The city adopted the Comprehensive Plan in June of this year and with that adoption, came a number of things the city will do as it relates to the plan. At the top of the list was a new zoning district called the Resort Commercial District. It was felt that a district should be established that encompasses the types of land uses that we see with this type of use. Previously we have had several districts that didn’t mesh as well as they should have given the type of land uses we see.
The Planning Commission has work diligently on this for some time and recently adopted a change to the ordinance to make that addition. Within the next month or so we’ll make the physical changes to the zoning map to categorize all properties that fall within that designation.
Another change that has occurred is that of renaming a couple of districts. This was done to better characterize the present and future use of the land. This established the Urban Reserve District and the Conservation-Open Space Districts. In these instances the previous Agricultural Zone and the Open Zone were changed in designations but rezoning of the land will not occur.
Two items have been taken care of but there are many more to go. They include: Creating an Airport District with the help of the Airport Association, Creating an Estate Lot Zoning District, Rezoning un-sewered R-3 to R-2, establishing Landscaping and Screening standards, reworking the Subdivision Ordinance, reworking the Zoning Ordinance in a different format, creating a Shoreland Management Overlay District and a Campground Zoning District.
These, as you can imagine, take time to work through. The Planning Commission also has periodic land use applications for consideration and review. Moving these goals along are priorities for the city and any input from the public, along the way, is appreciated. In addition if you have interest in the Planning Commission and their activities the city is currently accepting applications for Commissioners. Application forms are available at our website but also available by calling city hall.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Due Process in Improvements
Public Improvements are something of a challenge in Breezy Point. By this I mean the improvements of roadways and drainage in particular. The process under state law is found in Chapter 429 and involves a number of steps. This process is generally referred to as the assessment process. Accomplishing the steps is mechanical but provides for due process and the ability to allow those parties involved the ability to be heard.
The reason I state that it is challenging, is the building of improvements costs money. Doing so means property owner assessments. With the current state of the economy there are a good many parties who can’t afford the additional costs of an annual assessment. Typically assessments are spread between 10 and 20 years. Interest is charged on these assessments much like a loan for your mortgage. The annual payments are then split between the two tax payments that are made with your property taxes.
This summer we had one petition move forward with the paving of Owl Circle. Given the size of the project it didn’t attract many bidders, only 2 bids were received. Also due to the size of the project unit prices were not as attractive as we had hoped for. Never the less, even though the project exceeded the estimate some of the property owners were anxious to see the project move forward. The project was built and assessed.
Another project petitioned for was that of paving and drainage improvements to Violet lane. This project was larger in scale with an estimated cost of $236,000. The project included drainage issues and soils corrections which added to the cost. Looking at the project to find an equitable way to spread the costs resulted in a proposed front foot cost and two assessment rates depending on the extent of work involved. It is important to look at any improvement project with an eye towards fairness. Any process you use in assigning costs could be questioned as there is no perfect system but there shouldn’t be winners and losers in the outcomes.
A public hearing was held for this project and a good number of involved parties were at the hearing. Most spoke against the project citing a number of concerns, the largest being that of costs. After looking at how the assessments would affect them some of the property owners withdrew their petition for improvements. This brings the threshold for council action up to require a 4/5 vote as a council would then be ordering the improvements outside of a valid petition. Property owners can petition a project with 35% of the frontage being represented. Without that, the council can move the project forward but it takes a higher majority vote rather than a simple majority.
It was determined that the project would not continue towards construction. The city invested time and money in looking at the costs and project details but without that it is difficult to know what to tell people about expenses.
We have one other petition that has been presented for consideration, that of Papago Circle. This project also involves drainage in addition to paving. The process continues with the feasibility report which will help the council, as well as the involved residents, address the impact they may experience.
The reason I state that it is challenging, is the building of improvements costs money. Doing so means property owner assessments. With the current state of the economy there are a good many parties who can’t afford the additional costs of an annual assessment. Typically assessments are spread between 10 and 20 years. Interest is charged on these assessments much like a loan for your mortgage. The annual payments are then split between the two tax payments that are made with your property taxes.
This summer we had one petition move forward with the paving of Owl Circle. Given the size of the project it didn’t attract many bidders, only 2 bids were received. Also due to the size of the project unit prices were not as attractive as we had hoped for. Never the less, even though the project exceeded the estimate some of the property owners were anxious to see the project move forward. The project was built and assessed.
Another project petitioned for was that of paving and drainage improvements to Violet lane. This project was larger in scale with an estimated cost of $236,000. The project included drainage issues and soils corrections which added to the cost. Looking at the project to find an equitable way to spread the costs resulted in a proposed front foot cost and two assessment rates depending on the extent of work involved. It is important to look at any improvement project with an eye towards fairness. Any process you use in assigning costs could be questioned as there is no perfect system but there shouldn’t be winners and losers in the outcomes.
A public hearing was held for this project and a good number of involved parties were at the hearing. Most spoke against the project citing a number of concerns, the largest being that of costs. After looking at how the assessments would affect them some of the property owners withdrew their petition for improvements. This brings the threshold for council action up to require a 4/5 vote as a council would then be ordering the improvements outside of a valid petition. Property owners can petition a project with 35% of the frontage being represented. Without that, the council can move the project forward but it takes a higher majority vote rather than a simple majority.
It was determined that the project would not continue towards construction. The city invested time and money in looking at the costs and project details but without that it is difficult to know what to tell people about expenses.
We have one other petition that has been presented for consideration, that of Papago Circle. This project also involves drainage in addition to paving. The process continues with the feasibility report which will help the council, as well as the involved residents, address the impact they may experience.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
election 2010
Election Day has come and gone. Believe it or not, it’s a lot of work. Training started in the summer with a session to understand the law changes and what we’ll be looking forward to. In August we had training for election judges. That means we contact election judges and others who may be interested in being a judge. Keep in mind we need to have a head judge who runs the day and is in charge. We then have 6-7 others working during the day. With two shifts that we had 12 judges, some working a double shift. They need to attend training and be certified as a judge.
There is the Primary Election which narrows down the candidates. This election is generally smaller in terms of turnout and the number of judges is typically less as well. Prior to this election there is public election machine testing that occurs at the courthouse. Here a testing procedure is used to make sure the voting equipment is operating properly. It also sets the equipment at zero so it is ready for the election. Following the testing the equipment is taken to city hall for storage until Election Day. Just prior to the Election Day another trip is made to pick up election materials and supplies.
The day begins at about 5 am but really starts the preceding day with setup of the room. In the morning the room is finished off with equipment setup, arranging of signs and posters and the sorting of materials. Ballots are setup for use having 2 judges initialing each. The ballot receiptss are also initialed by 2 judges. The registration books are readied for those who have preregistered and other materials are set up for those who wish to register on election day. Each judge has a part in the election fulfilling that function to provide for a smooth and orderly process.
For the General Election the process is the same but your judges have already been trained. Other than that, the procedure for the General Election involves the same amount of work but we see more voters. The day moves along rapidly with a somewhat constant stream of voters. This year we made some improvements in the process and room with added voter stations and better flow of voters through the building. We had very few issues during the day. Additional voting stations will be added for the next election, in 2012.
Turnout at the polls was 907 voters and another 90 absentee ballots were cast making the total 997. Turnout was less than expected with only 65.7% of registered voters making the election, but similar to the county average. In 2008 we had a turn out of 79.5%. 91 people registered at the polls on Election Day. Total registered voters now stand at 1517.
I have to give thanks for all of this to the great work accomplished by our election judges. A huge thanks goes to Clarice Blaeser as the head election judge. The election went well thanks to their efforts.
There is the Primary Election which narrows down the candidates. This election is generally smaller in terms of turnout and the number of judges is typically less as well. Prior to this election there is public election machine testing that occurs at the courthouse. Here a testing procedure is used to make sure the voting equipment is operating properly. It also sets the equipment at zero so it is ready for the election. Following the testing the equipment is taken to city hall for storage until Election Day. Just prior to the Election Day another trip is made to pick up election materials and supplies.
The day begins at about 5 am but really starts the preceding day with setup of the room. In the morning the room is finished off with equipment setup, arranging of signs and posters and the sorting of materials. Ballots are setup for use having 2 judges initialing each. The ballot receiptss are also initialed by 2 judges. The registration books are readied for those who have preregistered and other materials are set up for those who wish to register on election day. Each judge has a part in the election fulfilling that function to provide for a smooth and orderly process.
For the General Election the process is the same but your judges have already been trained. Other than that, the procedure for the General Election involves the same amount of work but we see more voters. The day moves along rapidly with a somewhat constant stream of voters. This year we made some improvements in the process and room with added voter stations and better flow of voters through the building. We had very few issues during the day. Additional voting stations will be added for the next election, in 2012.
Turnout at the polls was 907 voters and another 90 absentee ballots were cast making the total 997. Turnout was less than expected with only 65.7% of registered voters making the election, but similar to the county average. In 2008 we had a turn out of 79.5%. 91 people registered at the polls on Election Day. Total registered voters now stand at 1517.
I have to give thanks for all of this to the great work accomplished by our election judges. A huge thanks goes to Clarice Blaeser as the head election judge. The election went well thanks to their efforts.
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