City Council: Chamber funding, more on agenda

The appointment of a new economic development commissioner, funding for the Orland Chamber of Commerce, and a planned unit development request will greet the Orland City Council on Monday.

Chamber President Helen Duree is set to present information about chamber activities to the council and then speak about possible city funding to assist the business organization.

Monday's meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Center, 912 Third St.

Duree also belongs to the economic development commission and advocates the return of city funding to help the chamber sponsor events like its car show and business expo.

Orland has contributed money to the group in the past, but cut it off in recent years because of budgetary issues.

Council members also will consider the appointment of businesswoman Sarah Leydon to the city's economic development commission to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner Angus Saint-Evens.

Saint-Evens resigned earlier this month because he is a visiting superior court judge in surrounding counties and did not have the time to devote to the commission, he said.

Leydon owns a medical billing company in Orland and had been a candidate to fill the unexpected vacancy created by the death of Steven Monck in August.

However, funeral director Mike Wyser was appointed for that post, and Leydon volunteered to serve in Saint-Evens' spot when it was announced on Oct. 1 that there was another opening on the five-member body.

In other business, the council has scheduled a public hearing on developer Richard Benson's request to change a planned unit development designation on his Newport Avenue and Cortina Drive property to low-density residential, allowing six dwelling units per acre.

Benson also wants to remove the senior-only (55 and older) restriction on the parcel since older people are not buying as many of these properties these days. The project was originally approved in 2004.

A separate hearing on amending city code for residences located in commercial zones is on the agenda as well.

The city approved new rules for "burn down letters" when such homes are damaged by fire or disaster earlier this year — essentially allowing the homeowner to rebuild if the home is destroyed - even though it is a non-conforming use.

The amendment proposed here would call for a 75 percent destruction threshold instead of 50 percent in order to improve code conformity, city officials said.

City Manager Peter Carr is also asking about expanding the city's business facade improvement program from downtown Orland to other areas in the city.

He is seeking approval of a proposed social media policy for city activities and approval of an informational technology improvement plan as well.

For more information, call 865-1600 or visit the city's website at www.cityoforland.com.

CONTACT Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley at 934-6800.