02-23-2010 Council Work Session Mintues

Home Browse Search

Orono City Council Committee of the Whole February 23, 2010,6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers Present: Mayor Jim White, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Lili McMillan and Jim Murphy; Assistant City Administrator for Long-Term Strategy Mike Gaffron, Finance Director Ron Olson, Planning &Zoning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, Public Works Supervisor Scott Oberaigner, City Engineer Tom Kellogg and City Clerk Lin Vee 1. Orono Engineering Costs for 2009 • The annual review of engineering services provided by Bonestroo was completed earlier this year with City staff. • Tom Kellogg reviewed the expenditures from 2009 which fall into three main categories. o General Engineering- 18%of total costs are related to streets, watermains, sanitary sewer, storm sewers, planning and public works o Private -7%of total expenditures are related to pass-through and reimbursable costs o City Infrastructure Projects-62%of costs were directly related to the Casco Point Reconstruction project with another 15%of costs related to projects such as Myrtlewood Utilities, Stonebay Wetland Corrections, etc. • The 2010 estimated expenditures are less than the previous five years. 2. Update on Long Lake Sewer System • Kellogg reviewed the north Orono sewer district. • Flow to the meter station located behind the golf dome is based on water records that indicate the flow contribution is 74%from Orono and 26%from Long Lake. • Per Met Council definition, 90%of flow from a neighboring city would allow Met Council to take over the interceptor. • When all potential areas of development that would serve the northern Orono sewer district are included with the flow contribution calculation, flow percentages would be 94.3%for Orono and 5.7%for Long La ke. • According to the policy statement at Met Council, reinstalling the lift station at Brown Road would be a strong argument for Met Council to take over the sewer line. The city will need to determine Met Council's position. 3. Comp Plan Discussion • Grittman reviewed the proposed changes to the 2030 Future Land Use Map and how to accomplish unit counts to support adequate densities. • In addition to the Dumas/James/Eisinger site, 103 units would be needed in mixed use areas developed at 6 units per acre requiring a minimum of 17 acres. A map identifying potential properties totaling 29.3 acres for mixed use in the Navarre area was discussed. These properties are currently occupied primarily by commercial uses. • Council was in favor of reducing the number of properties identified for mixed uses to approximately 20 acres, but agreed with Grittman that further discussion with Met Council about the mixed use area was appropriate prior to submittal of the final plan. • McMillan asked if parking is an issue for the Navarre mixed use areas. Grittman commented that Met Council won't be reviewing the Comp Plan update for parking; zoning will have the review authority. • Murphy inquired if Met Council includes an incremental progress review toward reaching density requirements through the 20-year period. Grittman responded that Met Council asked for a staging plan for every 5 years and the real lookback will occur the next time a Comp Plan update is required. Page 1 of 3