Oct 09, 2023 City Council

[00:00:04]

OKAY. WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 2023, CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN ORONO.

I KNOW THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TONIGHT.

[Roll Call ]

SO I WELCOME YOU TO STAND AND FACE THE FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[Approval of Agenda ]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OKAY. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda ]

AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TAKEN OFF THE LIST FOR CONSENT.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT? I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING.

ITEM NUMBER NINE AND TEN WERE REQUESTED TO BE PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.

AND I'M LOOKING TO ADD ITEM NUMBER FOURTEEN AND ITEM NUMBER SIXTEEN TO THE CONSENT.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES THAT? OKAY, SO WHAT WE'VE GOT ON CONSENT TONIGHT IS, NUMBER ONE, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 25TH.

WE HAVE TWO OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 25TH.

WE HAVE THREE CLAIMS AND BILLS WE HAVE FOUR APPROVAL, APPROVAL OF INTERFUND LOAN AND TRANSFERS.

WE HAVE FIVE APPROVAL OF NON WAIVER OF TORT LIMITS.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 7412.

NUMBER SIX, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF RENTAL LICENSE.

NUMBER SEVEN, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE NEXT WORK SESSION AGENDA.

NUMBER EIGHT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT RESOLUTION NUMBER 7413.

WE'RE PULLING NINE AND TEN AND WE'LL PUT THOSE DOWN UNDER THE FIRE REPORT.

NUMBER ELEVEN IS LA 23-47.

ERICA HWAY 2245 FRENCH LAKE ROAD VARIANCES RESOLUTION NUMBER 7414.

NUMBER 12 IS LA 23-48 SHARRATT DESIGN 3548 IVY PLACE LOT AREA LOT WIDTH AND HARDCOVER VARIANCES RESOLUTION NUMBER 7408.

13 IS LA 23-52 REVIS STEPHENSON 3760 WATERTOWN ROAD VARIANCE RESOLUTION NUMBER 7409.

WE'RE ADDING NUMBER 14, WHICH IS LA 23-26 ESKUCHE DESIGN ON BEHALF OF DEAN AND HEIDI MARTINSON 2605 NORTH SHORE DRIVE VARIANCES RESOLUTION NUMBER 7410 AND WE'RE ADDING NUMBER 16, WHICH IS LA 23-49 STONEWOOD ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL GORMAN 3001 CASTLE POINT ROAD AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK VARIANCE RESOLUTION NUMBER 7411.

IS THERE ANY OF THESE ITEMS ON HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO HAVE TAKEN OFF TONIGHT? SEEING NONE. I HAVE A MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED.

THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT, WHICH WE WILL HAVE NUMBER 15, WHICH

[15. LA23-000046, Rebecca Holzem, 3407 East Lake Street, Variance]

REBECCA HOLZEM 3407 EAST LAKE STREET VARIANCE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JUST A MOMENT AND I WILL PULL UP THE PLANS IN THE AREA HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS APPLICATION IS REGARDING VARIANCES FROM AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK 75 FOOT SETBACK HARDCOVER WITHIN THE 75 FOOT SETBACK.

OVERALL HARDCOVER, ALL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 280 SQUARE FOOT DECK THAT YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

THE SUBJECT PROPERTY 3407 EAST LAKE STREET IS LOCATED A FEW LOTS AWAY FROM STUBB'S BAY.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE AERIAL HERE.

HOWEVER, THE OHWL EXTENDS ONTO THE PROPERTY, CONSIDERING IT TO BE A LAKE LOT AND MAKING IT SUBJECT TO NOT ONLY THE 75 FOOT SETBACK, BUT ALSO THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK.

THE LOT IS EXTREMELY SUBSTANDARD IN SIZE.

IT'S UNDER 5,000 TOTAL SQUARE FEET WHERE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT IS TWO ACRES.

[00:05:05]

UM, IT'S ALSO OVER THE ALLOWABLE HARDCOVER VARIANCES FOR THIS WERE APPROVED BACK IN 2005 AND THE HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED.

UM, THE EXISTING HOME DOES CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANY OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE OF ANY KIND.

THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION BACK IN 2005, RESOLUTION 5222 SPECIFICALLY DID STATE THAT THE DECK THAT ANY TYPE OF DECK DESIGN OR OUTDOOR SPACE WAS FORGONE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE HARDCOVER REQUEST.

THE CURRENT REQUEST TODAY IS FOR A 280 SQUARE FOOT DECK THAT ENCROACHES NOT ONLY IN THE 75 FOOT SETBACK, BUT ALSO THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK.

THE NEW DECK WOULD INCREASE THE OVERALL HARDCOVER FOR THE SITE FROM 27% TO 35%.

STAFF FINDS THAT THE PROPERTY DOES HAVE SOME PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE LACK OF A BUILDING ENVELOPE.

STAFF FINDS THAT A REQUEST FOR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE WHEN THERE IS NONE IS A REASONABLE REQUEST.

AND STAFF ALSO FINDS THAT THE ENCROACHMENT INTO THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK DOES NOT IMPACT THE NEIGHBORING VIEW OF THE LAKE.

THAT BEING SAID, THE INCREASE IN HARDCOVER PERCENTAGE IS SUBSTANTIAL AND THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED VARIANCE WAS SPECIFIC TO STATE THAT NO DECK WAS PERMITTED IN FUTURE EXPANSION OF ANY HARDCOVER WOULD LIKELY NOT BE SUPPORTED.

STAFF IS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE REQUESTED DECK SIZE WITHOUT ANY OTHER REDUCTION IN HARDCOVER.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOTED THAT THE PROJECT IS NOT OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN PLACE.

THE COMMISSION HAD A SPLIT VOTE, ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDING APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF 4 TO 2.

A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WAS ALSO THERE AND SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT.

STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE NEIGHBOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORMS. STAFF IS REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL REVIEW THE APPLICATION.

I BELIEVE THE HOMEOWNER WHO IS ALSO THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.

I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

IS THE HOMEOWNER HERE LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECT.

CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANKS. MY NAME IS REBECCA HOLZEM.

I LIVE AT 3407 EAST LAKE STREET.

UM, WHEN I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE HOUSE IN 1996, THERE WAS A VERY SMALL CABIN ON THE PROPERTY WITH A SMALL GARAGE, A ONE CAR GARAGE THAT WAS BACK ALONG THE CREEK.

WHEN I WENT TO THE CITY BACK IN 2004, UM, WORKED WITH THE CITY, MET ALL OF THE SIDE VARIANCES, ET CETERA.

UM, ALTHOUGH IT'S STATED IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT I FORGOT A DECK, IT WAS, I FORGOT A DECK AT THAT TIME.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 14TH, 2004 PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE WAS CONVERSATION DURING THAT MEETING THAT I ANTICIPATED TO EVENTUALLY ADD A DECK ONTO THE PROPERTY.

UM, APPARENTLY THAT WAS NOT NOTED IN VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS SINCE I'VE STARTED THIS PROCESS.

MY PROCESS IS TWO PARTS.

WHEN I BUILT THE HOUSE, THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW. INSPECTORS REVIEWED MY SOIL, SAID THAT THE SOIL NEEDED TO BE TESTED.

I ENDED UP SPENDING OVER $45,000 TO PUT HELICAL PIERS UNDER MY HOUSE, WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY WELL, IT CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BUDGET, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

SO I ENDED UP PUTTING VINYL SIDING ON MY HOUSE, ET CETERA.

AND THIS PROJECT WITH THE DECK IS ALSO INCLUDED IN A PROJECT WHERE I'M RECITING THE HOUSE AND ALL THE TRIM WITH [INAUDIBLE] SIDING.

AND SO I WANTED TO WORK WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO ADD A DECK AT THIS TIME.

AS MENTIONED, I AM THE ONLY PERSON ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD THIS SIDE OF THE STREET I LIVE IN, ALSO ACROSS THE STREET THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE.

I'VE NEVER HAD A DECK.

ALL I HAVE IS A FRONT DRIVEWAY AND THAT'S NOT USABLE FOR ENTERTAINING, ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS.

I DID GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON MY SIDE OF THE STREET I REVIEWED ALL THE DECKS AND PATIOS THAT WERE

[00:10:06]

MY HOUSE IS EXTREMELY SMALL.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ENTERTAIN WITH SUCH A SMALL SPACE, SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE EXTRA SPACE OUTSIDE FOR ENTERTAINING IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WHEN I WAS SITTING HERE DURING THE PLANNING COUNCILS OR COMMISSIONS MEETING, I FOUND IT INTERESTING HOW SOME MEMBERS DISAGREED, BUT OTHERS STRONGLY DISAGREED AND THEY WERE, MOST OF THEM, IN AGREEMENT THAT THE 2004-2005 APPROVAL OF HARDSCAPE SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR IN THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST.

SINCE IT'S BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS SINCE THAT TIME, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

RULES HAVE CHANGED ET CETERA.

I GUESS. I'M JUST I'M JUST VERY HUMBLY ASKING THAT WITH ALONG WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO VOTED FOR THE TWO IN FAVOR THAT YOU ALL SEE AND CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DURING EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, THAT YOU WILL AGREE AS WELL.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I HAVE ONE WITH THAT.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE DECK? WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AT LEAST.

BUT I WAS WITH THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK.

IF YOU HAD A DECK THAT FOLDED ON ITSELF AND DIDN'T COME OUT AS MUCH, WOULD THAT IMPROVE THE LAKESHORE SETBACK IF YOU HAD IT WHERE IT MAYBE CAME DOWN THREE AND THEN TURNED AND WENT BACK? SO IT DIDN'T PROTRUDE ALL THE WAY.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A PATIO DOOR ON THE LOWER LEVEL.

AND IF YOU TRY TO DO THAT, IT WOULD BLOCK ALL VIEWS OF THE LAKE OF THE CREEK.

SO WE WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN DESIGNING THE DECK AND PUTTING THE STAIRS WHERE THEY ARE TO MAXIMIZE THE VIEWS FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE AND ALSO ALLOW FOR THAT AVAILABILITY TO GO INTO THE YARD.

SO THAT LINE RIGHT THERE IS THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK.

YEAH. AND ALSO I DID IT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS, I GUESS, IN MAKING THEIR APPROVAL WAS THAT I GO TO THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT AND GET PRE-APPROVAL FOR PERMITS.

I DID GO TO THEM AND PER THE DETAILS WITH TREY JONAS, WITH THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT, THEY DO NOT REQUIRE PERMITS.

I'M NOT IN A POSITION WHERE IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CREEK.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE APPLICANT? OKAY. WE MIGHT CALL YOU BACK.

OKAY. THANKS. ANY THOUGHTS? IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH WHEN SOMEONE'S BEEN IN A BUILT A HOUSE AND SAID THAT THEY DON'T NEED A DECK.

MAYBE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONVERSATION BACK THEN.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO IS THEY WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE HOUSE.

SO THEY JUST BECAUSE I'VE HAD HOUSES THAT WERE BUILT NEXT TO ME AND THEY MAXIMIZE THE HOUSE, PUT NO DECKS IN.

THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT IT CAME AND SAID, WHERE'S MY DECK? AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU DON'T GET A DECK BECAUSE THEY BUILT SUCH A BIG HOUSE.

THEY WANTED TO MAXIMIZE THE HOUSE.

AND SO BUT THE RULES CHANGED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THEN IN TERMS OF THE 0 TO 75 AND THE HARDCOVER AND HOW THAT'S FIGURED OUT.

SO THEN NOW THEY HAVE A DECK BECAUSE THAT HAS CHANGED.

BUT THIS IS A REALLY SMALL LOT.

THIS IS I MEAN, IS THERE ARE LOTS EVEN SMALLER THAN THIS? I'M NOT SURE. BUT IT IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST THAT I'VE SEEN.

THE WAY THE CREEK COMES BACK, IS THIS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A LAKESHORE LOT? YES, BECAUSE THE OWHL EXTENDS ONTO THE PROPERTY AND WE'RE TAKING THE 75 FROM THERE.

[00:15:07]

COME ON UP. IN 2016, MY NEIGHBOR TO THE WEST CAME TO THE CITY, REQUESTED THE BUILD OF A 20 BY 20 GARAGE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, WHERE SHE'S POINTING RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ONLY 19.5FT OFF OF THE CREEK WHERE THE DECK I'M PROPOSING IS MORE THAN 26FT OFF OF THE CREEK.

WERE THEY REPLACING SOMETHING THAT WAS THERE OR THEY BUILT A BRAND NEW GARAGE BACK THERE OR WHAT? THERE WAS NO STRUCTURE THERE AT THE TIME THAT THEY APPLIED FOR THEIR VARIANCE.

THEY ALSO CHANGED THE DRIVEWAY.

THEY WERE ALSO ASKED TO REMOVE CERTAIN HARDSCAPES, WHICH THEY INITIALLY DID, BUT HAVE SINCE PUT BACK.

AND AND HERE'S THE THING.

WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY, IT'S LIKE I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST ADD A DECK.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS IN THE AUGUST 14TH 2004 MEETING IS ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS STATED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COME BACK AND WITHOUT APPROVAL, ADD DECKS NO MATTER WHAT.

AND I'M NOT DOING THAT.

I'M TRYING TO BE HONEST.

I'M TRYING TO BE UP FRONT.

I'M TRYING TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

AND I JUST FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT 3409 HAS 48% HARD COVER AND THEIR LOT IS SIX FEET WIDER THAN MINE AND I'M JUST INCREASING TO 30, WHAT IS IT, 35, 35% HARD COVER.

SO A LOT THAT'S GREATER IN SIZE THAN MINE IS HAS MORE HARDSCAPE THAN MY TINY LITTLE LOT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE, MY HOUSE IS VERY TINY AND YOU KNOW, I FOLLOWED ALL THE PARAMETERS WHEN I BUILT THE HOUSE BACK IN 2005 AND I WOULD JUST LIKE A LITTLE MORE GRACE, SO TO SPEAK, IN ALLOWING ME TO ADD THIS DECK.

OKAY. LOT WHERE THE MAJOR PART OF THE LAKE IS OWNS ALL THAT LAND.

OVER HERE? YEAH.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT'S NOT THE LAKE SETBACK ISSUE AS MUCH AS I MEAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HARDSHIP WOULD BE FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL HARDCOVER.

I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S A 25% HARDCOVER AREA.

IT'S ALREADY IN EXCESS.

AND THEY HAVE A ORIGINAL VARIANCE, I THINK BUMPED THEM UP TO 27%.

YEAH, THEY'RE AT 27.63 ACCORDING TO WELL, WE ARE PROVIDING THE PACKET ANYWAY.

[INAUDIBLE] LOT FOR 25% HARDCOVER.

AND IT'S AT IT'S OVER HARDCOVER RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF AN EXAMPLE OF WANTING MORE WHERE WE JUST GIVEN MORE HARDCOVER.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I GUESS I STRUGGLE WITH IS OBVIOUSLY THE SMALLNESS OF THE LOT IS ITS OWN HARDSHIP AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LOTS LIKE THAT ON CRYSTAL BAY ROAD WHERE MR. ANDERSON IS SITTING BACK THERE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER HOUSES REALLY, REALLY SMALL LOTS THAT AND THEY'VE ALL THEY ALL KIND OF FIT IN THE SAME, BUT THEY'RE ALL WAY OVER THE HARD COVER BECAUSE THE LOTS ARE JUST SO SMALL.

THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT.

IT'S HARD TO WORK WITH THAT.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE ALWAYS TAKEN THE STRIDES THAT WE WANT HOUSES TO BE FUNCTIONAL.

WE IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO DESIGN THEM, OBVIOUSLY, BUT AND I THINK PEOPLE NEEDS TO HAVE DECKS.

I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH IS IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BUILD A WELL, YOU YOU BUILT IT RIGHT.

YOU WANTED TO BUILD THE BIGGEST HOUSE YOU COULD.

AND IF YOU HAD A DECK, YOU MAY NOT HAVE GOT AS BIG A HOUSE BACK THEN.

AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THEY PUT BACK THEY START PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE THAT THEY WANTED.

BUT WE DO WANT THEM TO BE WE NEED I WANT THEM TO BE FUNCTIONAL BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO, YOU KNOW, THE PRACTICAL PRACTICALITY OF LIVING AND HAVING A DECK AND ENJOYING

[00:20:03]

IT'S THE STRUGGLE OF HOW IT GOT THERE.

SO BUT I'M SYMPATHETIC FOR SURE.

COULD YOU COME UP TO THE MIC ONE MORE MOMENT, PLEASE.

SO THE ONE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS LIKE A 14 BY 20.

IS THAT CORRECT? ARE THERE OTHER HARDSCAPES YOU COULD OMIT ON THE PROPERTY IF FOR SAKE OF ARGUMENT OF JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION? WELL, I COULD TEAR DOWN MY HOUSE.

WELL, YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY PERVIOUS SURFACE CREDIT ON YOUR SURVEY SO THAT MEANS.

WE DON'T GIVE CREDIT IF IT'S IN THE SETBACK, 75 FOOT SETBACK.

WE DON'T GIVE THAT 100 FOOT CREDIT THAT WE WOULD IF IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THAT SETBACK.

BUT YES, I THINK YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE 100 FOOT SQUARE FOOT.

WELL, I'M TALKING YEAH, I'M TALKING ABOUT A DRIVEWAY OR HER WALK.

OH, OKAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, THOSE YOU COULD PICK UP 100FT² OF SO YOU GET A RIGHT 100FT² CREDIT, RIGHT? IF SHE DID LIKE A PERVIOUS WALKWAY IN THE FRONT.

IF IT'S IF IT'S PAVERS INSTEAD OF YOU MUST HAVE A CEMENT SIDEWALK OR SOMETHING THERE.

MY DRIVEWAY AND THE LITTLE WALK RIGHT IN FRONT IS CONCRETE.

SO YOU COULD SWITCH 100FT² OF IT TO THIS 10 BY 10, 100FT² OF IT TO PERVIOUS SURFACE, AND THEN YOU COULD ADD 100FT² OR I WOULD BE OPEN TO ADDING 100FT² ONTO THE DECK BECAUSE YOUR HARDCOVER WOULDN'T GO UP THEN.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A CREDIT.

YOU GET 100 SQUARE FOOT CREDIT FOR THE DECK IN A NORMAL SITUATION.

IT'S A SINGLE CAR GARAGE, BUT A DOUBLE WIDE DRIVEWAY SO THAT WHEN I HAVE VISITORS, PEOPLE AREN'T PARKING ON THE STREET.

I GUESS.

WOULD YOU WANT ME TO JUST DIG UP ALL MY HALF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE WALKWAY.

WELL, I'M NOT MAKING ANY SUGGESTION WHAT COMPROMISES YOU MAKE, BUT WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE 100 SQUARE FOOT CREDIT THAT YOU CAN GET THAT HELPS SMALL LOTS BY USING AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE PERVIOUS SURFACES LIKE PAVERS AS AN EXAMPLE.

AND IF YOU REMOVED 100FT², THEN YOU WOULD HAVE 100FT² TRANSFERABLE.

SO YOU COULD HAVE A 10 BY 10 DECK AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT 100FT².

I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS BECAUSE I'M I'M NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING HARDCOVER TO THE TO THE LOT, BUT THAT MIGHT BE A WAY FOR YOU TO MAYBE GET PART OF WHAT YOU WANT.

SO THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE THERE THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE DRIVEWAY MAKES SENSE A WHOLE LOT, BUT YOU DO HAVE A WALK A WALK AND A IT SAYS WALK IN PATIO ON THERE.

PATIO. SO THAT CAN'T BE REMOVED.

SUPPORT BEAM IS COMING DOWN TO SUPPORT THAT SECOND FLOOR RIGHT THERE.

DRIVEWAYS 267 THE WALK IS 41.

THEY CAN MAYBE JUST LOOK AT REDUCING THE SIZE.

AND BECAUSE I DO SEE SOME PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY WITH HAVING THE CREEK RIGHT THERE AND I KNOW I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A VERY SMALL LOT.

WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY BACK IN 2004, I WAS COMING AS MY OWN GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

HAD I KNOWN I'D BE DEALING WITH THIS RIGHT NOW, I WOULD HAVE ADJUSTED THE SIZE OF THE HOUSE SO THAT I COULD HAVE A DECK, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT WAS MORE OF A FINANCIAL SITUATION AT THAT TIME NOT TO ADD A DECK.

IT WAS ALWAYS MY INTENTION TO ADD A DECK.

HAD I KNOWN THAT I'D BE STANDING HERE TODAY ARGUING FOR A DECK, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ADJUSTED SOME THINGS IN THE HOUSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T.

IT WASN'T A MATTER OF DECEIVING ANYBODY TO GET THE MOST HARDSCAPE.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO BUILD A HOUSE THAT WAS LIVABLE, THAT HAD A DECENT SIZED KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, TWO BEDROOMS WHERE I CAME FROM, A HOUSE THAT WAS ONLY 563FT².

[00:25:04]

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A 10 BY 10 DECK YOU'RE NOW ADDING A 6 INCH RAILING AROUND IT, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ADD THE STAIRS SOMEPLACE. SO YOU'RE ENDING UP WITH A VERY SMALL DECK THAT IS REALLY NOT USABLE.

YOU CAN MAYBE PUT TWO CHAIRS OUT THERE AND THAT WOULD BE IT.

WHERE DO YOU PUT A TABLE? YOU FEEL YOU DEFINITELY NEED STAIRS FROM THERE? YES, IT IS A SECOND LEVEL AND IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE.

THE ONLY WAY OF GETTING IN MY HOUSE IS THE FRONT DOOR, THE DOOR OFF OF THE GARAGE AND THE BACK PATIO DOOR.

SO IF THERE'S EVER A FIRE ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF MY HOME, I HAVE NO WAY OUT.

BY ADDING THIS, THERE ISN'T A DOOR THERE RIGHT NOW, SO I HAVE TO ADD A DOOR.

SO THAT'S AN ADDED EXPENSE.

BY ADDING THAT DOOR, THEN THAT ALLOWS ME TO SAFELY GET OUT OF MY HOUSE IF THERE IS A FIRE.

THE STAIRWELL WITHIN MY HOUSE IS VERY NARROW.

IT IS KIND OF A SQUARE WHERE YOU COME UP, IT KIND OF TURNS, COME UP AND TURNS AGAIN.

IT'S HARD TO BRING FURNITURE AND STUFF INTO MY HOUSE OR TAKE THINGS OUT.

THIS WOULD ALLOW ME A LITTLE BIT EASIER ACCESS TO BRING THINGS IN AND OUT OF MY HOME.

I DO LIKE THE SUGGESTION THAT MATT HAS KIND OF BROUGHT UP OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN FIND 100FT² WE'LL GIVE YOU THE OTHER 100FT² THAT GIVES YOU 200FT², WHICH MAYBE ISN'T A 14 BY 20, IT'S A 12 BY 15 OR 12 BY 16.

IT'S STILL A VERY FUNCTIONAL SIZE.

UM, THE STAIRWAY IS YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE STAIRWAY BECAUSE THAT JUST ADDS JUST MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE GOING DOWN, BUT, BUT WE HAVE THE QUANDARY OF WE BUILT A HOUSE WITH AGREEMENT NOT TO FOREGO ESSENTIALLY.

SO WE'RE KIND OF REVISITING THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY. I KNOW, I KNOW HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20.

RIGHT. BUT THANKS FOR COMING UP.

SO I WAS WILLING WHEN I SPOKE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DEDUCT 4 FEET ALONG THE WEST SIDE SO IT'D BE, YOU KNOW, 4 FEET BY WHAT, 14.

WHAT SIDE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? ON THE WEST SIDE. THE WEST SIDE OF WHAT? IT'S BY THE EXISTING GARAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE EXISTING GARAGE.

SO OF THE DECK REMOVING 4 FEET BY 14FT.

SO THAT WOULD SHAVE OFF A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT RIGHT THERE.

SO INSTEAD OF 14, YOU'D BE A 10 BY 14.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY POINTED OUT BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS THE 4 TO 2 VOTE.

IT'S A VERY TRICKY THING AND A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO IT ON YOUR END AT THIS POINT.

CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I THINK IF YOU MAKE A I'D BE ALL RIGHT IF YOU HAD SOME SIZE DIFFERENCE IN THE DECK TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE.

I THINK MIDDLE GROUND IS WHERE THE SOLUTION LIES.

SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

ARE YOU WILLING TO ALLOW THAT 4 FOOT REDUCTION? I WOULD BE. I'D BE IN FAVOR OF IT.

WHAT IS THE STONE WALK? IS THAT A IS THAT JUST PEBBLES OR IS IT JUST ROCKS? IT'S JUST SOME STEPPING STONE.

OH, IT'S JUST STEPPING. BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF THE HARDCOVER.

IS THAT PART OF THE HARDCOVER? IT'S BEING CALCULATED.

YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. STEPPING STONES ARE.

THE WAY THE STAIRS, THE WAY THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO US IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED TOWARDS THE HARDCOVER.

YES. MAYBE WE CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DEDUCTED FROM IT.

I MEAN, DO WE HAVE THOSE CALCULATIONS? ARE THEY IN THE PACKET? YEAH, THEY'RE IN THERE.

YOU HAVE MORE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE DEPTH.

CORRECT? NO, MY MY ISSUE IS THAT EXPANDING THE HARDCOVER ISN'T SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE TO AN EXISTING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ADD A DECK.

I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE 100FT², THERE'S SOME ROOM TO HAVE SOME.

BUT NO, I WASN'T REALLY SUPPORTING DEVIATION FROM THAT.

[00:30:02]

IN THE FRONT OR IN THE BACK YARD.

IT'S THE SIDE YARD. THAT'S WHERE IT'S THAT'S WHERE IT SAYS STONE WALK.

CURRENTLY, THE SURVEY IS AN OLD ONE, SO THE HARDCOVER CALCULATIONS CAME FROM AN EXISTING CONDITION.

I'M SORRY. NO, THE SURVEY IS NEW.

SO WHEN YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, IF YOU TRY TO GET TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE IS A HUGE TREE THAT I REFUSE TO CUT DOWN WHEN I BUILT THE HOUSE.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE ROOTS COMING OUT AND THERE'S JUST A VERY NARROW SPACE BETWEEN THOSE ROOTS AND MY AIR CONDITIONER TO GET BACK INTO THE YARD.

SO THE ONLY WAY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO THE BACK YARD IS ON THAT EAST SIDE.

AND AS IT'S QUITE MUDDY FREQUENTLY AND IT WAS DIFFICULT PULLING A WHEELBARROW THROUGH THERE ON W HAT WOULD YOU CALL IT? MULCH. I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO PUT A MORE STABLE SURFACE, AND THERE'S QUITE A [INAUDIBLE] AMOUNT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ROCK AND I'VE PLANTED MOSS IN BETWEEN THERE.

BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE SAYING I NEED TO GET RID OF, WHAT IS IT, 53FT², I GUESS I CAN DO THAT AND GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE.

BECAUSE THAT'S 53FT² AND YOUR YOUR LITTLE WALK UP THAT'S IN THE FRONT IS 41FT².

THERE'S 94 RIGHT THERE.

YEAH. BUT HOW DO YOU GET INTO MY HOUSE THEN IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU.

YOU SAID YOU PULLED UP A PHOTO OF IT.

THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT.

I KNOW IT IS.

GET PRE APPROVAL AND THEY SAID, I DO NOT NEED PERMITS.

BUT I THINK WITH THE REDUCTION TO THE 16 BY 14 DECK, I WOULD BRING IT TO A VOTE UNLESS THERE IS MORE CONVERSATION.

I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON SAID REGARDING NOT WANTING TO INTRUDE FURTHER ON THE HARDCOVER ISSUE.

AND THAT'S I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT YET YOU'VE ALLOWED THE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST 48% HARDCOVER.

SO THAT'S KIND OF CONFUSING TO ME.

RIGHT. AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE THAT'S HISTORICALLY IN THE ORDINANCES THAT HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME IN THE CITY OF ORONO AND I, WE CAN'T REWRITE HISTORY.

HOWEVER THAT HAPPENED OR WHENEVER THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ORDINANCES OR RULES HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME WITH REGARD TO HARDCOVER IN THE 75 FOOT, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL AS NATALIE.

NO, MY UNDERSTANDING AND I WASN'T HERE WHEN WHEN THIS WHEN THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY WENT THROUGH, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF REPLACEMENT A ND THAT'S WHY.

BUT AGAIN, YOU SAID THERE WASN'T A GARAGE THERE.

SO AT ONE TIME THERE WAS.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, I REMEMBER THAT ONE BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT WAS A REALLY ODD ONE.

I THINK IT WAS AN OLD, VERY DILAPIDATED, LIKE BEEN CONDEMNED.

CONDEMNED, YEAH. AND SO THEY WERE JUST DOING A REPLACEMENT.

TEAR IT DOWN. YEAH. SO THEY SO THEY GOT A REPLACEMENT THAT FOR WHAT WAS THERE BECAUSE THEY LEFT IT, THEY NEVER TORE IT DOWN.

THEY CAME IN FIRST TO GET A REPLACEMENT BUT IT WAS, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE.

BUT AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT GOES WAY BACK FROM WHEN ACTUALLY IT WAS THERE.

BUT I STILL WILL COME BACK TO, I THINK, WHAT MARIA TALKS ABOUT.

I MEAN, I, I THINK THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND.

I THINK I, I WANT THESE HOUSES TO BE LIVABLE.

THEY NEED TO BE LIVABLE.

I THINK MAYBE MISTAKES WERE MADE BACK WHEN IT WAS DONE AND SAID, I'LL JUST FOREGO THIS AND HOPEFULLY I CAN SOLVE IT LATER DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT I THINK IF YOU'RE I WOULD SAY IF YOU CAN GET RID OF THAT STONE WALK ON THE SIDE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY STONE WALKS TO GO AROUND MY HOUSE, YOU GOT TO WALK IN THE GRASS TO GO AROUND MY HOUSE OR THE MULCH, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE PEOPLE COME INSIDE AND THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY GO OUT THE BACK DOOR.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN EASY ONE.

I THINK YOU NEED TO KEEP THE DRIVEWAY IN THE WALK BECAUSE YOU NEED, LIKE YOU SAID, A WAY TO GET IN YOUR HOUSE.

[00:35:12]

AND THAT THAT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A MOTION.

I FORGOT TO LET EVERYBODY STILL HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATION BEFORE BEFORE THAT.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH MORE TO ADD OTHER THAN I DO AGREE THAT IF THERE'S A SOLUTION THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT WITH REGARD TO THAT HARDCOVER DIFFERENCE, THEN I'M AMENABLE TO THAT. I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.

I'D MAKE A MOTION WITH THE VERBIAGE OF REMOVING.

SO GOING TO A 16/14 AND.

SO I SEE THAT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE WITH THIS LOT AND THE CREEK THERE, THERE IS A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.

IT'S A VERY SMALL LOT.

UM, SO I THINK I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND HERE.

I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE WOULD. WE WOULD.

I HAVEN'T BROUGHT FORWARD A RESOLUTION YET.

THIS IS JUST FOR DIRECTION.

SO I WOULD COME BACK WITH AN APPROVAL RESOLUTION WITH THOSE STIPULATIONS THAT IT'S A 16 BY 14 AND THAT THE REMOVAL SO BASICALLY THE MOTION IS THEN TO BRING A RESOLUTION THE NEXT WITH THOSE ELEMENTS AND THEN A SITE PLAN THAT WOULD MATCH THAT.

OKAY. IS THAT THE IS WHAT'S ON HERE, THE 20FT OF THE DECK AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER 3 FEET OF.

OR 4 FEET OF STAIRS THERE.

SO IT'S 24FT LONG OR IS IT 20FT? OH, NO, THE HOUSE IS 24FT.

I ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. SO YOU HAVE 4 FOOT WIDE OF STAIRS.

WELL SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT SHE WOULD WANT THE APPLICANT WOULD REDUCE 4 FEET FROM THE WEST WAS HER.

SO THE ACTUAL DECK WOULD BE 14 BY 16.

AND THEN THERE WOULD THE 4 FOOT STAIRS AND THEN THE ADDITION OF THE STAIRS JUST BRING THAT TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT IT'S RIGHT.

YEAH. THE STAIRS. YOU'VE GOT A 4FOOT WIDE STAIR.

SO HOW MUCH OF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE ON THE GROUND, NOT IN THE AIR WITH THE DECK, BUT IN TERMS OF THE STAIRS, PROBABLY JUST THE THE LANDING PAD . 4X4.

YEAH. A 4X4 LANDING PAD, 16FT², WHICH IS BASICALLY A 4X4.

YEAH.

A SECOND. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NAY. OKAY. NOTE THAT PASSES 4 TO 1 TO BRING A RESOLUTION TO US IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

RIGHT. OKAY.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN. THANKS.

OKAY. PUT MY SHEET BACK HERE 4 TO 1.

OKAY.

THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR.

LAURA DO WE HAVE ANY MORE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT HERE? YES. THANK YOU.

I HAVE THE PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE I CAN SHARE WITH YOU.

UH, YEAH. THANKS, ADAM.

ZOOM IN. PERFECT. SO IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE SO FAR YEAR TO DATE.

WE ARE ABOUT ABOUT $75,000 FROM 2022 AT THIS TIME.

SO WE ARE ABOVE OUR PROJECTIONS AND ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND VERY BUSY WITH PERMITS ON THAT SIDE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 130 PERMITS THAT WE ISSUED LAST MONTH.

THAT'S RIGHT ON PAR WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE THE LAST FEW SEPTEMBERS COMPARED TO 2022 AND 2021.

SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH ALL THOSE PERMITS AS WELL.

STAFF IS BUSY THIS WEEK PREPPING OUR PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET WITH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

WE PUBLISHED OUR LEGAL NOTICE WITH THAT WITH SEVEN APPLICATIONS AND THEN ONE TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THAT RETAINING WALL ON THE SHORELAND.

WE FINISHED WORKING THROUGH WITH SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE DNR COMMENTS AND SO THAT WILL BE PRESENTED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THIS COMING MONTH.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE JUST KIND OF STAYING ON TRACK, TRYING TO WRAP UP END OF SUMMER PROJECTS AND GET PERMITS OUT BEFORE THINGS GET VERY COLD.

BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

SO WE'RE AT $623,000 RIGHT NOW FOR YEAR TO DATE.

AND SO WHAT IS OUR WHAT'S OUR BUDGET AGAIN, I FORGET I THINK IT WAS 5.

IT'S $565.

$565. OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAD. ANYTHING ELSE FOR LAURA? ALL RIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OVER TO RON FOR OUR FINANCE REPORT.

[Finance Report ]

JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUICK ITEMS.

[00:40:03]

THE TOTAL UNPAID AT THAT TIME WAS $122,000.

AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO $101,000.

BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY CERTIFY THEM, I WOULD ASSUME WE'LL BE DOWN AROUND $80,000, WHICH IS GOOD IF WE WOULD MUCH PREFER TO COLLECT THE MONEY IN A TIMELY MANNER THAN THAN CERTIFY IT. AND THEN THE OTHER BIT OF INFORMATION OR NEWS IS WE ARE IF YOU NOTICED UP ABOVE, YOU SEE THE THE NEW LOOK OF WHAT'S BEING STREAMED WE ARE NOW LIVE WITH THE SWAGIT DOING IT FROM A DISTANCE.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST NIGHT.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO GO SMOOTHLY AND NOBODY IN THE BACK ROOM RUNNING THIS.

IT'S JUST ALL BEING DONE REMOTELY.

SO IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT WE'RE FINALLY THERE.

WE'RE THERE. THAT'S AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FOR FOR RON? THANKS, RON. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, RON.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'LL BRING US TO JOSH AND OUR PARKS REPORT [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE NUMBER 17, WHICH IS OUR EVENTS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.

[17. Events Sponsorship Program]

SO TONIGHT, STAFF IS BRINGING OUR REQUEST FROM THE PARK COMMISSION.

WE'VE STARTED GOING ABOUT DOING COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD [INAUDIBLE] AND DOG DAYS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

NOW WE'VE HAD THE ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING A LITTLE PAUSE WITH DURING COVID, BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW OVER THESE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND ONE ISSUE THAT THE PARK COMMISSION HAS BEEN RUNNING INTO IS AS THEY GO OUT TO SOLICIT DONATIONS, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT BENEFIT IS IT TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND HOW DO WE EVEN GET THIS MONEY TO YOU.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CREATING A MORE FORMALIZED PROCESS FOR A SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.

WITH THAT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT TIERS OF SUPPORT.

SO FOR THE BASE TIER, IT'S A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.

YOU WOULD RECEIVE MAYBE SOME RECOGNITION AT THE CITY COUNCIL.

YOUR COMPANY LOGO OR NAME WOULD SHOW UP IN A NEWSLETTER AND THEN IT JUST INCREASES FROM THERE.

SO GIVE AWAY A FEW GOLF PASSES TO THE ORONO GOLF COURSE, MAYBE SOME OTHER GOLF COURSES IF ANYONE WANTS TO DONATE.

UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE MORE OF A FORMALIZED PROCESS FOR OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS STAFF, WE CAN'T GO OUT AND SOLICIT DONATIONS.

ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN'T DO IT.

SO IT WOULD REALLY BE DOWN TO OUR PARK COMMISSION TO TAKE THIS.

AND IT ALSO WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ACTIVE ON OUR CITY WEBSITE AS WELL.

SO WHEN WHEN PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] SOLICIT DONATIONS.

ARE THEY TAX DEDUCTIBLE IF THEY GIVE IT TO THE CITY? I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE RON.

I WOULD DO THE STANDARD DISCLAIMER THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR TAX PROFESSIONAL.

SO IT WAS KIND OF A LEAD IN QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT MY POINT IN THE END WAS GOING TO BE IS THERE IS THE ORONO LEGACY 501C3 THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY STEER THEM TO THEM TO MAKE THE DONATION BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND THEN THEY CAN FLOW THOSE DOLLARS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE DONOR WITH THAT INFORMATION.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AVENUES, BECAUSE I KNOW HAVING IT BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IS SOMETIMES A BIG ISSUE.

SOME PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T CARE, BUT I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DO CARE.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE OR BEING TOLD TO THEM AS WELL.

AND ONE WAY THAT THIS IS MAYBE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE 501C3 IS THAT A LOT OF OUR DONATIONS ARE THEIR HOT DOGS OR BRATS OR COOKIES THAT ARE DONATED TO US.

SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO.

WHICH MAKES SENSE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY AND HAVE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH.

YEAH, I KNOW, I KNOW AT THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, WE GET THE LIONS THERE, WE GET OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE BRINGING FOOD AND DRINKS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO YEAH, I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A GREAT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THAT SET UP LIKE THAT.

LENSES DONE STUFF AND YEAH, LENSES DONE STUFF IS DONE STUFF.

SO IT'S NICE.

AND THE OTHER THING JOSH DIDN'T TELL YOU IS THAT WHAT THE PROGRAM THAT, THAT HE AND KIM CAME UP WITH IS BASED OFF OF ONE OF OUR WHAT OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES DO.

IT'S CHASKA CHANHASSEN.

CHANHASSEN. A LOT OF THIS IS YOU KNOW BORROWED FROM THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE I MEAN, WE ONLY STARTED REALLY GOING OUT LOOKING FOR DONATIONS FOR LIKE THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE REALLY HAVEN'T REALLY DONE THAT A WHOLE LOT.

[00:45:02]

I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND JUST GIVE DONATIONS OUT OF THE YOU KNOW, OUT OF THEIR GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART, LIKE, YOU KNOW, RICHIE ANDERSON FOR THE DOG FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES THAT.

AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, TOO.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

ABSOLUTELY. AND ONE OF OUR OTHER THOUGHTS FOR THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO PARKS.

THIS COULD BE FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT COULD BE FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANY FUTURE EVENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RUN WITH INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND THEN THAT WOULD GO INTO THEIR FUND.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

JOSH, DO NEIGHBORING CITIES ALSO HAVE THEIR PARKS COMMISSION TYPICALLY ORGANIZE THESE TYPES OF VENTURES? IT COULD BE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT DOES IT BUT YEAH.

MY ONLY THE AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO FORMALIZE PROCESSES FOR SURE.

THE QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT THAT 501C3 THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I KNOW A LOT ABOUT AS IT RELATES TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE DONATING MONEY THAT GOES INTO A 501C3 THAT THEN COMES BACK TO THE CITY, THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THE EXPLANATION WOULD BE ON THAT END FINANCIALLY.

SO THIS WHAT THIS PROGRAM HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 501C3, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE DONATING MONEY TO THE 501C3 THAT THEN COMES INTO THE CITY . NO, WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS A SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.

YES. SO EXAMPLE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, LUNDS BYERLYS IN THE PAST HAS DONATED A BUNCH OF COOKIES.

IF IF THEY, IN THIS EXAMPLE, DONATED $500 WORTH OF COOKIES OR LESS, THEY WOULD BE A BRONZE, BRONZE SPONSOR OF THAT EVENT, WHICH ENTITLES THEM TO ALL THE THINGS THAT'S IN THE BRONZE THEY'D BE LISTED AS ONE OF THE SPONSORING ENTITIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

THESE ARE DIRECT DONATIONS TO THE CITY.

I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT IS ANOTHER MEANS FOR FOLKS TO DONATE TO CITY ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY OUR PARKS, IS THERE IS A 501C3 THAT WAS SET UP A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT HAS A MISSION TO COLLECT MONEY FOR CITY PARKS, PARK PROJECTS.

I WOULD GUESS I PERSONALLY WOULD SEE THAT MORE AS A CAPITAL TYPE THING IF WE WHEN WE DID THE BIG ISLAND PROJECT, A BUNCH OF FOLKS ENTITIES DONATED TO THAT 501C3, AND THEN THE 501C3 IN TURN PROVIDED THAT THOSE RESOURCES TO THE CITY FOR THAT PARTICULAR EARMARK, FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.

THIS IS THIS IS A MORE GENERAL YOU NORMALLY EVENTS TYPE THING THINK HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING , [INAUDIBLE] DOG DAYS YOU KNOW IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE YOU KNOW FUN RUNS OR THINGS LIKE THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DURABLE GOODS THAT ARE DONATED THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR THESE PURPOSES.

AND YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

BUT THAT WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED NOW IS HOW DOES HOW IS THIS PROGRAM SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER PROGRAMS RELATED TO PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS 501C3 OTHER TYPES OF FUNDING SOURCES.

THIS THIS COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH OTHER MONIES.

OKAY. I ONLY JUST BROUGHT IT UP JUST AS JUST TO MAKE AWARE BECAUSE WE DID AS AN EXAMPLE THE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A, A LOCAL FAMILY THAT WANTED TO DONATE ALL THE MONEY FOR THE FIREWORKS, FOR THE TREE LIGHTING.

AND THEY WANTED TO DONATE.

THEY WANTED TO BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

SO WE SUGGESTED IF YOU WANT A TAX DEDUCTIBLE, THEN YOU CAN DONATE IT TO THE LEGACY.

AND THE LEGACY THEN WILL WRITE A CHECK TO THE CITY.

SO THEN IT'S A FUNNEL, BUT THEN THEY GET A TAX DEDUCTION FOR THAT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY PROVIDED.

SO IT'S JUST AN OPTION IF SOMEBODY HAS CASH.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

THIS WAS MORE JUST BRINGING IT UP AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THAT.

THIS IS A PROGRAM ALL SEPARATELY BY ITSELF SO.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MORE THOUGHTS ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THEY'VE GOT SET UP? WHEN ARE YOU HOPING TO IMPLEMENT THIS? BECAUSE THIS WOULD INVOLVE WEBSITE CHANGES, PRESUMABLY, OR OTHER TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

WE ARE HOPING TO ROLL IT OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN.

WE'D HAVE TO GET A PAGE SET UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE'D HAVE TO GET FLYERS OUT, WHICH WE ARE STARTING TO CREATE ALREADY.

ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, JOSH, IS THIS HAS THIS PROCESS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN REGULAR PARKS MEETING? I ALWAYS LIKE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING OR IS THIS IN SUBCOMMITTEES OR WORK SESSIONS?

[00:50:03]

SO FOR OUR EVENTS PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE, MAINLY FOR THE TREE LIGHTING EVENT, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS.

I DON'T RECALL IF WE'VE HAD IT IN A PARK COMMISSION MEETING OR NOT.

I THINK IT'S HELPFUL IN THE FUTURE WHEN INITIATIVES ARE COMING ABOUT TO HAVE THAT RECORD OF THEM.

I KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT SO AS I SAID THANK YOU FOR THIS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS? OR DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EVENT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.

I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

OPPOSED. OKAY.

NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE.

GOOD THING BECAUSE THE BROCHURES WERE ALREADY MADE UP.

ANYTHING ELSE [INAUDIBLE] PARKS? YEAH. SO WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO END OF THE SEASON, MAINLY FOR GOLF AND PARKS.

ALL THE TREES ARE STARTING TO DROP LEAVES PRETTY QUICK NOW.

WE HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE INCHES OF RAIN COMING OUR WAY, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.

NOT SO GREAT FOR THE GOLF COURSE.

WE HAD A VERY STRONG YEAR AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS YEAR, ARE ABOUT $40,000 OVER WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

SO WE KEEP SEEING THESE INCREASES NOT JUST IN REVENUE BUT ALSO IN PLAY.

SO THIS YEAR WE SAW AGAIN, ALMOST A 40% INCREASE IN JUNIOR ROUNDS, WHICH WE LOVE TO SEE.

SO OUR CLUBHOUSE MANAGER, KIM, HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

SHE BROUGHT IN A JUNIOR LEAGUE THIS YEAR.

YEAH, VERY FUN TO SEE THEM OUT THERE.

THEY WERE OUR MOST DEDICATED GOLFERS THIS YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE GOLF COURSE.

I MEAN, SALES ARE GREAT, BUT NOW TO SEE JUST THE ENTHUSIASM AT THE GOLF COURSE, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO TO REALLY INVEST IN THAT RIGHT NOW.

UM. OTHER UPDATES.

SO WE ARE DOING OUR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FOR OUR PRAIRIE MAINTENANCE AT [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S A PRETTY DRASTIC CHANGE.

YOU'LL SEE ALL THE GRASS AND, IT'S MOWED, IT'S ALL MOWED DOWN.

ALL MOWED DOWN. YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME TRAIL PROJECTS THIS FALL AND THEN, YEAH, I GUESS MOVING FORWARD, IT'S ALL ABOUT IRRIGATION BLOWOUTS AND PUTTING THE GOLF COURSE TO BED.

WE'VE ALSO CONTRACTED WITH SENTENCED TO SERVE.

SO THEY WERE WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY CORRECTIONS.

THEY WERE OUT AROUND CITY HALL THIS WEEKEND.

THEY WILL ALSO BE IN HIGHWOOD PARK THE REST OF THIS WEEK REMOVING BUCKTHORN.

SO IT'S A GREAT ASSET FOR US.

IT'S GREAT FOR US TO WORK WITH THEM.

VERY COOL PROGRAM.

AND THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB SO FAR.

AWESOME. JOSH, WHAT DID YOU SAY THEY'RE DOING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUCKTHORN? WHICH PARK IS IT? HIGHWOOD PARK. HIGHWOOD.

OKAY, RIGHT OFF OF NORTH SHORE.

HOW MUCH DO THEY EXPECT TO CLEAR? IS IT LIKE A WEEK LONG OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS? WE HAVE 21 DAYS CONTRACTED WITH THEM.

OKAY. AND HOW OFTEN DOES THE CITY CONTRACT WITH SENTENCED TO SERVE FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE? ANNUALLY. OH, YEAH.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN ANNUALLY CONTRACTING WITH THEM SINCE 2015, MAYBE.

DID IT HAPPEN LAST YEAR? IT DID NOT HAPPEN. YEAH, I DIDN'T THINK SO.

OKAY. NO, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH THEM FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS, WHICH THERE'S A DAY RATE PER CREW THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SOME YEARS WHERE THEY HAVE NO, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CREWS.

SO WE DON'T GET THEM.

WE STILL HAVE A CONTRACT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T WORK WE DON'T PAY.

BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO DO BUCKTHORN CONTROL.

AND ALSO, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU AS PART OF YOUR PARKS REPORT, WHAT, IF ANY, UPDATES YOU HAVE ABOUT ANY TYPES OF RESTORATION PROJECTS OR INVASIVE REMOVAL, THAT TYPE OF THING? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE AT PARKS AGAIN, I MEAN, OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS BUCKTHORN.

IN THE FALL, THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO REMOVE IT, TO PREVENT SPREAD, BUT WE'RE ALSO SPREAD THIN OURSELVES.

SO DURING THE FALL, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST MAINLY CONTRACTING THAT WORK OUT.

IS THERE ANY TALK OF NEIGHBORHOODS? THERE'S BEEN TALK LIKE THAT IN THE PAST OF DOING THOSE SORTS OF INITIATIVES.

THERE WAS TALK IN THE PAST OF CASCO, THAT PARK THERE, DOING THAT TYPE OF INITIATIVE, OR IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH INTERACTION OR COMMUNICATION ON THAT.

WE'VE HAD A FEW INDIVIDUALS REACH OUT AND ASK IF THEY COULD REMOVE CERTAIN SPECIES, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE REMOVAL OR UPKEEP.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS EVER TALK ABOUT WITH RELATED TO THE PARKS THAT THEY OVERSEE? SO IN OUR PARK COMMISSION RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PUT A MORE OF A FOCUS ON OUR ADOPT A PARK PROGRAM.

AND I THINK SOME WE'LL SEE SOME PARKS WHERE IT WILL BE A FAMILY THAT ADOPTS THAT PARK AND IT MAYBE REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE OVERSIGHT FROM STAFF AND PARK COMMISSION.

[00:55:01]

SO AGAIN, MAYBE WITH OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT MORE FORMALIZED PROCESS FOR OUR ADOPTED PARK.

THANKS FOR THAT I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT BECAUSE I THINK WITH ALL THE PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, THESE SORTS OF THINGS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL FOR REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THOSE INVASIVES IN THE CITIES.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO OUR FIRE REPORT.

WE'LL START WITH NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS, CHIEF VAN EYLL.

[9. Authorization to Hire Part-Time Firefighters]

SO WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION IS TO GAIN APPROVAL TO HIRE A PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR WEEKDAY DAYTIME DUTY CREWS.

THE ARNOLD FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY SEEKING PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR OUR WEEKDAY DAYTIME DUTY CREWS FOR OUR STATION TWO CALL AREA.

THE SELECTION PROCESS HAS BEEN MYSELF SOME CITY EMPLOYEES JOSH AND ANNA AND DJ HAVE HELPED OUT WITH SOME OF THE INITIAL INTERVIEWS.

THEY'VE GONE THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS, PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICALS, PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND SUCH, AND ALL HAVE APPLICANTS HAVE PASSED.

SHEA'S EXPERIENCED WITH A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANOTHER COUPLE OF CITIES, HE'S PASSED FIREFIGHTER ONE AND FIREFIGHTER TWO.

NATE AND KAYLA ARE JUST STARTING THEIR FIREFIGHTER CAREERS WITH US.

NATE IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN FIREFIGHTING CLASSES AT CENTURY COLLEGE.

KAYLA IS ENROLLED IN AN EMT CLASS, AND WILL MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR WHEN SHE'S DONE WITH HER EMT FOR A FIREFIGHTER CLASS.

ALL ARE EXCITED TO BECOME CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE LOOK AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RELIEF ASSOCIATION THAT WE HAVE. SO I DO RECOMMEND SHEA, NATE AND KAYLA TO RECEIVE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS AS PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS WITH EFFECTIVE START DATES OF TOMORROW WITH LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND TIME THROUGH THE YEAR.

AND THEN WE'LL START FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND THE OTHER SUCH DUTIES AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2024.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JAMES? I DO HAVE SOME.

FIRST OF ALL, ACTUALLY, THIS ONE'S A LEGAL QUESTION FIRST FOR SOREN OR FOR OUR ATTORNEY.

I DO WANT TO HAVE IT STATED FOR THE RECORD THAT HIRING ANY PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE CITY OF ORONO IS NOT IN VIOLATION OF THE INJUNCTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I HAVE ASKED PAUL [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS REPRESENTING THE CITY, TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT VERY POINT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE ORDER IS VERY SPECIFIC AS TO RECRUITING.

THERE IS NO PROHIBITION ON HIRING AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED AT THE HEARING.

I ACTUALLY ORDERED THE TRANSCRIPT AND IT WAS A POINT THE COURT MADE CLEAR WAS WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE CITY ON THEIR OWN VOLITION.

SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECRUITING AND HIRING.

AND THE COURT WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN THE TERMINOLOGY USED.

SO IN MY OPINION, THE CITY IS WELL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW AND THE ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THIS ACTION.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AND I JUST WANT THAT STATED FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF VAN EYLL BUT NOT FOR YOU.

I'LL SIT DOWN. I DO FOR CHIEF VAN EYLL NOT NOT NOTHING MORE LEGAL AT THIS POINT.

SO ARE THESE ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LONG LAKE FIRE? NO, NONE OF THESE THREE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS IS FOR THIS IS FOR PART TIME SO IT'S FOR DUTY CREW.

THIS IS FOR PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR OUR WEEKDAY DAYTIME DUTY CREWS.

NOW, ONE OF THEM COULD BE A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER.

SHE'S INTERESTED IN BEING A FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER SOMEWHERE.

SO GETTING HER INTO POLICE AND FIRE PARA WOULD HELP HER CAREER.

AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR HIRING THESE INDIVIDUALS NOW? THE PURPOSE IS TO START DOING SOME LIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE DUTIES, WHETHER WE'RE OUT SPECKING TRUCKS BRINGING THEIR EXPERTISE LIKE SHEA'S EXPERTISE ALONG TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, GETTING THEM TRAINED.

SO KAYLA IS IN EMT CLASS RIGHT NOW AND SHE'LL BE IN THERE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO GET HER INTO A FIREFIGHTER CLASS.

NATE IS IN A FIREFIGHTER CLASS RIGHT NOW AND THEN HAS TO START EMR OR EMT AFTER JANUARY.

SO IT'S REALLY TO START GETTING THE BALL ROLLING WITH THEIR TRAINING.

ALSO COMING UP HERE WITHIN THE NEXT PROBABLY 30 TO 45 DAYS, WE'LL HAVE TO START SIZING FOR TURNOUT GEAR, UNIFORMS AND GETTING THEM FIT TESTED WITH

[01:00:04]

SO WE NEED TO START ORDERING THAT NOW FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL FIREFIGHTER THAT WE HAVE.

AND THE PAY, THE STARTING PAY IS $20 AN HOUR? FOR THE PART TIME DAYTIME DUTY CREW IT'S STARTING AT $20.

OKAY. AND LONG LAKE IS CURRENTLY PAYING ITS DUTY CREW $12.5 AN HOUR.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LONG LAKE'S PAYING THEIR DUTY CREW.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I READ.

BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET LAST MEETING.

YOU WEREN'T HERE.

ACTUALLY, NOW I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WERE HERE FOR THAT.

I WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT THAT COMES TO MIND HERE IS THAT ORONO IS PLANNING ON PAYING THESE PART TIME PEOPLE $20 AN HOUR TO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN LONG LAKE IS PAYING THEIRS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE COURT THE COURT WOULD SEE THAT AS AS ANY TYPE OF COMPETITION AS IT RELATES TO A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCE.

SO ALSO KEY THERE IS TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A HIRING ACTION FOR PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

YES. LONG LAKE HAS NO PART TIME EMPLOYEES I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DUTY CREWS HERE.

IS THIS NOT DUTY CREWS? THESE ARE PART TIME EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE OUR DUTY CREW.

WE HAVE WE HAVE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A MONTH OR TWO AGO.

OUR DUTY CREWS ARE MADE UP OF PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

THE CITY OF LONG LAKE IS USING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DUTY CREW MODEL.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT DISTINCTION TO MAKE.

SO THEY ARE USING PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AND PAYING THEM A STIPEND TO SERVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE FIRE STATIONS.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT. I SEE WHAT NOW I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

UM. SO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE STATIONED STARTING JULY OF NEXT YEAR OUT OF STATION THAT SERVICING THAT AREA TO THE CITY OF ORONO? YEAH. FOR A SET NUMBER OF HOURS, CORRECT.

SO IF A CALL CAME IN IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR, TWO CALLS CAME IN, ONE IN THE CITY OF THIS SIDE OF CALL STATION ONE AND CALL STATION TWO.

THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE WORKING PAID ON CALL.

THESE ARE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN A DUTY CREW CAPACITY.

SO THEY'D HAVE AN AREA THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONDING TO CALLS IN STATION ONE AND STATION TWO AREA.

WE ONLY HAVE ASKED TO REMOVE THE CALL AREA FOR STATION TWO ZONES OUT.

SO WE WOULD ONLY BE PAGED TO THOSE UNLESS IT'S A MUTUAL AID CALL BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN AT THAT TIME WE WOULD RESPOND JUST LIKE WE WOULD FOR ANY OTHER.

IF IT'S LONG LAKE, IF IT'S [INAUDIBLE], IF IT'S EXCELSIOR, IF IT'S PLYMOUTH, ANYBODY LIKE THAT THAT WOULD CALL FOR MUTUAL AID, WE WOULD RESPOND TO THOSE AND HOPE THAT THEY WOULD IN TURN THEN RESPOND TO OURS, WHICH WE'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? MAKE A MOTION. NO, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM.

I SAID HAPPY TO HAVE THESE FIREFIGHTERS.

NICE JOB, CHIEF GETTING THEM.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS TO WOW, SHEA HELP ME CHWIALKOWSKI, IS THAT CHWIALKOWSKI? SHEA IS HERE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NATE WEBER.

NATE WEBER AND KAYLA KENNEDY.

ARE ANY OF THE OTHER ONES HERE? NO, THEY'RE NOT. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR COMING ALSO.

AS A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER AT THE RATE OF $20 PER HOUR WITH THE START DATE OF OCTOBER 10TH, 2023.

I HAVE A MOTION DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. YEAH.

I'D JUST LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD WHY I DON'T SUPPORT THIS BEFORE WE HAVE A VOTE.

I DON'T SUPPORT THIS HIRING OF THE PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE CITY OF ORONO BECAUSE THIS VENTURE IS COSTING OUR RESIDENTS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THEY WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR FIRE CONTRACT SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.

IT'S ALSO EXPOSING OUR CITY TO A GREAT DEGREE OF RISK IN THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS UNTESTED AND HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY AN INDEPENDENT, UNBIASED THIRD PARTY.

SO I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TESTED BY AN UNBIASED THIRD PARTY? THE FORMATION OF AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I SAID THIS THIS MODEL, THIS PROJECT HAS NOT HAD EYES LAID ON IT BY AN UNBIASED THIRD PARTY OUTSIDE EVALUATION OR AGENT.

I GUESS I SAY I WOULD SAY THAT THE REASON THAT WE ARE DOING THIS AND THAT WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO FORM AS A CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY, IT NEEDS TO BE STAFFED AND I THINK WE ARE FINDING GREAT STAFF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE OUR PARTY EXPERT RIGHT HERE AS WELL AS WE HAVE OUR ENGINEER EXPERT WHEN WE HAVE ENGINEERING ISSUES.

WE HAVE OUR LEGAL EXPERT AND WE HAVE LEGAL ISSUES.

WE DON'T GO TO THIRD PARTIES FOR THOSE.

SO WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR EXPERT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S MY OPINION THAT WHEN CITIES SUCH AS HOPKINS.

[01:05:04]

I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT IF I INTERRUPTED YOU, I APOLOGIZE.

YOU DID. AND SO I DO.

WE HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO FUND IT.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO STAFF IT.

WE WOULD BE SPENDING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH LONG LAKE, EXCEPT WE'D BE GIVING THEM ALL THE ALL THE MONEY AND WE'D BE GIVING THEM ALL OF THE VEHICLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE, AND IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO FUND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AS A COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF ORONO.

JUST AS THE CITY OF LONG LAKE PROCEEDED TO GO TO WAYZATA FIRE, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY GOT AN OUTSIDE STUDY DONE BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO DO WHAT THEY FELT WAS THE BEST THING FOR THEIR CITY.

I'M SORRY. SO IT'S THE SAME THING THAT ORONO IS DOING IS WE FELT IT'S THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE WE ARE 87% OF THE BUDGET TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE AND TAKE CARE OF THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND YOU NEED TO WE'VE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING AHEAD WITH ORONO FIRE.

YOU NEED TO STAFF IT AND YOU NEED TO EQUIP IT.

IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT, YOU'RE NOT SERVING THE PEOPLE OF ORONO YOU'RE SERVING IN YOUR MIND OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S MIND THE PEOPLE OF LONG LAKE, WHICH DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY.

SO JUST TO THAT, ARE YOU FINISHED? I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT.

GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO JUST JUST TO THAT POINT, IT IS COMMON PRACTICE WHEN CITIES ARE LOOKING AT EVEN MAKING CHANGES TO A WELL-ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT LIKE HOPKINS HAS.

IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE KNOW A LOT, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING AND WE HAVE OUR OWN BIASES.

WE HAVE OUR OWN BLIND SPOTS.

AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, ESPECIALLY IN AN UNDERTAKING THAT IS NEW, THAT IS UNPROVEN, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT RISK. I DON'T BELIEVE WE KNOW OUR ISO RATING.

THAT IS STILL A QUESTION.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING.

AND TO SAY IN THIS UNDERTAKING THAT WE AS A CITY, THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT EXPERTS IN FIRE OR THAT OUR STAFF, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A CHIEF, THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN OUTSIDE LOOK THAT THAT WE CAN HIRE SOMEBODY WHO THEN GIVES JUSTIFICATION FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN HIRED TO OVERSEE.

THAT IS NOT BEST PRACTICE.

SO THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD.

AND THAT'S THAT'S ALL.

WELL, AS A RETIRED TO DISAGREE ABOUT THAT, AS A RETIRED TENURED FIREFIGHTER, I DEFINITELY DID HAVE SOME EXPERTISE IN FIRE.

THAT'S THE ONE THING. AND WE'VE HIRED A CHIEF WHO'S OUTSTANDING, WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS REALLY, REALLY WELL.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO, AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE DOLLARS.

AND WHEN WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND RUN IT, WE NEED TO EQUIP IT AND WE NEED TO GET THE PROPER PERSONNEL IN THERE.

THAT'S OUR JOB.

VOTING NO ON THAT DOES NOT HELP THAT POSITION.

AND IT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO.

WELL, I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT AT NEARLY EVERY MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS UNDERTAKING.

SO AND I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF OUR RESIDENTS RELATED TO RECREATIONAL SPORTS THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER TONIGHT, WE MIGHT WELL DO THE SAME AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

OKAY, SO WE'VE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.

OKAY WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER TEN, WHICH IS AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS.

[10. Authorization to Hire Paid-On-Call Firefighters]

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION IS TO GAIN APPROVAL TO HIRE SOME PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS FOR RESPONSE DOWN AT STATION TWO.

ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENTLY SEEKING PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TO COVER THAT'S STATION TWO CALL AREA.

THE RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES ARE JEFF KRAHL, RYAN KANIVE, JB SEALS, JUSTIN HINKER, MIKE JOHNSRUD, BEN CARLSON, TOM ALDRICH.

ALL HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

ALL HAVE PASSED FIREFIGHTER ONE AND TWO AND ARE EITHER AN EMT OR EMR MEDICALLY CERTIFIED.

ALL ARE EXCITED TO BECOME CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AROUND IN THE ASSOCIATION.

I WOULD RECOMMEND JEFF KRAHL WITH 19 YEARS.

RYAN KANIVE WITH 13 YEARS.

JB SEALS WITH FIVE.

JUSTIN HINCKER WITH TWO.

MIKE JOHNSRUD WITH TWO.

BEN CARLSON WITH TWO.

AND TOM ALDRIDGE WITH 34 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE CITY OF ORONO EFFECTIVE START DATE WOULD BE OCTOBER 10TH FOR LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AND DUTIES

[01:10:04]

CORRECT? YEP. ON THE [INAUDIBLE] SIDE, IT'S $16 AN HOUR.

YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. I'D JUST LIKE OUR ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THIS ONE AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO THE INJUNCTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON I WOULD REITERATE WHAT I INDICATED BEFORE, THAT THE THE ORDER IS VERY SPECIFIC AND THERE'S NO PROHIBITION ON HIRING.

AND I SEE NO REASON NOT TO PROCEED WITH TAKING ACTION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SO THIS IS FOR THE PAID ON CALL.

AND ARE ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY SERVICING THE CITY OF LONG LAKE THROUGH LONG LAKE FIRE? THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH THEM, YES, THEY WERE STILL ON AT THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND YOU SPOKE WITH THEM AT A RECRUITING EVENT.

MULTIPLE RECRUITING EVENTS, LUNCHES, TEXT MESSAGES FOR HAPPY BIRTHDAYS AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARIES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

YEP. AND OUR PROPOSED PAY IS $16 AN HOUR? FOR OUR PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS.

YES, THE PROPOSED PAY IS $16 AN HOUR.

OKAY. AND I BELIEVE LOOKING AT LONG LAKE'S BUDGET, THEY'RE PROPOSING OR WE ARE STILL IN DEBATE, ABOUT $15.60 OR SO FOR LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS. SO WE'RE PAYING MORE IN THE CITY OF ORONO FOR PAID ON CALL, $15.65, $15.

65. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. SO WE ARE PAYING WE ARE PROPOSING TO PAY ORONO RECRUITS MORE THAN THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE? HOW DID HOW WAS THAT NUMBER ARRIVED AT $16 AN HOUR? SO THERE WAS A WAGE STUDY THAT WAS DONE A WHILE AGO FOR SURROUNDING FIRE DEPARTMENTS UP AND DOWN THE WESTERN SUBURBAN SUBURBAN SIDE HERE.

AND I TOOK THAT PAY AND KIND OF AVERAGED IT OUT AND SAID, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID ON CALL, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE LOWEST, WE WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. $16 IS KIND OF WHAT I CAME WITH AS A AS A BUDGETARY LINE.

AND DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON LONG LAKE AS IT RELATES TO THEIR OPERATIONS? I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. OKAY.

SO THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION I HAD EARLIER REGARDING PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS WHO MAY BE EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF ORONO OR BE PAID ON CALL, I SHOULD SAY, WITH THE CITY OF ORONO, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY SERVE LONG LAKE FIRE.

SO IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? IF THERE ARE CALLS, LET'S SAY MULTIPLE CALLS AT ONE TIME THAT WOULD REQUIRE PAID ON CALL, HOW DO THESE INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHICH CITY THEY'RE RESPONDING TO? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE UP TO THEM UNTO WHICH CITY THEY WOULD WANT TO RESPOND TO ON A PAID ON CALL PERSPECTIVE.

WHICHEVER PAGER GOES OFF, TYPICALLY THE FIRST ONE WOULD PROBABLY THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD RESPOND.

AND THEN WE'D HAVE IF THERE'S A BACK TO BACK CALL, THEN WE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THERE ARE.

AND YOU DON'T THINK HAVING A PAY DIFFERENCE IS GOING TO AFFECT THAT DECISION IN ANY WAY? I COULD ANSWER FOR MY FIREFIGHTERS AS TO WHAT IT IS MOST OF THEM SAY THEY DON'T DO IT FOR THE PAY.

THEY DO IT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES.

OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THANKS. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT CHIEF MIKE WE BROUGHT UP SERVING MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, AND I THINK HE SAID CURRENTLY THERE ARE A HANDFUL. I WANT TO SAY 4 OR 5 THAT SERVE ON OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

I KNOW OF A COUPLE ON LONG LAKES AND STILL SERVE ON AND ARE THOSE ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE SERVING ON MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS LOCATED THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER? YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS OF JEFF KRAHL, RYAN KANIVE, JB SEALS, JASON HINKER, MIKE JOHNSRUD, BEN CARLSON AND TOM ALDRICH AS PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AT THE RATE OF $16 AN HOUR WITH A START DATE OF OCTOBER 10TH, 2023. I'LL SECOND THAT.

MOTION A SECOND, AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD AGAIN THAT I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM THAT I DID ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ONE.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS UNTESTED AND WE'RE INCREASING RISK TO THE CITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.

JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY I'M SORRY THAT WE USED THAT THAT TIME TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CHARTER MEMBERS AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR COMING.

THANK YOU TO THE CHARTER MEMBERS FOR BEING PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.

OKAY.

[01:15:01]

THANKS TO ALL OF THEM AND APPRECIATE THEM.

AND WE HAVE ONE MORE TO GO.

CONGRATULATIONS. HAVE ONE MORE TO GO.

WE SINGLED ONE INDIVIDUAL OUT FOR NUMBER 18, WHICH IS OUR ANOTHER AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE P AID ON CALL

[18. Authorization to Hire Paid-On-Call Firefighter]

SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION IS TO GAIN APPROVAL TO HIRE A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER FOR RESPONSE AT STATION TWO.

SELECTION PROCESS HAS BEEN THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS BEN VEACH HAS EXPERIENCE AS A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

HE'S PASSED FIREFIGHTER ONE AND TWO AND IS CURRENTLY EMR WITH CONVERSATIONS OF BECOMING AN EMT FOR US, HE'S EXCITED TO BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CREATING THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

I DO RECOMMEND BEN VEACH WITH SIX YEARS OF SERVING ORONO FOR CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER WITH EFFECTIVE START DATE OF OCTOBER 10TH, 2023 FOR LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND OTHER SUCH DUTIES WILL BEGIN ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2024.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS? NO, I JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I UNDERSTAND.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH NEEDS TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM THIS VOTE.

SHE SHE IS RECUSING HERSELF.

YEAH. MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL, I HAVE TALKED TO COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH ABOUT THIS.

I DO FEEL SHE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I'VE ASKED HER NOT TO VOTE ON THIS OR PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

CAN YOU SAY FOR THE RECORD WHAT THE CONFLICT IS, PLEASE? IT'S HER HUSBAND OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, NO, I WOULD JUST SAY AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I'VE EXPRESSED CONCERN BEFORE, AND IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WHERE THE OPTICS OF FIRE IN OUR CITY AND THE OPTICS OF AN APPOINTMENT OR A HIGHER LIKE THIS ARE, IN MY OPINION, NOT IDEAL FOR A CITY THAT'S ENGAGED IN A LAWSUIT AND HAVING THIS MUCH DISCORD AROUND THIS ISSUE OF FIRE SERVICE IN OUR CITY.

NOTED. OKAY. MAKE A MOTION.

YEAH. I'M EXCITED TO MAKE THIS MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER TO BEN VEACH AS A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER AT THE RATE OF $16 AN HOUR WITH A START DATE OF OCTOBER 10TH, 2023.

CONGRATULATIONS, BEN.

I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 3 TO 1.

OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO 19.

[19. Authorization to Direct Staff to Begin Process for Creating a Fire Relief Association]

THAT'S GOING TO BRING US TO NUMBER 19, WHICH IS AUTHORIZATION TO DIRECT STAFF TO BEGIN PROCESS FOR CREATING THE ORONO FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THIS ONE, THAT THE REASON THAT ALL OF THEM AREN'T HERE TONIGHT IS I DIDN'T ASK THEM TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

I DO WANT THEM TO COME BACK ONCE WE HAVE THEM IN UNIFORM AND DO A NICE SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

SO THAT'LL PROBABLY BE JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME FRAME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE WOULD ENJOY THAT AS WELL.

YEAH, WE WOULD BE AWESOME.

YEAH. SHAE HELPED US OUT A LITTLE BIT TODAY, SO HE WAS ABLE TO SWING BY . NO, I DO NOT VIEW THIS AS THERE BEING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

THIS IS A PROCEDURAL ITEM TO CREATE A PROCESS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

THIS ISN'T PARTICULAR TO YOU.

THAT'S MY OPINION.

SO THANKS, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION ITEM BEFORE US IS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO CONVENE THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

COUNCIL APPROVED THE CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE HIRING OF PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS ALLOWS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST RELIEF ASSOCIATION OR THE FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF OVERSEEING THE PENSIONS OF THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS.

THE HIRING OF EIGHT FIRE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS ALLOWS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT A RELIEF ASSOCIATION BOARD AND TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

RELIEF BOARD IS MADE UP OF SIX PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AND THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS.

THOSE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS TYPICALLY ARE THE FIRE CHIEF, THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE MAYOR.

THE BOARD, ALONG WITH THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS, ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEIR TYPE OF PENSION BENEFIT THAT THEY SO CHOOSE.

THEY WILL THEN HAVE TO FILE BYLAWS WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AUDITOR'S OFFICE, COMPLETE AN INVESTMENT POLICY WITH THEM ALSO.

BESIDES THAT, THE RELIEF BOARD WILL HAVE TO FILE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR A NONPROFIT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE RELIEF BOARD SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE SELECTED BY DECEMBER 1ST.

THE BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION HOPEFULLY FILED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A MARCH 1ST TIMELINE [INAUDIBLE] FOR THAT TO BE DONE.

ONCE THOSE ARE DRAFTED, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH LEGAL REVIEW AND WE'LL BRING THEM BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

ALSO, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE STAFF TO BEGIN THE CREATION OF A RELIEF FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS [INAUDIBLE].

CHIEF, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF ON THAT? I SEE NONE. MAKE A MOTION.

YEAH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO CREATE A FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

[01:20:03]

I DON'T SUPPORT THIS FOR REASONS I STATED EARLIER.

NOTED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.

OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] ANY OTHER THINGS FOR FIRE REPORT TONIGHT? ONE MORE. ONE MORE.

[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, CHIEF.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO GET EVERYTHING GOING HERE AND THIS RELIEF IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE A LOT ABOUT THIS IS WE'RE GETTING THESE FIREFIGHTERS ON AND YOU GET TO BE PART OF THE FORMATION OF OUR NEW DEPARTMENT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BRINGING IN EXPERTS AND ALL THESE PIECES.

BUT WHAT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO IS GET THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AT THIS EFFECTS.

AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AS A CITY TO GET THIS STARTED OFF IN THE RIGHT WAY AND WITH A LOT OF FIREFIGHTER INPUT.

THAT IS OUR INAUGURAL GROUP COMING IN.

SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, NICE JOB GETTING THIS STARTED.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ALSO JUST FINISHED UP A COUPLE INTERVIEWS LAST THURSDAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN LOOKING AT THEM.

ONE IS FOR THE FIREFIGHTER TECH ADMIN POSITION, WHICH IS OPEN UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH HERE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE INTERVIEWS COMING UP THIS COMING THURSDAY THEY'RE FOR PART TIME DUTY CREW MEMBERS.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM MOVING AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. TERRIFIC JOB, CHIEF.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.

MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE ANY REPORT FOR RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL HAVE A CLOSED SESSION LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'LL BRING US TO ADAM, OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ ENGINEER REPORT.

[City Administrator/Engineer Report ]

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING TO THE FALL, SO WE'RE WRAPPING UP MOST OF OUR MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

MOST RECENTLY, THE [INAUDIBLE] FORCE MAIN WAS PLACED, NEW FORCE MAIN WAS PLACED INTO OPERATION.

THAT PROJECT STILL HAS A BUNCH OF RESTORATION TO DO ALONG THE SITE.

BUT THAT WAS OUR LAST MAJOR MOVING PIECE WAS GETTING THE [INAUDIBLE] OPERATION.

OVER AT OUR PUBLIC NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.

YOU SEE A LOT OF CONCRETE GOING IN SO CURBING FOR THE PARKING LOT AREA WENT IN LAST WEEK AS WELL AS WE FINALLY HAVE FLOOR INSIDE THE BUILDING, WE HAVE CONCRETE FLOORING INSIDE THE OFFICE AREA WITH THE OTHER AREAS SOON TO GET THEIR FLOORING POURED.

SO THE IDEA THERE IS TO GET THE THE BUILDING BUTTONED UP FOR THE WINTER WITH ALL THE INTERIOR TRADES WE'LL CONTINUE WORK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SO THAT WE'RE STILL ON TRACK FOR AN APRIL PROJECT COMPLETION ON THAT ONE SO.

UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AWESOME. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ADAM. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

NUMBER 20. WE HAD OUR LONG LAKE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD.

[20. Long Lake Fire Advisory Board]

GO AHEAD. I GUESS I MISSED THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

I APOLOGIZE.

I HAD A FUNERAL THAT EVENING FOR A YOUNG MAN IN THE AREA.

UM, ON THE LAST FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING.

I THOUGHT WE WERE IN A POSITIVE.

WE HAD SOME POSITIVE MOMENTUM REGARDING PAY THE BUDGET GOING IN THE PROPER DIRECTION OF DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER, POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE.

A LOT OF THAT, I THINK, HAS BEEN DASHED WITH LACK OF COMMUNICATION, LACK OF LONG LAKE FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS, SHOWING US RATIONALES REGARDING THEIR DUTY CREW MODELS AND SO FORTH.

THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS HAPPENING.

SO WE'RE PROCEEDING TO MOVE AHEAD.

WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON PAY AND THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I WANTED TO MOVE THEIR PAY HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY WERE RECOMMENDING BACK AT THE TIME.

SO I RECOMMENDED $15.65.

SOME OF MY BIG CONCERNS IS AS THE CITY OF LONG LAKE'S BIGGEST CLIENT, WE CAN'T GET THE CHIEF OUT HERE TO HAVE A MEETING OR TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH US.

AND WE'VE ASKED THEM IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN INTERROGATION, BUT TO GIVE UPDATES, KIND OF SEE WHERE THINGS ARE AT FOR THEM AND TO HAVE THE CHIEF NOT RESPOND IS NOT REAL POSITIVE.

THAT'S NOT THE FUTURE OF A WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

AND I HAVE CONCERNS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE ARE PUTTING EGOS AHEAD OF THE JOB AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF AND DO THE JOB THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE SOME POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD FROM THE CHIEF AND FOLKS AT AT LONG LAKE TO DO THAT AND BECAUSE TO GAIN A WORKING

[01:25:07]

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CHIEFS AND FIRE PERSONNEL WORK WELL WITH THEIR NEIGHBORING CITIES.

AND THAT'S ALL PART OF MUTUAL AID AND SO FORTH.

AND IF THERE'S NOT A DISCUSSION TO BRING THINGS TOGETHER NOW AND, YOU KNOW, AND TRY TO BRIDGE THAT GAP, EVEN IF LONG LAKE DECIDES TO GO OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT ON THEIR OWN, WHICH IS FINE, THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH.

SO THOSE ARE MY BIGGEST CONCERNS.

I HAVE. OH, DID YOU WANT TO SHARE MORE ABOUT.

SURE. I SHARED AT OUR LAST MEETING A RECAP OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL MEETING AND GOOD CONVERSATION.

AND AGAIN, I WENT ACTUALLY TO THEIR MEETING, LONG LAKES MEETING TO TALK IN PERSON BECAUSE I THOUGHT OUR IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN QUITE FRUITFUL.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN COMPROMISE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT CAN'T BE DONE BY PACKETS AND EMAILS.

AND I'VE REACHED OUT SAYING THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A REQUEST OUT TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.

AND I THINK WE'RE I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I'M THINKING BACK TO THE MEETING WHERE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE LONG LAKE FIRE BUDGET AT THE LAST MEETING.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD THAT AGENDA ITEM ON THERE WHEN YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, GIVEN THAT YOU TWO ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES AND HAVE DONE, AS I SAID IN THE MEETING, A GREAT DEGREE OF WORK OVER THREE, I THINK AT LEAST THREE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS TO HONE A BUDGET THAT WAS ABLE TO BE PRESENTED TO US THAT NIGHT THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

AND I DO KNOW THAT THE CONDITION ABOUT LOWERING THAT COST OF DUTY CREWS, WHICH YOU'VE MENTIONED, WAS VERY CONCERNING TO YOU FROM AROUND 80 OR SO THOUSAND TO UNDERNEATH 60, WHICH IT WAS.

AND I MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WITH THE FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS AND WITH THAT NUMBER OF VETTINGS OF THAT BUDGET, I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHY WE WEREN'T IN AGREEMENT OR STILL COULDN'T BE ABOUT GETTING THAT PASSED.

WE'VE TABLED AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE FOR ANOTHER GO AROUND AT A FIRE ADVISORY MEETING WHEN WE'VE HAD TWO REPRESENTATIVES WHO'VE DONE ALL THE HARD WORK AND HAVE HAD FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS AND WE HAD A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THAT NIGHT.

I AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU'RE BOTH HEADING IT.

SO FOR ME, ME NOT BEING HERE WAS A VERY LATE LAST MINUTE DECISION THAT I HAD TO MAKE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO CHOICE.

SO IT WAS A PERSONAL DECISION THAT I HAD TO MAKE.

I WANTED TO BE AROUND TO SUPPORT MY DAUGHTER DURING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

BUT I ALSO THOUGHT THAT THE BALL WAS MOVING FORWARD AS FAR AS PROGRESSION AND PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

IT HASN'T HAPPENED AS FAR AS DISCUSSIONS OF HAVING THE CHIEF POSSIBLY FILL ONE OF THE DUTY CREW ROLES AT STATION TWO, WHICH WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT FROM THE BUDGET.

SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS WERE NOT MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON IT.

SO THAT'S CONCERNING.

AND AGAIN, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR CHIEF HEILAND.

I'VE WORKED WITH HIM. HE'S A GREAT MAN.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT HE GETS HERE AND ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL AND ADDRESSES ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

THAT'S NOT UNREASONABLE.

JAMES WOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND GIVE US UPDATES AND SO FORTH TOO WHEN HE WAS THE LONG LAKE FIRE CHIEF.

THOSE AREN'T UNREASONABLE REQUESTS.

AND IF IT TAKES HAVING ANOTHER FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO IT, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S BAD TO IRON SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT.

AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, YOU'VE BEEN GOING TO AT LEAST I THINK IT WAS THREE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET THEY WERE FRUITFUL.

AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS THERE A CONDITION ATTACHED TO THIS BUDGET RELATED TO THE CHIEF VAN EYLL WORKING SOMEHOW TO FILL IN HOURS OF TRAINING OR TO SAVE BUDGETARY EXPENSES ON THE PART OF ORONO.

IS THAT PART OF IS THAT WHAT IS HOLDING? I THINK YEAH. WELL, NOT AT LEAST AT LEAST FOR ME, IT WOULD.

IT WOULD HELP TO SHOW THERE'S A BRIDGE THERE THAT THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER, WHICH IS NECESSARY BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS YOU THAT POINTED OUT IT'S NECESSARY

[01:30:03]

WELL, IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NEIGHBORING CITIES WORK TOGETHER.

RIGHT.

AND HE KNOWS ALMOST ALL, IF NOT EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PERSONNEL OVER THERE SO THAT HELPS TOO.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS WHETHER OR NOT OUR CHIEF CHIEF VAN EYLL'S PARTICIPATION IN OVER DOING WHATEVER IT IS ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING DUTIES IN ORDER TO REDUCE BUDGET ON THE PART OF ORONO FOR 2024.

IS THAT A CONDITION OF APPROVING THIS BUDGET IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

WELL, LET ME SPEAK TO IT JUST FOR A QUICK SECOND.

I MEAN, MARIE CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE TO WHEN THEY WERE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, THEY REPORTED BACK AS WELL THAT THE CHIEF HEILAND OVER AT LONG LAKE SAID HE WOULD THINK ABOUT THESE ITEMS. WELL, THINKING ABOUT THEM AND GIVING US A RESPONSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'VE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSES.

SO UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GET RESPONSES, WE'RE NOT UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO DO ANYTHING.

WE NEED TO GET SOME ANSWERS.

AND I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO GET THOSE ANSWERS.

AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, THE BUDGET ALSO HAD NO RECOLLECTION, WHICH I THINK WE JUST GOT THE NUMBERS NOW FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] PART THAT HAS THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF THE VALUE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CORRECT BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.

WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO A BUDGET FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR AND SAY WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE PART THAT WE NEED TO SUBTRACT LATER.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT BUDGET AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT BUDGET YET.

SO THAT'S ALSO PART OF IT.

SO WAS THAT PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AND VEACH DURING THESE FIRE ADVISORY BOARDS THAT YOU NEEDED TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT PRIOR TO APPROVING THE 2024 BUDGET THAT'S THE AREA TWO IS GOING TO BE SOMEHOW CARVED OUT THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT OF THAT.

NO, IT WAS NOT FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS US MOVING AHEAD IN A WORKING TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP AND THE RESPONSE THAT WE'VE SEEN, I'M NOT SEEING IT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S BAD TO TO ENGAGE AGAIN IN CONVERSATION.

I KNOW I'M PERSONALLY WILLING TO GO TO ANOTHER FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AND HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT EXACTLY IT WOULD HELP ME TO QUANTIFY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT THAT THE CITY OF ORONO IS LOOKING FOR IN THIS BUDGET.

SO IS IT A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT NEEDS TO BE DECREASED WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CHIEF THAT WE'RE PAYING MOST OF HIS SALARY ACTUALLY SHOW UP AT ORONO CITY HALL MEETING.

SO WE CAN APPROVE THE BUDGET IF CHIEF HEILAND WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF IT.

YEAH, YEAH, THAT'LL BE PART OF IT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND THEN THE OTHER THINGS THEY'LL BREAK DOWN IS DOLLARS WISE.

IF JAMES WAS THERE, WHAT WOULD THAT REDUCE THE BUDGET BY? IF JAMES IS A PIECE OF PERSONNEL WAS THERE, WHAT CAN THAT HELP US WITH? I MEAN, RON CAN COME UP WITH A FIGURE WITH ADAM AND SAY THIS IS APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH THIS WOULD SAVE US.

WE ARE IN ACTIVE LITIGATION AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FEELS THAT CHIEF HEILAND OR THE CITY OF LONG OR LONG LAKE FIRE NEEDS TO HAVE ANSWERED, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THOSE EXPRESSLY DETERMINED AHEAD OF CALLING CHIEF HEILAND IN FRONT OF ORONO CITY COUNCIL.

I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT SPECIFICALLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE OF ANOTHER MEETING, IS TO ESTABLISH THAT ON THE RECORD.

SO WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT WHAT IT IS WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER FROM CHIEF HEILAND.

WELL, I THINK WE ALL DO.

YEAH. NO, WE'VE SAID SO.

YOU SAY QUANTIFY, I SAY, RIGHT, WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS? QUALIFY QUALIFYING.

SO IT'S A SO THE DUTY CREW PROGRAM ITSELF IS 100% JUST A TEST.

IT'S A BETA. YOU GET POSSIBLY BETTER RESULTS, BUT IT IS NOT CHANGING THE THE OPERATING STYLE THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE STILL ALL PAID ON CALL.

EVERY CALL IS PAID OUT.

IT CHANGES NOTHING.

IT IS JUST A BETA TEST, RIGHT.

SO FOR US TO PAY A BETA TEST AND NOT HAVE ANY QUANTIFIABLE NUMBERS.

SO WE'VE GOTTEN SOME REPORTING FROM AND WE WERE TRYING TO APPROVE A BUDGET WITH ONE MONTH OF RESULTS AT FIRST.

RIGHT. WELL, NOW WE HAVE A QUARTER WORTH OF DUTY CREW AND I THINK WE COULD GET MUCH MORE DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT IS THE BEST BUDGET MOVING FORWARD.

WHEN YOU ASK, ARE THERE CONDITIONAL SPENDS CONDITIONAL TERMS? NO. THOSE ARE ALL FOR ME.

THERE ISN'T. I WOULDN'T SAY I WOULD ONLY DO THIS IF THIS HAPPENS, I WILL NEVER SAY I WILL VOTE THIS WAY BECAUSE I THINK THAT HANDCUFFS YOU TO NOT BEING OPEN TO LISTENING, IN MY OPINION, COMING TO A MEETING, COMING TO SOMETHING WITH A PRESET IDEA.

WELL, THEN WHAT'S THE POINT? YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION.

SO FOR ME, I WOULD I THOUGHT THAT EVERY MEETING I'VE GONE TO HAS BEEN PRODUCTIVE.

[01:35:01]

I THINK IN-PERSON MEETINGS WAS TOLD, HEY, BY THE AGREEMENT WE ONLY HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY.

I GO, I GET THAT. BUT IF IT IS BENEFICIAL AND WHEN YOU SAY IT CAN REDUCE ORONO BUDGET, IT WOULD ALSO REDUCE LONG LAKES BUDGET, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S A BUDGET WE SHARE.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT'S A WIN WIN WHEN HAVING GOOD CONVERSATION BUILDS RELATIONSHIP OR REBUILDS.

I THINK IT IT BRINGS OUT INSTEAD OF JUST ADDRESSING ISSUES AS THEY COME UP, IT BRINGS OUT HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SOLUTION PROBLEM SOLVING. AND I DON'T THINK I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S WHERE OUR CONVERSATION IS SO I COULD NOT AGREE MORE THAT IN-PERSON NEGOTIATION OR HOWEVER IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IS THAT WE HAD AND AGAIN, YOU HAD AND YOU NEEDED TO BE SOMEWHERE, WHICH IS AS IT IS IN LIFE AT TIMES.

BUT WE HAD A BUDGET BEFORE US RECOMMENDED BY STAFF THAT WE WEREN'T IN A PLACE TO APPROVE AFTER THREE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT IN ORDER TO GET THIS BUDGET APPROVED.

AND AS FAR AS UNTESTED MODELS AND BETA SITES GO, THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BEING STOOD UP WITH NO TESTING AT ALL.

BETA OR A TEST MODEL WITH LONG LAKE.

THEREFORE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA.

WE HAVE NO DATA ON THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE WILLING TO PUT IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO IT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I THINK WHAT MY SUGGESTION IS.

IT'S ALSO A BRAND NEW DEPARTMENT, NOT ONE THAT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

SO OUR MODEL IS UNTESTED.

IT INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND WE ARE NOT HAVING THIS TYPE OF DEBATE REGARDING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OR OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE HAVING IT AT A BUDGET THAT IS INCREASED BY ABOUT 20-22% OVER LAST YEAR, WHICH IS FAIRLY STANDARD, AND WE'VE ALL AGREED THAT IT HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED OVER TIME.

SO ALL I ASK IS THAT I WILL SUPPORT IF IT'S ANOTHER MEETING.

I THINK FACE TO FACE IS GREAT.

I THINK WHAT MY PERSPECTIVE IS, IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A VERY, VERY TANGIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE GOAL GOING INTO THIS RATHER THAN BECAUSE WE HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WE SPENT NOT WE OUR TWO REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME DOING THIS ALREADY.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT WITH ANOTHER MEETING IS THE QUESTION.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MAYBE THE CHIEF WILL SHOW UP TO THE MEETING BECAUSE TWO OUT OF THE THREE MEETINGS, THE CHIEF DIDN'T.

OKAY. OKAY.

IT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL IN THE FIRE COMMUNITY AND IN BASIC DECENCY IN GENERAL THAT WE AS A COUNCIL NOT TALK ABOUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, STAFF, ELECTED OFFICIALS IN TERMS THAT ARE DISPARAGING.

AND WHAT I KNOW, HAVING MET WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN FIRE, NOT IN ORONO AND LONG LAKE, BUT IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, IS THAT ALL CITIES ARE WATCHING EXACTLY WHAT WE DO AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO FIRE.

SO WE CAN'T IN ONE BREATH SAY THAT CHIEF HEILAND IS WELCOME HERE AND WE WON'T INTERROGATE AND THEN MAKE COMMENTS.

TIME OUT I SPECIFICALLY SAID HOW MUCH I RESPECTED MIKE HEILAND SO WHEN YOU GET ON THE SOAPBOX AND START TELLING OUR CITY HOW WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT'S LAUGHABLE.

I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER CITY OFFICIALS.

I DON'T GET THE SAME RESPECT COMING BACK.

AND I SPECIFICALLY SAID HERE TONIGHT AND IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE GOT SEVERAL ATTORNEYS PRESENT, HOW MUCH I RESPECTED AND LIKED MIKE HEILAND AND WORKED WITH HIM. HE'S NOT GOING TO BE INTERROGATED HERE.

IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION AND ANSWER.

THAT'S IT.

HE'S BEEN INVITED SEVERAL TIMES.

CHIEF VAN EYLLS SHOWED UP TO MEETINGS WHEN HE WAS THE CHIEF OF LONG LAKE FIRE.

THAT'S NOT AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST.

IT'S NOT.

AND I JUST I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN SO QUICKLY VOTE FOR ANY LONG LAKE BUDGET WHATSOEVER.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AN ORONO BUDGET OR SUPPLYING THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE PERSONNEL AND THE EQUIPMENT IT NEEDS, IT'S A NO, NO, NO.

WELL, GUESS WHAT? I LOOK AT THIS WALL THAT SAYS ORONO.

[01:40:03]

WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT ORONO.

AND FOR SOMEBODY WHO SERVED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR TEN YEARS, TO SAY THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE IS AN INSULT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I SAID THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY I'M SAYING THINK ABOUT REPRESENTING THE CITY OF ORONO AND INSTEAD OF REPRESENTING THE CITY OF LONG LAKE, POINT OF ORDER, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR JOB ORDER.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SWORN TO DO.

POINT OF ORDER. OKAY, SO THIS HAS BECOME A PERSONAL WE CAN WE CAN MOVE THIS ALONG.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN SUMMARY HERE, THE POINT OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WAS JUST A REPORT FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD.

AND WE ESTABLISHED AT THE LAST MEETING, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET THIS BUDGET PASSED.

WE ESTABLISHED THERE IS TIME.

WE HAVE TIME TO PASS THIS BUDGET.

IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH LONG LAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPTIMIZING ALL OF THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE CAN HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

LET'S UNDERSTAND IT.

LET'S BENEFIT.

THIS RELATIONSHIP IS ENDED.

THE CONTRACT IS ENDING.

WE WANT TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT ISN'T TOGETHER.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT WE'RE STARTING OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY'RE STILL OUR NEIGHBOR.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM.

LET'S KEEP.

THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARDS SOME AMICABLE SOLUTIONS.

I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP TALKING.

WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO GET THE BUDGET PASSED.

THERE IS NO URGENCY.

SO LET'S KEEP COMMUNICATING AND GET TO AN END TO IT.

AND I THINK WITH THAT, WE CAN.

ON THAT NOTE, THE NEXT ITEM, CAN WE? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DOES NOT WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS BUDGET IS NOT PASSED BY THE END OF THE YEAR? [INAUDIBLE] LAST MEETING THERE'S PROVISIONS INSIDE OF OUR CONTRACT, BUT WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT.

WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

SO LET'S LET THESE TWO CONTINUE WITH THEIR GOOD PROGRESS ON THIS SUBJECT AND WE'LL GET CLOSER TO GOOD ANSWERS AND WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE.

I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO ANOTHER FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING.

I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR YOU, MARIA, BUT I SUPPORT ALL OF THAT.

AND THERE'S NOT THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS SIMPLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WE'RE MISSING HERE BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE MEETING AFTER MEETING.

AND IT'S AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE HAVING A MEETING, WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, BECAUSE I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND THE INFORMATION REPORTING OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS THAT IT WAS PRODUCTIVE.

WE WERE CONVERGING AND WE HAD A MOTION OR AN AGENDA ITEM TO APPROVE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDS LAST TIME.

SO THE URGENCY WASN'T SET BY ME.

IT'S THAT WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO POSTPONE SOMETHING THAT WAS BEFORE US A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A PATH FORWARD AND I SUPPORT ANOTHER MEETING AS WELL, IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.

OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO END THE DISCUSSION.

OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[Public Comments ]

THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF OR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.

SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AND CITY AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.

THE COUNCIL WILL FIRST OPEN UP THE PODIUM TO CITY OF ORONO RESIDENTS BEFORE OPENING THE PODIUM TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, ADAM WILL KEEP THE TIME AND IT'S ON THE SCREEN SO YOU CAN WATCH IT AS YOU'RE TALKING.

SO IS THERE ANY ORONO RESIDENTS HERE TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK.

HI, I'M KIM CARSWELL AT 261 CYGNET PLACE.

AS A RESIDENT OF ORONO, I WILL CONTINUE TO COMMENT ON HOW THE CITY IS PROCEEDING TO BUILD A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT UP UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE UP FOR ELECTION.

MS. VEACH, MR. CROSBY AND MR. WALSH.

SO OUR CITIZENS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING.

TONIGHT I WILL SHARE FOUR POINTS.

THE COUNCIL HAS ADAMANTLY REFUSED TO TRULY LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF ORONO.

OPEN HOUSES SOUND GOOD ON PAPER.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN A WAY TO STIFLE COMMENTS AND COLLECT THE COLLECTED DATA IS NOT DEEMED VALUABLE.

THE BENEFITS OF ORONO BUILDING A FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM THE GROUND UP HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARLY ARTICULATED.

YES, WE ARE THE BIGGER CITY AND YES, WE PAY A LARGER PORTION OF THE COSTS WITH LONG LAKE.

THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO MANY OF US WHO VALUE THAT PARTNERSHIP.

RESPONSE TIMES THAT WERE CITED IN OUR FIRE BY OUR FIRE CHIEF WITHOUT DATA WERE DISPUTED BY THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH SOUND DATA.

THE COST SEEM TO BE MORE SO.

WHAT ARE THE TRUE BENEFITS TO THE CITIZENS OF ORONO?

[01:45:01]

THE FINANCIAL PICTURE OF THIS ENDEAVOR IS HIGH LEVEL AND OBTUSE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

HOW CAN A CITY THE SIZE OF ORONO WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET ASSUME SUCH A COST WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT RISKS? AND IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THOSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER ORONO RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? I'M HELEN LANDGRAVER I LIVE AT 2570 THOROUGHBRED LANE IN ORONO.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD I CAME TO THIS MEETING BECAUSE I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS THE FIRST MEETING THAT I'VE COME TO WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY I'VE ACTUALLY AGREED WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE UTTERED.

YES. YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.

MAYOR WALSH, YOU WERE YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.

COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH YOU WERE SEATED, BUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF ORON.O COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WHAT IS VERY CLEAR AFTER MANY MEETINGS, AFTER VOCAL OPPOSITION, CONTINUED VOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE FORMATION OF AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ORONO THAT THIS COUNCIL, THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL, HAVE NOT MADE A COMPELLING CASE FOR THE REASON THAT AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT MUST EXIST. SO WITH THAT I ASK, I PLEAD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AS HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR CITIZENSHIP IS SAYING.

ONE FINAL NOTE, MAYOR WALSH.

I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN PEOPLE NOT TALKING OVER EACH OTHER.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT YOU APPLY THAT SAME STANDARD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? SEEING NO OTHER PEOPLE FROM ORONO.

IS THERE ANY OTHER NON CITIZENS OF ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK TONIGHT? BRAD ERICKSON 21150 HORSESHOE TRAIL.

I JUST MOVED RECENTLY.

I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ANYMORE.

MR. CROSBY A COUPLE, THREE MEETINGS AGO, TWO MEETINGS AGO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A KERFUFFLE OUT FRONT.

I HOPE IT WAS CAUGHT ON BODY CAMERA.

I ALMOST GOT ARRESTED.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

BUT IT WAS ALL OVER THIS, THE NAZI STUFF REMEMBER THREE MEETINGS AGO YOU CALLED ME A NAZI FROM THE DAIS HERE IN ORONO.

HOW IS THAT REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS HERE? WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THEM? ARE THEY GOING TO ARREST ME FOR EXERCISING MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WERE DOING OUT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ON JANUARY 6TH OF 2021? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WERE DOING? IS THAT FUNNY TO YOU? I DON'T THINK IT'S REAL FUNNY.

BORING TO YOU? I DON'T THINK IT'S REAL BORING EITHER.

I DON'T THINK THAT LEGALLY YOU SHOULD EVEN BE ALLOWED TO SIT THERE, BECAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION, AS YOU SHOULD KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS ANY PART IN AN INSURRECTION OR GIVING AID OR COMFORT TO ANYONE INVOLVED IN AN INSURRECTION IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE.

I THINK THAT INCLUDES YOU.

I WONDER HOW INVOLVED HE WAS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE VIDEOS YOU GUYS SEND OUT.

WHAT KIND OF STUFF ARE YOU GUYS INTO? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THERE'S A TOWN DOWN IN TENNESSEE JUST SOUTH OF WHERE THOSE TWO BLACK LAWMAKERS GOT THROWN OUT AND THEN VOTED BACK IN.

[01:50:02]

ISN'T THAT WEIRD? YEAH, I THINK FRANKLIN OR FRANKLIN COUNTY I CAN'T REMEMBER.

TENNESSEE. LOOK IT UP.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE? YOUR BUDDY'S GOING TO COME AND PROTECT YOU.

YOU GOT THESE GUYS HERE FOR NOW.

BUT HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO GO ON? WHY DO THEY NEED TO PROTECT YOU? WHY WERE THE PROUD BOYS NEEDING TO PROTECT YOU DOWN AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION? AND WHO WAS PROTECTING YOU OUT IN IN WASHINGTON? AND WHO'S GOING TO PROTECT US FROM YOU? THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.

RIGHT. ALL THIS RIGHT WING ULTRA MAGA, WHATEVER.

YOU'VE GONE OFF THE TRACKS, MAN.

YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE AND DENOUNCE THIS KIND OF STUFF.

TAKE A STEP BACK.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE A MAN, MR. WALSH ISN'T. YOU DON'T GET TO DENY IT.

IT'S ON TAPE.

HE'S GOT AT LEAST 1 OR 2 DEGREES OF SEPARATION.

YOU DON'T. YOU SAT HERE.

SHE TRIED TO STOP YOU AND YOU SHUT HER DOWN.

THANK YOU, BRAD. RUDE.

RUDE. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. RICHIE ANDERSON.

I LIVE AT 3205 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD.

I OWN A COUPLE OF MARINAS IN ORONO.

I'VE OWNED FIVE OF THE SIX MARINAS IN ORONO AND I'VE BEEN DOING, I LIVED HERE 70 YEARS.

I STARTED IN 1976 IN OUR FIRST MARINA.

SO INTERESTING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE PREDECESSORS, MAYOR PETERSON AND MAYOR JABBOUR GOT THE FIRST FIRE STATIONS GOING AND I THINK THEY SIGNED A 25 YEAR NOTE WITH LONG LAKE IF MATT, COULD CORRECT ME.

WELL, THAT'S COME DUE.

AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU PULLED NINE AND TEN OFF THE AGENDA AGENDA CONSENT.

THIS IS A MONUMENTAL NIGHT.

THIS IS THE START OF THE OFD.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.

I PERSONALLY TALKED TO 1 TO 1 OF THE SIX THAT ARE GOING TO BE FULL TIME.

UH, HE WAS LOSING SLEEP OVER HIS DECISION TO LEAVE HIS PREVIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE THAT HE WAS FACING FROM JOHN Q PUBLIC AND HIS COMPADRES.

BUT HE MADE THE DECISION TO COME OVER TO HERE.

AND HOW ABOUT A 34 YEAR OLD VETERAN COMING OVER TO THE OFD? YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THE THREE PART TIMERS, ONE OF WHICH IS HERE, SHEA, NATE, KAYLA.

I WANT TO REALLY REACH OUT AND AND TELL THEM HOW PROUD I AM OF JEFF KRAHL, RYAN KANIVE, JB, JUSTIN HINKER, MIKE JOHNSRUD, BEN CARLSON AND TOM ALDRICH AND MR. VEACH. BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO DO THIS.

AND THE HORSE THAT CLYDESDALES HAVE LEFT THE BARN, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE TUTELAGE OF THE CHIEF, JAMES.

HE'S BEHIND YOU, CHIEF AND ADAM, TO GET THIS THING DONE.

SO THESE GUYS, IN MY OPINION, ARE OUR HEROES FOR STARTING THIS THING.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION FUND.

AND I KNOW IT'S NOT STARTED YET, BUT NORTH SHORE MARINA WILL COMMIT TO THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR $50,000.

FIRST $10,000 CHECK IS RIGHT HERE TO START THE RELIEF FUND.

WOW. WOW. AND BY ME LEANING ON GUYS THAT GOT IF I HAD THEIR MONEY, I'D BURN MINE.

THEY'LL THEY'LL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND THEY'LL HELP FUND THIS THING.

THIS IS MONUMENTAL.

THIS IS NOT A [INAUDIBLE] THING.

THIS STARTED WAY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE TWO FIRE STATIONS [INAUDIBLE].

WELL, ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND SHAKE YOUR HAND.

YEAH. SO IF YOU ACCEPT THIS [INAUDIBLE].

THAT'S AWESOME.

I'M DOING BUSINESS HERE.

IT HASN'T BEEN EASY [APPLAUSE].

[01:55:56]

[Mayor/Council Report ]

I'M. I'M SPEECHLESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

I THINK I TALKED TO JAMES AND ADAM LAST WEEK AND SAID I YOU HAVE A LOT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH AND EVERYTHING THAT I ASK FOR FROM ANY CURRENT CONTRACT, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ASK FOR FROM OUR MOVING FORWARD.

AND EVERY CONVERSATION I HAVE MAKES ME PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON SO.

COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.

YES, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT THE CITY OF ORONO AND THE CITY OF LONG LAKE WERE UNABLE TO USE THE TIME IN COURT, ORDERED MEDIATION TO COME TO A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE SOLUTION WITH THE CONTRACT.

AND ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF IN THE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICE OR ISO RATING FOR OUR CITIZENS IN ORONO.

THIS IS HOW FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ASSESSED FOR RISK AND THE RISK IN A NEW DEPARTMENT THAT IS UNTESTED BEING LED BY A CHIEF THAT WHILE HE HAS EXPERIENCE, HE HAS NEVER STOOD UP A DEPARTMENT BEFORE.

THE RISK IS SIGNIFICANT AND THIS IS A RISK THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED TO OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE SERVICE AREA OF NUMBER TWO DOWN BY NAVARRE.

INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT FAVOR RISK, AND OUR ISO RATING AT THIS POINT IS UNDETERMINED.

AND SO THAT'S ALL I'D LIKE TO SHARE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

RICHIE ANDERSON.

YOU BLOW ME AWAY, MAN.

THAT WAS JUST TOTALLY AWESOME.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO ORONO IS JUST IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SO GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOUR GENEROSITY HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT DEFINITELY ALMOST BRINGS A TEAR TO MY EYE.

IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT'S THE ONE THING, YOU KNOW, JAMES KNOWS BECAUSE HE WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER BEFORE HE CAME THE CHIEF.

BUT WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER AND YOU GIVE TO YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU GET SO MUCH BACK, IT'S TENFOLD THE AMOUNT OF EXCITEMENT THAT COMES INTO FIREFIGHTING AND RUNNING MEDICALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND HELPING YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT COME THROUGH SOME OF THE WORST TIMES OF THEIR LIFE.

IT'S IT'S AWESOME.

AND THE TRAINING THAT YOU GET THAT YOU WIND UP USING, YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE COULD BE A GYM OR SOMETHING, RIGHT CHIEF? IT'S VALUABLE AND IT'S GREAT SO.

I'M SORRY I MISSED LAST WEEK.

LIKE I SAID, THAT MEETING COULD NOT BE AVOIDED BEING MISSED.

UH, OUR COMMUNITY LOST A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN WHO I KNEW PERSONALLY, AND MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND ARE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WITH HIM.

AND IT WAS A TRAGIC LOSS.

BUT I FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE DECISION I NEEDED TO MAKE, SO.

UH. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW.

I'M EXCITED.

I'M EXCITED FOR ORONO FIRE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE OUTSTANDING.

WE GOT THE DUCKS ON THE TRUCK AND IT LOOKS GOOD.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE TERRIFIC.

AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT LEADER.

WE'VE GOT GREAT PERSONNEL JOINING THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCITING TIME.

IT REALLY IS.

BUT THAT WILL NOT CLOSE THE DOOR EVER ON US WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE AS

[02:00:05]

AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT.

THAT'S IT. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

THANK YOU. UM, COUPLE THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THE RESIDENT FEEDBACK HERE.

AND I THINK THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT IF WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN YOU, THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT LISTENING. AND I THINK WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT WAS A RESIDENT THAT'S IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

AND AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR ATTENDERS OF OUR MEETINGS AND IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, VALUABLE GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOU.

AND WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE VISIBILITY TO IS THAT I TALK TO MANY, MANY, MANY RESIDENTS.

AND SO IN MY DECISIONS AND IN MY VOTES, I'M REPRESENTING THE POPULATION OF ORONO, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE MEETINGS EVERY WEEK. YOU DON'T HAVE VISIBILITY TO WHO I TALK TO, WHAT INFORMATION I HAVE, WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS ARE WANTING US TO DO.

AND SO I TAKE MY VOTE SERIOUSLY.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY JOB IS.

I 100% BELIEVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH ORONO FIRE.

THIS IS NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

IT'S NOT THE MOST POPULAR THING TO DO, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND THIS PUTS ORONO IN THE POSITION TO PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS TO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND EXPECTATIONS THAT OUR RESIDENTS REQUIRE OF US. AND THIS PUTS US IN THAT POSITION.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THE FUTURE.

SO I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE CONFUSION BETWEEN IF I DISAGREE WITH YOU, WHICH MEANS I'M NOT LISTENING BECAUSE THAT ISN'T A FAIR RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE.

THE OTHER THING IS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DON'T REPRESENT RUMORS AS FACTS.

AND I'LL ADDRESS TWO OF THOSE.

UH, I PARTICIPATED AT THE MEDIATION, AND ANYONE THAT SAYS THAT WE DIDN'T GO THERE IN AN HONEST EFFORT TO FIND A SOLUTION WASN'T THERE.

BECAUSE IF YOU WERE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE WALKED AWAY SAYING, BOY, ORONO DIDN'T DO THEIR PART.

I WAS THERE WE DID OUR PART.

SO DON'T SAY IT IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT AS A FACT.

AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT SOUND DATA, ANOTHER BIG ANNOYANCE AND GLAD IT WAS BROUGHT UP.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME UNDERSTANDING DATA.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE, ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

OUR DATA WAS HONEST ABOUT EVALUATING RESPONSE TIMES, SO PEOPLE MIGHT USE DIFFERENT WAYS TO EVALUATE IT. BUT OURS WAS HONEST BASED ON A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED METHODOLOGY.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO BE US TO BE GOOD LISTENERS, YOU'LL BE A GOOD LISTENER TOO.

AND LISTEN AND DON'T STATE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IS FACT.

AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE A LOT MORE PROGRESS THAT WAY.

LASTLY, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, RICHIE.

AND I YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT HE SAID IN HIS COMMENTS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THESE FIREFIGHTERS ARE IS ABOUT SACRIFICE.

AND THIS EXTRA COMPLICATION OF NOT HAVING SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SOME PUBLIC AGAINST THESE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE MAKING THE DECISION TO MOVE OVER TO ORONO IS REAL.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE PLACING AN EXTRA BURDEN ON THEM.

BUT THIS DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, AND I REALLY RESPECT THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE NEW TO US AND THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE HAVING THE COURAGE, YOU KNOW, TO NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO COME ABOARD, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO, BUT THEY KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TOO.

SO THANK YOU, RICHIE.

THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT POINT UP.

AND THANKS FOR THE NEW FIREFIGHTERS.

THANKS. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I ECHO EVERYTHING YOU SAID, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR IT AGAIN.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THE PEOPLE WHO COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THE VOCAL OPPOSITION, THIS IS WHAT THE VOCAL SUPPORT LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT THE VOCAL SUPPORT SOUNDS LIKE.

AND THERE'S EVERYWHERE THAT I TALK TO AS WELL.

SINCE THE LAST MEETING A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF IS GOING ON BESIDES A SAD GAME WITH THE VIKINGS THAT I ATTENDED.

TYPICAL. TYPICAL 1 IN 4.

[02:05:02]

ANOTHER REBUILDING YEAR, I GUESS.

LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE HOMECOMING GAME VERSUS PROVIDENCE.

ORONO IS 6-0 THEY ARE KILLING IT.

THEY ARE DOING GREAT.

WE HAD WAS 34 NOTHING AT HALFTIME OR SOMETHING.

SO WE WATCHED THE FESTIVITIES AT HALFTIME.

THEN IT WAS FREEZING. SO WE LEFT AND CAME BACK AND PICKED UP THE GIRLS LATER.

BUT THEY ARE DOING GREAT. THE LAST HOME GAME IS THIS FRIDAY, SO IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE LAST HOME GAME, IT'S THIS FRIDAY.

DENNY THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A FAIR WEATHER FAN [LAUGHTER] AND IT IS SENIOR NIGHT SO THEY'LL HAVE SOME FUN STUFF FOR SENIORS. I'VE GOT A SENIOR, SO SHE'S DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AND ALL THE SENIORS AT THE HOMECOMING GAME HAD ALL THIS GREAT PARAPHERNALIA ON.

THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN.

WE HAD THE HOMECOMING DANCE THE NEXT NIGHT, SO WE WERE BRINGING GIRLS ALL OVER TOWN TO DIFFERENT PLACES TO EAT AND THEN TO THE DANCE, THEN TO AFTER PARTIES, THEN TO SLEEPOVERS.

SO IT WAS IT WAS A BLAST.

IT WAS FUN TO SEE. WE ALSO HAD THE FIRST EVER HOMECOMING PARADE WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF VAN EYLL DROVE ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY HERE AND WE HONKED THE HORN A GAZILLION TIMES.

PEOPLE WERE WAVING.

WE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.

THAT WAS FUN. THAT WAS THE INAUGURAL.

SO WE WERE THERE.

I WAS ALSO INVITED, TOO, BY RABBI ZIMMERMAN TO COME OUT TO CAMP TEKO IN ORONO, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE CAMP ON THE ON THE ORONO CHAIN HERE.

AND THEY HAD A $13 MILLION CAMPAIGN THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER OVER THE COURSE OF TIME TO REDO THE ENTIRE CAMP FOR MORE KIDS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS BECAUSE THEY'VE OWNED IT FOR 60 YEARS TO TO GET IT ALL PLACES THE CAMP.

AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST AMAZING THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE COUNCIL, SO WE HELPED THEM GET ALL THAT THROUGH.

AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

I THINK I POSTED IT ON THE FACEBOOK SITE.

I THINK THE IT WAS IN THE LAKER PIONEER.

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE GREAT IT'S OWNED BY TEMPLE ISRAEL.

IT'S CALLED CAMP TEKO.

AND MY MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE ALL THE PEOPLE FROM ISRAEL AS WELL.

THAT'S GOING ON OVER IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE COFFEE MY MAYOR FOR COFFEE IS WAS TYPICALLY THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH THIS MONTH, BECAUSE I'M NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS COMING WEDNESDAY.

I KNOW I THINK THE IT JUST WENT OUT ON THE LISTSERV.

I'M RIGHT ADAM TODAY.

I THINK I SAW IT GO OUT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS NOT TO NOT TO COME WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR DONUTS AND COFFEE.

IT'LL BE NEXT WEDNESDAY MORNING.

UM. I THINK THAT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE THIS MEETING IS GOING TO BE CLOSED AFTER THIS AS PERMITTED BY THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, SECTION 13 D05,

[Closed Session ]

ONE THE CITY OF LONG LAKE VERSUS THE CITY OF ORONO AND TWO, JAY NYGARD VS.

CITY OF ORONO, SOREN MATTICK.

SO WITH THAT MOTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING.

SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS SO EVERYBODY CAN HAVE TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CHAMBERS, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND GIVE THE OPENING TO THE PUBLIC.

WE WILL REOPEN FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS THEN CLOSE THE MEETING.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE COUNCIL MEETING.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. MOTION TO CLOSE.

SO MOVED.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.