Council Meeting Summary
Consent Items
- Approved the purchase of two small parcels of land in the Pleasantdale neighborhood located at the intersection of Elm Street and Forest Avenue.
- Set the date of the public hearing for the Proposed FY24 Budget for April 4, 2023.
Ordinances & Orders
- Passed second/final reading of ORDINANCE #17-22/23 - Amending Chapter 12, "Housing", regarding the adoption of Rent Stabilization regulations. Highlights of this ordinance include: capping annual rent increases at 10% for tenants of landlords who own 15 or more units, with certain exemptions such as new housing units as of 5/27/23; not allowing housing services provided by a landlord to be reduced as a way to pass along costs to a tenant; and sunsetting the ordinance in 2033. The ordinance will become effective April 10, however the ordinance is written to become applicable on May 27, 2023, which coincides with the expiration date of the City's current moratorium on rent increases in excess of 10% for certain units.
- Approved the second/final reading of amendments to Chapter 27 (Zoning) of the City's Code of Ordinances, which expressly permit homeless shelters in certain zones and with certain performance standards and operating regulations. These amendments also further clarify that commercial lodging establishments must operate as such, and cannot operate as multi-family dwelling units or homeless shelters. In effect, a business can be one or the other with proper approvals, but not both. The ordinance goes into effect April 10.
- Approved the second/final reading of amendments to Chapter 14 (Licensing) of the City's Code of Ordinances, which creates a licensing requirement for homeless shelters and carries with it certain performance standards and operating regulations. These amendments also further clarify that commercial lodging establishments must operate as such, and cannot operate as multi-family dwelling units or homeless shelters. The ordinance goes into effect April 10.
- Approved second/final reading of ORDINANCE #20-22/23 - Amending Chapter 5, "Buildings", Article VI, adding small-scale shelters to the list of properties that may constitute a "disorderly house". This ordinance ensures that small-scale shelters are subject to the same disorderly house requirements as other residential properties. The ordinance goes into effect April 10.
- Approved ORDER #160-22/23, directing staff to present a report to City Council by April 1, 2024, and for the next two years following, providing feedback on the new shelter ordinance.
- Approved ORDER #158-22/23 - Amending the City's Master Fee Schedule to include licensing fees for Homeless Shelters.
- Approved first reading of ORDINANCE #21-22/23 - Amending Chapter 27, "Zoning", regarding a comprehensive update to Shoreland Zoning regulations. The update is needed in order for the City to be in compliance with state law, and before the impending Tree Protection Ordinance amendment can be considered. This will go to the Planning Board for a hearing and then a second reading will be scheduled.
- Approved first reading of ORDINANCE #22-22/23 - Amending Chapter 23, "Streets and Sidewalks", to allow parklets and outdoor dining along certain City streets. This Ordinance would replace an emergency ordinance that was put in place at the start of the pandemic and subsequently extended. This will be added to the April 4, 2023 agenda for a second reading.
- Approved ORDER #158-22/23 - Amending the City's Master Fee Schedule to include licensing fees for Homeless Shelters.
- Approved ORDER #159-22/23 to rename the “Ruterbories” property, a large parcel of land located at 197R Fickett Street the City Council authorized the purchase of on December 8, 2020 to preserve as open space. The property is now named the "Stanley Lincoln Cox Preserve" in honor of the father of the former property owner Linda Ruterbories.
- Approved ORDER #161-22/23 - Notice of Council Standing Rule Changes to be voted on at the April 4, 2023 City Council meeting. April 4, City Council will consider a proposal would require any staff-submitted workshop to receive support from at least three Councilors before it can be added to a workshop list. A second proposal will also be to discussed prohibiting the Council from meeting on certain religious but non-federally recognized holidays.
To get information about any of these items, visit the BoardDocs agenda on our website at:
http://go.boarddocs.com/me/sport/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CKCN855CCA22
The video of this Council Workshop will be available at: