September 14, 2017 Special Meeting Minutes
CITY OF SPRING PARK
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 – 6:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER - The special work session was called to order by Mayor Rockvam at 6:00 p.m.
Council Members Present: Jerry Rockvam, Mayor; Pamela Horton, Gary Hughes; Catherine Kane Palen, and Megan Pavot
Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; Al Brixius, City Planner; and Nancy Jensen Beck, City Attorney.
1. OUTDOOR STORAGE ORDINANCE – City Planner Brixius presented some options for changes to the proposed outdoor storage ordinance based on the discussion at the previous City Council work session.
Mayor Rockvam stated that he would have an issue passing an ordinance that will instantly put many people in the community in violation.
City Planner Brixius responded that the current ordinance is actually much stricter than the proposed ordinance but it is written in a way that makes the Code unable to be enforced when complaints are received from neighbors. The proposed ordinances were written to reflect the unique street design of Spring Park and the fact that it is a lake community with many recreational opportunities.
City Planner Brixius asked the City Council to decide on the minimum language they would be comfortable with to make the Code uniform, fair, and enforceable when complaints are received.
The City Council consensus was to make the following changes to the proposed ordinances:
• Setbacks for street side storage on local streets would be three feet for dead-end streets and five feet for through streets.
• Setbacks for street side storage on county roads would be measured from the travel lane of the street.
• Setbacks for side yard storage would be five feet from the street edge abutting a local street right-of-way and twenty feet from the street edge of the travel lane on a county road.
• No recreational vehicle storage pad shall be located within a drainage or utility easement for side yard storage.
• Recreational vehicles shall not extend into any sidewalk or trail for street side storage.
2. 1ST DRAFT 2018 BUDGET – City Administrator Tolsma presented the draft 2018 budget and discussed the process of certifying the preliminary tax levy at 3.5% for $1,052,660.
Council Member Hughes questioned how the budget would be affected if the proposed outdoor storage ordinance is passed and there is increased code enforcement.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that he is anticipating staff will be able to handle a majority of the enforcement issues. He added that until the ordinance is passed there is no way to know what the impact on staff resources will be. However, he has already spoken with Orono Police about potential enforcement issues that office staff may not be able to handle.
3. MISCELLANEOUS – None.
4. ADJOURN – The special work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:00 p.m.
Date Approved: October 16, 2017
___________________________
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
____________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 – 6:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER - The special work session was called to order by Mayor Rockvam at 6:00 p.m.
Council Members Present: Jerry Rockvam, Mayor; Pamela Horton, Gary Hughes; Catherine Kane Palen, and Megan Pavot
Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; Al Brixius, City Planner; and Nancy Jensen Beck, City Attorney.
1. OUTDOOR STORAGE ORDINANCE – City Planner Brixius presented some options for changes to the proposed outdoor storage ordinance based on the discussion at the previous City Council work session.
Mayor Rockvam stated that he would have an issue passing an ordinance that will instantly put many people in the community in violation.
City Planner Brixius responded that the current ordinance is actually much stricter than the proposed ordinance but it is written in a way that makes the Code unable to be enforced when complaints are received from neighbors. The proposed ordinances were written to reflect the unique street design of Spring Park and the fact that it is a lake community with many recreational opportunities.
City Planner Brixius asked the City Council to decide on the minimum language they would be comfortable with to make the Code uniform, fair, and enforceable when complaints are received.
The City Council consensus was to make the following changes to the proposed ordinances:
• Setbacks for street side storage on local streets would be three feet for dead-end streets and five feet for through streets.
• Setbacks for street side storage on county roads would be measured from the travel lane of the street.
• Setbacks for side yard storage would be five feet from the street edge abutting a local street right-of-way and twenty feet from the street edge of the travel lane on a county road.
• No recreational vehicle storage pad shall be located within a drainage or utility easement for side yard storage.
• Recreational vehicles shall not extend into any sidewalk or trail for street side storage.
2. 1ST DRAFT 2018 BUDGET – City Administrator Tolsma presented the draft 2018 budget and discussed the process of certifying the preliminary tax levy at 3.5% for $1,052,660.
Council Member Hughes questioned how the budget would be affected if the proposed outdoor storage ordinance is passed and there is increased code enforcement.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that he is anticipating staff will be able to handle a majority of the enforcement issues. He added that until the ordinance is passed there is no way to know what the impact on staff resources will be. However, he has already spoken with Orono Police about potential enforcement issues that office staff may not be able to handle.
3. MISCELLANEOUS – None.
4. ADJOURN – The special work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:00 p.m.
Date Approved: October 16, 2017
___________________________
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
____________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator