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>> WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH ON OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING?
[Roll Call]
NOT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE IN PRESENT.WE ALWAYS START OUT WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO I INVITE YOU TO STAND UP AND FACE THE FLAG.
>> TO THE FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANKS FOR THAT. [NOISE] NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA,
[Consent Agenda]
AND THEN ONE VOTE WE WILL PASS.SO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND I WILL GO OVER THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE PASS IT TO SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE ANYTHING OFF.
SO WITH THAT, WHAT IS SOMEBODY THAT CAN TAKE A STAB IN THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT?
>> WILL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING.
I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 11 AS POSTED.
>> I'D LIKE TO TAKE 11 OFF, PLEASE.
>> SO WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS ITEMS 1 THROUGH 10, WHICH IS ONE AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13TH.
TWO AS THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13TH.
THREE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE WORK SESSION DRAFT AGENDA.
FOUR AS AN AUTHORIZED CLAIMS AND BILLS.
FIVE IS APPROVED ALCOHOL SALES LICENSES.
SIX IS APPROVED CALENDAR OF OFFICIAL PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SEVEN IS APPROVAL OF RECORDING DEVICES AGREEMENT.
EIGHT IS RESOLUTION 7421 DESIGNATE POLLING PLACES FOR 2024.
NINE IS RESOLUTION 7420 ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE TREE LIGHTING.
SO SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, LIKE TO THANK ACADEMY IN ORTHODONTICS, ORONO DENTAL, OFTEN BROTHERS, [NOISE] THE BAND GOOD ONE FAMILY, THE WALTON FAMILY, ME, LISA ERICKSON WITH THE DIANA REALTY, ORONO LIONS CLUB, HOLIDAY CIRCLE K AND CULVERTS.
THINK BETWEEN THAT WHOLE GROUP, THOSE ARE $8700 TOWARDS THE ORONO TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY THAT'LL BE NEXT WEEK OR THIS WEEKEND ACTUALLY.
>> [NOISE] NUMBER 1O IS APPROVAL UTILITY RATES, AND NUMBER 11 IS THE AUTHORIZED PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER WHICH HAS TAKEN OFF, AND IT WILL DO THAT AFTER NUMBER 13.
SO WE'LL DO OUR TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FIRST BEFORE WE REDO THAT ITEM.
SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE ITEMS ONE THROUGH TEN ON THE LIST CURRENTLY? SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
I HAVE A MOTION FOR ONE THROUGH 11, BUT 11 TAKEN OFF TO HAVE A SECOND.
>> OPPOSED. NOT THAT PASSES 5-0.
THE NEXT ONE WE WILL START WITH THIS NUMBER 12,
[12. Truth in Taxation]
WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.AND WE HAVE OUR TRUTH IN TAXATION.
SO BASICALLY, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF OUR 2024 BUDGET, THE CITY'S REQUIRED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT.
BY LAW, THIS HEARING MUST OCCUR BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25TH AND DECEMBER 28.
WHEN THE PRELIMINARY TAX LOBBYING BUDGET WAS APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS SET FOR NOVEMBER 27TH, 2023 AT 6:00 PM.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE FINAL STEP PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AND TAX OVN DECEMBER 11TH, 2023.
SO RON, I'LL THROW IT TO YOUR OVERHEAR TODAY. AND I WILL THROW TO YOU.
>> YEAH. [NOISE] SHAKING IT UP A LITTLE ON MY FINAL T ENTIRE [LAUGHTER] HERE.
SO I WILL START WITH THIS SLIDE.
WELL, THIS IS THE 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT IS TO DISCUSS THE 2024 BUDGET AND THE TAX LEVY.
OFTENTIMES WILL HAVE SOMEONE SHOW UP AT THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.
SO IT IS NOT THE TIME TO DISCUSS PROPERTY VALUES.
OPEN BOOK MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE SPRING AND ARE CONDUCTED HENNEPIN COUNTY.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOUR TAX VALUE STATEMENTS HERE ARE SENT OUT IN THE SPRING ALSO.
SO IF THE TIME COMES AND PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY VALUE, THEY CAN CALL TOM KUNIC, AND HIS NUMBER IS UP THERE ON THE SCREEN.
I GUESS THE TAX LEVY ITSELF AND THE BUDGET.
THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
SO YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF WORDS HERE TONIGHT THAT ALL SOUNDS SORT OF SIMILAR OR IT CAN SOUND SIMILAR.
THAT'S JUST WHAT YOUR THIS HENNEPIN COMING ASSESSING DETERMINES THE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY IS.
TAX CLASS RATE HAS TO DO WITH DIFFERENT PROPERTIES ARE TAXED AT DIFFERENT RATES.
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TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON RESIDENTIAL, BECAUSE ABOUT 98% OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE RESIDENTIAL.SO SPEND MOST OF THE TIME ON RESIDENTIAL.
IF PEOPLE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER PROPERTY TYPES, THEY CERTAINLY CAN CONTACT ME AND I COULD GO THROUGH IT.
HERE'S WHERE THE WORD STARTS SOUNDING ALL THE SAME.
WE HAVE TAX CAPACITY FOR PROPERTY.
EACH PROPERTY IN THE CITY HAS ITS OWN TAX CAPACITY.
THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE CITYWIDE TAX CAPACITY, WHICH HAS ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL TAX CAPACITIES ADDED TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THE TAX LEVY, WHICH IS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL.
AND THEN WE HAVE A TAX CAPACITY RATE.
AND THE TAX CAPACITY RATE IS A CALCULATED NUMBER AND WE'LL SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME ON IT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE JUST BECAUSE THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT TITLES THERE THAT REFER TO TAX CAPACITY AND SOMETIMES I CAN SAY THINGS IN.
SO MOST PEOPLE ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THEY'RE HERE FOR THE TMT MEETING.
THEY WORRY ABOUT THE TAXES MORE THAN ANYTHING.
SO I ALWAYS START THIS MEETING BY HOW YOUR TAXES ARE CALCULATED.
AND IT ALL STARTS WITH THE HEAD OF MY COUNTY ASSESSOR.
THEY DETERMINE THE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE, AND BY LAW, THEY NEED TO BE, I BELIEVE IT'S BETWEEN 95% OF THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME.
WHEN YOUR HOME IS SAY IT SOLD, LOOK AT IT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN 95% AND 102% OF THE ACTUAL SALE PRICE.
IF THEY'RE UNDER THAT, THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES VALUES START GETTING MARKED UP BECAUSE THEY'RE REALIZING OVERALL THEY'RE FOUR OR 5% UNDER THE MARKET VALUE.
AND THERE'S A GENERAL INCREASE OF THAT FOR MOST PROBLEMS. BUT THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ASSESSOR STARTS AT WITH DETERMINING THE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE.
AND WE TAKE THAT MARKET VALUE AND WE MULTIPLY IT BY THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AND AS I MENTIONED, WE USE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES BECAUSE MOST OF OUR TAX PAPERS, THOSE ARE RESIDENTIAL.
AND THE TAX RATE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS 1% OF THE FIRST $500,000 IN VALUE, AND 1.25% OF ALL THE VALUE ABOVE $500,000.
AND THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE TAX CAPACITY FOR A INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY.
AND THEN WE TAKE THE TAX CAPACITY OF ALL THE PROPERTIES OF THE CITY.
AND I JUST 3102 IS JUST A MADE-UP NUMBER.
I THINK IT IS HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE TAKE EACH AND EVERY PROPERTIES TAX INDIVIDUAL TAX CAPACITY, AND WE ADD THEM ALTOGETHER.
AND THAT BECOMES THE CITY TAX CAPACITY.
THEN THIS IS WHERE THE FUN STARTS.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL OFFICIALLY ADOPT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
SO THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY THAT IS ADOPTED AT THE NEXT MEETING DIVIDED BY THE CITY'S TAX CAPACITY WILL GIVE US A VALUE THAT IS CALLED THE TAX CAPACITY RATE.
SO THE LEVY IS PROJECTED TO BE $9,415,100.
THE CITY'S TAX CAPACITY IS JUST OVER 57,600,000.
AND SO IF YOU DIVIDE THE 9.4 MILLION BY THE 57 MILLION, YOU END UP WITH A NUMBER OF 16.32%.
AND THAT IS THE TAX CAPACITY RATE.
THE RATE IT'S A CALCULATED NUMBER WHEN YOU HEAR THE LEVY, IT'S WHAT WE [NOISE] THEN THE BASIC FORMULA FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY IS TO TAKE THE PROPERTIES AT THAT TAX CAPACITY TIMES THAT TAX CAPACITY RATE AND YOU WILL HAVE THE NET TAX.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE AN EXAMPLE OF A PROPERTY WORTH $1,405,700.
IT'S AN ACTUAL PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT.
IT'S THE SAME PROPERTY. WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING THIS CALCULATION FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.
SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, 1% OF THE FIRST 500,000 WILL GIVE YOU $5,000, AND 1.25% OF THE REMAINING AS ANOTHER $11,321, AND 25% FOR A TOTAL TAX CAPACITY, REFERRED ALL TAX CAPACITY ON THE PROPERTY OF $16,321 AND 25%.
IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT TIMES THE CITY'S TAX CAPACITY OF 16, I THINK I ROUNDED OFF ON THE LAST ONE, BUT THE WHOLE NUMBER IS 16.324% WOULD GIVE YOU A CITY TAX OF $2664.28.
THAT'S HOW YOUR CITY PORTION OF TAXES IS CALCULATED.
IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF CALCULATION FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE COUNTY, AND THE OTHER ENTITIES BUT THIS IS IT FOR THE CITY, AND THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT RATES,
[00:10:03]
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MIGHT HAVE BONDING LEVIES THAT WERE PASSED SO THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.I'M ONLY SPEAKING TOWARDS THE CITY PORTION OF THE TAX GIVEN TO ME.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS FOR THEM TO ADOPT, AND THAT'S WHERE HE SAID THE $9,415,100, AND THIS IS JUST SHOWING THE TAX CAPACITY COMPARED THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR.
SAY THAT IN 2023 THE TAX CAPACITY RATE WAS 16.53%, THIS YEAR'S IS ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY LOWER AT 16.32%.
THAT'S JUST A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RATES IN TWO YEARS.
NOW THIS IS WHERE WE CALCULATED.
IF YOU REMEMBER THAT NUMBER I SHOWED YOU, I'D CALCULATED, I THINK IT WAS A FEW PENNIES OFF, BUT USE THAT PROPERTY THAT WAS VALUED AT $1,405,700 AND THERE'S THE CITY SHARE OF TAXES AT $2,664.23.
THIS PROPERTY YOU COULD SEE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR INCREASED FROM 1.25 MILLION TO 1.45.
SO THAT'S THE CALCULATION OF THE CITY TAX.
I PROVIDED THIS SLIDE HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU THAT THE MATH WORKS OUT.
THEN I TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE MANY ENTITIES ON THIS BILL, THE CITY PORTION OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, THIS IS FOR A HOME WHERE NO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE CITY SHARE OF THE TAXES ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT JUST 17.8%.
ACTUALLY, THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF TAXES AS LAST YEAR SO THE PROPORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL THAT IS DUE TO THE CITY HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH MEANS SOME OF THESE TAXES CAN BE INCREASED TO MORE THAN THE CITY.
THIS IS A CHART THAT I'VE PUT UP FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THE GRAPH ON THE LEFT IS FROM 20TH TO 21 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, PROPERTY TAX LEVIES 2017-2019.
THESE GET UPDATED AND NOT CLOSE TO AN ANNUAL CYCLE.
SOME YEARS ARE UPDATED CONSECUTIVELY, SOME YEARS THERE MIGHT GO THREE YEARS WITHOUT IT BEING UPDATED SO THIS WAS THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION I HAD.
BUT YOU CAN SEE ON AN AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 28%, THE COUNTY IS 31% AND CITIES WOULD BE 26%, AND THE STATE HAS A PROPERTY TAX ON SEASONAL RECREATIONAL HOMES.
THEY'D HAVE A STATE PROPERTY TAX ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE STATE FOR COMMERCIAL.
WE DO HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF SEASONAL RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY.
THE ONE I USED WAS NOT A SEASONAL RECREATIONAL PROPERTY, BUT YOU CAN SEE WE STACK UP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST 36% IN THE ORIENTAL SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS PERIOD, COMPARED TO A STATEWIDE AVERAGE OF 28%, SO THEY'RE TAKING A MUCH HIGHER CHUNK OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL THAN HIS AVERAGE.
THE STATE-WIDE AVERAGES FOR COUNTIES ARE 31%, AND THEN THE CITY IS AT 17.88% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE OF CITIES [NOISE] THROUGHOUT THE STATE SO I WON'T MAKE THAT JOKE.
THEN WE'VE DONE THIS SLIDE FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, IT JUST COMPARES US TO THE CITIES SURROUNDING US.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH EVERY CITY THAT WE BORDER ON, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT TONKA BAY DOES HAVE A LOWER TAX CAPACITY RATE THAN WE DO, BUT NOBODY ELSE DOES, AND IF YOU GET OUT TO MAPLE PLAIN, THEY'RE UP OVER THE 50% TAX PASSING GRADE FOR MAPLE PLAIN, AND THE HENNEPIN COUNTY AVERAGE IS ABOUT 36% SO OUR TAX RATE IS LOWER THAN THE HENNEPIN COUNTY AVERAGE AND IT IS LOWER THAN MANY OF THE CITIES AROUND US, EVEN THE LAKESHORE CITIES, SO WE ARE LESS THAN MOST CITIES.
WE ARE FIFTH IN THE COUNTY, AND I THINK IN THE STATEWIDE,
[00:15:01]
WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE ONE OF THE LOWEST.I'VE NEVER CALCULATED IN THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WE ARE AT THE LOWEST IN THE STATE TOO.
>> RON, I HAVE A QUESTION THEN.
IS THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HIGHER HOME VALUE SO THAN A CITY LIKE MAPLE PLAIN, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> HIGHER HOME VALUES IN GENERAL CAN PLAY A ROLE IN THAT, BUT I'D POINT OUT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT MINNETONKA BEACH, WHO HAS HIGHER HOME VALUES THAN WE DO, THEY'RE UP OVER 20%.
THEY'RE SMALLER CITY THAN US, SO THEY HAVE LESS PROPERTIES, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT, BUT HIGH HOME VALUE CERTAINLY DOES PLAY A ROLE.
WHAT MAKES A BIGGER DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES, MAPLE PLAIN OR EVEN MOUND, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ARE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAX CLASS IS HIGHER THAN THE RESIDENTIAL.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WITH THE SAME VALUE AS A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WILL PAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TAXES.
>> YES. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT AND HOME VALUES THAT ARE ONE PIECE OF IT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PIECE OF IT. I WOULD SAY.
>> THAT'S A GREAT GRAPH TO YOU IS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT TOO, THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET, THE ROADS BUDGET, THE PARKS BUDGET, WAIVE ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE PAID FOR.
WE HAVE ALL THE CIP ORGANIZED WHEREVER THE POLICE CARS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, FIRE, AND SO WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET WHICH IS UNIQUE AS WELL.
>> WE'LL TOUCH ON SOME OF THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE ON HOW YOUR TAXES ARE KEPT.
NOTE WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMPARISONS LIGHTS.
THIS WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME.
THIS WOULD SHOW JUST WHAT THE TAX LEVY WOULD DO TO YOUR PROPERTY IF YOU HAD NO CHANGE IN VALUE, YOU CAN SEE YOU WOULD ACTUALLY SEE A SLIGHT DECREASE ACROSS THE BOARD RANGING FROM $5 ON A $250,000 HOME TO $50 ON A $2,000,000.
NOT VERY MANY PROPERTIES DON'T CHANGE AT ALL.
SOME GO UP, SOME ACTUALLY GO DOWN, I THINK IN THE 2023, ASSESSING, MORE PROPERTIES WENT UP IN VALUE THAN DOWN BUT WE'RE STILL VALUED PROPERTIES THAT DIDN'T GO DOWN IN VALUE IN THE CITY.
>> RON, DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE HOMES THAT HAVE GONE UP? DO YOU HAVE A SLIDE INDICATING ANY VALUATIONS THAT HAVE INCREASED?
>> THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN VALUE.
SO IF YOUR MOM WENT UP 5%, THE LOWER END OF 250,000 WOULD GO UP TO $17 OR 44.45%, AND THE $2,000,000 HOME WOULD GO UP $154,000.
$154 AND THOSE ARE ANNUAL NUMBERS SO THE 154 WOULD BE JUST WOULD THAT BE TEN? JUST OVER $10 A MONTH.
AND THEN BECAUSE OVERALL VALUES WENT UP AROUND 13, OUR TAX BASE WENT UP 13 PERCENT THIS YEAR ROUGHLY.
I DID THROW IN A SLIDE THAT SHOWS A 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN A HOME VALUE, AND I'M MAD AT THE LOWER END OF A $250,000 HOME, INCREASING TO 262.
THEIR TAXES WOULD GO UP $17.30; THAT'S THE SAME DARNN SLIDE.
THE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIGGER THAN THAT.
IT'D BE LIKE $30 ON THE $250,000 HOME AND $300 ON THE $2 MILLION HOME.
I THINK I COPIED A SLIDE AND THEN DELETED THE WRONG ONE WHEN I UPDATED IT.
BUT YES, IF ANYONE CARES TO SEE IT, I DO HAVE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS ON A 10% INCREASE IN VALUE.
AND THAT'S IT FOR HOW THE TAXES ARE CALCULATED AND HOW THAT TAX RATE IMPACTS YOUR TAXES, HOW THE LEVY IMPACTS THE RATE, ALL COVERED AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THIS IS A SUMMARY OF OUR REVENUES.
YOU CAN SEE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE PROPERTY TAXES IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST FUNDING SOURCE AND THAT IS INCREASING BY 904,000 OR 16% FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
LICENSES AND PERMITS WERE LEAVING THE SAME.
THE LICENSES LINE ITEMS ARE PRETTY MINOR LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
[00:20:02]
THE PERMITS ARE BUILDING PERMITS AND WE HAVE HAD ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE ON A RUN OF VERY GOOD YEARS FOR BUILDING PERMITS.I THINK THIS YEAR IS PROBABLY SURPASSING LAST YEAR, BUT WITH INTEREST RATES INCREASING AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN PLAN ON BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE GOING WAY ABOVE BUDGET FOR A LONG TIME.
I THINK IF YOU WENT BACK SIX YEARS, WE ACTUALLY MISSED, WE DID NOT MAKE OUR BUILDING PERMIT REVENUES.
SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD YEARS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN BASE OUR BUDGET ON BRINGING IN $750,000 OF BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY TIME AND ONCE IT SLOWS DOWN WE DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT UNDERFUNDED IN THE BUDGET.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE IS DECREASING $98,000 AND THAT'S MONEY WE GET FROM VARIOUS OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
THAT'S AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T REMEMBER BUT THE DRIVER WAS ON THAT, I SHOWED KNOW THAT.
>> OH, YES, TOWARDS ZERO DEATH.
THANK YOU, ADAM [LAUGHTER] TOWARDS ZERO DEATH IS A STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM AND [NOISE] WE'RE SORT OF THE LEAD AGENCY, BUT FOR NEXT YEAR TOO BUT YEAR FOR TOWARDS ZERO DEATH DOES NOT MATCH UP WITH THE CALENDAR YEAR, SO WE WILL NOT RECEIVE AS MUCH MONEY FROM THAT.
THERE IS ALSO A DECREASE IN THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE BUDGET FOR IT, WE WILL HAVE LESS EXPENDITURES ON THAT.
LITTLE GOVERNMENTAL SERVICE CHARGES, THESE WOULD MOSTLY BE THE SERVICE CONTRACTS [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] SPRING PARK, MINNETONKA BEACH FOR THESE SERVICES AND SPRING PARK FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES ARE INCREASING BY 61,000 AND THE POLICE CONTRACTS HAVE INFLATORS THAT ARE BASED ON INFLATION [NOISE] OR THE INCREASE OF UNION WAGES.
OOPS, I WAS WRONG. THAT WAS THE NEXT ONE BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN A HAIR FROM WHAT WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR HAD PARTWAY THROUGH THIS YEAR.
WE REALIZED THAT LAST YEAR WHEN THE WAGES WENT UP NINE PERCENT AND CONTRACT CITIES WERE ALL EXCITED AND THEIR WAGES, THEIR FEES WERE GOING TO GO UP NINE PERCENT.
WE REALIZED THERE WAS A CAP ON THE CONTRACT THAT LIMITED IT TO FIVE PERCENT SO WE HAD TO DECREASE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO REFLECT THAT LAST YEAR'S SUM OF THOSE CHARGES ONLY WENT UP [NOISE] FIVE PERCENT INSTEAD OF THE NINE PERCENT THAT WAS BUDGETED.
AND FINES AND FORFEITURES, COURT FINES SEEM TO BE PICKING UP SO WE INCREASE THAT ONE $5,000.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, THAT NUMBER WOULD BE ABOUT $120,000, YOU'RE GETTING ABOUT $10,000 A MONTH IN COURT FINES, I THINK.
THE STATE AND THE COUNTY ARE TAKING MORE OF THE SHARE OF THOSE FINES, SO WE GET WHAT'S LEFT OVER, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE TRENDING UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND ALSO DURING COVID, WHEN PEOPLE WEREN'T OUT MOVING AROUND, THERE WASN'T LOTS OF TICKETS, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING THAT WOULD GENERATE ANYTHING THERE BUT THEIR STOCKING CAME UP.
INVESTMENT REVENUE IS GOING UP.
OBVIOUSLY, IF ANYONE WHO WATCHES THE NEWS, HEARS ABOUT INTEREST RATES INCREASING, WELL, INTEREST RATES INCREASING FOR US MEANS WE WILL EARN MORE INTEREST REVENUE SO WE INCREASE THAT ONE.
BIG DECREASE THERE OF $377,000.
WE'RE MOVING THE GOLF COURSE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY APPROVED THAT EARLIER THIS SUMMER, AND SO THEN IT WAS IN THE 2023 BUDGET, NOW IT'S BEING REMOVED FROM THE 2024 BUDGET.
AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, THAT'S JUST SOMETIMES IT'S, PEOPLE WILL MAKE A DONATION, SOMETIMES WE'RE SELLING EXCESS PROPERTY OR SURPLUS PROPERTY EVERY SO OFTEN, WILL BRING A MOTION IN FRONT OF YOU TO SELL OFF SURPLUS PROPERTY THAT WOULD GO INTO THE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.
IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL REVENUE LINE ITEM BUT THAT'S WHAT GOES IN THERE.
AND SO THE TOTAL INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET IS 4.9 PERCENT OR $543,000 AND THAT IS USED TO FUND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT.
[00:25:01]
A LOT OF THE INCREASES, MAYOR-COUNCIL, IT SHOWS IT GOING UP 41 PERCENT THAT'S BECAUSE IT HAS A VERY SMALL BASE AND WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY WE BUDGET SOME THINGS.WE CHANGED THE WAY WE USED TO CHARGE THE MINUTES TO CENTRAL SERVICES.
NOW THEY'RE BEING CHARGED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES ARE BEING CHARGED TO PLANNING AND ZONING AND THE PARK MINUTES ARE BEING CHARGED TO PARKS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT BETTER KEEPS TRACK OF WHAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON.
SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN THE MAYOR, COUNCIL BUDGET AND I THINK THE INCREASED EDUCATION [NOISE] A LITTLE BIT ON THAT ONE.
ELECTIONS, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG PERCENTAGE INCREASE, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE 2024 IS AN ELECTION YEAR, IT HAPPENS.
IN ANOTHER YEAR, THAT NUMBER WILL COME DOWN QUITE A BIT.
SO IT'S JUST AN ELECTION YEAR, THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THAT INCREASE.
27 PERCENT IN CENTRAL SERVICES.
THAT'S JUST TO ALIGN THE BUDGET BETTER WITH ACTUAL TO REFLECT INCREASING ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS COSTS AND THE FACT THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE BUILDING ADDED TO OUR; WE'LL HAVE THE OLD PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING AND WE'LL HAVE A NEW PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF THAT [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.
THEN THE ONE THAT MAYBE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS FIRE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE INCREASING AS WE STAND UP OUR ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT LINE ITEM WENT FROM ZERO, TWO YEARS AGO WITH 2,776 IN THE 2024 BUDGET FOR ITS 601 PERCENT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.
TO KEEP IN MIND THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT LONG LAKE FIRE LINE ITEM THAT'S 607,000 WILL EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR FROM THE BUDGET AS WE ARE PROVIDING FIRE SERVICE TO ORONO ON OUR OWN.
SO YOU'RE SEEING, THERE'S SOME OVERLAP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT IN THE FUTURE, THE LONG-WAY LINE ITEM WILL DISAPPEAR.
BUILDING AND ZONING IS INCREASING BY 53,000, MOSTLY WAGES, THEY HAVE SOME PEOPLE GOING THROUGH STEPS.
SO EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL INCREASE IN WAGES IS ONLY THREE PERCENT IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH STEPS AS THEY HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER, IT CAUSES THAT TO BE A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE PERCENT BUT MOST OF THE BUDGET OF BUILDING AND ZONING IS IN THE WAGE LINE ITEM.
ENGINEERING WE'RE INCREASING $5,000, WHICH IS A BIG PERCENTAGE OF A HUGE DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT A BIG PERCENTAGE OF 25%.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ENGINEERING GOING ON WITH GIS AND CAPTURING ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OUR STOP SIGNS AND YOU'D BE AMAZED AT WHAT WE KEEP TRACK OF.
WELL, THAT TAKES SOMEONE GOING OUT IN THE FIELD AND SHOOTING, RECORDING THE GPS COORDINATES, THEN UPLOADING THEM INTO THE SOFTWARE AND IT COSTS MONEY.
BUT IN THE END, IT'S ALREADY SHOWING.
THE GIS SYSTEM AND CARTOGRAPH IS ALREADY SHOWING GREAT BENEFITS AND GREATER EFFICIENCY AND WORK FOR THE CITY.
STREET MAINTENANCE IS GOING UP 12%.
A LOT OF THAT WOULD BE WAGES AGAIN, AND WE'RE ALSO INCREASING, I THINK WE'RE INCREASING.
>> REMEMBER WHAT WE'RE INCREASING OTHER THAN WAGES.
WE CHANGE THE ALLOCATION OF PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT TO BETTER REFLECT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THAT CAN OFTEN MEAN THAT WAGES FROM ONE DEPARTMENT ARE SHIFTING TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, WHICH CAN THROW ONE DEPARTMENT OFF OF A BIT.
THE NEXT THREE LINE ITEMS ARE REALLY SMALL.
EVEN THOUGH THE BRUSH SITES INCREASE IN 17% IT'S REALLY SMALL IN TERMS OF THE WHOLE BUDGET.
WE USED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE COME IN AND CHIP UP ALL THE BRUSH AND TREES AT NO CHARGE AND THEY WOULD TAKE THE WOOD CHIPS AWAY.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE THOSE TREES CHIPPED.
THAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE ON THE BRUSH SITE BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE GOLF COURSE IS A BIG DECREASE, 100% DECREASE, AND THAT CORRESPONDS WITH WHAT I SAID JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.
IT'S BEING MOVED OUT OR WAS MOVED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, SO THAT DOES DECREASE THAT.
IN SPECIAL SERVICES, THIS WOULD BE THE TOWARD ZERO DEPT THAT I SAID THAT THAT'S WHERE THAT WOULD BE CHARGED, SO YES, THE REVENUES ARE GOING DOWN, BUT THE EXPENDITURES ARE GOING DOWN TOO.
TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS ARE DECREASING 50%.
ON PAPER IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DECREASING 50% IN THE GENERAL FUND; IN REALITY,
[00:30:03]
WE USED TO HAVE TO LEVY $400,000 THAT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE IMPROVEMENT EQUIPMENT OUTLAY FUND, NOW WE'RE LEVYING $200,000 THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE IMPROVEMENT EQUIPMENT OUTLAY FUND.THEN ANOTHER $275,000 ACTUALLY, IS BEING LEVIED TO THE FIRE CAPITAL FUND.
THERE WAS $200,000 IN THE 2023 BUDGET THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR FIRE CAPITAL, BUT WE'RE NO LONGER LEVYING FOR IT.
IN THE GENERAL FUND WE'RE LEVYING FOR IT IN THE FIRE CAPITAL FUNDS SO, IT'S JUST A CHANGE OF FUNDS BUT THE LEVY DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH BECAUSE OF IT.
THAT'S INCREASING 533,853, AND THAT WILL GIVE US THE BALANCED BUDGET AS SOON AS I FIND OUT WHY THIS IS $123 INSTEAD OF $130, AND THE TWO WILL MATCH.
WHEN YOU ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET NEXT MEETING, THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, WE WILL MATCH EXACTLY.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET.
I TALKED ABOUT WAGES AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT OF THE $11,500,000 BUDGET, 7,589,000 ARE WAGES.
WE ARE A SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THAT MEANS OUR WAGES ARE THE BIGGEST PIECE OF OUR BUDGET.
THEN WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT, IF YOU JUMPED DOWN THREE LINES FROM WAGES, YOU SEE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
THAT'S OUR AUDITORS, THAT'S OUR FRIENDLY CITY ATTORNEY OVER ACROSS THE WAY FROM ME, THAT'S OUR CONSULTING ENGINEER, LONG LAKE FIRE BILLS ARE IN THERE TOO BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING THEM FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.
SO IF YOU ADD THOSE TWO LINES TOGETHER, A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET ARE PEOPLE.
WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTED PEOPLE OR EMPLOYEES, THAT IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF OUR BUDGET BY FAR.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE INCREASING THE MOST TOO; ARE THE WAGES, AND THAT'S SET AT 3% INCREASE IN WAGES, PLUS PEOPLE WORKING THROUGH THE STEPS.
SUPPLIES AND MAINTENANCE IS GOING UP A FAIR AMOUNT, BUT THAT'S JUST THE COST OF BUYING WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS BUYING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
HALF OF THAT INCREASE IS ACTUALLY LONG LAKE FIRE IN THEIR CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED YET AND WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THERE.
THEN WE DO HAVE SOME LINE ITEMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY DECREASING.
A LOT OF THAT CAN BE JUST CHANGING HOW WE'RE BUDGETING SOMETHING.
WE CHANGE MAINTENANCE, AUTO MAINTENANCE NOW GETS PAID FOR OUT OF THE FLEET FUND.
IT'S AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND.
WELL, WHEN IT WAS BEING PAID FOR OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND OR EACH DEPARTMENT, IT WAS OTHER EXPENSE.
NOW THAT IT'S BEING FUNDED BY A TRANSFER, EACH FLEET GETS ITS MONEY FROM A TRANSFER FROM THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE FLEET SERVICES, WHILE FLEET SERVICES IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SO THAT'S PART OF THE ANOTHER REASON WHY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS INCREASING.
IT WAS A TRANSFER OF CHARGES THAT USED TO BE CORRECTLY CHARGED TO OTHER EXPENSES, NOW THEY'RE CHARGED TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
IT'S NOT AN INCREASE IN SPENDING LEVELS, IT'S JUST A SHIFTING OF THE ACCOUNTING.
THEN TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S GOING DOWN $200,000, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE WAY WE LEVY FOR FINER EQUIPMENT.
PURCHASES FOR RESALE, THAT'S RELATED TO THE GOLF COURSE.
THAT'S WHY THAT'S DISAPPEARING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
IT WILL BE IN ITS OWN ENTERPRISE FUND IN 2024.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
THIS IS HOW WE REPORT IT TO THE STATE.
YOU SEE THE REVENUES ON TOP BY THEIR CATEGORIES, AND THEN YOU SEE APPROPRIATED EXPENDITURES BENEATH THAT, AND THOSE ARE THE CATEGORIES SET BY THE STATE.
PUBLIC SAFETY ACTUALLY INCLUDES POLICE, FIRE, AND BUILDING AND ZONING, BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING CODES.
THAT IS IT FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT WOULD GO FURTHER IN, IF ANYONE WANTS FURTHER DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BUDGET, THEY CAN CERTAINLY CALL ME AND I CAN GO DOWN TO THE LINE ITEM THAT WE'RE SPENDING FOR RENTING THE PORTA POTTI AT THE BRUSH SITE.
[00:35:01]
BUT FOR THESE PURPOSES, WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.I GUESS I'M READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WHY DON'T WE WAIT FOR QUESTIONS UNTIL WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT THEN YOU CAN HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.
I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE TRUTH IN TAXATION.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK, IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME, THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, MR. OLSEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE LEAVING US AND I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.
I SPEAK TONIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE BUDGET AND THE RESULTING 26% TAX INCREASE IN MY PERSONAL ORONO TAXES.
MY HOME VALUATION DID NOT GO UP 26%.
SINCE MR. WALSH HAS BEEN MAYOR, THE TAX LEVY HAS INCREASED FROM $5.2 MILLION IN 2017 TO A PROPOSED $9.4 MILLION IN 2024.
THAT IS MORE THAN AN 80% CUMULATIVE INCREASE.
PART OF THAT INCREASE IS TO FUND THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE MAYOR HAS HIRED A FIRE CHIEF, ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS, RECRUITED FIREFIGHTERS, FIVE FIRE TRUCKS, AMONG OTHER ACTIONS.
BUT, LONG LAKE AND ORONO ARE PARTIES TO A CONTRACT FOR FIRE PROTECTION THAT RUNS FROM OCTOBER OF 2002 UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2025.
THIS PAST SUMMER, LONG LAKE SOUGHT AN INJUNCTION TO ENJOIN ORONO FROM BREAKING THAT CONTRACT.
JUDGE MILLER, WHO WAS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED JUDGES IN THE STATE, GRANTED THAT INJUNCTION.
LAST WEEK, JUDGE MILLER FOUND THAT ORONO WILLFULLY DISOBEYED HER ORDER.
SHE SPECIFICALLY FOUND THAT ORONO, THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF THE MAYOR AND THE FIRE CHIEF, VIOLATED THAT ORDER, AND AS A RESULT, SHE ORDERED ORONO TO PAY LONG LAKES ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
SHE ALSO ORDERED THAT ANY FUTURE VIOLATION OF THE INJUNCTION WOULD RESULT IN A 2,000 FINE PER OCCURRENCE.
I OBJECT TO MY HARD EARNED TAX MONEY BEING USED TO PAY ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS FOR THE CONTEMPTUOUS BEHAVIOR OF THE MAYOR AND THE FIRE CHIEF.
I OBJECT TO ANY FURTHER ACTIONS BEING TAKEN OR TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT BY ORONO OR IT'S ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT VIOLATE THE FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT AND THE COURT'S INJUNCTION.
I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LONG LAKE AND ORONO CAN'T MEDIATE AND SETTLE THIS DISPUTE.
I ASK THAT THERE BE A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUE OF ORONO HAVING ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT UNTIL AFTER THERE IS A REFERENDUM, THE NEXT MAYORAL ELECTION, AND A REFERENDUM ON MAYOR WALSH'S PLAN.
I NOTE THAT THE NEXT ELECTION OCCURS BEFORE THE END OF THE CONTRACT. [APPLAUSE].
>> KIM CARSWELL, 261 CYGNET PLACE.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY I'VE OBSERVED WITH THIS COUNCIL.
WHILE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR TAX RATE REMAINING STEADY, THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THE CITY HAS COLLECTED HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY.
AS DENISE REILLY JUST SAID, THE FUNDS THAT THE CITY HAS PULLED IN HAVE INCREASED OVER 80% SINCE 2017.
THAT'S 80% MORE DOLLARS THE CITY HAS TO PLAN TO SPEND.
THIS IS FAR MORE THAN ANY INFLATIONARY RATE THAT I HAVE SEEN.
WITH THE INCREASED VALUATION OF EXISTING HOMES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, MAYBE TO A LESSER EXTENT, AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE SAME SOURCES, THE CITY CAN CONTINUOUSLY COLLECT WHAT IT CAN UNDER A STEADY TAX RATE AND THE VALUES ARE ASTOUNDING.
WE APPEAR TO BE SPENDING WHAT WE HAVE, VERSUS BUILDING A BUDGET OF WHAT WE NEED AND THEN PRIORITIZING OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ZERO-BASED BUDGETING.
JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, LIKE DENISE SAID, IN 2017, THE CITY PULLED IN OVER 5.2 MILLION.
IT JUMPED IN 2022 TO 6.9 MILLION, AND NOW AS RON HAD SAID, IT'S JUMPING TO 9.4.
THAT'S 80% INCREASE OF DOLLARS.
I THINK TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE BEING STEADY IS NOT
[00:40:01]
COMPLETELY CLEAR COMMUNICATION TO THE CITIZENS AS OF HOW MUCH MONEY YOU KEEP BRINGING IN AND SPENDING.>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JAMES ELDER, 195 SOUTH BROWN ROAD, ORONO.
I GOT A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.
ONE IS IN YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH, YOU ARE MAKING AN ASSUMPTION OF PROPERTY VALUES REMAINING STATIC.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE HERE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR PROPERTY VALUES STAY THE SAME OR WENT DOWN. HOW MANY HANDS? THERE YOU GO. YOUR TYPICAL EXAMPLE DOESN'T WORK.
NOW YOU HAD SOME OTHER SLIDES ON, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO PRINT SO I DON T THINK THAT'S TRUTH IN TAXATION.
I THINK THAT'S AN OXYMORON IN MANY CASES.
NUMBER 2, THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHAT A TAX LEVY SHOULD BE IS OPAQUE.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. HERE'S A QUESTION.
BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION IMPACT ON THE PROPERTY VALUES AND THE INCREASE IN THE TAX CAPACITY OF THE CITY.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY? THE ANSWER IS NO, THERE ISN'T A THERE ISN'T A MANDATE THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT ALL. YOU JUST HAVE IT.
HAD HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA BACK IN THE '70S AND THE VOTERS AS A PROPOSITION THAT KEPT AND I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA HERE.
THE MORE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, THE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND.
OUR MONEY THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND, AND IT'S NOT WELL ACCOUNTED FOR.
ANOTHER OBSERVATION IS THAT THERE ARE A GROUP FUNDS THAT YOU CALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
WHAT IT REALLY IS A GROUP OF SOME EXPENSES THAT ARE DESCRIBED AS PROFITS FOR THE CITY, BUT IN FACT, THEIR COSTS TO THE TAXPAYERS.
WATER, SEWER, AND STORM WATER ARE THREE EXAMPLES OF FUNDS THAT CARRY BALANCES A TOTAL WELL OVER $3 MILLION.
NOW THAT'S A TAX, BUT YOU DISGUISE IT AS FEES.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAX REVENUE, YOU'RE SKIPPING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, $5 MILLION.
THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS CREATE WHAT I DESCRIBE AS A SLUSH FUND.
FUNDS THAT YOU CAN USE TO TRANSFER TO OTHER PURPOSES THAT AREN'T AS CLEAR AS THEY SHOULD BE TO THE TAXPAYERS AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST MAKE CLEAR TO THE TAXPAYERS WHY YOU'RE DOING THOSE TRANSFERS.
YOU HAVE A SLIDE THERE, RON, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE BUDGET 2023 BUDGET THAN YEAR-TO-DATE, AND THEN 2024.
SOME OF THOSE DEPARTMENT SPREADSHEETS, COUNTS ARE WELL OVER ON A RUN RATE OF WHAT YOU HAD PROJECTED.
ONE IS LEGAL FEES MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT THAT I THINK WAS WRITTEN BEFORE WE GOT THE CONTEMPT THING.
I THINK THE WAY YOU'RE GOING, MAYOR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE LEGAL FEES.
CONGRATULATIONS, I'M BARELY WAITING 24 HOURS BEFORE YOU WENT AND VIOLATED THE INJUNCTION AGAIN BY HIRING PAT COTTON WHO IS NOT JUST EMPLOYED BY ANOTHER FIRE STATION, BUT IT'S EMPLOYED BY LONG LAKE, WHICH YOU WILL KNOW.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]
>> EMILY PERCLE, 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD, ORONO, MINNESOTA.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I ALSO OBJECT TO THE INCREDIBLE SPENDING ON AN UNNECESSARY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I OBJECT TO THE PAYMENT OF FINES BY ORONO CITIZENS AND OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR HE FINDS [NOISE] THAT ARE BEING CAUSED BY THIS SPENDING AND THE RECRUITMENT OF FIREFIGHTERS.
[00:45:04]
I OBJECT TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR FIRE SERVICES FROM LONG LAKE AT $607,000 IN 2024 AND WITHOUT EVEN HAVING SERVICES AVAILABLE YET TO OUR CITIZENS, WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR ORONO FIRE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THAT, OVER $700,000.I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH DUPLICATING FIRE SERVICES WHEN COMMUNITIES AROUND US ARE COMING TOGETHER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE FRACTURING THIS COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE AND COSTING OUR CITIZENS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT, HOWEVER MANY YEARS TO PUT THIS DEPARTMENT TOGETHER WHEN IT IS DUPLICATIVE AND I OBJECT.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS LANT OLIVER AND I HAVE NOT ADDRESSED YOU BEFORE, SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I'M JUST HERE BECAUSE I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE 12.6% LEVY INCREASE.
THAT'S WHAT IT SAID IN MY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION SO I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T SEE THAT NUMBER ON ANY SLIDE, BUT THAT'S WHAT HENNEPIN COUNTY SENT ME.
I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN AREAS THAT INCREASE, THEN YOU HAVE TO DECREASE OTHER AREAS.
THAT'S HOW I HAVE TO RUN MY OWN PERSONAL BUDGET.
I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THAT I GET IN AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THE SAME TYPE OF THING THAT THE CITY SHOULD DO.
A 12.26% INCREASE SEEMS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME FOR THE LEVY AND I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THAT I MAKE AND I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE THINK YOU APPROVE THAT AND DO NOT THINK THAT ORONO PROPERTY OWNERS ARE AN ENDLESS REVENUE SOURCE.
>> LEN TERBITLE, 997 WILD HORSE TRAIL.
SETTING THESE CHAMBERS FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 13 OR 14 MONTHS AND COME TO A COUNCIL MEETING PRIOR TO THAT.
SHOWED UP FOR AN ISSUE OF STATE FOR THE SHOW SO HERE I AM.
TO SIT HERE AND WATCH VOTES BE TAKEN THAT ARE ADDING ONE MILLION, TWO MILLION, THREE MILLION DOLLAR IN ONE NIGHT'S VOTE FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE SOLVING NOW, I SAT HERE FOR A YEAR AND LISTENED TO THIS DEBATE.
THERE WAS NO DEBATE. LET ME CHANGE THE WORDS.
I SAT AND LISTENED TO THE SPEECHES FROM COUNCIL ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO SOLVE A $550,000 PROBLEM AND WE DO THAT BY SPENDING THREE MILLION IN ONE NIGHT.
WE GO WITH THE OPINIONS THAT LONG LAKE WAS DEFICIENT IN PROVIDING US OTHER SERVICES THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE FUTURE.
THIS COUNCIL VOTED DOWN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? YEAH, I DO KNOW ABOUT THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
THIS COUNCIL VOTED DOWN INCREASES THAT LONG LAKE REQUESTED TO GO TOWARDS EQUIPMENT AND FIRE TRUCKS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT AND IN YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
I WATCHED FOR PROBABLY SIX MONTHS WHILE THE COMMENTS WERE WERE THINKING ABOUT IT, WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT ALONG THE TIMELINE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
THE FIRST LAST YEAR BY A NEW FIRE TRUCK, A USED FIRE TRUCK THEN WE VOTE.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, SO LET'S MAKE SOME UP, $150,000.
THEN WE VOTE TO UPGRADE THE COMMUNICATIONS ON IT, ANOTHER $150,000.
WE'VE OWNED THAT TRUCK FOR A YEAR, HAS IT LEFT A GARAGE? CURIOUS. VOTE AFTER VOTE AND IT GOES DOWN THE ROAD OF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT UNTIL ONE DAY OF THE SPEECH COMES OUT.
THIS HAS BEEN DECIDED, GET ONBOARD YOUR LECTURE TO MISS BENSON.
MR. JOHNSON, WAS THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE GETTING A FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU SHOULD GET ON BOARD.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE, THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR HER TO VOTE NO, AGAINST A $3,000,000 INCREASE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[00:50:01]
AGAIN, GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $700,000 IN THIS BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET IS UNDERESTIMATED, WE ALL KNOW THAT IN WHAT THE FIRE SERVICE IS GOING TO BE FOR 2024 AND IT'S GOT NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.
THE COMMENT WERE PAYING 85% OF LONG LAKES BUDGET.
THAT COST US $550,000, SO WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE A $550,000 PROBLEM WITH $774,000.20 IN 2024.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S A PROPOSAL FOR A $3,000,000 TEMPORARY FIRE SERVICE BUILDING THAT CAN HOUSE DUTY CREWS.
IT CONTINUES AND IF WE TAKE ON TOP OF THAT OF LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD WAY, WAY ABOVE ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.
WE TALK ABOUT AFFLUENT HOMES IN THE CITY.
SOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD A $2,000 TAX INCREASE BUT NOT EVERY HOME IN THE CITY SITS ON THE LAKE.
NOT EVERY HOME IN THE CITY HAS HAS RESIDENTS THAT EARNED 3, 4, $500,000 OR MORE PER YEAR.
WE'RE DRIVING OUT RESIDENTS THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE INCREASES AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE CITY.
NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE POLITICS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED [APPLAUSE]
>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? SEEN NOBODY ELSE. IT WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IT WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
I THINK THE QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL TODAY IS TO GIVE DIRECTIONS ON ANY CHANGES TO THE GENERAL FUND, OUR PROPERTY TAX THAT WILL BE SEEN WHEN WE DO THE FINAL APPROVAL ON DECEMBER 11TH.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING ANY RESOLUTIONS.
I THINK WE'RE JUST GIVING GUIDANCE.
>> IF YOU MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, IF YOU ARE, WERE TO CHANGE THE BUDGET OR WANTED THE BUDGET CHANGE OR THE TAX LEVY? YES. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE GUIDANCE SO THAT WE COULD BRING BACK RESOLUTIONS AND TWO WEEKS THAT WOULD REFLECT THE COUNCIL.
>> I HAVE SOME COMMENTS. I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT AND MY DIRECTION, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I SPEAK AS PART OF A COUNCIL.
BUT MY THOUGHTS WOULD BE THAT I AGREE THAT ASKING OF OUR RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR DUPLICATE FIRE SERVICES, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY DOING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR 2024 AND 2025 AT THIS RATE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.
THAT'S MY OPINION. MY COMMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE LOOKING TO SPEND IN 2024 ON THE [INAUDIBLE] FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT WELL PLACED.
THE OTHER COMMENT I HAVE IS REGARDING THE DEBT SERVICE.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT NOT PAYING DOWN DEBT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
WE CURRENTLY ARE LOOKING AT PAYING DOWN $820,000 AND WE'RE REDUCING OUR DEBT BY 182,000, OUR PAYMENT WHICH SHOULD BE IN THERE FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE CHOOSING WE ALREADY HAVE DEBT AND WE'RE MAKING A CHOICE WITH THIS CURRENT PLAN TO NOT PAY DOWN A PAYMENT THAT IS REQUIRED OR IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED FOR 2024.
THAT'S BEEN THE HISTORY, IS PAYING DOWN DEBT EACH YEAR ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE THAT WE'VE CREATED.
THOSE ARE TWO, I COULDN'T SAY IT REALLY BETTER THAN WHAT MOST FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SAID.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MY COMMENTS FOR NOW.
>> WE PAY ALL OF OUR DEBT PAYMENTS.
I ACTUALLY TAKE THE OPPOSITE VIEW OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME UP TO TALK.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO TALK TO THE MAJORITY THAT PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN ORONO.
IN FACT, AS RON POINTED OUT, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX CITIES.
GO OVER TO MAPLE PLAIN, NEED PAY THREE TIMES AS MUCH.
GO OVER TOO LONG LAKE, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY 20 PLUS AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING IN THEIR RESERVES TO PAY FOR ROADS OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
[00:55:03]
I TAKE THE OPPOSITE APPROACH.WE'RE DOING AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB HERE ORONO.
[LAUGHTER] THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, ACTUALLY, I WANT TO KEEP THE FUNDS THAT ACTUALLY CARRY FOR ALL THE RESERVES THAT WE NEED FOR WHEN WE DO ROAD PROJECTS, WHEN WE DO WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS, THAT'S BREAK.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET SLUSH FUNDS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF A MISGUIDED A STATEMENT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, I DIDN'T TALK AND STUFF WHEN YOU GUYS CAME UP.
[BACKGROUND] THIS COUNCIL HAD A VISION NINE YEARS AGO WITH PERSISTENCE, DETERMINATION, AND GOOD DECISION-MAKING.
WE'VE MADE GOOD AND ALL THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM ISSUES THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF FOR THE INTERESTS OF CITY OF ORONO AND ITS RESIDENTS AND THERE'S LOTS OF EXAMPLES.
WHY IS THE BUDGET GONE UP IN EIGHT YEARS BESIDES INFLATION AND ALL THE WAGES THAT HAVE GONE UP.
WELL, IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE NINE YEARS AGO WE HAD ZERO DOLLARS AND OUR ROADS BUDGET.
ASIA TALK ABOUT A PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.
BUT A PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH NO MONEY IS NOT A PLAN.
WE HAVE A BIG BOARD THAT'S ABOUT THREE FEET BY FOUR FEET THAT WE HAVE IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT TALKS ABOUT ALL THE ROADS AND THEY'RE COLORED GREEN.
IS THERE A PERFECT SHAPE OR GREAT SHAPE AND RED IS THERE IN HORRIBLE SHAPE AND THERE'S A PROBLEM.
WHEN I GOT IN THIS COUNCIL, THERE WAS LOTS OF RED.
I GOT TO SAY IT. WE'VE DONE THAT INCREMENTALLY WITH DETERMINATION AND PERSISTENCE AND THE COUNCIL YEAR AND YEAR IN TO GET UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON THE ROADS.
PARKS NINE YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PARKS COMMISSION.
NOW WE HAVE A FABULOUS PARKS COMMISSION.
WE HAVE A PARKS BUDGET THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, INCREMENTALLY, WE'VE GOT IT UP THEN I THINK $250,000 A YEAR.
DURING THOSE YEARS WE'VE REDONE BEATER WOULD NAVARRE, CRYSTAL BAY, SAGA HILL, SUMMIT BEACH, LYDIA BEACH, LEARNED DOG PARK, BIG ISLAND, THE DONATION GARDEN.
NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF PACK BEAR IN PICKLEBALL, BECAUSE WE HAVE FUNDS, WE CAN ACTUALLY GO DO THOSE THINGS.
YOU SHOULD BE CHEERING THE FACT THAT WE ARE TAX SO LOW AND WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH DONE.
TECHNOLOGY. WE HAD NO TECHNOLOGY WHEN I GOT HERE IN THE COUNCIL, WE HAD ROWS AND ROWS OF FILE CABINETS.
IF YOU WANTED TO COME TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE PERHAPS SOME PROPERTY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO DIG THROUGH FILES FOR HOURS.
THERE'S GUYS WOULD BOXES ALL OVER THEIR OFFICE, THEN YOU'D HAVE TO GO DIG FOR HIM IF YOU COULD FIND THEM.
WE SPENT YEARS, AGAIN WITH PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION TO LITTLE BY LITTLE, GET ALL THESE THINGS UPLOADED IN MICRO EFFICIENT.
EVERYTHING IS ONLINE NOW, WE'VE GOT PERMANENT IN ONLINE.
BEFORE YOU HAD TO WALK THINGS FROM THE FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, I NEEDED TO SIGN OFF ONE AT A TIME.
NOW, ALL FOUR OF THOSE GOOD TO SEE THOSE PLANS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
WE DID THE SAME THING FOR PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH NOBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHEN WE DID ROAD PROJECTS, WE DID THEM WITH HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT.
WE'VE GOT A 3D CAPTURE OF THE ENTIRE CITY OVER THE YEARS, AGAIN WITH PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION WITH THIS COUNCIL TO GET ALL THAT DONE.
NOW YOU CAN COME IN AND WE CAN LOOK AT ALL THE ROADS.
WE HAVE A 3D SCAN OF THE ROADSHOW AND WHERE THE WATER THE SEWER IS WHEN IT WAS DONE, HOW MUCH A COST, WHO WE DID IT WITH.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLAN WITH YOUR RESERVE FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIX THE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
LEGAL, WE HAVE BEEN PROTECTING INTO DEFENDING THE CITY AGAINST FRIVOLOUS [NOISE] CLAIMS AND BOGUS LAWSUIT OVER THE YEARS.
IN FACT, WE JUST GOT ANOTHER ONE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE LAST WEEK FOR BARBARA SMITH.
IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE SLOW, THEY'RE BOGGED DOWN.
BUT IN THE END, WE ACTUALLY GET TO WHERE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO GET TO.
WE WILL USE ALL THE MEANS NECESSARY IN OUR TOOLBOX TO GET THERE.
I'M SURE THE JUDGE KNOWS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT LEGAL MEANS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GET THE CORRECT BUDGET MOVING FORWARD WITH CORRECT PURCHASES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH GOOD DECISION-MAKING FOR THE LONG TERM NEEDS OF OUR CITY.
I MEAN, I COULD GO ON ABOUT ALL THE GREAT DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU WITH OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVING FORWARD, YOU OBVIOUSLY SAW TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HIRED ANOTHER FABULOUS PERSON, THE HONORABLE MR. PAT COTTON, WHO DECIDED TO COME OVER.
I REMEMBER THE TRAINING DOESN'T EVEN START UNTIL JANUARY.
OUR SERVICE DOES NOT START UNTIL JULY 1ST, NEXT YEAR.
BUT THAT WILL BE THE START OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WILL DEFINITELY NOT GO UNRECOGNIZED.
LEAST FROM THIS COUNCIL, HAVE ALL THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT ONCE OPERATIONS BEGAN, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL THAT HAVE TO GET IT THERE
[01:00:02]
AND ALL THE ARCHITECTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.LET ME BE CLEAR. DONALD FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS AND THE CITY OF ORONO TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR ORONO FUTURE IN OUR CONTROL FOR OUR OWN DESTINY.
BUDGET STANDPOINT. EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU.
[BACKGROUND] WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU.
>> [NOISE] POINT OF ORDER WE HAVEN'T HIRED A MAYOR YET, THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE. THANK YOU, WE HAVE NOT HIRED HIM YET.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT WE DID ACTUALLY TAKE IT OFF AND MOVE IT DOWN, SO WE WILL GET TO THAT AFTER OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING THE CANNABIS MORE OF A CHORION, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS HERE FOR AS WELL.
>> I HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
>> I'M DONE FOR NOW. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO RON EARLIER TODAY JUST TO GET A SENSE FOR WHAT THE LEVEE WOULD BE IF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR 2024.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 1.028 MILLION AN INCREASE OF 12.26% AS IT STANDS, THE LEVEE WOULD BE ABOUT 330,000 WITHOUT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT 4% INCREASE.
>> LISTENERS WHO HE IS WITHOUT THE OWNER FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO START MAKING ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS AND GIVE OUR MONEY TO LONG LAKE TO START MAKING ALL THOSE INVESTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE STUFF THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE AND WE'VE DECIDED NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME LIKE WE DO WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH THEIR PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR CIP.
WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR ALL THE NEW VEHICLES EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY ROTATE WHEN THEY GET 100,000 MILES, IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THEM OUT WE BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE ALSO BUDGET FOR ALL THE FLOWERS AND EVERYTHING IS SOME PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE TRUCKS WILL NEED TO HAVE GO AROUND, AS YOU DON T WANT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE IT BE SNOWING A FOOT AND WE SAY, GOD WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR FLOWERS BUT WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY ASIDE.
BUT NO WE DO THAT CORRECTLY, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE WAITING 15 AND 20 AND 25 YEARS TO REPLACE THINGS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IT'S GOING TO BE BUDGETED CORRECTLY.
AS WE GET BACK TO THE QUESTION WHICH IS ON IN FRONT OF US THAT RYAN HAD CORRECTLY POINTED OUT IS, DO WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE BUDGET CURRENTLY MOVING FORWARD? THE LOWEST BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FROM A PERCENTAGE WISE AROUND US ARE UNDER SOME SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, ONE OF THE LOWEST IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.
I THINK WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK AND READY TO GO, THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD FOR OUR DECEMBER 11TH.
UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS WITH THAT.
>> NO, I DON'T HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, I THINK I PERSONALLY OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN ORONO ON MYSELF.
THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AS A COUNCIL AFFECT US AS MUCH AS THEY DO YOU OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING TAXES AS WELL SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION AND ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
I DON'T WANT THAT FACT TO BE LOST ON ANYBODY THAT WERE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT LIVE HERE IN THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS US, AND NONE OF US WANT TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE BECAUSE I HEARD SOME COMMENTS IS THAT, WE DON'T SET THE PROPERTY VALUES HENNEPIN COUNTY DOES THAT.
I HOPE PART OF EVERYONE'S INTERESTS AND CONTROLLING THEIR TAXES INCLUDES THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY ABOUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING, PARTICULARLY IN SUBURBS LIKE ORONO THAT ARE TAKING A LION'S SHARE OF THE INCREASES FOR THE COUNTY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ALSO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AT THAT LEVEL AS WELL.
JUST TO ADDRESS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ENTERPRISE FUNDS IT'S INTERESTING PART OF OUR WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD BEFORE THIS, IS HOW DO WE PROPERLY ACCOUNT FOR AND DEVELOP A RATES FOR UTILITIES? THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT STARTED AFTER DANNY BECAME MAYOR OF EVALUATING AND DOING A REALLY SIGNIFICANT STUDY ON THE ACTUAL COSTS OF UTILITIES, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES BUILDING IN FOR DEPRECIATION WHICH OUR CITY DOES.
WE'RE INCLUDED IN OUR RATES THAT WE ALL PAY FOR OUR UTILITIES, ARE ALSO KEEPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE GOING NOW AND ALSO INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE NOT DOING LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS, AND SO ASSESSMENTS AS SOMETHING GLOSSED OVER.
[01:05:05]
BUT MANY MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSE, THEY PUT IN A NEW ROAD IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THEY COME TO YOU AND THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND THEY SAY WE WANT $8,000.THIS CITY DOESN'T DO THAT WE'RE BUDGETING FOR IT, WE'RE PAYING FOR IT DON'T KID YOURSELF THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM ALL OF US.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT IN A STRATEGIC WAYS TO AVOID THE REAL HIGHS AND LOWS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BUDGET THEIR OWN FAMILIES PROPERLY, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO.
PROBABLY OUR EXCEPTION TO THAT HERE AS THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN THIS FIRE ISSUE, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE FIRE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE HAVING TO PRE-SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO GET OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTEMPLATED [OVERLAPPING] ABOUT THE BEST PATH FORWARD, AND SO WHAT THESE ARE AND WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO ALSO RECOGNIZES IS WE'VE ALSO IN OUR SPENDING, OUR PURCHASING ASSETS FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE REAL VALUE.
THIS IS NOT MONEY WE'RE THROWING AWAY IT'S AN EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE NEED IT NOW, WE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE AND THESE ARE LONG-TERM ASSETS.
THESE AREN'T SIMPLY ASSETS THAT ARE GOING NOWHERE THERE'S THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
MR. TROOPER VILLE I THINK IS MISTAKEN ON A FEW DIFFERENT POINTS, PARTICULARLY THIS NOTION THAT THE CITY OF ORONO HASN'T BEEN SUPPORTIVE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT REAL QUICK.
THERE'S TWO SIDES THE ABOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ONE IS AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
YOU'RE CONFUSING THE TWO AT TIMES IN YOUR CONVERSATION AND BRIAN AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS SEPARATELY, BUT THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PIECES OR AN OPERATIONAL AND THERE'S A CIP THERE IS NO WAY AROUND CIP.
>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? WAIT YOU CAN DISAGREE THAT'S FINE JUST WAIT YOUR TURN.
>> THAT CIP AND TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ABOUT IRRESPONSIBILITY, WHAT I RECALL IN THAT CONVERSATION WAS I WAS MAKING THE POINT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ALREADY DECIDED THAT THE CITY OF ORONO IS GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEREFORE, THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.
THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE FUND IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT DEPARTMENT IS PUT IN A POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY'RE BEING CALLED UPON? WE HAVE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, WE HAVE SUPPORT THINGS WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US ONCE THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AND BE CLEAR FOLKS, IT'S BEEN MADE WE'RE STARTING OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NOW IT'S OUR JOB AS A COUNCIL AS A WHOLE NOT WITH WAS SEPARATE AGENDAS OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT TO FUND PROPERLY TO MAKE SURE IT IS SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING WHAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO DO.
I THINK THAT I ALONG WITH MANY OF YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES, I DON'T.
BUT I TELL YOU I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS DOING THIS, FOR SIX YEARS I AM MORE INTIMATE THAN THAT MOST OF YOU ARE IN UNDERSTANDING OF THIS I DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES BUT I ALSO THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
THIS IS THE EQUATION THAT GETS THIS CITY INTO THE MOST STABILITY IN THE FUTURE, AND IT DOES COST MONEY THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT.
I REALLY THINK STAFF AND RON IS IS HE RETIRES FROM US WE ALL WORK HARD TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE WHEN POSSIBLE WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, I CARE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR MINE TOO. THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO SAY.
>> NOW WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
HE SAID IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO THEM SEPARATELY, [NOISE] YOU CAN TALK TO HIM.
>> I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO HIM AFTER THE MEETING.
>> A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE I WAS A 10 YEAR FIREFIGHTER ON LONG LAKE, I LOVED THE PEOPLE ON LONG LAKE FIRE, I CONSIDER A LOT OF THEM FAMILY.
THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK AND FORTH FROM CITY TO CITY.
[01:10:06]
PEOPLE QUESTION, HOW CAN ORONO AFFORD IT? HOW CAN WE BUDGET FOR IT? IT'S INTERESTING YOU'RE AT 87% OF THE FIRE BUDGET AND YOU GET QUESTION WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO 100 FROM 87.BUT WHEN YOU GO FROM 7-100 YOU HEAR CRICKETS, BECAUSE THESE DISCUSSIONS AREN'T HAPPENING AT LONG LAKE.
THERE'S NOT PEOPLE GOING TO COUNCIL AND HECKLING AND SO FORTH, THEY'RE GOING FROM 7%-100% IN THEIR FUTURE WHEN ORONO DROPS OFF.
THOSE ARE MATHEMATICAL REALITIES OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN CREATING BUDGETS FOR OUR FUTURE.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON MENTIONING ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT, THIS COUNCIL VOTED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IT IS HAPPENING.
TO NOT FUND IT AND NOT SUPPLY IT PROPERLY IS THAT THE RELATION OF DUTY, AS FAR AS TAXES ARE CONCERNED I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THIS PANEL LIKES HIGHER TAXES.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES OUT OF EVERY NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY IN THE AREA.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO ORONO MY PROPERTY TAXES ON MY HOUSE FOR FIVE GRAND, THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY WENT UP TO EIGHT.
I WOULD SAY TO THE AUDIENCE AND IT'S MEMBERS AND I THINK COUNCILMAN JOHNSON MENTIONED IT.
HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO CONTACTING HENNEPIN COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S ALL TIED TO WHATEVER PROVABLE PROPERTY VALUES THAT YOU HAVE? IF YOU HAVEN'T YOU'RE MISSING THE BIG PIECE OF THE PIE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ORONO, SO ADDRESSING HENNEPIN COUNTY MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING WAY TO GO.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE LEFT TO SAY.
I THINK I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
OUR BUDGETING FOR ROADS, OUR BUDGETING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REPLACE SOMETHING AND THEN GIVING SOMEBODY A WHOPPING BILL THAT CAN KNOCK THEM OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.
HAVING BUDGETS FOR PARKS, SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY, TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR NEEDS, AND HELPING THEM GET PROJECTS AND AUTOMATION.
SUPPORTING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING VERY DIFFICULT TIMES, AND WE WILL SUPPORT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH TIMES.
WERE NO FIRE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET MEETING.
I'M TRYING TO LEARN AS BEST AND FAST I CAN. I HEAR YOU.
I'M SENSITIVE TO FIXED INCOMES.
PEOPLE THAT SPENT THEIR LIFE WORKING AND NOW WANT TO RETIRE HERE AND THEN INCREASE DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
THAT BEING SAID, I DO BELIEVE IN WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.
I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE, LIKE I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, IS AN INVESTMENT INTO WHAT COULD BE STILL SOMETHING THAT WORKS OUT ON BEHALF OF BOTH CITIES.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN OPTIMIST AND I GUESS THAT MAYBE I STILL BELIEVE THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT EITHER WAY, IF WE WANT TO WORK SOMETHING OUT, I THINK THE ACTION'S ON THE TABLE, AND A BUDGET IS MADE, THAT'S THE MAXIMUM SPEND.
YOU CAN NEVER SPEND MORE THAN THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE DON'T EXPLORE WAYS TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO SPEND LESS IN THE MEANTIME.
BUT I'VE HEARD YOU. THANKS FOR COMING.
IT'S THIS IDEA FROM MY PERSPECTIVE OF UNDERSTANDING AS A COUNCIL, AS CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER AND WHAT WE DON'T.
WHAT I WANT TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHEN WE LOOK AT SETTING A LEVY IS WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER.
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ASSESSOR IS THE ONE WHO COMES OUT AND DETERMINES AND YES, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW AS RON MENTIONED EARLIER, THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ASSESSOR DOES HAVE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE ACCURATE WITHIN I BELIEVE IT WAS 5%, RON, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING PULLED FROM THE ETHER.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF ORONO OFFICIALS OR ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER.
[01:15:03]
WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER IS SETTING OUR LEVY.WHAT I CAN SAY IS IN LOOKING BACK AT PAST TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETINGS AND BEING AT MEETINGS AS A RESIDENT IN THE PAST AND ALSO IN GETTING QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, RON SAID IT EARLIER, THESE TERMS THAT ARE USED CAN BE CONFUSING AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL IS TO HELP PROVIDE CLARITY TO THE RESIDENTS THAT I SERVE.
ON THAT POINT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER WHICH IS SETTING OUR LEVY.
AS I THOUGHT ABOUT A WAY TO EXPLAIN IT, I THOUGHT WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME, AND I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU THIS.
THOSE WHO ARE HERE OR TUNING IN, IMAGINE YOU HAVE AN ITEM AND I'LL JUST SAY, HEY, IT'S THIS NAME PLACARD.
THIS ITEM TODAY THAT I OWN IS VALUED AT $100 AND IF I AM TAXED ON THIS ITEM OF $100 THAT I OWN AT 15%, I OWE $15.
IF NEXT YEAR THIS ITEM IS VALUED.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS AT $200.
EVEN IF THE RATE AT WHICH I'M TAXED ON THIS REMAINS AT 15%, I OWE $30 ON THIS ITEM.
WE CAN HAVE A FLAT RATE OF TAXATION, MEANING IT DIDN'T INCREASE, AND I WILL OWE MORE ON THIS ITEM, AND THAT IS THE PIECE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS CONTROL OVER; IS DECIDING HOW MUCH TO TAKE IN TERMS OF THOSE DOLLARS GENERATED, THAT REVENUE GENERATED FROM OUR RESIDENTS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT A FINANCE PERSON, BUT THAT WAS JUST ONE WAY THAT I WANTED TO [NOISE] JUST PROVIDE JUST A BASIC LEVEL OF CLARITY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME PERSONALLY TO DISCUSS AT LENGTH THOSE ITEMS THAT WE AS A CITY OFFICIALS DO NOT INFLUENCE, THOSE ASSESSMENTS AND YES, YOU CAN CHALLENGE THOSE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS A CITY.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO OFFER. THANKS.
AS I SEE IT THOUGH, IT'S PART OF THAT GAINING VALUE AS THE INVESTMENTS YOU'VE MADE INTO IT, YOU COULD SAY.
THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU MAKE INTO PARKS, INTO ROADS, INTO THE COMMUNITY WILL GROW THE VALUE.
BY THAT, YOU'RE SAYING I'M GOING TO KEEP FUNDING THAT BECAUSE IT IS WORKING, IF THE VALUE IS INCREASING, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT, MAYBE TOO.
>> YEAH. MY RUDIMENTARY AND OVERSIMPLIFIED EXAMPLE WAS SIMPLY TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RATE OF TAXATION AND WHAT WE MIGHT OWE IN TERMS OF LEVY TAXES, THAT WAS IT.
>> FROM THE COMMENT OF THAT, WE'RE SPENDING CRAZY WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR OVERALL TAX RATE OR THE MOST EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THAT SPENDS IN THE AREA.
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO THAT ARE WATCHING. MAYBE IT ISN'T YOU.
THE AUDIENCE IS HERE THAT PEOPLE COME AND YELL AT US AND HECKLE US, THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY KNOW WE'RE THE LOWEST AND THEY CELEBRATE THAT AND THEY LOVE THAT WE LIVE IN HONOR WITH AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THAT GETS THINGS DONE.
RON, I THINK WE HAVE GUIDANCE AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING,
[13. Ordinance 285 – Cannabis Moratorium]
WHICH IS NUMBER 13, ORDINANCE 25, CANNABIS MORATORIUM.THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION ITEM IS TO ADOPT A CITYWIDE MORATORIUM UNTIL JANUARY 2025 ON CANNABIS BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY AND LAURA IS GOING TO START US HERE.
>> YEAH, I CAN INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.
IN 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATOR AMENDED THE CODE TO PERMIT SALES OF CANNABINOID PRODUCTS AND AT THAT TIME, THE CITY HAD ENACTED A MORATORIUM FOR THC PRODUCTS THAT HAS NOW EXPIRED.
THE NEW LAW ESTABLISHES THAT SALES OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO LOCAL PLANNING AND ZONING RESTRICTIONS AND MUST COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL ZONING CODE, BUT THE NEW LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE ON HOW CITIES ARE TO ZONE THESE NEW BUSINESSES LEAVING IT COMPLETELY IN LOCAL CONTROL AT THIS TIME.
PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADOPTED THE INTERIM ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF CITIZENS PRIOR TO ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TOPIC.
[01:20:01]
THE INTERIM ORDINANCE WILL REGULATE, RESTRICT, AND PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF ANY CANNABIS BUSINESS WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2025.MORATORIUM ON THIS NEW TYPE OF BUSINESS WILL ALLOW STAFF TIME TO DEVELOP POTENTIAL PARAMETERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE TEXT AMENDMENTS TO OUR CITY CODE RELATED TO ZONING SETBACKS, DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS LICENSING STANDARDS AS THEY COME THROUGH.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE NEW STATE OFFICE WILL PROVIDE SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES TO CITY.
HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL COME OUT THIS YEAR TO HELP US GET STARTED WITH THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO PUT IN PLACE THIS INTERIM MORATORIUM ON CANNABIS BUSINESS.
AT THIS TIME, COUNCILS ASKED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE 285 FOR THE MORATORIUM ON CANNABIS BUSINESSES.
>> WELL, I GUESS BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS, WE'LL DO THE SAME THING.
WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WHEN THAT'S DONE, WE'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE? I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING HERE FOR OUR ORDINANCE 25 FOR THE CANNABIS MORATORIUM.
IF ANYBODY IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT TONIGHT.
I SEE NOBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT TONIGHT.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING BRING IT UP TO THE COUNCIL AND I DON'T KNOW IF SORE AND IF YOU HAD ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS YOU WANTED TO PUT IT IN THERE.
>> I CAN CERTAINLY STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ADD THERE IS RON DID A NICE JOB OF GOING THROUGH SOME OF YOUR DEFINITIONAL ITEMS ON THE BUDGET.
WHAT I WOULD SAY AS IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE ALL HAD TO LEARN A LOT OF NEW DEFINITIONS AS IT RELATES TO THC, CANNABIS, HEMP SO ON AND SO FORTH.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO NOTE HERE IS THAT ON THE LEGISLATURES FIRST ROUND ON THIS, THERE WAS WHAT ULTIMATELY IS BEING DESCRIBED AS HEMP PRODUCTS WHICH ARE THOSE THAT YOU'LL SEE ARE LIMITED BASICALLY AT FIVE MILLIGRAMS DOSAGE.
THIS MORATORIUM DOES NOT IMPACT THOSE, SO YOU WILL STILL SEE SOME OF YOUR ULCERS AND LOW-LEVEL GUMMIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU IS NOT JUST A RETAIL MORATORIUM, BUT IT IS ALSO AS IN THE MATERIALS, DOES IMPACT MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT IT IS ALL IT'S ALL AS IT RELATES TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF DOSAGE THAT WE OFTEN REFER TO AS CANNABIS.
I THINK THE AS LAURA EXPLAINED, IT GIVES STAFF THE TIME TO REACT FROM A ZONING PERSPECTIVE TO DECIDE WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO ALLOW RETAIL OPERATIONS, WHERE IT MAYBE MAKES SENSE TO ALLOW GROWING THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU'RE NOT TAKING AWAY ANY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS POINT BY ENACTING THIS MORATORIUM.
LCM, THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT, WHILE UP AND RUNNING AND ESTABLISHED, IS STILL TRYING TO FIND DIRECTORS AND FIGURE OUT SOME OF THE RULES AND THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY OF THE NECESSARY LICENSES TO EITHER SELL OR DO THESE PRODUCTS.
WE ARE, WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TRYING TO, AS A COMMUNITY DECIDE WHERE IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ALLOW THESE VARIOUS OPERATIONS.
IT IS NEW, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEALS WITH AN ISSUE WHERE YOU'LL LOOK TO WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE ARE DOING.
YOU CAN TAKE SOMETHING FROM A SAMPLE FROM THEM.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EXISTS IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT'S A NEW LAW FOR EVERYONE.
I DO THINK THE TIME WILL HELP STAFF PUT TOGETHER A THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS AND PLAN FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
ULTIMATELY, BECAUSE IT'S A ZONING ORDINANCE, ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THAT AND VARIOUS PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WITH THAT, I WOULD STAY IN FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR ME? I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTERIM ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF CANNABIS BUSINESS ORDINANCE 285.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED. NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE TO ZERO.
IT WILL BRING US BACK TO NUMBER 11,
[11. Authorize Paid-On-Call Firefighter]
WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION ITEM IS TO PROVE HIRING A PREGNANT CALL FIREFIGHTER, THE AURA FOR THE OWNER FIRE DEPARTMENT.OUR COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON HAD THAT OFF AND SHE FEARED YOUR ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
PURPOSE OF IT'S ACTION IS TO APPROVE THE HIGHER END OF A PIRATE PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER FOR THE ARNO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY SEEKING PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS.
THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE POSITION INVOLVED ADVERTISING, APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW.
APPLICANTS MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE EXAMS. IF THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN SERVING AS A FIREFIGHTER FOR THE CITY OF WORN OUT OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMS ARE WAIVED.
BAD COTTON HAS EXPERIENCED AS A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANOTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT, ASKED FIREFIGHTER 1, FIREFIGHTER 2 AS AN EMR PAD, IS EXCITED TO BE A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE ARNO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CREATING AN EXCELLENT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
STAFF DOES RECOMMEND PACK COTTON FOR CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER AS A PAID ON
[01:25:04]
CALLED FIREFIGHTER WITH AN EFFECTIVE START DATE OF NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023 ARE LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AND DUTIES.FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND OTHER SUCH DUTIES WILL START JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
PAY RATE IS $16 AN HOUR BENEFITS OBVIOUSLY WITH THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION, ONCE IT'S DETERMINED AND CONDITIONS ARE PASSING THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND A VALID DRIVER'S.
>> ADAM, WHAT DO YOU MIND PULLING UP THIS ITEM SO I CAN SEE IT ON THE SCREEN. PLEASE.
>> A COPY OF IT IF YOU WANT IT.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON NUMBER 3.
IT TALKS ABOUT SELECTION PROCESS AND AT THE APPLICANT IS SERVING AS A FIREFIGHTER COVERING OR NO, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EXAMS ARE WAIVED. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
>> THAT MEANS THAT FIREFIGHTERS THAT SERVED THE CITY OF ORONO CURRENTLY.
WERE NOT REQUIRED BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF EXAMS. WE'RE NOT REQUIRING THEM TO HAVE TO REDO THEM.
>> THIS CANDIDATE IS CURRENTLY SERVING THE CITY OF ORONO.
THIS CANDIDATE IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF NUMBER 4, SAYS ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IS THAT LONG LAKE?
>> MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WAS FOR OUR ATTORNEY, MR. REVERSE, WHO'S NOT HERE, AND THAT WAS WHETHER OR NOT THIS HIGHER IS A VIOLATION OF THE INJUNCTION RELATED TO CURRENT LITIGATION WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE?
I CAN SAY THAT AND I HAVE IN WRITING I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT.
HE SAID IT IS NOT A VIOLATION.
HE SAID HE CONFIRMED THAT HE COMMUNICATED WITH THE CANDIDATE, APPLIED ON HIS OWN VOLITION AND THAT A HIGHER IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE COURT'S ORDERS AND I COULD QUOTE HIM ON THAT.
>> THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW. THANK YOU FOR THIS.
>> WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER TO PACK COTTON IS A PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER AND THREE TO $16 PRIOR WITH THE STATE START DATE OF NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023.
>> NOTE THAT PASSES FOUR TO ONE. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK SINCE MAKES CHIEF SINCE WE DID TALK ABOUT THE ATTORNEY, I WILL JUST READ OUR ATTORNEYS PRESS RELEASE THAT HE DID GIVE.
HE SAID ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023, HENNEPIN COUNTY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE LARRY MILLER ISSUED AN ORDER FOR CONTEMPT IN THE CITY OF LONG LAKE VERSUS CITY OF ORONO LITIGATION.
THE CITY OF ORONO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREES WITH THE COURT'S DECISION.
ANOTHER HERE, AND IT WILL BE SET IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHICH ALREADY LOOKS FORWARD TO DEMONSTRATING IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT'S ORDER.
ORONO HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN ENSURING THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME ORONO HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PLAN FOR SERVING ITS OWN COMMUNITY STARTED ON JULY 1ST, 2024.
ORONO, CONSISTENT WITH THE COURT'S ORDER, WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ULTIMATELY EXPECT TO PREVAIL IN THIS LITIGATION. THANK YOU.
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR REPORT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
[Community Development Report]
WE ARE DONE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION ALL THROUGH THIS HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN DECEMBER.
JUST PREPPING AND KIND OF WRAPPING UP SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE PROCESSED THIS YEAR.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH UPDATING OUR MUNI CODE FOR THE NEW TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE RETAINING WALL LANGUAGE THAT COUNCIL PASSED, AS WELL AS STARTING THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR HANDOUTS AND UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AT YEAR END.
GETTING GOING ON THOSE TASKS, BUT OVERALL STILL BUSY CLOSING OUT PERMITS WHILE THE WEATHER PERMITS.
>> HOW IS THE PRE-MADE REVENUES STILL COME IN AND YOU SEE MORE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR NEW PERMITS STILL GOING FORWARD?
>> WE STILL HAVE PERMITS COMING IN, NEW PERMITS AND PROJECTS COMING THROUGH.
A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ALL SUMMER ARE TRYING TO CLOSE OUT AS WELL BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES TRYING TO GET THEIR SIBLING GETS DOWN AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
OUR INSPECTOR STILL BOOKED OUT, STILL BUSY GUY UP THERE.
THAT'S FOR SURE. THANK YOU, LAURA.
[City Attorney Report]
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF BRIEF REPORT LAST WEEK, BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THE CITY DID RECEIVE A FAVORABLE RULING ON ONE OF THEIR PIECES OF LITIGATION.
IT WAS BARBARA SMITH V. THE CITY OF ORONO AND A MIRROR CLAIM.
YOUR CALL IT WAS OVER THE PARK AND WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE.
THE JUDGE DID RULE IN FAVOR OF JUDGE SANDY DID RULE IN FAVOR OF THE CITY OF ORONO AND DID DISMISS THAT CLAIM IN ITS ENTIRETY WITH PREJUDICE.
[01:30:02]
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL SIT AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT MS. SCHMIDT DECIDES TO DO FROM THERE.BUT AT THIS POINT, THAT CLAIM HAS BEEN DISMISSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
>> SORRY, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS WITH PREJUDICE?
>> THAT DOES NOT JUST ONE IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE AN APPEAL. IT JUST MEANS IN DISTRICT.
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.
WE'LL START WITH 14 PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 2.
[14. Public Works Building Change Order #2]
>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, THIS HAS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 2, FOR THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.
CONSTRUCTION IS PROGRESSING WELL.
THIS CHANGE ORDER 2 COVERS A NUMBER OF CHANGES AND COST ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION WORK.
LIST OF THOSE ARE IN THE COUNCIL ACTION FOR YOU.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON PARTICULAR ONES, I'D BE HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THOSE.
THIS OVERALL CHANGE ORDER ACTUALLY REDUCES THE BUDGET OF THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE WORKS BY $102,890 BECAUSE A LARGE PART OF IT IS THE CREDIT FOR NOT INSTALLING THE GENERATOR THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.
>> WOULD YOU MIND PULLING IT UP, PLEASE.
>> AS I TALKED ABOUT IN THE PROJECT COST IMPACT, LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION COST, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE FIRST TO CHANGE ORDERS HAVE IMPACTED THAT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A DELTA IN THE PROJECT BUDGET OF $950,945.50.
THAT'S STILL SITS WITHIN OUR CONTINGENCY AMOUNT OF $100,000, WHICH WE SAID AS A CONTINGENCY FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> THIS IS AN INCREASED COST OF OVER $50,000 THAT WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT?
>> YOU ALREADY WE ALREADY PROVED THAT CHANGE ORDER.
THAT HAS MOST OF THE ADDITION.
THIS CHANGE ORDER HAS ADDITIONS IN IT, BUT IT ALSO HAS A SUBTRACTION.
>> I THOUGHT THE A SUBTRACTION WE DID LAST TIME THE GENERATOR.
>> NO I TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO TRY.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT.
>> THIS IS THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT THEN MAKES THAT A REALITY.
TAKEN AN AGGREGATE THE TWO CHANGE ORDERS DUE RESULTED IN AN INCREASE OVER THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION COSTS BY 50,900.
>> THE SUMMARY IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
THE PROJECT IMPACT IS JUST GIVING US AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT THAT IS OVERALL.
>> RIGHT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WHEN WE'RE VOTING ON A CHANGE ORDER TO SEE THAT THIS HAS AN INCREASED COST.
THIS IS THE PROJECT THAT WE BONDED 13 MILLION FOR AND WE ARE AT 16,117,945.
WE HAVE AN INCREASED COST OF 50,000 AT THIS TIME.
>> TODAY'S VOTE IS A DECREASE THOUGH, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. TODAY'S VOTE IS ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN PARAGRAPH 3, CHANGE SUMMARY.
>> THEN IT'S LISTED AS EXHIBIT A IN THE ACTUAL CHANGE ORDER DOCUMENT.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO.
>> OPPOSED? WITH THAT PASSES 5-0.
YOU HAD SOME MORE STUFF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS WELL?
SPEAKING OF LITIGATION AND IN PARTICULAR, THE LAWSUIT WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.
OUR ATTORNEY IN THAT CASE IS PROPOSING THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 4TH OF DECEMBER AT 5:00 PM IN CLOSED SESSION SO HE MAY GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON THAT LITIGATION AND PROPOSALS FOR THE WAY FORWARD.
>> HE'S OUT OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, SO HE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
>> HE'S CURRENTLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
>> BASICALLY WE'RE ASKING FOR A SPECIAL MEETING ON DECEMBER 4TH, WHICH IS NEXT MONDAY AT 5:00 PM.
>> MATT, THAT WORKS FOR YOU. MARIA?
[01:35:01]
>> I GUESS I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR A SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 4TH AT 5:00 PM FOR A CLOSED SESSION MEETING WITH OUR ATTORNEY REGARDING THE LONG LAKE LITIGATION.
>> THE CITY CLERK WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE POSTING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO DO FOR THAT.
>> ANY OTHER UPDATES FROM OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER?
>> NO, WE'RE STILL IN OUR SEARCH TO REPLACE OR BACK FILL MR. OLSON.
>> HE'S NOT REPLACEABLE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE DID RECEIVE FIVE APPLICANTS FOR THAT AND WE'LL BEGIN INTERVIEWING THIS WEEK.
THEN I'LL BE ASKING THE HR COMMITTEE TO HELP ME WITH SOME INTERVIEWS PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
>> ALRIGHT, THANKS. WELCOME TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[15. LLFD FAB]
WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OF THEM.FIRST ONE IS THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FAIR ADVISORY BOARD THAT MARIA AND RICHARD ARE ON.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE DO YOU GUYS WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE OR BOTH OF YOU?
>> SURE. THE RECAP SO AS THE AGENDA WENT WE STARTED BY REVIEWING THE PREVIOUS MEETING, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE NOTES HAD BEEN NOT RECORDED AND SO THEN NOTES WERE POSTED AND NOT AGREED UPON.
IT STARTED A LITTLE CONTENTIOUS, MAYBE I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT AS THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME.
BUT DID FOLLOW UP WITH JOHN JUST TODAY ACTUALLY AND HE SAID THAT HE'LL AMEND IT WITH WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND POST THAT WAY.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WASN'T RECORDED?
>> THE RECORDING WAS NOT HIT PLAY.
>> THE BUTTON ON THE RECORDING DEVICE WAS NOT PRESSED.
I THINK THIS TIME BOTH SCOTT AND CHARLIE RECORDED.
>> CITY OF LONG LAKE RECORDS IT, THEY DIDN'T HIT RECORD
>> THEY NOTICED THEY HAD LOST IT AND THEN RECAPPED THE NOTES AND DIDN'T SEND THEM TO US.
I FOUND THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE AND THEN EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS.
>> THEY RECAPPED THE NOTES NOT AFTER RECORDING, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
>> JUST BY MEMORY AND DIDN'T GIVE THEM TO US TO REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE RIGHT.
>> I THINK WE DISCUSSED, I AM NEW TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THEY DON'T FOLLOW LIKE NOTE-TAKING ORDERS AND THERE AREN'T VOTES AND APPROVALS OF NOTES NORMALLY, BUT JOHN DID ANSWER WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE FIRST REQUEST AND TOOK IT DOWN.
NOW, JUST AS OF TODAY, SAID THAT THE BIGGEST DISCREPANCY WAS JUST THE ENDING SECTION.
HE WILL UPDATE THAT TO REFLECT HOW WE REMEMBER IT.
I REACHED OUT, I GUESS TODAY I CAN READ WHAT I SAID.
I SAID I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY DOING EDITS TO THE PREVIOUS NOTES FROM THE UNRECORDED MAP FAB NEEDING TO ADD LONG LAKE'S NOTES AND THEN ORONO'S NOTES.
BUT AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION, I THINK IT'S BEST NOT TO INCLUDE AMENDED NOTES, ALTHOUGH I DRAFTED AN EMAIL WITH SOME THOUGHTS WHICH WE DISCUSSED AND SHARED AT OUR MEETING.
I THINK WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING AND HAVING TWO VERSIONS OF THE NOTES WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE SENTIMENTS OF THE MEETING AND PERHAPS ADD TO THE THOUGHTS THAT WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER.
I'D PREFER TO KEEP BUILDING ON OUR RELATIONSHIP AND WANTED YOU TO KNOW.
THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T SUBMITTED ANY CHANGES TO WHICH HE RESPONDED HE'LL, ACCEPT OUR CHANGES AND POST AS ONE VOICE AGAIN, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY NICE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE MEETING WAS RUMOR CONTROL, WHICH WAS NEW.
I'M NOT SURE IT WAS EFFECTIVE.
A LOT OF IT WAS ON HEARSAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PRESENT COULDN'T SPEAK TO IT.
I THINK THAT MAYBE WAS A BIT CONFUSING TO THE MEETING AS A NEW ADD BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING.
THEN WE TALKED OF WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET.
THE BIG PART OF THE BUDGET, AS I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS AT THIS POINT IS DUTY CREWS.
THEY GAVE AN UPDATE ON A REPORT ON THAT.
WE SAW AS CHIEF MIKE REPORTED STATION ONE HAD GREAT INTERESTS AND GREAT ATTENDANCE.
NOT SO MUCH AT STATION TWO, SO THEY ARE CHANGING IT, WHICH I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE SEEING INTEREST IN IT.
BUT THEY DID SAY THAT IT IS TRAINING UP UNTIL THIS POINT THAT THE PEOPLE THERE AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING OUT ON CALLS.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN TRAINING.
WE TALKED ABOUT ADJUSTING THE OUTLINE OF
[01:40:01]
THE PURPOSE OF WHAT A DUTY CREW WAS BECAUSE AS IT WAS PURPOSE, THERE WERE TIME GUIDELINES AND BUDGET GUIDELINES AND WHO WAS REPORTING GUIDELINES AND WHAT STATIONS WERE COVERED GUIDELINES.THAT'S CHANGED AND IT'S A VERY FLUID SITUATION, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE UPDATING THAT SO WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE VOTING ON WHEN WE CAME TO APPROVE A BUDGET.
THEN FINALLY, WE TALKED ABOUT WORK BEING DONE TO FINALIZE THE REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.
IT SOUNDED LIKE ADAM AND SCOTT WERE CLOSE TO SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO SAY.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TRADING EMAILS AND SPREADSHEETS.
>> GREAT. THEY'RE CLOSE TO SOMETHING AND WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A BUDGET COMPLETELY.
THAT WAS MINE. THERE YOU GO. YOU SHOULD ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
>> NO. I THINK MARIA WAS REALLY DETAILED AND COVERED EVERYTHING PRETTY WELL.
I THINK SOME CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE DUTY CREWS, IS NECESSARILY ADDRESSING THE TIME RESPONSE AT STATION TWO, WHICH I GUESS IN OUR VIEW WAS THE MAJOR CONCERN.
SHORTENING THAT UP AND THEY'RE USING IT PRETTY WELL AT STATION ONE, BUT THAT WAS NEVER REAL MAJOR CONCERN, AT LEAST ON OUR PART.
THE OTHER THING I DISCUSSED WAS INVITING CHIEF HEILAND HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
CHIEF EYLL WHEN HE WAS WITH LONG LAKE, ALWAYS WOULD COME AND CONSISTENTLY MAKE PRESENTATIONS HERE.
WE WANTED TO EXTEND THAT TO CHIEF HEILAND SO IF THE COUNCIL HAD QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FOR THE CURRENT FIRE CHIEF, THEY CAN ASK HIM.
THERE WERE SOME RELUCTANCE THERE, BUT I'M HOPING THERE'S STILL DISCUSSIONS GOING ON THERE THAT THEY'D BE OPEN TO THAT.
>> WELL, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF YOU'RE DONE.
WHEN WE LAST DISCUSSED THE LONG LAKE BUDGET FOR 2024 AT THIS COUNCIL AND THE DISCUSSION WAS HAD ABOUT HAVING AN EXTRA FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WHICH YOU'VE NOW HAD.
WHAT WAS THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF HAVING THAT MEETING?
>> AS LAID OUT IN THE OBJECTIVES WHICH I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU.
THEY HAD SAID THE OBJECTIVES WERE TO MEASURE RESPONSE TIMES AND WE HAD YET TO SEE THAT IN ANY MEASUREMENT.
THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO HIT A CERTAIN RESPONSE TIME, BUT WITHOUT ANY TRACKING.
I THINK THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO STAFF WITH IT WAS GOING TO BE ONE PERSON AT STATION ONE IN ADDITION TO CHIEF AND TWO PEOPLE AT STATION TWO.
IT TURNS OUT IT'S THREE PEOPLE, NOT INCLUDING CHIEF AT STATION ONE.
JUST TO REVISIT HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INVESTMENT IS.
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU BUY A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT OBVIOUSLY, OUR JOB IS NOT TO MICROMANAGE, BUT TO KNOW HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO GET CLARIFICATION AROUND THE DUTY CREW MODEL AND THE EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
>> THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE. LIKE I SAID, THE OUTLINE OF THE THE OBJECTIVES, WHICH AGAIN, WE WERE GIVEN THE NOTES THE DAY BEFORE TO LOOK AT.
>> WHEN I SAY OBJECTIVE, I MEANT THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS, YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, GOING TO LONG LAKE FOR AN ADDITIONAL MEETING.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT MEETING, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNCIL CALLED FOR AN EXTRA FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> BUT THE OBJECTIVE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO GET EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE DUTY CREWS AND THE EXPENSE OF THOSE FOR THE 2024 BUDGET.
MY QUESTION IS, WAS THAT ACHIEVED? DID THE QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT SO WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS PASSING THIS BUDGET.
WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING THIS YEAR TO DO SO.
>> I THINK THAT AGAIN GOES BACK TO THE OBJECTIVES NEED TO BE UPDATED.
THEY HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE STARTING THE PROGRAM.
TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE THEM TO SEE EFFECTIVENESS, WHICH I THINK IF WE'RE GETTING A SERVICE FROM SOMEONE, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.
I THINK THAT'S FAIR AND THEY AGREED.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE UPDATING THE OBJECTIVES SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.
>> YEAH, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I THINK THAT THE INFORMATION ON THE DUTY CREWS FELL SHORT OF OUR EXPECTATION BUT THERE WAS SOME SOME PROGRESS MADE I BELIEVE.
>> THE ISSUE IS, THIS WAS I THINK TYPICALLY WHEN I ASKED RON, YOU COULDN'T RECALL A TIME IN THE PAST OR WE HAD NOT PASSED ALONG LAKE.
I KNOW IT WAS LESS FORMALIZED IN THE PAST, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NOT BEEN A TIME IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVEN'T APPROVED A BUDGET FOR LONG LINK FIRED PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT YEAR AND WE HAVE AS A COUNCIL,
[01:45:01]
ONE MORE MEETING, DECEMBER 11TH TO DO SO.I GUESS MY THOUGHTS ON THIS ARE WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE BUDGET TONIGHT, DOES OUR FIRE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE FEEL THAT YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORTH SOMETHING FOR A COUNCIL TO VOTE ON NEXT TIME?
>> THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT SPEAK FROM SOUTH PERSPECTIVE IS THE GUIDANCE COMING OUT OF THE END OF THAT MEETING LAST WEEK WAS THE TWO CITY ADMINISTRATORS, MYSELF AND MR. WESTGATE, WOULD WORK ON ADJUSTING THE BUDGET AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO TAKE INTO EFFECT THE REDUCTION OF THE NAVARRE SERVICE AREA AND THOSE CAD ZONES AS OF JULY OF NEXT YEAR SO THAT THAT REDUCTION WOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL IN ON DECEMBER 11TH SHOWING A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THAT NEW REALITY IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID OUT AND IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO DUTY CREWS IN GENERAL THAT'S TALKING ABOUT NOT APPROVING A BUDGET AND TELL THE REDUCTION OF THE SERVICE AREA 2 IS TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET.
THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES.
>> THEY'RE DEFINITELY RELATED. DUTY CREWS IS A BUDGET LINE AND THE PERSONNEL SECTION OF THAT BUDGET.
THAT WOULD BE THE THE BALANCE.
>> YOU'RE STILL GETTING INFORMATION AND YOU'RE STILL GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE DUTY CREW NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GET A NUMBER THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GETTING.
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE OF SEEING THAT MEETING, THE CITY OF LONG LAKE CAME WITH SOME STATISTICS ON THEIR DUTY CREWS AND HOW IT'S BEEN GOING SO FAR.
THEY'VE ONLY BEEN DOING IT FOR THREE MONTHS SO THAT THE DATA IS LIMITED AND THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED.
THEY ARE SHOWING AN UPWARD TREND AND FILL RATES FOR THEIR OPEN SLOTS, WHICH IS VERY GOOD.
WE DIDN'T GET REALLY GOOD DATA AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA POINTS REALLY, I WOULDN'T THINK TO SEE WHETHER THOSE DUTY CREWS ARE MEETING THOSE TIMELINES, TIME RESPONSES THAT WERE SET UP INITIALLY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL GET THAT BY DECEMBER 11TH YET, BUT WHAT WE CAN GET BY DECEMBER 11TH AS A REVISED BUDGET THAT ADDRESSES THE OTHER CONCERNS, AT LEAST THAT I HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL, WHICH WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSED REFLECTS THE REALITIES OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE CAD ZONES THAT REPRESENT THEM OR SERVICE OR AT WHICH PORNO FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL PICK UP ON IT.
I'M WANTING TO SEE HOW THAT REDUCTION IS GOING TO AFFECT THE BOTTOM LINE IN 2024.
THE ISSUE WITH THE DUTY CREWS, WHICH I BELIEVE HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED AS A TEST CASE, IS LESS CLEAR TO ME, REQUIRING THOSE DO DECREASE TO SHOW EFFECTIVENESS GIVEN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROVING A BUDGET FOR THE OR NO FIRE DEPARTMENT, NO DATA AT ALL.
>> REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETE DIFFERENT DUTY CAREER MILE THAT LONG LEG IS TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
EXPERIMENTAL VOLUNTEER BASIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE NUMBERS.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING BY THE 11TH BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT UP HERE AND DISCUSS WHETHER WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TO PASS THEIR BUDGET.
>>I HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE THINGS I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING THAT MEETING.
FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE OFFER FOR NOTES ON THAT THOSE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS AND THE AUDIO, NOT FROM THE ONE YOU MENTIONED PREVIOUS TO THIS LAST ONE, BUT THE LAST ONE.
AUDIO TAPES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE LONG LAKE CITY WEBSITE FOR THESE FIRE ADVISORY.
I DID GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO MOST OF IT AND ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS ABOUT THE NEED FOR A POLL.
I THINK THAT WAS DISCUSSED A POLL OF I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE POLL WAS, BUT CHIEF HIGHLAND DOING A POLL ABOUT SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH HIS STAFF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> IT WASN'T A REQUIREMENT BY ANY MEANS.
>>I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF A POLL WHAT IT WAS.
>> SURE. YOU DID LISTEN TO IT?
>> LISTENED TO MOST OF THE MEETING, BUT NOT BEING THERE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT, I JUST WOULD APPRECIATE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE ASK FOR A POLL.
>> SURE. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WITHOUT YOU DIRECTLY, BUT I CAN SAY I'VE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC, YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE RECORDING, BUT I THINK IT STARTED FROM THE RUMORS SECTION AND THERE
[01:50:03]
WAS MULTIPLE RESIGNATIONS AND CHIEF MIKE SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ATMOSPHERE.>> MY UNDERSTANDING LISTENING TO IT IS THAT I BELIEVE OUR COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES TO LONG LENGTH FIRE ADVISORY ARE WORTH ASKING FOR A POLL TO BE CONDUCTED OR TO HAVE THE CHIEF CONDUCT A POLL OF THE CURRENT FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FOR WHAT.
>> COULD YOU ELABORATE ON WHICH FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING IN WHICH YOU'RE REFERRING TO BECAUSE CONTEXT TO HELP?
>> IT'S THE RECORDING AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE MOST RECENT ONE BECAUSE IT'S AN AUDIO RECORDING.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF AUDIOS.
>> IT'S THE MOST RECENT MEETING.
>> YOU HEARD IT? I LISTENED TO PART OF IT, YES.
THE PARTS THAT I'VE HEARD OR ABOUT ONE OF THEM AT LEAST WAS ABOUT A POLL THAT WAS REQUESTED OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHIEF.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FOR WHAT PURPOSE THAT IS.
>> I LOOKED IT UP BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION AND I LISTENED TO IT AGAIN AND CHIEF SAID THAT DUE TO THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH BOTH CITIES PLAY A ROLE IN.
WE AGREED TO THAT I THINK AND I RECALL THAT.
I SAID THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW.
IF AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY IS EVEN POSSIBLE.
HE ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RESIGNATION OF WAS THE INTERIM CHIEF AND THAT'S IT BIG DEAL.
>> A SATISFACTION POLE OF FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
>> WE DIDN'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT THE POLL THAT BE.
IT WOULD BE I THINK, YEAH, ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE, ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING ALONG, NOT TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE OUT IN THE OPEN AND SAY, DID THIS PERSON SAY THIS OR DID THIS PERSON SAY THAT, IT WAS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF IF IT'S HAPPENING, JUST MAKE IT STOP.
YOU CAN'T HAVE GUYS BEING PULLED OUT OR GIRLS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SAYING, DID SOMEBODY SAY THIS TO YOU? AND NECESSARILY GET YOURSELF AN HONEST ANSWER.
IF IT'S HAPPENING, WE JUST SIMPLY SAID, HAVE IT, STOP. THAT'S IT.
>> I DON'T EVEN THINK WE SAID THAT THERE.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECORDING IT'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK IT STARTED AT LEAST LED BY CHIEF SAID IT WAS A DIRECT CASUALTY OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> BUT WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE QUESTION EXACTLY BECAUSE YOU'RE THINKING THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR THAT?
>> NO. I'M TRYING TO BECAUSE PART OF THE BENEFIT OF HAVING OUR COUNCIL TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS OF WHAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM MEETINGS THIS ONE BEING THE LAST ONE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP THAT I HEARD THAT DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME, NOT BEING INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FIRE.
>> YOU HEARD IT OR NOT OR YOU LISTENED TO IT?
>> LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I LISTENED TO AN AUDIO RECORDING.
>> IS THAT INFORMATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> IT DID NOT. NO, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE WORKS, I GUESS MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT IT HAS MORE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE CITY OF LONG LAKE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER ABOUT WHY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, LISTENING TO THE AUDIENCE, IT WAS ARC, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A POLL.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT GUIDANCE OR WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT.
IT'S NOT BEEN ANSWERED AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING IN THE WORKS.
>> I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT AND I THINK THE CONFUSION.
>>I SAID IF YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A DIRECT CASUALTY FROM THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH BOTH CITIES PLAY A ROLE IN AND I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I DO THINK WE HAVE ALL PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT. SAYING THAT THINGS ARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M JUST ASKING IF ANYBODY ASKED FOR A POOL.
>> I SAID THAT THAT WAS ONE WAY TO GET IT.
I CERTAINLY. I DIDN'T SAY YOU HAD TO. NO.
>> IT WAS NOTHING THAT WAS FALSE, BUT IT WAS ABOUT THE CULTURE OF GOING BACK AND FORTH AND HE SAID SHE SAID, AND THE REST OF IT.
>> I PREFER TO LET PEOPLE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
>> HAVING THE CHIEF STEP UP AND SAY, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING ON, BUT IF IT IS,
[01:55:01]
HAVE IT STOPPED BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR CULTURE AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR CULTURE.>> I GUESS, WHERE I'M GOING [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S NOT A FORM OF POLL, IT'S REALLY LOW ON THE LIST.
>> IT DIDN'T EVEN COME IN MY RECAP, OBVIOUSLY.
>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SHE'S SAID YOU NEED TO DO A POLL.
SHE JUST SAID THAT COULD BE SOMETHING YOU COULD DO IF YOU WANTED TO.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE A CONDITION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OTHERS THINGS.
>> WHAT I MEANT TO SAY AS A CONDITION OF THE BUDGET, WE'RE NOT LOOKING, IN OTHER WORDS, FOR MORE DATA OUT OF THAT DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO PASS THE BUDGET IN THE FUTURE.
>> WE NEED MORE DATA FROM THAT.
>> RELATED TO A POLL AND RELATED TO THE SATISFACTION.
>> RELATING TO HIS SATISFACTION.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT.
>> DO WE EVER GET LONG LAKES? THEY DISPUTED OUR RESPONSES TIME, NUMBERS.
THEY HAVE WE GOTTEN LONG LAKES.
WHAT THEY SAY HAS BEEN THERE LONG.
THEIR RESPONSE TIME OUT OF EACH STATEMENT OR EACH HEARTBEAT, EACH STATION INDIVIDUALLY.
>> NO THAT WE'VE REQUESTED IT.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FORMAL REQUESTS THAT WE GET THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF WHAT LONG LAKE SAYS IS THEIR RESPONSE TIMES AT A FIRE STATION 1 AND FIRE STATION NUMBER 2 SEPARATELY.
THEY DISPUTED OURS, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE EVER SAW FROM THEM WHAT THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO ALL ENTER INTO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DUTY CREW AND THEY'RE ASKING US TO PAY AN INCREASE TO THE BUDGET, BUT IS IT ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC CONCERN OF OURS, ADA STATION NUMBER 2.
>> IS OUR CONCERN IF THEY'RE JUST PUTTING THE DUTY CREW AND STATION NUMBER 1 AND IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AT NUMBER 2, SO I THINK THE BASIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEIR RESPONSE TIMES ARE OUT OF STATION 1 AND STATION NUMBER 2 SEPARATELY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
>> I THINK TO ADD TO THEM, MEGG YOU'D ALSO HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE TIMES OF DAY, AND DAY OF THE WEEK ON THOSE BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO DIFFER, SO I WOULD ADD THAT TO THEM.
>> I DON'T FEEL THE NEED FOR MORE INFORMATION ALONG THOSE LINES GIVEN THAT IT IS TRUE THAT WE NEED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
AT THIS POINT WITH A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WE'VE HAD AND THE AMOUNT OF DISCUSSIONS.
>> YOU'RE TALKING THE ORANGE BUDGET OR IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO APPROVE THE LONG LAKE CITY.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ORONO FAIR BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD MEETING THAT.
>> SPECIFIC ONE LIKE BUDGET AS WELL.
>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GETTING THE INFORMATION BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NO DELTA TO COMPARE THINGS AGAINST.
>> WHAT I'D LIKE TO JUST FINISH WHAT I WAS SAYING.
THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD IS A BOARD ASSOCIATE WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKES SO IT'S NOT THE ORANGE OIL FIRE, BUT AS I WAS REFERRING TO, BUT I DON'T FEEL THE NEED FOR MORE INFORMATION PERSONALLY BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH.
THE WORD MICROMANAGEMENT WAS USED EARLIER.
I FEEL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SWAY OF A NOT VERY MUCH AND IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE BUDGET ITEMS WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
THE OVERAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FOR $2,000 IN LIGHT OF THESE OTHER DECISIONS, I DON'T PERSONALLY FEEL THE NEED FOR MORE DATA AS IT RELATES TO THAT BUDGET, BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY ON THAT POINT.
>> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE DAYTIME RESPONSIVENESS OUT A FIRE STATION NUMBER 2?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THOSE.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?
>> NOT GOING TO GET INTO LITIGATING MORE OF THAT RIGHT NOW, I'VE JUST SLIPPED MY PIECE.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE ISSUE AS THE RESPONSIVENESS AND IT IS THE THING THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO.
IT IS THE DATA POINTS THAT I WILL NEED TO MAKE A BUDGET DECISION FOR SURE, AND SO I'M MAKING THE REQUEST BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE IT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
WE GAVE THEM THERE'S OUR APPRAISAL.
WE GAVE THEM THEIRS, WE DIDN'T GET THEIRS BACK.
WE GAVE THEM OUR RESPONSE TO THIS TIME.
WE HEARD THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, BUT WE NEED TO GET THEIRS BACK, SO WE HAVE A BASIS TO LOOK AT.
>> THIS BUDGET OBVIOUSLY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE I KNOW THE CHIEF DIDN'T MAKE TWO OF THE MEETINGS THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT AND HE'S THE PERSON PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUDGET, SO THAT DOESN'T HELP FROM A TIME PERSPECTIVE.
>> THAT WAS ONLY ONE THAT HE MISSED.
>> THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE, BUT HE WAS NOT THERE SO THERE'S TWO OF THEM.
WHEN HE'S PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUDGET AND HE CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, IT MAKES IT HARDER AND THAT'S WHY WE NEEDED ANOTHER ONE, BUT I THINK THE DELTA POINT OF KNOWING WHAT THE RESPONSE TIMES ARE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, NUMBERS AREN'T RIGHT AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A DELTA TO COMPARE AGAINST, SAY AS YOUR BUDGET ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING, WELL, THEN SHOW US.
>> NO, AND I WASN'T ON THE COUNCIL FIVE YEARS AGO,
[02:00:05]
BUT THREE OF THE FIVE OF US WERE AND I GUESS THE QUESTION THERE IS WHAT CONCERNS WERE RAISED AT THE TIME AND THAT ANNUAL PRESENTATION ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES WITH THEN CHIEF AND I'LL?>> WELL, WE KNOW A LOT MORE TODAY THAN WE DID BACK THEN BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION NOW.
>> WELL, ESPECIALLY THE DIVISION BETWEEN THE TWO STATIONS, SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED.
WE RELIED ON LONG LAKE TO PROTECT ALL THAT DATA AND TELL US WHERE WE WERE DEFICIENT.
ONCE WE STARTED DIVIDING IT SPECIFICALLY INTO TWO DIFFERENT STATIONS, THAT'S ALL SUDDEN WHERE WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT DIFFERENT.
THERE'S A CLEAR CONCERN ABOUT RESPONSIVENESS AS STATION NUMBER 2 THAT WAS THAT VISIBILITY WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO ME AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IN MY FIVE YEARS FROM LONG LAKE.
SO NOW WE HAVE IT, NOW THEY WANT US TO DO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE THE BUDGET.
LET'S JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR IT.
WE HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS AND HERE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE WITH IT.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET THE DATA.
>> I'M READY TO PASS THE BUDGET.
I DO ALWAYS NEED SOME INFORMATION, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, CARVING OUT THE PIECE WITH NEVADA WISHES SHOULD BE EASY NOW THAT WE HAVE HADN'T BEEN COUNTIES, TAX NUMBERS FOR ALL THAT STUFF.
YOU'RE PERFECTLY EASY, BUT IT'S A LOT EASIER HAVING THAT INFORMATION.
>> TIME OF DAY AND DAY OF THE WEEK.
>> WE HAD THEM. CAN YOU GET THAT REAL ASSET REQUESTS FOR THEIR DATA FOR THEM.
WE ARE GETTING DANGER CLOSE ON WELL.
>> THEY ALREADY HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY DISPUTED OURS, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THEM GETTING IT TO US.
>> WELL, THEY DID THIS BE AN I SO THEY MUST HAVE SOMETHING THAT TELLS THEM WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR NUMBERS ARE CORRECT.
WE'RE DISTRIBUTING EYES. IT MAKES SENSE.
>> YOU'LL MAKE THEIR WORK. I CAN MAKE THAT REQUEST. CONSCIOUS OF IT.
>> I'LL MOVE US ON THEN TO OUR SECOND BUDGET COMMITTEE, WHICH ISN'T ON HERE, BUT WE DID HAVE A BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH WE ARE WHICH WE JUST DID AT OUR WORK SESSION.
I'LL LET COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.
>> I THOUGHT RON DID A VERY NICE JOB EXPLAINING EVERYTHING.
I THINK MY MAIN TAKEAWAY WAS THAT OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET IS FOR PERSONNEL, AND DID EACH BUDGET AND INCREASE IN DIFFERENT AREAS ALL THE FEE THAT ACCOMMODATE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.
RON WAS VERY CONFIDENT THAT BUDGET WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
>> AS LONG AS WE'RE ON COMMITTEE REPORTS, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMITTEES THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS.
I WAS NOT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD A FUTURE FIRE SERVICE MEETING RECENTLY AND THIS IS A MEETING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH OR I'M REPRESENTING CITY OF ORONO AT THESE MEETINGS THAT I THINK COME ABOUT MONTHLY OR SO.
I'M AN ALTERNATE TO THIS AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT FORTH WHAT IS THE BEST PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFYING ME AS THE ALTERNATE IN CASE COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON CAN'T ATTEND.
I KNOW YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, THE LAST FUTURE FIRE SERVICE MEETING AND AS THE ALTERNATE, WE CAN'T HAVE A QUORUM THERE.
I'M JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A PROCEDURE OR SOME TYPE OF NOTIFICATION FOR EITHER COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH JOHNSON IN THE EVENT THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO ADAM THAT I AM INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS, BUT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION AHEAD OF TIME, I WON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I AM ABLE TO SHOW UP.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON OR VEACH WOULD NOTIFY ADAM IN THE EVENT THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THAT MEETING SO THAT I AS THE ALTERNATE AM ABLE TO GO.
IT'S A MEETING THAT I WAS ATTENDING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND I HAVE A REAL INTEREST IN MEETING WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND ALONG THE LINES OF THE FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE. SOUNDS GOOD.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SAY OUR ATTENDANCE HERE.
>> JUST LET ADAM KNOW IF YOU CAN'T BE THERE. ADAM?
>> IF YOU CAN'T MAKE A SCHEDULED MEETING, THEN I'M HAPPY TO PASS THAT ON TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> I THINK I HAD RELAYED IT BEFORE AS I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BECOME A HERDER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TRY TO CHASE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN BEFORE FOR A MEETING THEY MAY OR MAY NOT GO TO.
LET ME KNOW. I'M HAPPY TO PASS THE INFO.
>> THE FINAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT I WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS THE NORTHWEST HENNEPIN LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.
[02:05:01]
THIS IS A GROUP THAT OUR CITY IS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN A MEMBER OF.I ATTENDED A FEW MEETINGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THEN MAYOR WALSH BEGAN ATTENDING, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD SHARE-OUTS ABOUT THAT MEETING IN SOME TIME AND I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT IT SO I DID ASK ADAM FOR AN UPDATE AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE MEMBER CITIES RECENTLY HELD A VOTE OR I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT WAS, BUT HELD A VOTE AT SOME POINT ON WHETHER TO WELCOME THE CITY OF ORONO AS A NEW MEMBER IN THIS GROUP.
THE NUMBER OF CITIES, I BELIEVE THERE ARE 10 OR SO OF THEM.
THE MAJORITY RULES IN THAT CASE OF THESE VOTES AND ORONO IS NOT ACCEPTED AS A MEMBER OF THIS GROUP.
>> WHAT'S THE GROUP FOR? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT.
>> IT'S NORTHWEST HENNEPIN LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES IS A GROUP THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 15 OR SO YEARS.
I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT, BUT IT'S A GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM 10 NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES IN THIS WESTERN AREA.
THEY MEET ABOUT ONCE A MONTH TO DISCUSS CITY ISSUES.
ELECTED OFFICIALS, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME MAYORS, ATTEND AS WELL AS OTHER GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I KNOW SHERIFF WITT WAS THERE RECENTLY OR MAYBE IN THE SPRING.
>> THE QUESTION IS I'M WONDERING, WELL, WHAT'S THE CASE WITH THIS? WE WERE NOT VOTED OUT, BUT IT WAS A VOTE WAS TAKEN TO NOT ALLOW THE CITY OF ORONO TO ATTEND.
AS SOMEBODY WHO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MY TIME ATTENDING THE GROUP, I'M WONDERING WHAT, IF ANYTHING, THE CITY OF ORONO CAN DO TO MAYBE RE-ENGAGE WITH THIS GROUP IN THE NEW YEAR.
>> WHAT CITY WAS IT, BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE? WHAT CITIES ARE INCLUDED?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE VOTE WAS.
IT WAS THE MEMBER CITIES WHICH INCLUDE A NUMBER OF CITIES AROUND HERE I COULD NAME SOME OF THEM BUT NOT ALL OF THAT.
>> CORCORAN, MEDINA, MINNETRISTA [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] WEST AND NORTH.
>> IT'S MORE OF THE PROBABLY THE EASTERNMOST, BUT IT'S ABOUT 10 OR SO MUNICIPALITIES.
IT'S A VERY LARGE GROUP AND THE GROUP TOOK A VOTE AND VOTED NOT TO ALLOW ORONO TO BE A MEMBER.
>> I GUESS WHAT COULD WE DO? WE COULD REAPPLY NEXT YEAR AND HAVE THEM VOTE AGAIN, BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE COULD DO.
>> OR WE COULD REACH OUT AND SEE WHY. [BACKGROUND]
>> WELL, MY CONCERN IS THAT IN THIS ERA AND IT'S SIMILAR TO IT'S NOT RELATED TO ANY ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT THIS IS A GATHERING OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT MEET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS CITY ISSUES AND ORONO, NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THAT GROUP AS IT WOULD BE THE SAME WITH OTHER TYPES OF COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT INVOLVE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR OUR CITY OR FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THE IDEA IS WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE GROUP AND I DON'T KNOW.
>> WE ARE NOT A MEMBER CITY. WE'VE NEVER PAID DUES.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN A MEMBER CITY.
I WAS INVITED TO THE GROUP WHEN I WAS FIRST.
>> WE WERE A MEMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
>> WE WERE VOTED, IS IT SO BECAUSE WE WEREN'T A MEMBER?
>> WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE ON.
>> WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE?
>> YOU'VE MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY HAD SOME SORT OF VOTE THAT MADE IT THAT AN ISSUE WITH ORONO, BUT ANYONE THAT'S NOT A MEMBER CAN'T VOTE.
IS THAT THE BETTER WAY TO SAY THAT?
>> YOUR REPRESENTATION, I THINK BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COME ACROSS THAT WAY.
>> LET ME RE-EXPLAIN. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME.
IT'S A GROUP OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT INCLUDES MAYBE 10 OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
THE CITY OF ORONO, OVER THE PAST, HOWEVER, MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN GOING HAS NOT BEEN A MEMBER CITY.
IT'S NOT BEEN A MEMBER CITY SINCE WAY BEFORE MY TIME HERE.
AFTER I WAS SEATED IN JANUARY, I WAS INVITED TO THE GROUP SO I WENT TO THE GROUP A COUPLE OF TIMES TO THE MEETINGS.
THEN OUR CITY IN ORONO HERE PASSED I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CONSIDERED RESOLUTION WE ASSIGNED A NEW REPRESENTATIVE, MAYOR WALSH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AS AN ALTERNATE TO THAT GROUP.
MAYOR WALSH, I BELIEVE, ATTENDED A FEW TIMES AND THEN OUR COUNCIL HAS NOT HEARD UPDATES ON THE GROUP SINCE I'M NOT SURE WHEN, MAYBE SPRING, SUMMER.
WHEN I ASKED ADAM ABOUT THIS, ADAM EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE MEMBER CITIES DECIDED TO NOT ALLOW THE CITY OF ORONO THROUGH A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY TO BECOME A MEMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
[02:10:06]
>> WHY WOULD THEY EVEN BRING IT UP UNLESS WE BROUGHT IT?
>> NO. I ASKED THEM BECAUSE WE WERE A MEMBER YEARS AGO.
I WAS PRETTY REGULAR GOING TO ALL THE LUNCHES.
BUT THEN KIDS DRIVING WEDNESDAY NIGHTS JUST DIDN'T WORK SO I DIDN'T GO FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND SO WE JUST LET THE MEMBERSHIP LAPSE.
ONCE YOU HAVE THE MEMBERSHIP LAPSE, YOU HAVE TO BE REVOTED IN AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO REVOTE US IN.
>> YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR THEM ANYWAY.
>> ANYWAYS, THAT'S THE SENSE, COULD WE LOOK NEXT YEAR? SURE. WE CAN ASK. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR COUNCIL BUDGET GOT OUT OF WHACK.
BECAUSE IT WAS A THREE-DAY EVENT THAT YOU WENT TO THAT WASN'T IN OUR BUDGET, SO WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION DURING BUDGETING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT INVOLVEMENTS AND RETREATS YOU WANT TO GO TO.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T SEE THAT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE DUES.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AS A MONETARY CONCERN?
>> YEAH, IN OUR BUDGET. THE BUDGET BUDGET WAS OFF BECAUSE WHICH ISN'T A BIG DEAL, BUT THE MAJOR EXPENSE WAS THERE WAS AN OVERNIGHT TRAINING EVENT THAT YOU ATTENDED THAT WASN'T CONSIDERED IN THE BUDGET.
ALL I'M SAYING IS ALL THESE THINGS IS GOOD.
WE JUST BUDGET TIME TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING THAT STUFF IN THE BUDGET AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AS A COUNCIL, WHAT WE WANT TO BELONG TO THAT MAKE SENSE.
>> WELL, WE CAN CHECK IN WITH THEM NEXT YEAR AND SEE IF THEY WANT TO VOTE ON IT AGAIN AND IF IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT'S THE ANSWER.
>> IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT AROUND THIS ITEM BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MOVE US ON HERE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON JUST REFERRED TO, WHICH MY TRAINING WITH THE ANNUAL EVENT UP IN DULUTH WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES.
THAT WAS YES, I DID GO TO AN OVERNIGHT AND YES, IT WAS APPROVED AS AN EXPENSE.
IN THE INTEREST AGAIN, I FEEL THAT MY ROLE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO REACH OUT AND FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IS WHY I WENT TO THAT TRAINING, THE DUES, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE FOR THE NORTHWEST HENNEPIN LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.
>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY TO COVER MEALS BECAUSE IT'S A DINNER MEETING.
>> WAS LONG LAKE AT THAT SLEEPOVER MEETING TOO? CHARLIE MINER WAS HE UP AT THAT MEETING TOO?
>> WE CAN DO THAT AT A WORK SESSION.
WE CAN ADD THAT ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ATTEND.
>> OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS,
[Public Comments – (Limit 3 Minutes per Person)]
WHICH IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON.IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
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 THE PODIUM TO THE CITY OF ORONO RESIDENTS, BEFORE OPENING THE PODIUM TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, ANY ORDINAL MEMBERS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO IT IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> MY NAME IS NANCY BRANINGHAM 3185 COUNTY ROADS SIX OR NO.
FOLLOWING RECENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF ORONO TO HIRE MEMBERS OF THE LAWN LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SPITE OF AN INJUNCTION ISSUED BY A JUDGE, LORI MILLER IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, ON NOVEMBER 8TH, THE CITY OF LAWN LAKE TOOK THE CITY OF ORONO TO COURT AGAIN, COMPLAINING THAT JUDGE MILLER'S INJUNCTION HAD BEEN VIOLATED BY ORONO, MOST SPECIFICALLY BY CHIEF JAMES VAN ISLE WHO SENT RECRUITING TEXTS TOO LAWN, LIKE FIREFIGHTERS.
BY MAYOR WALSH WHO THREATENED A LAWN LAKE FIREFIGHTER AND LIED ABOUT THE NATURE OF A TEXT EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE ALSO FRIENDS.
ON NOVEMBER 23RD, JUDGE MILLER ISSUED HER FINDINGS.
AMONG THEM THAT QUOTE, THE COURT CONCLUDES THAT LUNG LAKE HAS SUFFICIENTLY PROVEN VIOLATIONS OF THE JULY 14TH ORDER AND JOINING RECRUITMENT BY ORONO OF LAWN LAKE FIREFIGHTERS AND IN JOINING OR ORONO FROM INTERFERING WITH THE FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT AND LUNG LEAKS USE AND OPERATION OF FIRE STATION TO TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF CONTEMPT.
FURTHERMORE, THE COURT FINDS THAT LAWN LAKE ESTABLISHED BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT ORONO WILLFULLY DISOBEYED THE COURTS TO ORDER FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION BY RECRUITING INDIVIDUAL LUNG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS TO WORK FOR ORONO DEFENDANT ORONO IS IN CONSTRUCTIVE CIVIL CONTEMPT.
THE JULY 14TH ORDER CLEARLY DEFINED THE ACTION OR ORONO MUST NOT TAKE ORONO WAS ENJOINED FROM RECRUITING LAWN LINK FIREFIGHTERS FIREFIGHTERS TO BEGIN WORKING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS BY ORONO'S FIRE CHIEF TO INDIVIDUAL LAWN LAKE FIREFIGHTERS
[02:15:04]
ASKING THEM TO ATTEND AN ORONO FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT EVENT VIOLATED THIS INJUNCTION.DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS BY ORONO'S, MAYOR AND FIRE CHIEF TO INDIVIDUAL LUNG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS SEEKING TO PRESSURE THEM NOT TO OBSTRUCT ORONO'S RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ALSO VIOLATED THIS INJUNCTION.
THE COURT FINDS THAT IT IS WELL WITHIN ORONO''S POWER TO COMPLY WITH THE COURT'S JULY 14TH ORDER, BUT IT HAS FAILED TO DO SO.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN THIS EVENING WITH COUNCIL'S ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE HIRING OF ANOTHER LAWN LAKE FIREFIGHTER FIRST, BY PLACING THIS ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND SECONDLY WITH CHIEF MANN AISLES DESCRIPTION THAT SAID FIREFIGHTER PAT COTTON HAS FIREFIGHTING EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
BUT CONVENIENTLY FAILING TO MENTION, MR. COTTON IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE LAWN LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE RE-BRANDING M 3185 COUNTY ROAD SIX.
FOLLOWING ON NOVEMBER 23RD, JUDGE MILLER ALSO ORDERED THAT, QUOTE, "ORONO SHALL PAY A FINE OF $2,000 FOR EACH INSTANCE OF ANY FUTURE CONTRACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITMENT IN VIOLATION OF THE COURTS JULY 14TH ORDER BETWEEN ANY ORONO CITY OFFICIALS IN ANY LAWN LENGTH FIREFIGHTERS, OR ANY INSTANCE OF FUTURE UNILATERAL PLANNING BY ORONO WITH RESPECT TO EITHER FIRE STATION ONE OR FIRE STATION TWO, WITHOUT INVOLVING LAWN LAKE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, JUST QUOTING THE JUDGE'S ORDER.
SHE ORDERED ORONO SHALL PAY ALL COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES INCURRED BY LAWN LAKE AND BRINGING ITS MOTION FOR AN ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AND FOR A FINDING OF CONSTRUCTIVE CIVIL CONTEMPT.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, PEOPLE.
ORONO CITIZENS SHOULD TAKE NOTE THAT ONCE AGAIN, THIS COUNCIL HAS FAILED TO ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CITIZENS, INCLUDING BY RUNNING UP COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY LEGAL FEES.
IT IS DISHEARTENING AND EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST." I'LL JUST ADD OFF SCRIPT.
I HOPE YOU'VE ALL NOTICED THAT NONE OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT REALLY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH TAXES.
IT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR BULL-HEADED STEAMROLLER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T CARE WHAT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO WANT OR DON'T WANT.
IT WAS STATED SO CLEARLY TONIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN SO CLEAR THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS OF ORONO AND NOT JUST ME.
[APPLAUSE] HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WANT AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT? NOBODY, NOBODY WANTS THIS.
YOU ARE SUCKING THE AIR OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THINK ABOUT THE DISCUSSION YOU JUST HAD.
COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. THANK YOU.
>> JAMES ELDER. STILL LIVE AT ONE-NINTH FIVE SOUTH BROWN ROAD OR NO.
THE DISCUSSION YOU JUST HAD IS EVIDENCE IS EMBLEMATIC OF WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING.
YOU DISCUSSED THE FIRE ADVISORY MEETING, YOU COULDN'T DECIDE ON WHAT REALLY WAS SAID AND WHAT WASN'T. YOU HAVEN'T REACHED.
IT DOESN'T SOUND TO ME LIKE YOU WERE CAPABLE OR EVEN WANT TO REACH A BUDGET AGREEMENT WITH LAWN LEGS.
I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS, FRANKLY, ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE NAVARRE FIRE SERVICE AREA.
IF YOU CAN'T GET ALONG AND IF YOU CAN'T RUN THIS OR NO FIRE DEPARTMENT PLANNING ANY BETTER THAN YOU SHOW TONIGHT.
I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA ARE AT RISK.
THIS IS NOT JUST CRITICISM OF POLITICS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK AND I DON T THINK YOU'RE UP TO THE JOB.
>> KIM CARSWELL TO 61 SIGNUP PLACE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON A PERCEPTION REGARDING THE INVESTMENT NEEDED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[02:20:03]
ONE OF THE REASONS ORONO CONTINUES TO CITE IN THE JUSTIFICATION FOR BUILDING AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE PERCEPTION LAWN LAKE HAS NOT INVESTED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ORONO WILL.I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS WITH TRUTH FOR THE MAYOR'S RECENT NEWSLETTER, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS MADE.
INSURER ARE RESPONSIBLE FUNDING PLAN TO ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE NECESSARY OPERATING AND CAPITAL RESOURCES.
THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED AT A LEVEL NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE EQUIPMENT AND THE FACILITIES AT AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF READINESS.
THE EXISTING CAPITAL PLAN FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS UNSUSTAINABLE WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT INFUSION OF CASH THAT WAS STATED BY THE MAYOR AND THE NEWSLETTER.
IN FACT, THE LACK OF THIS INVESTMENT IS NOT DUE TO LAWN LAKE.
IT HAS BEEN THE PAST 16 YEARS OF ORONO VOTING NOT TO INVEST ANY CAPITAL TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT UP-TO-DATE.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LAST LAWN LAWN LAKE FIRE CHIEF, JAMES VAN IO, WHO IS NOW OUR LAWN OF ORONO FIRE CHIEF.
THIS IS ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WITH EQUIPMENT.
IT IS BECAUSE THE MAYOR STATED IN THE SAME NEWSLETTER, HE PLANNED TO CREATE AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT BACK IN 2017 AFTER ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE THE TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF THE EXISTING LAWN LAKE DEPARTMENT FAILED, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO CREATE YOU DON'T NEGOTIATE A TRANSFER OF CONTROL.
ORONO HAS THE FUNDS FOR THIS GIVEN THE VAST AMOUNT OF MONEY WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER GOING FROM 5.2 MILLION TO OVER 9 MILLION IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
THIS HOLDING BACK OF THE INVESTMENT HAS CORNERED LAWN LAKE INTO A TAKEOVER APPROACH FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE MAYOR CAN SAY, FACTS ARE FUNNY THINGS, AS I HEARD HIM SAY IN A PAST MEETING, I THINK FACTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THOSE MISSING IN THE NEWSLETWNTER.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID PEARSON, 2160 WEBER HILLS ROAD.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF ORONO SINCE 2005 AND LIKE MANY OF THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WHAT DID GET MY ATTENTION AND I THINK A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COME FROM THIS ISSUE WAS THAT I READ THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
FIVE YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO.
MAYOR INCREASED HIS TERM FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS.
NUMBER ONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THAT.
>> BUT THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT IT AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT I STARTED COMING INTO ALMOST EVERY MEETING AND WHAT I SAW AND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT ABOUT BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. WAS DISAPPOINTING, BECAUSE THE FIRE STATION DECISION WAS ALSO MADE ON A CONSENT AGENDA.
NO. HERE'S THE ALTERNATIVES, HERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.
AND IN WATCHING ALL THESE MEETINGS.
BUT FOUR OF THEM MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW OF A TIME THAT THEY EVER DIDN'T VOTE WITH THE MAYOR.
MY POINT IS, AND ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FOUR-YEAR APPOINTMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO HOLD HIM.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH A FOUR-YEAR TERM RATHER THAN A TWO-YEAR TERM.
AS TO ONE OF THE MEETINGS I WAS AT AND I THINK ONE OF THE BREAKFAST I WAS AT WITH THE MAYOR.
HIS BASIC APPROACH WAS YOU ELECTED US, GET OUT OF OUR WAY.
AND IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN WE GOT TO GO BACK TO TWO YEARS SO THAT WE CAN HOLD THE MAYOR ACCOUNTABLE WITH YOU.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY [APPLAUSE]
>> ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP?
>> BRIAN TRIVIA 997 WILD HORSE TRAIL.
THE PROGRESSION OF THIS CONVERSATION, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT STARTED ABOUT THE TIME I STARTED SHOWING UP FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT.
[02:25:01]
IT'S A GOOD DEAL, JUST IN CASE WE DO IT.WE'RE LOOKING INTO WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND LITERALLY THE MEETING BEFORE, IF NOT TWO MEETINGS BEFORE, WITH CALL AFTER CALL.
FROM MANY MEETINGS, DOZENS OF REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING OR OPEN HOUSE OR SOMETHING TO DISCUSS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MEETING AFTER MEETING, WE ARE LOOKING INTO WHERE IT'S COMING.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING THAT ALL WENT THROUGH UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS THIS DECISION IS MADE, IT'S MOVING FORWARD AND YOU ARE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO VOTE WITH ME.
THAT'S THE PROGRESSION AT THIS TIME.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
THERE'S CONTEMPT FROM PEOPLE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.
PROBABLY AT POINTS EVEN FOR ME, YOU'RE TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, YOU'RE CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AND SPEAK IS DAUNTING.
IT'S HEAVY AND PEOPLE THAT SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, WHAT YOU LIKE TO HEAR.
YOU LET THEM GO LET THEM GO PASS THREE MINUTES AND WE CAN LOOK AT MEETINGS AND FIND THAT, PEOPLE THAT TURN AROUND AND ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE IN A WAY THAT WOULD BENEFIT SOMEBODY ON THIS COUNCIL THERE LEFT TO TURN AROUND AND TALK TO SOMEBODY IN THE EYE.
THOSE WHO TURN AROUND AND SAY SOMETHING TO THE AUDIENCE THAT IS NOT BENEFICIAL GETS SHUT DOWN.
>> ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT?
>> MY NAME IS KEVIN RILEY, 3405 HIGH LANE ORONO.
IT SEEMS THAT WHAT WE ALL WANT I THINK WHAT YOU WANT IS AN EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IF IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT FIGHTER DEPARTMENT TODAY AS IT EXISTS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE STEPS NECESSARY TO FIX THAT WOULD NOT BE NEARLY AS COSTLY, IS THE DECISION AND THE MONEY IT WOULD TAKE TO FORM A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS WHAT REALLY IRRITATES, I THINK IT ANNOYS EVERYONE HERE.
THIS IS WHY THEY'RE AGAINST THE IDEA.
WHY WE HAVE TO GO ON OUR OWN? DUPLICATING THE WHOLE PROCESS IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE.
>> HERLY PARKOL 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD ORONO, MINNESOTA COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, YOU ASKED, WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS? IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
WE'RE DOING IT. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE, I THINK MANY OF US DON'T GET IT. I DON'T GET IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT PUBLIC SUPPORT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE ALIENATING US FROM OUR SISTER CITY.
MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN ORONO OR LUNG LAKE COULD NOT TELL YOU WHEN THEY CROSS FROM ONE INTO THE OTHER, WE ARE BEING FRACTURED BY YOUR ACTIONS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, AFTER OVER 100 YEARS, WE WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH LUNG LAKE TO CONTINUE SERVICES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN THEY HAVE INCREASED COSTS BECAUSE LIFE IS MORE EXPENSIVE NOW AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON ADDING DUTY CREWS AND THESE THINGS COST MORE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE.
WHY WE WOULD GO IT ALONE AND ALSO IMPLEMENT DUTY CRUISE BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD MODEL.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO ISOLATE OURSELVES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH US, AS WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING GROUPS IN ORDER TO BE COLLABORATIVE ON THEIR FIRE SERVICES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU STEAL THE CHIEF FROM LUNG LAKE AND THEN HAVE HIM DO A NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT HIS LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL OF THESE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT JUST CONTINUE TO PILE ON.
WE'RE RECRUITING AND HIRING AND GETTING FINES AND THESE ISSUES CONTINUE.
[02:30:01]
ALL THE LUNG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID WAS WE WANT TO SEE TOGETHER AND WE'RE BREAKING THEM UP.I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL OF THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.
OUR COMMUNITY IS LOVELY AND THIS IS BREAKING IT APART.
IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD TO ANYONE.
BY THE WAY, WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT [APPLAUSE]
>> DENISE REILLY, I'M HOLDING UP JUDGE MILLER'S ORDER FOR CONTEMPT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE ORDER WHICH SAYS THE PARTIES ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO RESUME THEIR MEDIATION EFFORTS AS DIRECTED IN THE ORDER AND MEDIATE IN GOOD FAITH.
I THINK IF THE TAPE WAS PLAYED FOR JUDGE MILLER, WHEN YOU ALL NOT ALL OF YOU, BUT SOME OF YOU SAID WE'RE GOING FORWARD, THAT'S IT.
I WONDER IF SHE WILL HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT AGAIN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T MEDIATING IN GOOD FAITH AND MR. MATIC HAD INFORMED YOU GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE ON OFFICIAL IMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT THINGS THAT YOU DO IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY, THE CITY, THE TAXPAYER, BEAR THE COST.
I DO NOT THINK AND MR. MATIC, AS A LAWYER, HE CAN TELL YOU, I DO NOT THINK THAT CONTEMPTUOUS BEHAVIOR IS ENTITLED TO OFFICIAL IMMUNITY AND THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE JUDGE'S ORDER, YOU'LL BE PAYING YOURSELVES.
>> [NOISE] MY NAME IS KATHY SWEETMAN AND I LIVE AT 475 DEBORAH DRIVE IN ORONO, MINNESOTA.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF OUR DEMOCRATIC NATION, WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SAID, "THE GOVERNMENT YOU ELECT IS THE GOVERNMENT YOU DESERVE." TONIGHT I'M GOING TO SPEAK ONLY FOR MYSELF AND I SEE TONIGHT WHAT MY PREVIOUS INATTENTION TO THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS WROUGHT.
THESE ELECTED PEOPLE, EVERYONE ELECTED HERE BY PEOPLE, PUTTING ON TONIGHT'S DISPLAY OF DYSFUNCTION, OBFUSCATION, GASLIGHTING.
WE CITIZENS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING ELECTED THEM.
COUNCILMAN CROSBY, EXCUSE ME, STATES IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ABOUT MORALE AT THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO JUST TELL THEM TO SHAPE UP.
THAT IS A CLASSIC AUTHORITARIAN APPROACH TO BASICALLY EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO SAY IS TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF ORONO I BEG OF YOU PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AND VOTE TO REPLACE THIS MAYOR AND HIS ACOLYTES IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT? WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO A NON-ORONO RESIDENT, IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND CITY YOU RESIDE IN.
>> KRISTA BERBIG, 80 VALLEY VIEW ROAD, LONG LAKE MINNESOTA.
ALL OF THIS IS SUPER EMOTIONAL.
I LISTENED TONIGHT AND I HAVE A WHOLE THING WRITTEN IN, I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART INSTEAD OF WHAT'S ON THE PAPER FOR THE MOST PART.
BUT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING WELL-TRAINED GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE RESPONDING AND CONTINUING TO RESPOND.
RECENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THEY RESPONDED TO ANOTHER HOUSE ON FIRE, ARRIVING EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, STOPPING THE FIRE FROM SPREADING AND TAKING DOWN THE ENTIRE HOME.
THIS IS NOT A GROUP OF DISGRUNTLED, HARASSING, BULLYING WORKERS, TREATING EACH OTHER LIKE CRAP.
IN FACT, I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF THEM.
THEY TRULY DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY NOW HAVE TO CHOOSE AND WHAT THEY TELL ME IS I GET IT, I GET IT IF SO-AND-SO NEEDS TO GO TO ORONO BECAUSE HE LIVES IN ORONO.
I GET IT IF SO-AND-SO LIVES IN LONG LAKE AND WANTS TO STAY SERVING LONG LAKE.
THEY GET IT. THEY'RE A STRONG BROTHERHOOD.
IT'S THE PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE.
IT'S THE FRAY WHO ARE TRYING TO SELL THE NARRATIVE THAT THEY'RE PITTING THEMSELVES AGAINST THEMSELVES.
[02:35:01]
MEANWHILE, THEY'RE BUSY RAISING MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES, HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS, ESCORTING OUR HIGH SCHOOL SWIM TEAM TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OR WHEREVER STATE SOMETHING.THEY'RE LEVELING UP THEIR TRAINING, THEY'RE CONTINUING TO RESPOND WITH AN UNWAVERING LOYALTY AND TRUST TO ONE ANOTHER.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NARRATIVE THAT YOU ALL SHOULD BE SELLING.
NOT THAT THEY'RE TERRIBLE, NOT THAT THEIR RESPONSE TIMES ARE TERRIBLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT CAME UP WHAT ARE THE RESPONSE TIMES? LONG LAKE'S 11-YEAR ANALYSIS FOR STATION 1 IS THAT THEY RESPOND WITHIN AN AVERAGE OF 7 MINUTES AND 9 SECONDS.
STATION 2 8 MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS, COMBINED, 7 MINUTES AND 38 SECONDS.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT WE'RE SITTING AT DINNER OR WE'RE HAVING GUESTS OVER AT OUR HOUSE AND MY HUSBAND'S PAGER GOES OFF, HE HAS TO DROP EVERYTHING GET IN HIS CAR, DRIVE TO THE STATION, PUT HIS GEAR ON THEN WAIT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S FOUR GUYS OR GIRLS TO GET ON THE TRUCK AND GO.
THAT'S WHY THEIR RESPONSE TIME IS LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S A DETAIL THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY DO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE SITTING THERE WAITING.
THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH DUTY CREWS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO TEST THEM OUT.
MEANWHILE, LONG LAKE'S FOOTING THE BILL FOR THAT, YOU HAVEN'T PAID A DIME FOR DUTY CREWS TO DATE, NOT ONE PENNY FOR DUTY CREWS.
TO ASK CHIEF HEILAND TO COME INTO THIS HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AND TO COMPARE HIM TO CHIEF VAN EYLL WHOSE BEEN COMING IN FRONT OF YOU FOR 16 YEARS AND BEING TURNED DOWN FOR 16 YEARS, TO ASK HEILAND TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.
HE KNOWS HE SAW HE READ WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE PAPER ABOUT CODY FARLEY BY YOUR MAYOR.
WHY WOULD HE COME HERE? [APPLAUSE]
>> KELLY GRADY, 271 GREENHILL LANE, LONG LAKE.
AT THE LAST MEETING, MAYOR WALSH, YOU HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF THREATENING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST FIREFIGHTER CODY FARLEY, AND YOU CLAIMED THAT HE COMPLETELY FABRICATED HIS SWORN AFFIDAVIT TO THE COURT AND DECLARED IT AN ABSOLUTE LIE.
ANYONE WHO KNOWS FIREFIGHTER FARLEY KNOWS HE IS A DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, A MAN OF FAITH, AND A SEEKER OF TRUTH.
HE WOULD NEVER PUT HIMSELF OR HIS FAMILY INTO A FURTHER VULNERABLE WHIMS OF A MAYOR WHO WAS KNOWN TO HAVE MADE SEVERAL THREATS AGAINST THE COMMUNITY AND IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE LAWSUITS WITH CITIZENS.
ALSO, IN THE ORDER FOUND BY JUDGE MILLER, THE COURT FOUND THAT COMMUNICATIONS BY MAYOR WALSH AND CHIEF VAN EYLL WITH MR. FARLEY NOT ONLY VIOLATED THE INJUNCTION, BUT THEY ALSO WERE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE HIM.
FURTHER ORONO ALLEGES THAT LONG LAKE LEADERS ARE CREATING A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, AS KRISTA ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THE COURT FOUND THAT ACCUSATIONS FOUND BY MAYOR WALSH AND CHIEF VAN EYLL THAT FARLEY AND OTHER LLFD REPRESENTATIVES ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE NAME-CALLING AND WORKPLACE HARASSMENT IS BASED ON NOTHING MORE THAN UNFOUNDED HEARSAY AND IS FULLY REFUTED BY THE SWORN DECLARATIONS OF BOTH MR. FARLEY AND MR. MILESKI.
THAT IS A QUOTE FROM THE JUDGE, NOT FROM ME.
THEY GO ON TO SAY THAT SHE IS FURTHER TROUBLED BY ORONO SUGGESTION THAT MR. FARLEY AND OTHERS AT THE LLFD ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MR. MILESKI'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW HIS APPLICATION.
MR. MILESKI STATED THAT HE SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO CHIEF VAN EYLL EXPLAINING HIS REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL.
IT WAS DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF MR. WALSH AND CHIEF VAN EYLL AND NOT ANYONE AFFILIATED WITH LONG LAKE.
ORONO IMPROPERLY ATTEMPTS TO BLAME LONG LAKE FOR ORONO'S LOSS OF LONG LAKE RECRUIT WHEN IT IS ORONO'S OWN ACTIONS THAT DROVE THAT RECRUIT AWAY.
SIMILARLY, IN RELATION TO RUMOR CONTROL, LIKE JUDGE MILLER, I AM TROUBLED BY THE CLAIMS THAT AT FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING THAT THERE WAS A RESIGNATION FROM LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS LOBBED OUT BY MS. VEACH THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO WORKPLACE HARASSMENT.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PHONE RIGHT NOW THIS FIREFIGHTER'S PHONE NUMBER, AND THAT IF INDEED YOU WERE TRULY CONCERNED YOU HAVE AN IMMEDIATE ABILITY TO REACH OUT TO HIM TO CLARIFY HIS DECISION TO LEAVE, AT WHICH POINT YOU WOULD HAVE LEARNED IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS NOT A FACTOR IN HIS DECISION, THAT WORKPLACE BULLYING HAVE PLAYED NO FACTOR.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SINCE ENGAGED IN TEXT MESSAGES WITH SAID FIREFIGHTER AND THAT THERE'S STILL AIR TO BE CLEARED ON THIS ISSUE.
ANYONE THAT WANTS TO HAVE AN ACTIVE AND CANDID CONVERSATION WITH HIM IS ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.
I WON'T SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE ORONO COUNCIL AND THE ORONO RESIDENTS WILL NOT TAKE COMFORT IN HEARING HIS WHY.
STOP USING FIREFIGHTERS AS PAWNS TO FURTHER YOUR NARRATIVES THAT ARE AT BEST PARTIAL TRUTHS AND AT WORST, FLAT-OUT LIES.
THESE ARE HEROES AND I WILL FIGHT FOR THEM AT EVERY MEETING FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO FIGHT FOR ME AND THIS COMMUNITY.
[02:40:01]
[APPLAUSE]>> OR ANYBODY ELSE [APPLAUSE] NOT FROM ORONO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP.
YOU SEE NOBODY ELSE? ONE MORE.
>> I JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A CHANCE TO COME UP [NOISE] I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THIS FIRE STATION DEAL.
THEN I CAME TO UNDERSTAND, BRAD ERICSSON, 20-1-1-50 WHERE SHOE TRAIL AND CORCORAN.
THEN I COME TO FIND OUT THAT YOU ARE SOMEBODY, SOME BRAINIAC ON YOUR LEGAL TEAM I GUESS, DECIDED TO PUT ME ON AS A WITNESS FOR YOU GUYS.
HOW MUCH SENSE DOES THAT MAKE? I HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU, AND YOU GUYS DRUG THE CITY INTO IT, NOT ME.
ALL THIS BLAME STUFF IS RIDICULOUS.
CONGRATULATIONS, LONG LAKE, BY THE WAY, HOLY COW. IT'S ABOUT TIME.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW TRYING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON YOU GUYS, AND I THINK I DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF IT.
BUT MAYBE IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON TO SOME BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.
I THINK MR. CROSBY MADE MY CASE FOR ME BY CALLING ME OUT TO A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO.
I WON'T EVEN USE THE VERBIAGE.
I THINK YOU WERE GONE, SOMEONE WHO'S GONE? I DON'T REMEMBER.
BUT IN ANY CASE, NOW I'M BEING CALLED AN ANTI-SEMITE.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CALL ME A NAZI, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE IN NEXT DOOR REFERRING TO ME AS AN ANTI-SEMITE.
YOUR FRIEND VICKY AND YOUR FRIEND CLAIRE.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT? ISN'T PAT COTTON, THE GUY WHO WENT OUT TO WASHINGTON DC TO DEAL WITH, ON JANUARY 6, ISN'T THAT YOU'RE TRAVELING BUDDY? WE'RE NOT THAT I CARE PATHS OF GOOD GUY. I KNOW PAT.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU DID OUT THERE. THAT'S ALL.
YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OUT THERE POPPING OFF.
I SAW WHAT YOU WERE DOING DOWN AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.
I'VE STILL GOT VIDEO FOOTAGE, THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN, THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW EXISTS.
I REALLY DO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE SENDING OUT THAT NASTY STUFF.
HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GUYS CAN'T MAKE A GOOD DECISION? IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME.
YOU CAN'T EVEN DECIDE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE TO SEND TO A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, DURING A TIME OF TURMOIL.
DURING A TIME OF OR HOW DO YOU SAY UNREST.
DURING A TIME IN WHICH WE WERE UNDER ATTACK.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW BETTER THAN TO SEND SHIT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST OUT DURING THOSE TIMES.
THEN YOU'D CALL ME A NAZI, YOU KNOW MY FUCKING STORY.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? YOU GOT SHIT FOR BRAINS.
YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A GOOD DECISION IF IT CAME UP AND SLAPPED YOU ALONGSIDE THE HEAD.
GET YOUR SHIT STRAIGHT WITH GOD.
IT GET DOWN ALONG LAKE AND DO SOME NEGOTIATING.
QUITE PISSING OFF THE JUDGE, BECAUSE SHE'S A PLAN THEY DON'T AWARD ATTORNEY'S FEES UNLESS THERE'S A REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LEGAL ADVICE YOU GET AND I KNOW IT'S NOT SOREN.
INSTEAD OTHER GUY IN HIS OPINION.
[OVERLAPPING] IN HIS OPINIONS? [OVERLAPPING] FROM A JOKE FOR THOSE WORDS.
>> NOBODY ELSE AND I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL GO TO OUR MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT.
[Mayor/Council Report]
COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY THIS WEEK.
>> YEAH. I THINK IT'LL BE FUN.
I THINK, WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIRE STATION SITUATION, THERE'S A LOT OF HALF TRUTHS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT THERE.
MY COMMENT WAS SIMPLY, IF THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON, JUST TELL THEM TO STOP IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE RESPECT. APPRECIATE IT.
IT WAS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE HE SAID SHE SAID, SO THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER, WOULD NOT HAVE ISSUES WITH EACH OTHER IN A POSITIVE MANNER.
THAT WAS MY CONCERN IN THERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THIS ONE SAID THIS OR THAT ONE SAID THAT.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE, BECAUSE THEY DID AGREE WITH THE LADY WHO SPOKE TONIGHT.
THESE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER AND THEY'RE VERY CLOSE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT CLOSENESS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THINGS ARE GOOD.
HOPEFULLY THE VIKINGS ARE DOING WELL. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. AT LAST YEAR'S TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETING,
[02:45:01]
ONE OR NO RESIDENT MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR TAX INCREASES, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THEY WERE RETIRED AND WOULD NOT SEE THEIR INCOME INCREASING IN THE FUTURE, AND READING THOSE MINUTES AHEAD OF TONIGHT AND ALSO HEARING FROM THOSE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, ARE REALLY GOOD REMINDERS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.WE OFTEN FOCUS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THE CITY OF ORONO DURING MEETINGS.
BUT I'M ALSO COMPELLED TO MENTION WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT THINGS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE DOING TO SERVE THEIR RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, I ATTENDED THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM OR THE IOCP COMMUNITY CONNECTION DAY.
THIS WAS WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ELECTED LEADERS.
THE IOCP IS LOCATED JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN PLYMOUTH AND IT SERVES CITIZENS IN ORONO, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER CITIES.
THEY OFFER PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT THOSE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING NEEDS, AND THE WEST SUBURBS, INCLUDING ORONO, ARE NOT IMMUNE TO POVERTY AND ITS EFFECTS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY SIGNS AROUND TOWN THAT YOU'LL SEE FOR THE IOCP IS ANNUAL SLEEP OUT.
THIS IS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DONATIONS FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES, AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO EARN, LEARN MORE, THEY CAN VISIT THE INTERFAITH OUTREACH WEBSITE.
ANOTHER UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO HELP COMMUNITY IS THE LONG LINK FIRE DEPARTMENTS, BURN BRIGADES, ANNUAL HOLIDAY, FOOD AND TOY DRIVE.
THIS EVENT FEATURES A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, AND IT'S AN EASY WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO WE CAN, WHICH IS THE WESTERN COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK.
YOU CAN BRING IN NEW UNWRAP TOY OR NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEM TO THE EVENT, AND BOTH WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED.
I BELIEVE IT IS SATURDAY MORNING THIS COMING WEEKEND, BUT YOU CAN CHECK THE CITY WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION CITY OF LONG LAKE, THAT IS.
FINALLY, I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH RECENTLY WAS AWARDED A 2023 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.
THIS AWARD HONORS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT BEST ENGAGE RESIDENTS AND INCLUDE PUBLIC OPINION AND COMMUNITY DECISIONS.
THIS IS THE ONLY NATIONAL AWARD GIVEN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS BASED ON RESIDENT INPUT.
I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEIGHBORS CITY OF PLYMOUTH.
IT'S STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT.
>> I KNOW IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE AROUND THAT THE SHOW THAT GETS PORTRAYED, BY THE SAME 12 PEOPLE THAT COME HERE EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
IT'S A CHANNEL NINE AND ASKED ME WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT'LL BECOME AN ASSET? WELL, IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE THAT COME WITH IT.
IT'S PICKLEBALL OR BEAT OR WOOD.
OR IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE THAT COME UP AND GIVE US GRIEF.
IT'S WHEN SOMEBODY TURNS AROUND AND SAYS, YOU DON'T REPRESENT ORONO.
MAYBE THE 12 PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM ORONO DON'T LIKE US IN HERE, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE WATCHING, THAT I SEE DAY IN, DAY OUT ALL OVER ORONO, SAY WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
WE ARE DOING THE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS CITIZENS LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.
WE ARE THE CHAMPS OF BUDGETING AND WE ARE THE ENVY OF ALL THE CITIES AROUND, AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CHAMPIONING THAT.
TELL THEIR CITIES THAT WE SHOULD BE MORE LIKE ORONO.
YOU GO TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, YOU JUST SET IT IN A BIG PUBLIC MEETING.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT ORONO CAN DO WITH A BUDGET. JUST AMAZING.
THAT COMES FROM THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
MANY MISSTATEMENTS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP HERE.
THERE'S SO MANY IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH GOING THROUGH THERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO GRACIOUS AND THEY PLAY HIM SO SO LOUD. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT WHAT WE DO SPEAKS SPEAKS VOLUMES ARE BUDGETING OUR ROADS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OF THE POLICE, THE BLUE LINE FLAG WE GOT OUT THERE WHICH YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF GRIEF PEOPLE SAYING, TAKE IT DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO DO YOU HARM.
WE STOOD ARE, WE STOOD BY AND I TELL YOU, WE KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE, ARE THE SAFEST COMMUNITIES ALSO IN MINNESOTA, WE DO OUR JOB FOR A ORONO CITIZENS AND WE DO IT WELL.
WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE GOT THE TREE LIGHTING COMING UP HERE ON DECEMBER 2, WHICH IS SATURDAY FROM 5:00 -7:00, SANTA WILL BE THERE.
I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF PRESENCE FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU CAN GET YOUR PICTURES WITH THEM TOO, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
WE GOT COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY THE 13TH.
THAT'S A COUPLE OF WEEKS FROM NOW.
WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN BETWEEN THEN.
I'M SURE I'LL SEE THOSE SAME 12 PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE TONIGHT AND THE LAST 35 MEETINGS.
THEN AS WELL, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING.
I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO UP HERE.
[02:50:01]
IT TAKES TIME AND WE KNOW THE LEGAL ISSUES SOMETIMES TAKE MORE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAN WE WANT THEM TO, BUT IN THE END WE KNOW THAT THE RIGHT RESULT WILL COME AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, WHAT OUR PRESS RELEASE SAID FROM OUR ATTORNEY, THAT WE RESPECTFULLY, DISAGREE WITH THE COURT'S DECISION, AND ORONO CONSISTENT WITH THE COURT'S ORDER, WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ULTIMATELY EXPECT TO PREVAIL IN THIS LITIGATION.SPEAKING OF PERSEVERANCE, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THREE GREAT PERSEVERANCE QUOTES BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LOVE MY QUOTES.
FIRST ONE IS FROM CALVIN COOLIDGE.
SAYS PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION ALONE ARE OMNIPOTENT.
NECK WOUNDS FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAYS ENERGY AND PERSISTENCE CONQUER ALL THINGS.
THE LAST ONE IS BY WALTER ELLIOT.
PERSEVERANCE IS NOT A LONG RACE.
IT HAS MANY SHORT RACES, ONE AFTER THE OTHER. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.