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City Council Minutes Page 7 <br />July 18, 2016 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard stated if the city is applying it consistently (for <br />containment of outdoor storage) from here on, then it is putting an undue burden on <br />business owners when perhaps only 5% of all applicants will push the creep limit <br />versus the 95% who are most likely following the rules. He questioned the fair <br />balance. <br /> <br />Council questioned how towing companies are defined in ordinance. <br /> <br />Mr. Leeseberg stated towing is allowed in the I3 District, which does allow for <br />junkyards. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard suggested a review of the definition. He stated he <br />wouldn’t consider a recycling center a junkyard yard. He stated he likes the idea of <br />people bringing their junk cars to a recycling center versus them sitting in a junkyard. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz stated he has no issues with reviewing the ordinance but feels 10 <br />vehicles is too many and maybe it should be capped at six. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner concurred with an ordinance review. <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner stated she is not sure what is used to define trees. She <br />suggested a work session to discuss the ordinance. She suggested an applicant be able <br />to donate trees to the parks and recreation department if they don’t want them on <br />their own property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard noted many businesses want visibility to their customers <br />and questioned the city’s recommendation of tree placement. He asked if is it <br />reasonable to think five trees would work better than 10 for this particular lot. <br /> <br />Mr. Leeseberg stated Council will need to amend the ordinance if they want to allow <br />fewer trees. He stated staff is following Council policy. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olsen stepped out (7:10 pm) <br /> <br />Attorney Beck stated an applicant always has an option to request a variance from an <br />ordinance and it would not be out of the ordinary to have one for landscaping <br />requirements. He stated the city has not gone overboard on tree requirements and <br />this is not an unreasonable ordinance. He stated the ordinance could be amended <br />and it can be variable or require certain performance standards. He further noted <br />there is a history for the current language dating back to the 1980’s with wanting to <br />clean up the Highway 10 corridor/gateway entrance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olsen returned at 7:15 pm <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz concurred with the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding <br />fencing on the east and west sides. <br /> <br />