NEW BUSINESS

ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS

Passage of Resolution 9224 will authorize the award of sale and the execution of bond purchase agreements. The proceeds will be used to refund outstanding bond debt of $6,075,000 in the Water System and $7,730,000 in the Sanitary Sewerage System. Staff reviewed and approved the bond pricing on April 16, 2002, and recommended acceptance of the form, terms, and security of the bonds as set forth in Resolution 9224.

On February 19, 2002 the City Commission adopted Resolution 9216, which authorized staff to proceed with creating separate water and sewer funds for debt issuance purposes and to proceed with the issuance of refunding bonds that will refund the outstanding water and sewer system bonds issued in 1992 and 1996. The resolution also confirmed the intention of the City to issue sanitary sewerage system revenue bonds through the State Revolving Fund for construction at the wastewater treatment plant.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission adopt Resolution 9224.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

CONSENT AGENDA

Commissioner Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission approve the Consent Agenda as printed.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Joe LaForest reported that the owner of the property located at 2102 4th Avenue SW, requested a variance to allow an access drive to have a gravel surface in lieu of the required concrete or asphalt surface. The applicant intended to build a new garage and maintain the existing gravel access drive. A site visit found a majority of the access drives in the neighborhood to be gravel. Also observed was the absence of curbing and sidewalks along this portion of 4th Avenue SW. The existing drive is sufficiently graveled and appears to be in good condition. Two adjacent property owners support the variance.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Hinz, that the City Commission approve the variance request.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

Ella Mae Howard, manager of Meadow Gold Dairies, requested a variance to develop a commercial truck parking lot and not install the required 1,687 sqft of landscaping (10% of gross property area) and to allow the placement of a 130' foot continuous curbcut along 3rd Street South. Meadow Gold wants to develop the site as a parking lot for the Dairy's commercial tractor-trailers.

The Board of Adjustment recommended that the City Commission conditionally approve the landscape variance and approve the drive width variance.

Staff noted that no neighbors voiced any support or opposition to the variances. During the meeting/site inspection, City staff agreed to support the installation of a 130' continuous curbcut, but staff did not support the landscape variance. In staff's opinion, a small (10' wide x 160' long) landscaped area along the south lot line would enable the dairy to meet the landscape standards. Additionally, the landscaped section would be a functional element in that it would also serve as a water retention/detention area and help leach any ground contaminants from the storm drainage. Next, the Meadow Gold associate, Ella Mae Howard, addressed the exceptional circumstances applicable to the landscape issue. In particular, the dairy must meet the standards set in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, a publication issued jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration. The Milk Ordinance requires strict control of rodents, birds, insects, and other pests. To adequately control these pests, State health inspectors have recommended that trees and shrubs not be planted within 150' of the processing plant. Additionally, if installed, the landscaped area would remove the parking space needed for two of the twenty-four tractor-trailers that will be parked on the lot. The City was sympathetic to the exceptional circumstances created by the need to strictly adhere to the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance standards. The landscape variance would be accompanied by Meadow Gold's agreement to install an equal amount of landscaping at an alternate location within the City, with the site to be determined by the City. Meadow Gold was agreeable to the conditions of the landscape variance.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission approve the variance request.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

The City-County Planning Board recommended the City Commission approve the preliminary plat of Meadowlark Addition No. 2 and a variance to the 500 foot maximum cul-de-sac length and the Findings of Fact subject to fulfillment of specified conditions.

Commissioner Beecher moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission approve the Preliminary Plat.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

The City-County Planning Board recommended the City Commission approve the preliminary plat of Skyline Park Addition, Phases 8-16, and the Findings of Fact subject to fulfillment of specified conditions.

Commissioner Hinz moved, seconded by Commissioner Rosenbaum, that the City Commission approve the Plat.

Motion carried 5-0.
 

ADJOURNMENT