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City Council Minutes Page 5 <br />January 19, 2016 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />B. The Council finds that it is in the interest of the public to vacate <br /> the portion of York Street described in Exhibit A because <br /> vacation of this public street will: <br />(1) Eliminate possible lawsuits due to hazardous structures <br /> at the shoreline, and injuries and drownings due to lack <br /> of proper city supervision. <br />(2) Eliminate snowmobiles entering and exiting Lake <br /> Orono. <br />(3) Eliminate the shoreline being used in an improper, lewd <br /> and unlawful manner. <br />(4) Eliminate parking on the city easement. <br />(5) Prevent increased traffic and parking on Main Street. <br />(6) Eliminate city maintenance and clean up on the <br /> easement. <br />(7) Increase the real estate taxes on the property due to the <br /> fact a city road easement is not taxed, but a vacated <br /> street is taxed to the adjoining property owners. <br />(8) Finalize city and property owner’s rights so that there <br /> will not continue the tremendous time expended by the <br /> staff and the City Council for the hearings on this <br /> vacation matter. <br /> <br />Motion carried 3-2 with Mayor Dietz and Councilmember Olsen opposing. <br /> <br />8.3 Support for the Minnesota Broadband Vision <br /> <br />Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. <br /> <br />Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember <br />Olsen to adopt Resolution 16-09 supporting the Minnesota Broadband Vision <br />Created at the Minnesota Border to Border Broadband Conference by <br />Conference Attendees as outlined in the staff report. <br /> <br />Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br />Council recessed at 7:17 p.m. in order to go into work session. The meeting reconvened at <br />7:24 pm. <br /> <br />9.1 Pedestrian Easement (From Open Forum 1/4/2016) <br /> <br />Mr. Carlton presented the staff report. The homeowners, Harold and Valerie <br />Williams, were present during the discussion and provided input and background. <br />They indicated that when the path was first constructed, it was not made of asphalt <br />due to its close proximity to a wetland, and over the years has deteriorated. They <br />stated a maintained asphalt path would benefit the neighborhood as many families <br />with young children live in the area and utilize the path for foot traffic to and from <br />school. They also wished more trail connections be available citywide.