Planning Commissioner Thiesse said perhaps the list should be reviewed to address "low
hanging fruit" which would remove some of the less involved items.
Barnhart replied that could be a possibility but would rather not open something up and find it
is not "low hanging fruit". That would delay addressing items that have been identified as most
important for 2016.
Attached is the final ranking of the top issues to be addressed in 2016.
The joint Council -Planning Commission work session was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
ATTEST:
f •.McMillan, Mayor