04-22-09 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL APRIL 22, 2009 Rossow stated that he did not feel a $50 license fee was unreasonable. He supported the licensing of outdoor storage including the annual compliance review. John Larson, Bwana Archery, indicated that he has an outdoor storage container and asked if he was in compliance. The City Administrator indicated that he would have to review the property and make a determination. Larson stated that he had no problem with the regulation of outdoor storage or a licensing requirement. He did point out the level of his property taxes, but felt a $50 license fee was reasonable. Richard Selland pointed out that his business is subject to several licensing requirements. Selland opposed an additional license and pointed out the property taxes that he pays on a decreasing property value. Selland asked if his property was in compliance. Blesener indicated that the property needs to meet any conditions of CUP approval. The City Administrator noted that each CUP is specific to the property. A property owner would have to review their specific CUP and ensure there is compliance in order to obtain the outdoor storage license. LJldis Erdmanis, Buck Blacktop, stated that he is not against what the City is proposing, but felt there should be some balance. Erdmanis stated that he realizes the difficulty in regulating aesthetic without taking charge of a situation. Erdmanis felt most property owners would like their property to look as good as possible. Erdmanis acknowledged that the outdoor storage licensing system would be an added enforcement level to the CUP. Keis explained that the license is being added so the City can respond faster to compliance issues. He explained the City's experience with handling enforcement through the citation and court process, and the fact that some property owners know how to work the system and draw out process for years. One property owner asked how the licensing system would remedy this. The City Administrator noted that verifying compliance with CUPs has been a constant and time-consuming process in Ryan Industrial Park. He noted that under the licensing process proposed, property owners would do self policing, with the Code Enforcement Officer then verifying compliance. He reviewed the proposed option of a temporary outdoor storage license to allow property owners a period of time to gain compliance, as well as the fact that ultimately non-compliance would result in no outdoor storage license and revocation of the CUP. The Administrator reviewed the lengthy processes that have occurred in trying to achieve compliance on the Valor property as an example, and the way the property owner works the legal system. Keis noted that the licensing system will give the City more control; and hopefully, the City will not have to use the court system to gain compliance. 14