2009.07.06 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Minutes for July 6, 2009 Page 7 of 11 Discussion on Ordinance Violation at 6128 Goodview Circle (Beniamin Carter) In March of 2009, the City received a formal complaint of a home occupation located at 6128 Goodview Trail Circle N. The property owner, Benjamin Carter, resides at the home. The complaint consisted of several business related vehicles and a business related trailer that were parked on the property. On March 26, 2009 staff inspected the property and documented two business related vehicles and one business related trailer located on the property. In the urban residential zoning districts of the city, a resident is allowed one business related vehicle; trailers are not permitted. Furthermore, staff followed up with the complaint on two other occasions, May 14, 2009 and June 18, 2009. On all three occasions, a letter was sent to the property owner. Staff as well as the City Attorney has spoken with the property owner and his attorney in regards to this matter. Ben Carter was present at the meeting and discussed with Council the possibility of a "use" variance, but City Attorney Dave Snyder was doubtful he would meet the criteria for the City to grant that type of variance. Also discussed was a variance to allow an oversize building to store the vehicle. Ben stated he had recently pulled a permit to construct a 22' X 12' shed, which would not be big enough. Ben also stated he subcontracted for Fireside Hearth and Home, and he now spends $400 per month for storage of his vehicle. He said he does a lot of work in Hugo, so not being able to store it on his property is an inconvenience and he also risks having it vandalized. Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to direct staff to provide Ben Carter information regarding variance criteria, provide him a copy of the recreational vehicle ordinance, and continue working with him if he wishes to pursue a variance. All Ayes. Motion carried. Discussion on Scoping Estimate for Underground Power Lines on TH 61- John Wertish, Xcel Energy At its March 12, 2009 meeting, the Hugo City Council discussed the potential of undergrounding the power lines on the east side of TH61 along Egg Lake in the City's downtown area. Council directed City staff to work with John Wertish at Xcel Energy to proceed further in regard to a scoping estimate of costs related to the undergrounding of the power lines. Staff met recently with John Wertish to discuss the scoping estimate, as well as financing options. John was unable to attend this Council meeting, so City Engineer Jay Kennedy provided the Council with an overview of the potential project, which would consist of undergrounding the power lines approximately 1/z mile along TH61 from Frenchmen Road north to 150th Street. The cost of the project to the City would be the cost of undergrounding the power lines less the cost of the standard overhead construction, which would be $1,585,000. Payment options could be a surcharge each month to Xcel customers, direct pay, or a combination of direct pay and surcharges. Jay explained the Council's options were to not put the lines underground, complete the entire undergrounding project and have staff develop a funding plan, or construct a phase of the project at this time. Mayor Miron also suggested constructing the lines with painted metal poles similar to those used in the western part of the City along Frenchman Road. The Council had several question including what the cost would be if more aesthetically pleasing poles were used instead of the standard, if the surcharge would also apply to