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EVERYBODY HERE. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
[Roll Call]
WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2023 ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING.SO I INVITE YOU TO STAND UP AND JOIN US.
[Approval of Agenda]
[Consent Agenda]
AGENDA BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.SO WITH THAT SAID WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT? THANK YOU FOR THE WATER.
YES. THANK YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING AND MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEMS ONE THROUGH 18 AS LISTED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THOUGHTS UP HERE? OKAY WITH THAT SO WE GOT ONE THROUGH 18 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.
ONE IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 27TH.
TWO IS THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION.
THREE IS CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 4TH, FOUR IS CLAIMS AND BILLS FIVE IS APPROVED NEXT WORK SESSION DRAFT AGENDA SIX IS APPROVAL OF RENTAL LICENSES.
SEVEN IS RETIREMENT OF POLICE CANINE XERXES.
YEAH, FUNDED THEM FOR THAT YEAR.
NINE IS AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF BARRY SULLIVAN.
TEN IS APPROVAL TO HIRE CUSTODIAN.
11 IS APPOINTMENT OF A FINANCE DIRECTOR MAGGIE LYNN.
JIN? JIN, THAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE SHE GOT MARRIED.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH HER AS WELL.
SO NUMBER 13 IS AMEND CITY CODE.
15 IS LA23-60 BRIAN BENSON 3600 CASCO AVENUE, VARIANCE RESOLUTION 7432.
16 IS PERSONNEL POLICY UPDATES, 17 IS EMPLOYEE PAY SCALE ADJUSTMENTS RESOLUTION 7443.
18 IS LA23-61 AMY EAKMAN WITH OUTDOOR ESCAPES ON BEHALF OF JEREMY AND STEPHANIE TOM, 2601 CASCO POINT ROAD VARIANCE RESOLUTION 7433.
THAT'S IT. IS THERE ANY OF THOSE ITEMS ANYBODY LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN OFF THE AGENDA TODAY AND WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THEM? SEEING NONE. I'VE GOT A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.
[19) #LA23-000045, Ellette Anderson, Vacation of ROW between 1250 and 1260 Spruce Place]
THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT, WHICH WILL HIT NUMBER 19, WHICH IS LA23-45 ELLETTE ANDERSON VACATION OF A RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN 1250 AND 1260 SPRUCE PLACE.THIS UNIMPROVED RIGHT OF WAY TERMINATES AT THE LAKE THE RIGHT OF WAY CONTAINS RIPRAP SPILLWAYS FACILITATING OVERLAND DRAINAGE FROM SPRUCE PLACE RETAINING WALLS, AND APPROXIMATELY 900FT² OF THE EASLEY'S DRIVEWAY, WHICH ACCESSES THEIR SIDE LOAD GARAGE.
IN NOVEMBER, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION AT THAT MEETING, BOTH BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC THE APPLICANT STATED THEY ARE AMENABLE TO THE CITY MAINTAINING A DRAINAGE EASEMENT OVER THAT AREA.
SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS WERE RECEIVED AT THE MEETING AND IN WRITING.
ADAM EDWARDS PROVIDED COMMENT ON THE REQUEST AND OPPOSITION OF THE VACATION HE INDICATED THAT THE SITE SERVED AS A DRAINAGE WAY FOR THE AREA, AND IT IS IDENTIFIED AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE LAKE.
AREAS THAT PROVIDE A PUBLIC PURPOSE SHOULD NOT BE VACATED.
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LOCATION. THE CHALLENGE WITH VACATING RIGHTS OF WAY IS THAT VACATION IS A FINAL ACTION.STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE VACATION REQUEST AT THIS TIME, AS THERE IS CURRENTLY A PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR DRAINAGE PURPOSES AND A FUTURE AND THE FUTURE USE OF THE LAND IS YET UNDETERMINED SHOULD THE COUNCIL FIND THAT THE RIGHT OF WAY DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND DETERMINES VACATION IS APPROPRIATE, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY MAINTAIN A DRAINAGE EASEMENT OVER THE AREA TONIGHT, COUNCIL SHOULD DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION REFLECTING YOUR DECISION.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY, AND ADAM CAN AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I KNOW I THINK WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE.
I'M ASSUMING THE APPLICANT HERE TONIGHT.
YOU ARE OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. WOULD THE APPLICANT, LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT YOUR ITEM THERE.
I KNOW YOU WERE AT PLANNING COMMISSION, SO.
YEAH, I SPOKE PREVIOUSLY AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I DON'T HAVE A TON TO SAY OTHER THAN, UM THIS PROPERTY HAS.
BEEN IN OUR FAMILY SINCE 1972.
WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, ALONG WITH OUR NEIGHBOR JIM EASLEY HERE, AND WE HAVE INSTALLED MORE THAN $20,000 WORTH OF RIPRAP ON THE SHORELINE.
IN 1979, MY MOTHER HAD A LETTER FROM THE CITY.
SO AT TIMES WHEN IT RAINS, IT WILL FILL UP 3 TO 6FT WIDE.
THERE'S REALLY NO WAY THAT THE PUBLIC IS EVER GOING TO USE IT AS AN ACCESS, AND JUST DOWN THE STREET, ABOUT FOUR HOUSES, THERE'S A LOVELY LAKE ACCESS THAT IS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY. THEY DO MOW IT AND THEY TAKE CARE OF IT THERE'S ALSO, AS MENTIONED, TO THE LEFT OF US, WITHIN 500FT, THERE IS THE LOMA LINDA LAKE ACCESS, WHICH HAS A PUBLIC DOCK, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A PUBLIC ACCESS AT SANDY BEACH.
SO THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE PUBLIC LAKE ACCESSES THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO THIS PROPERTY, AND BEING ABLE TO SPLIT THIS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH OF OUR PROPERTIES.
EASLEY'S WOULD BE ABLE TO PAVE THEIR DRIVEWAY.
SO THESE ARE KIND OF ALL THE REASONS WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SPLIT BETWEEN OUR TWO PROPERTIES, AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING TO MOW AND MAINTAIN FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.
SO THAT IS KIND OF ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO HAD YOU NOTIFIED THE CITY THAT THERE WAS SOME ISSUES WITH DRAINAGE THERE ALONG THE WAY? NO, WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING IT FOR SO LONG AND WE HAD A MUCH BIGGER CITY PROBLEM WITH THE SEWER AT THE END OF THE STREET THAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT BEING FIXED, AND MY MOTHER ACTUALLY DID GET THAT THE CITY TO PUT IN A NEW I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S CALLED, BUT SOME TYPE OF PUMP.
WE ARE THE LOWEST POINT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A LIFT STATION, MAYBE A LIFT STATION THAT SHE WORKED ON FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND IT FINALLY WAS PASSED AND IT'S FANTASTIC BUT WE USED TO HAVE A LOT OF SEWER BACKUP IN OUR BASEMENT, SO THAT WAS THE ONE BATTLE THAT WE REALLY CHOSE TO FIGHT THERE, AND MY MOTHER IS A CONSERVATIVE LIKE NATURALIST, AND SHE'D DONE A LOT OF WORK TOO. WHEN SHE BOUGHT THE HOUSE, IT WAS A BIG MUDDY MESS.
IT WAS FULL OF OLD TIRES AND BOTTLES AND REBAR, AND IT WAS THAT 40FT OF JUST MUD AND THROUGH THE YEARS SHE DID A LOT TO MAINTAIN IT, PUT SOME NICE BOULDERS IN PLANT ALL THE GRASS THAT WOULD THEN DRAIN THE WATER FROM THE STREET INTO THE LAKE WITHOUT IT BEING KIND OF A MUDDY MESS AND SOMETHING TO NOTE.
ALSO, THERE IS ALSO A DRAINAGE THAT HAPPENS ON 1230 SPRUCE PLACE.
SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A CULVERT THAT RUNS THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY TO DRAIN.
I THINK THEY'VE OWNED IT 70 YEARS THAT HOUSE.
I KNOW IT'S A THE ONE DOWN THE STREET IS OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY, PRETTY LARGE CULVERT ACCESS, AND YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF LAKE ACCESSES, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN UNCONTESTED THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS KIND OF A WATER AREA THAT GOES DOWN, AND SO I KNOW AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WITH THE KEEPING AN EASEMENT.
NO, NOT AT ALL. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT THAT THE DNR SENDS A LETTER AND THEY THEY THEY DON'T RECOMMEND DOING IT BUT THE DNR IS, WE ALL KNOW UP HERE AT LEAST HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE DNR PER THEIR POLICY ALWAYS SAYS NO.
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OUR POLICY AS WELL, BUT WE TOOK A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THIS AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE OLD FIRE LANES, OLD ROADS THAT GO INTO THE LAKE THAT DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, AND WE CHANGED THAT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT COMMON SENSE SHOULD PREVAIL AND THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK AT THESE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS TO SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO CLEAN IT UP, KIND OF NOT JUST GET RID OF IT, BUT CLEAN IT UP SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND IF THERE ARE LAKE ACCESSES AND IT SEEMS LIKE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS KIND OF FITS ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS, YOU'VE GOT ALL THE DIFFERENT LAKE ACCESSES AROUND YOU.THIS IS KIND OF AN OLD FIRE REMNANT AS WELL AND A WATERSHED ISSUE, AND SO I THINK I'D BE DEFINITELY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DOING IT, BUT KEEPING THE EASEMENT ON THERE FOR THE WATER DRAINAGE, FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FOR YOU OR THE OTHER HOMEOWNER, THOUGH.
THE DRIVEWAY ISSUE IS THAT IN YOUR THAT'S NOT YOUR PROPERTY, IT'S--THAT IS JIM EASLEY'S.
OKAY, THE HOME WAS BUILT SO LONG AGO THAT YOU CAN SEE THEIR PROPERTY LINE ACTUALLY ENDS KIND, AND RIGHT AT THAT APRON OF THEIR GARAGE, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO KIND OF USE THAT AREA THERE SO THAT WOULD BE, AGAIN, A BIG IMPROVEMENT TO BOTH THEIR HOME AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION THEN FOR YOU IF.
THANK YOU. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE PART OF THE ISSUE HERE IS EROSION OR GRAVEL THAT IS MOVING AROUND OR MOVING TOWARD THE LAKE, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS ISSUE HAS EVER BEEN ADDRESSED HISTORICALLY THROUGH ANY VARIANCE REQUEST, OR ANY OTHER SORT OF FORMAL PROCESS WITH THE CITY? NOTHING FORMAL. OKAY WE'VE JUST PAID THE GUY TO COME AND MOVE THE GRAVEL BACK [INAUDIBLE] THE GRASS IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. [INAUDIBLE] RESOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE WOULD CERTAINLY HELP US PLAN FOR HAVING THE DRIVEWAY PAVED.
CONTROLLING THE WATER, AND IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY'S MOM WHO FOUND THE LETTER FROM THE CITY BACK IN 1979.
YEAH, AND THAT'S WHEN IT WAS DEEMED NOT SUITABLE.
YEAH. I DON'T SEE HOW PEOPLE COULD GET DOWN TO THE WATER BECAUSE THERE ARE TREES THAT ARE PLANTED IN THE SPACE AND THEN IT'S JUST THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING. THERE'S JUST WATER THAT'S FLOWING THROUGH THERE AND DOWN WHERE IT'S CLOSE TO THE LAKESHORE.
IT CAN GET 15 TO 20FT WIDE AS FAR AS THE PATH OF WATER.
IT'S NOT CONTAINED IN A, AND SO IT JUST KIND OF FLOWS IN.
THAT IS THE YOUR GRAVEL DRIVEWAY THAT GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THERE NOW RIGHT.
OUR LOT LINE CURRENTLY IS ABOUT WHERE THE TELEPHONE POLE IS.
YEAH. RIGHT. MHM, AND IT RUNS UM JUST TO THE LEFT TO THE LAKESHORE.
SO WE'RE OUR LOT LINE CURRENTLY IS JUST A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF THE SPILLWAY ON THE LAKE SIDE.
SO YOU'VE BEEN UNABLE TO PAVE THAT BECAUSE IT'S ON CITY PROPERTY, BUT IS THERE AN EASEMENT FOR THAT DRIVEWAY ACROSS THERE NOW? THERE IS NOT THERE'S NOT.
WELL, THERE WOULD WHAT YOU WOULD NEED THERE IS AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT.
SO EVEN IF THIS IS TURNED INTO A DRAINAGE EASEMENT, WE WILL STILL NEED ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE DRIVEWAYS, SPILLWAYS, RETAINING WALLS, STRUCTURES THAT WOULD SIT INSIDE OF OUR DRAINAGE EASEMENT, AND DOES THIS CHANGE THE HARDCOVER CALCULATIONS THEN AS WELL? YES. OKAY, IT SOUNDS SO [INAUDIBLE] WHAT DO YOU MEAN? FOR EACH PROPERTY, THEY'D BE ABLE TO GET LARGER.
MHM. BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE HARDCOVER AS A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
RIGHT. IF IT IS VACATED DIVIDED IN HALF THEN THEIR PROPERTY OBVIOUSLY GETS BIGGER.
SO PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE NOT PURSUED ANY KIND OF IMPROVEMENT OF THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY IS THAT WE HAVE A WATER PROBLEM WITH THE GARAGE WE HAVE SOME VERY MATURE MAPLE TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEY REPRESENT THE HIGH POINT IN THE YARD, AND SO THE DRAINAGE GOES INTO OUR GARAGE, AND THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT EXCEPT A MAJOR FIX, AND SO IN-LIEU OF
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DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET RIPPED OUT LATER ON.WE THOUGHT LET'S PLAN FOR THIS AND SEE WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GARAGE BEFORE WE TAKE ON ANYTHING ELSE.
HAVE WE EVER DONE IN THIS CITY? AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW A HOMEOWNER TO PAVE PART OF A DRIVEWAY IN A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OR LAKE ACCESS? YES. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? OKAY. THANKS.
CAN ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUICK [INAUDIBLE].
SURE. JAY NYGAARD, 1386 WEST POINT ROAD, ORONO . I PUT IN FOR A MINOR PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT YEARS AGO, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GUYS ARE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND NOTHING AGAINST YOU BUT HERE I AM LOOKING AT SOMEONE WHO PUT A DRIVEWAY IN CITY PROPERTY, YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE HIM THE PROPERTY, AND FOR SOME REASON, MY MINOR PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT THAT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT FOR HERE, BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW WE'RE IN LITIGATION.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, FOR HERE RIGHT NOW, THAT OUR MINOR PROPERTY LINE ADJUSTMENT THAT MADE NO EFFECT ON THE CITY COMPARED TO WHAT THIS IS, WAS COMPLETELY DENIED AND WORKED ON FOR DENIAL.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR? NOT YOUR LITIGATION.
THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR IS GOING YOU ARE ACTUALLY GIVING THEM CITY PROPERTY TO DO IT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE DRIVEWAY SINCE WE'VE MOVED THERE.
IT EXISTED THAT WAY A NUMBER OF YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN BOUGHT IT.
WHEN DID YOU MOVE THERE AGAIN? [INAUDIBLE]. ALL RIGHT.
SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS I GUESS.
SO I HEARD THE APPLICANT MENTIONED THAT FROM THE 60S THEY HAD THAT THE CITY HAD NO USE FOR IT, BUT I READ IN MY PACKET HERE THAT THE CITY SAW THAT IT WAS A POTENTIAL PUBLIC USE FOR ACCESS.
WHEN THE PARKS COMMISSION DID THE LAST LOOK AT LAKE ACCESS POINTS, IT WAS JUST ONE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS MAYBE WE LOOK AT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE ABOUT WAS IT TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO, WE DID A PROJECT WHERE WE WENT OUT AND MARKED 15 OF THE LAKE ACCESSES THAT HAD THE MOST PROMISE AND IMMEDIATE USE FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS DOWN TO THE LAKESHORE THIS DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT FOR THAT, BUT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST TO LOOK AT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY. YEAH, I MEAN, I SEE, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT AS COMFORTABLE ABOUT GIVING UP THIS [INAUDIBLE] JUST ONE LAST POINT I FORGOT TO MAKE SORRY.
IN THE 50 YEARS THAT MY FAMILY HAS OWNED THIS PROPERTY, NO ONE HAS USED THIS AS A PUBLIC ACCESS.
SO WHEN WE JUST TALK ABOUT IT BEING A PUBLIC ACCESS, THE OTHER TWO ARE MAINTAINED AND SAFE AND THEY'RE MUCH EASIER TO ACCESS, AND NO ONE, EVEN THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM US, HAVE EVER USED IT.
SO THERE ARE MUCH BETTER ACCESSES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN A VERY TIGHT AREA.
ONE PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT THIS PROVIDES IS WE HAVE THE BUSIEST FISHING SHORELINE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
SO AS A PUBLIC GOOD, IT SERVES A PRETTY NICE PURPOSE, AND I DON'T HAVE TO GO LOOKING FOR THE FISH.
SO I MEAN, IF WE'VE KIND OF IDENTIFIED THIS EVEN ON THE FRINGE OF BEING A POSSIBLE SITE TO LOOK BACK AT, I'M MORE COMFORTABLE COMING BACK WITH YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHY THE DRIVEWAY OF THE PROPERTY TO THE
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NORTH THERE NEEDS THE DRIVEWAY NEEDS TO COME ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THIS BUT WE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR THAT, AND IF THE CITY'S LAND IS CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS.THAT'S WHY I ASKED IF HE HAD CONTACTED THE CITY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING OUR PART, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT CAUSING PROBLEMS TO THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES SO I THINK THEY CAN.
I SEE THE NEED TO CLEAN UP THAT CORNER, AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH AN EASEMENT, IS HOW I SEE IT.
CAN WE SEE THE OVERHEAD VIEW AGAIN? CAN YOU GO BACK ONE THERE? SO IT'S THAT STRIP THERE.
YEAH, SEE HOW THEY HAVE THEIR GRAVEL? YEAH, I'VE GOT A PICTURE OF IT ON GOOGLE EARTH, TOO, ON MY PHONE.
MATT, YOU'RE SUGGESTING TO GO WITH WHAT THE BOARD SAID IN THEIR 5 TO 0 VOTE? I'M SORRY? YOU'RE SAYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A MAINTAINING THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT.
NO I'M TALKING ABOUT NOT GRANTING THE VACATION, AND IF STAFF CAN WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO THE NORTH TO FIND A REASONABLE EASEMENT AGREEMENT OVER THE TOP OF IT.
OKAY. AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE APPLICANT TO THE NORTH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REASONABLE.
I GUESS I'D BE IN FAVOR OF WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAID, ONLY BECAUSE WE GAVE OURSELVES FLEXIBILITY ON THESE ITEMS TO CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS UP WHEN WE HAVE LOTS OF ADDITIONAL ACCESS POINTS THAT ARE JUST HOUSE JUST HOUSES AWAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
THE BAR FOR VACATION OF PUBLIC LAND IN ORONO IS HIGH BY DESIGN, AND WE'RE A LAKESHORE CITY THAT HAS A FINITE NUMBER OF CITY OWNED ACCESS POINTS, AND AS I CONSIDER THIS APPLICATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PUBLIC LAND IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE THAT REQUIRES OVERSIGHT, BECAUSE WHEN OUR CITY DECIDES TO VACATE LAND, TYPICALLY THAT'S NOT GOING TO RETURN TO THE PUBLIC, AND IN TERMS OF HOW THIS REQUEST AFFECTS OUR CITY AS A WHOLE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS REQUEST IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORY, AND I DID CHECK WITH STAFF TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW MANY LAKE ACCESS POINTS WE HAVE AND THE NUMBER.
IS IT WAS ABOUT 41, FIVE YEARS AGO, AND TODAY IT'S 39.
SO WE'VE DECREASED A NUMBER AND WE'RE LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE GETTING MORE OF THOSE IN THE FUTURE.
SO THE CONSIDERATIONS I'M THINKING OF AS I DELIBERATE WITH ON THIS VACATION REQUEST IS ONE, WHETHER OR NOT THIS REQUEST ALIGNS WITH OUR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IN THAT PLAN IT STATES THAT ORONO WILL MAINTAIN LAKE ACCESS FOR ALL RESIDENTS, AND IT'S THE CITY'S INTENT TO PERMANENTLY RETAIN FOR PUBLIC USE ALL EXISTING LAKE ACCESS CORRIDORS AND FIRE LANES, REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT LEVEL OF USE OR MAINTENANCE.
SO WHETHER THE PUBLIC IS ACTIVELY USING A RIGHT OF WAY IS NOT NECESSARILY A FACTOR IN ASSESSING ITS WORTH TO THE CITY OR THE PUBLIC AND THE CITY'S GUIDING DOCUMENTS STATES THAT THE INTENTION IS TO RETAIN THESE PUBLIC LANDS MY SECOND POINT IS THAT THIS VACATION IS NOT SUPPORTED BY CITY STAFF, WHETHER IT BE THE ENGINEER OR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ONE, BECAUSE IT SERVES A PUBLIC DRAINAGE BENEFIT AND POSSIBLE POTENTIAL USE, AND NUMBER TWO, BECAUSE VACATIONS ARE PERMANENT, AND THE DNR SAID ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING AND NUMBER FOUR THE ISSUES ARE REAL ONES AS THEY RELATE TO THE EROSION ISSUE, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT ISSUE COULD BE
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ADDRESSED IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT, AND WHETHER OR NOT A VARIANCE OR ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME A MORE REASONABLE WAY OF ASSESSING THIS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT NECESSARILY A VACATION OF PUBLIC LAND IS REQUIRED HERE AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT'S BEEN ENTERTAINED AND THAT'S, I BELIEVE, THE POINT THAT COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON WAS ADDRESSING A MOMENT AGO AND FINALLY, THE STATE STATUTE SUPPORT THIS VACATION REQUEST, AND THE STATE STATUTE READS THAT NO VACATION SHALL BE MADE UNLESS IT APPEARS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC TO DO SO, AND I THINK THAT THE CRUX OF THE MATTER HERE IS THAT THERE'S NOT A CLEAR AND IDENTIFIABLE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC AT-LARGE WITH RELATION TO THE VACATION REQUEST, AND I THINK IT'S EASY WITH SOME OF THESE, THESE LOOKS THAT WE'RE DOING AT THESE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS TO BEGIN TO CONSIDER THAT THE CITY MUST ASSESS OR JUSTIFY ITS USE OR HOW IT IS USING PUBLIC LAND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S BRUSH ON THE SITE OR WHEN IT'S AN UNDESIRABLE PIECE OF LAND OR THERE'S A STEEP SLOPE. I THINK IT'S EASY TO GET IN THE HABIT OF SAYING, WELL, HOW IS THE CITY USING THAT LAND, RATHER THAN SAYING BY VACATING IT, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AT LARGE? IT'S CLEAR THAT IT MAY BENEFIT THE FOLKS IN THAT STREET OR IN THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, BUT I STRUGGLE TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE ORONO PUBLIC AT LARGE OR THE PUBLIC BEYOND THAT AND ALSO THE FACTOR HERE OF PRECEDENT AND SETTING SETTING A PRECEDENT OF ADDRESSING WHAT MAY BE A REAL ISSUE REGARDING EROSION BY LOOKING AT THE VACATION OF PUBLIC LAND, THAT DOES NOT SEEM NECESSARY IN THIS CASE.SO I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA OF VACATING PUBLIC LAND TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE THAT IS A REAL ONE, FOR SURE, BUT BUT AN ISSUE THAT MIGHT BE LOOKED AT BEING RESOLVED IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND I WOULD LOOK TO STAFF FOR SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A THERE IS SOME HISTORY THERE WITH REGARD TO WORKING WITH ISSUES WHERE A DRIVEWAY PLACEMENT OR DRAINAGE ISSUES MAY BE IMPACTING PEOPLE NEGATIVELY.
COUNCILMEMBER VEACH, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? I GUESS I JUST WOULD DEFER BACK TO PUBLIC ACCESS BEING A FEW HOUSES DOWN.
CORRECT. IS THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS, YOU DO.
THERE IS DANGER INVOLVED IN NOT HAVING A CLEAR, STREAMLINED APPROACH.
SO IF WE WERE TO DO IMPROVEMENTS IN BETTER MARKINGS WOULD YOUR RESOURCES BE BETTER SPENT AND POSSIBLY SAFER IF YOU HAD ALL ENTRANCES AND EXITS CLEARLY MARKED? AND IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, THERE COULD BE A SAFETY RISK I DID LISTEN TO THE PARKS COMMISSION AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON IT AND THINK WITH SOME, SOME ENCROACHMENT ENCROACHMENT WITHIN THE EASEMENT AND DRAINAGE EASEMENT, I THINK WERE THE TWO ITEMS THAT I THINK WERE FOR SURE NECESSARY, BUT SEEMED VERY.
I DON'T KNOW, DESIRABLE BY EVERYBODY, I THINK I WOULD BE IN FAVOR.
I DON'T NEED AS MUCH TIME TO SAY THAT I THINK IT DOES MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND, AND I'LL JUST GET TO IT, BECAUSE I WILL JUST THEN MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT, TO HAVE STAFF BRING A RESOLUTION TO VACATE THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT, AS WELL AS AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE EASEMENT.
I'D STILL LIKE TO CHAT ABOUT THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN OUR OBLIGATION TO [INAUDIBLE] SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND I GUESS IF WE CAN LOOK AT IT LIKE.
YOU KNOW THE WHAT WAS THE EAST LAKE STREET? THE WEST LAKE STREET. WEST LAKE STREET, YEAH IT WAS IT WAS A SITUATION THAT IT WAS NOT REALLY BEING UTILIZED AS A FIRE LANE AND SO FORTH, AND NEVER WILL BE.
SO THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY, FOR THE MOST PART, IS NIL SO I AS LONG AS AND UNFORTUNATELY ELECTRONICALLY, I'M NOT WORKING REAL WELL TONIGHT I KNOW SORRY.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH VACATING.
I'D LIKE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS FOR IT.
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ACCESSES CLOSE BY.WE CAN COME UP WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEY ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M MELANIE, WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING TO THAT? BECAUSE FROM MY READING AGAIN WITH THE WITH THE COMP PLAN AND WITH STATE STATUTE, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THERE IS NOT AN OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE CITY TO VACATE LAND JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A BETTER ACCESS POINT, OR CLEARLY MARKED ONE 500FT AWAY.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A DETERMINING FACTOR IN WHETHER OR NOT WE VACATE THIS PUBLIC LAND.
PUBLIC LAND, I MEAN, MAYBE COME UP.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC ISSUES.
IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE'S PUBLIC ACCESS.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY, BECAUSE WE DID CHANGE THE COMP PLAN, TO TAKE THE COMMON SENSE APPROACH, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM OUR STANDPOINT AND NOT JUST SAY NO, NOT JUST SAY YES, BUT WE TAKE ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES INTO INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION.
YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. DRAINAGE EASEMENT.
THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT WOULD STILL BE THERE.
CORRECT? YES, THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S WHAT MY MOTION WAS.
OKAY. I'M WONDERING WHAT THE DO THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH THE EASEMENT AND AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE STUFF WITHIN THE EASEMENT, WHICH THEN COVERS KIND OF THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE. SO I HAVE A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, UNLESS THERE'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT.
SURE. I WILL LISTEN TO THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
[CHUCKLING] CAN WE HAVE A PEDESTRIAN ACCESS OVER THE TOP WITH THE UTILITY EASEMENT? SO IN ESSENCE, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE NOW, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE NOW. RIGHT NOW THIS IS RIGHT.
RIGHT. IT'S AS IF IT'S OUR OWN PROPERTY.
SO THE WAY IT IS NOW THAT ALLOWS YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THAT EASEMENT AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT KINDS OF UTILITIES, IN THIS CASE, THE UTILITY THERE IS A FORM OF STORMWATER UTILITY.
YOU CAN CHANGE IT FROM A RIGHT OF WAY TO A DRAINAGE EASEMENT.
WE'VE LIMITED YES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL IT'S AN EASEMENT; WE'RE JUST MINIMIZING THE EASEMENT TO DRAINAGE.
CAN YOU SHOW US THE OTHER ONE THAT'S CLOSE BY? THERE'S TWO OF THEM.
YEAH. ONE. OH SORRY, I ONLY SAW TWO.
I MEAN I THINK WE'VE MET THE THRESHOLD OF VACATING THIS.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND ALL THE OTHER ONES AS WELL.
YES, AND SO I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT, BUT, I THINK WE CAN DO IT WITH A ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY I WASN'T IN I BELIEVE WE MET THE THRESHOLD TO VACATE IT.
THAT'S NOT, MY NO VOTE ISN'T FOR THAT.
LET'S FINISH THIS AND MOVE ON, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH.
SO YEAH. SO I'LL REMOVE MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS NEVER ADOPTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
YEAH, AND I AM CALLING FOR THE VOTE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING ELSE.
I HAVE TO SAY. I'M CALLING FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. I'D PREFER TO LISTEN FIRST, IF THAT'S OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE I HEARD IT OUT.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE IN THIS.
THE MAYOR CALLED THE VOTE, SO I'M GOING TO LET THAT GO.
THE VOTE. SO ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. OKAY. THAT PASSES 3 TO 2.
SO YOU PROBABLY WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MELANIE.
YES. WHO SECONDED THAT, PLEASE THAT WAS MARIA, AND BUT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET IN TOUCH WITH MELANIE OR SOMEBODY FOR THE TALK ABOUT THE ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT, AND I'LL WORK ON THAT.
YEP, AND THEN WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AT THE NEXT.
OH, YEAH, BECAUSE THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO US.
THAT'LL BRING IT. OH. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT? I DON'T SEE LAURA HERE. SO LAURA IS OUT SICK TODAY.
SO SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE A SLIDE FOR US, THOUGH.
RON HAS INCLUDED IT IN HIS PLANS.
OKAY. SO ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOU, MELANIE, THEN? NO. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS.
OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR FINANCE REPORT WITH RON OLSON.
[20) Adopt 2024 Long Lake Fire Operating Budget]
[00:35:02]
HIS LAST MEETING HERE.WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
THANKS, RON. WOOHOO! WAY TO GO, RON! WOO! OKAY THEN.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE NUMBER 20 WHICH IS ADOPT 2024 LONG LAKE FIRE OPERATING BUDGET, AND THAT ONE IS ACTUALLY MR. EDWARDS. OKAY.
AT THE TIME THAT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET OR PRELIMINARY LEVY WAS SET IT WAS TABLED AT THAT POINT AS FAR AS THE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET AND STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO GO BACK AS WAS THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD WORK WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE ON ADJUSTING THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS AN ADJUSTED BUDGET.
THE OVERALL LONG LAKE FIRE BUDGET REMAINS THE SAME.
THERE'S SOME MINOR MOVES WITHIN THE BUDGET, BUT THE END NUMBER FOR THE BUDGET REMAINS THE SAME.
WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE DISTRIBUTION SO WORK WITH LONG LAKE AND THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE REDUCTION OF THE NAVARRE AREA DOES REDUCE ORONO'S PORTION OF THAT BUDGET BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE REDUCTION IN THE LAND VALUE AND THE REDUCTION IN THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF FIRE CALLS THAT ARE BOTH FACTORS IN HOW THE ALLOCATION OF THE BUDGET IS DONE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THERE THIS WE NEED TO DO THIS VOTE IN TWO PIECES DUE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERN SO AS THEY, AS I WROTE THE COUNCIL ACTION, I DID DIVIDE IT INTO TWO PIECES ONE IS TO LOOK AT APPROVING THE LONG LAKE FIRE OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2024 AS WRITTEN LESS THE WAGE INCREASES AND THE DUTY CREW PORTION OF THE BUDGET, AND THEN A SECOND MOTION TO CONSIDER THOSE TWO ITEMS WHICH THOSE THE LATTER VOTE ON THOSE TWO ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER VEACH, I BELIEVE, IS INTENDING TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM SINCE SHE IS RELATED TO A FIREFIGHTER, IT WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT RELATED.
SHE'S MARRIED TO A FIREFIGHTER.
[CHUCKLING] SO THE OPERATION BUDGET'S GOING TO BE ONE WITH THE DUTY CREW OR WITH THE I DIVIDED IT INTO TWO, SO I TOOK TOOK THE, AND JUST SO.
SO WE'RE CLEAR, BOTH VOTES WILL HAVE TO CARRY.
COULD YOU CALL IT UP ON THE SCREEN, PLEASE? BOTH VOTES WILL HAVE TO CARRY IN ORDER FOR THE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED.
[INAUDIBLE] I HAVE ANOTHER COMPUTER IF YOU WANT IT.
YEAH ONE IS THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
SO TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS, TWO SEPARATE VOTES WITHIN THAT ITEM, BUT IT IS JUST THE WAGES BY ITSELF.
ARE SEPARATE DUTY CREW IS A WAGE.
SO I CONSULTED WITH SOREN AND GOT THE ADVICE AND ASKED IF WE COULD SEPARATE IT, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET SO THERE I COULD [INAUDIBLE] I TRIED TO WRITE THE COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST.
SO FIRST ONE THERE, MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 LONG LAKE FIRE OPERATING BUDGET, LESS PAY AND DUTY CREW BUDGET, THE BUDGET LINES, AND THEN THE SECOND MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FIRE CALL TRAINING PAY INCREASES AND THE DUTY CREW WHICH ARE THOSE THOSE OTHER PIECES.
SO AGAIN COMBINED TOGETHER AS AN APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET, BUT SO AS YOU HAVE ANY MORE JUST DETAILS ON THE BUDGET ITSELF, KIND OF WHAT YOU WORKED OUT AND WHAT'S STILL TO BE WORKED OUT AS WE KIND OF GO A LITTLE BIT.
SURE SO JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 2024 BUDGET, SOME THINGS THAT MAKE IT DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS BUDGET YEARS, WHICH WERE MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD SO THE FIRST WE'VE ALREADY ALLUDED TO IS LONG LAKE FIRE HAS IMPLEMENTED A VOLUNTEER DUTY CREW PROGRAM THEY DID A PILOT PROGRAM THIS YEAR USING THEIR STATE SAFETY DOLLARS OR GRANTS DOLLARS AND SO IN THE BUDGET THERE IS AN INCLUSION OF CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM INTO 2024 AS A BUDGETED ITEM SO THAT IS THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT'S DIFFERENT AND THEN I DID IN THE
[00:40:08]
PACKET AS I THINK IT'S EXHIBIT C, I PUT IN WHAT THE LONG LAKE FIRE CHIEF HAD PUT TOGETHER AS THE PROGRAM KIND OF OUTLINING THE PROGRAM AND WHAT ITS PURPOSES WERE SO, AND THEY ARE THE PROGRAM IS AIMED AT TARGETING SERVICE TIMES WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING THOSE DUTY CREWS OUT THE DOOR IN TWO MINUTES AND ALSO I THINK ALSO OF KEY IMPORTANCE IS THE IMPROVEMENT OF FIREFIGHTER SKILL LEVELS BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE FIREFIGHTERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DUTY CREW PAY.SO THEY COMING ON SHIFT FOR FOUR HOURS AND THERE ISN'T A CALL OUT THERE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST SITTING THERE.
THEY'RE DOING THEY'RE DOING TRAINING.
SO THE 2024 BUDGET INCLUDES THAT THE ONE THING WE DID TALK ABOUT, AT LEAST THE STAFF LEVEL BACK AND FORTH WAS THAT THIS IS STILL AN EARLY PROGRAM THAT STILL NEEDS ADJUSTMENTS.
THEY'RE STILL REFINING HOW IT WORKS FROM WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY SET OUT AND THAT YOU KNOW, THE IDEA WOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES VIA THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH ALL OF THE PARTNERING CITIES SIT ON, SO THAT THE CITIES WOULD STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THE SECOND THING.
I ALREADY MENTIONED TOO IS THE ALLOCATION FORMULA PORTION.
SO THE REDUCTION OF THE NAVARRE SERVICE AREA, WHICH BEGINS IN JULY OF 2024 DRASTICALLY IMPACTS THE WAY THAT ALLOCATION FORMULA WORKS THE BUDGET THAT YOU RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER WE DIDN'T BACK THAT OUT.
WE WERE GOING TO WE HAD PLANNED STAFF TO STAFF TO BACK THAT OUT ONCE WE GOT THERE SO THAT WE WOULD APPROVE A BUDGET WITH ALL THAT IN, BUT THEN WE WOULD THE, THE WAY THAT IT WOULD BE ALLOCATED THE ACTUALS WOULD BE ALLOCATED AS WE GOT TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER IN THE NEW ALLOCATION.
SO THAT IS BACKED OUT OF THE NUMBERS NOW IT IS BACKED OUT OF THE NUMBERS.
THAT'S THE REASON YOU SEE A REDUCTION FROM WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY SAW IN SEPTEMBER AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK THE THIRD BIG PIECE OF WHAT MAKES THIS BUDGET DIFFERENT THAN PAST BUDGETS IS THAT IT DOES INCLUDE A SUBSTANTIAL WAGE INCREASE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY LONG OVERDUE AND THE BUDGET PROPOSAL AS, AS PRESENTED INCREASES THE HOURLY WAGE FOR THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS FROM $13 AN HOUR FOR TRAINING OR FOR RESPONSE TO $15.65 AN HOUR SO I WILL SAY THAT WAGE INCREASE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, I THINK, UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE ALL MEMBERS OF THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CITIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED. I'M SORRY, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I JUST WANT TO JUST GIVE JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW BEFORE WE TAKE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE KIND OF GOT AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S TOO EARLY TO GET REALLY ANY OF THAT INFORMATION AT THIS POINT.
SO I'M GOOD WITH THAT TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYBODY ELSE'S THOUGHTS ARE HERE.
WELL, I HAVE SOME, AND ADAM, WOULD YOU BE WILLING AND WILL YOU PULL UP EXHIBIT C DUTY CREW PROGRAM? I THINK IN A NUTSHELL, MY OPINION IS THE YOU KNOW, WE HAD ABOUT $40,000 IN INCREASE DUE TO THE HOURLY WAGE INCREASE, AND THERE IS $60,000, $60,000 IN THIS IN THE DUTY CREW.
SO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET PLUS THE WAGE INCREASE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, I'M 100% THERE NOW.
SO THE QUESTION TO ME IS THE DUTY CREW, AND YOU KNOW, MY HERE'S MY CONCERN.
I MEAN, EVEN ON THIS YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE TOP THERE IT SAID THIS WAS FIRST ISSUED FIRST ISSUED IN 2023. THE CURRENT REVISION WAS BACK FROM '03, 2003.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, AND IT'S PROBABLY A TYPO.
I THINK THAT'S A TYPO. IT SHOULD BE 2023.
I THINK IT SAID, AND PULL IT UP ON MINE, AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS TO THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE DUTY CREW
[00:45:03]
AND WHERE THIS DUTY CREW IS DIFFERENT JAMES, DO YOU MIND COMING FORWARD IS THIS DUTY CREW IS A VOLUNTEER MODEL WITH THE EXISTING PAID ON CALL, AND THEY SIGN UP FOR SHIFTS, AND JAMES, WOULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, JUST FOR THE RECORD? SURE, ABSOLUTELY.SO THIS ONE, THEY THEY RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR FOR VOLUNTEERING TO BE ON SHIFT.
RIGHT. SO OURS IS DIFFERENT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY HIRING PART TIME INDIVIDUALS TO WORK DURING THE DAY FOR THOSE SHIFTS AND WHY DID YOU BECAUSE WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION, BUT JUST TO BRING US EVERYBODY CURRENT IS WHY DID WE GO WITH THAT VERSUS THE MODEL THAT LONG LAKE IS.
SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANTED TO WORK DURING THE DAY AS PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS, AND THEN THEY WOULD THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE ON TO BE FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS, BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG GROUP OF THEM THAT WANT TO DO THAT OUT THERE THIS MODEL WAS JUST WHAT EXCELSIOR STARTED WITH, AND THAT'S WHAT MIKE WAS FAMILIAR WITH, AND THEY DID WELL OVER THERE WITH THAT.
SO I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY HE CHOSE THIS MODEL, AND, AND THE ISSUE THAT.
MAKES SENSE TO ME IS THE DAYTIME RESPONSIVENESS IS OUR ISSUE.
SPECIFICALLY OUT OF STATION NUMBER TWO'S TERRITORY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL CALL DURING DAYTIME CALLING EVERYBODY, AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME AVAILABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS AVAILABLE DURING DAYTIME HOURS, CORRECT.
FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE WORKING THEIR FULL TIME JOBS.
THAT'S PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE AND A LOT OF THEIR BILLS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO THEY'RE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAYS TO BE ABLE TO FILL THESE SHIFTS.
SO. SO WHEN YOU GO TO THIS VOLUNTEER MODEL DURING THE DAY, IT'S THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND THEREFORE YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BECAUSE EVEN WE CAN SAY IT'S EARLY IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE, THE DUTY CREW AT LONG LAKE, BUT THEIR MODEL IS TRYING TO USE THE LABOR THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW THEY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF, AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE SLOTS FILLED.
IS THAT WHAT OTHERS HAD HEARD AT THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING? SOREN, I CAN STILL TALK TO EVERYTHING.
SORRY STATION ONE THEY SAID WAS STILL AN ISSUE I THINK THEY SHOWED THEY HAD OR STATION TWO EXCUSE ME WAS STILL AN ISSUE TO STAFF STATION ONE.
MAYBE ONLY FIVE OF THEM HAD TWO PEOPLE.
SO A FULL SHIFT I KNOW, AND WE ALSO TALKED TO OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD STARTED THE SAME MODEL AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY, THAT THEY WERE HAVING WAS FOR NUMBER ONE, RELIABILITY, AND NUMBER TWO OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING AND DOING THESE DAYTIME SHIFTS WERE GETTING THEIR CREDITS, AND THEN THEY WEREN'T GOING TO THE ON CALL CALLS. SO THEY WERE GETTING SHORT ON ON-CALL CALLS.
SO THEY ENDED UP BEING SUCH A BAD EXPERIENCE.
I THINK UP IN PLYMOUTH, THEY ABANDONED THAT AND JUST WENT TO THE FULL DUTY CREW MODEL, WHICH THEY SAID IT WAS MUCH WORKED, MUCH BETTER, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. YEAH, WE UTILIZE THAT MODEL BASED OFF OF MINNETONKA AND PLYMOUTH AND EDEN PRAIRIE AND THOSE THOSE LARGER CITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE MORE SUCCESS WITH THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE PAY INCREASE BUT MY CONCERNS WOULD BE ARE WE? MAYBE I'M STEPPING ON MY TOES, SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT ARE WE? YOU'RE NOT STEPPING ON MY TOES IF YOU'RE SAYING THE SAME THING.
WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I'M REITERATING, BUT BUT ARE WE ANSWERING THE PROBLEM AT STATION TWO DAYTIME CALLS? BECAUSE BY IMPLEMENTING THE DUTY CREW AND WE'VE GOT PROPER RESPONSE TIME FROM STATION ONE, WHICH REALLY WASN'T A PROBLEM.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE ADDRESSING ANYTHING BUT STATION TWO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT OVER IN JULY.
SO THAT SO WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING A FULL DUTY CREW.
THEY GAVE US A SMATTERING OF TIMES AND IT SEEMS TO BE THEY'RE DOING BETTER WITH THEIR TURNOUT TIMES.
SO YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF HE WAS HERE PRESENTING US I THOUGHT THAT ONE APPLICANT WAS HIM, ACTUALLY, THE OH, YEAH. YOU KIND OF LOOKED LIKE HIM.
YEP. I THOUGHT, OH, GOOD. HE'S HERE YEAH.
[00:50:03]
SO THE ONE THING TO REMEMBER IN THIS, IN THIS DUTY CREW AGAIN IS IT'S TWO DIFFERENT DUTY CREW MODELS THE ONE ADVANTAGE I THINK THAT OR THE ONE GOOD THING ABOUT WHAT LONG LAKE FIRE IS TRYING TO DO IS ONE THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT WAS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM AND A LONG STANDING GOAL TO PROVIDE DUTY CREWS THEY HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT MODEL THAN WHAT WE HAVE CHOSEN FOR THE REASONS SAID BUT THE ONE THING THEY ARE SEEING DECENT RESPONSE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT STATION ONE.SO WE ARE SEEING SEEING THAT, AND THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO THAT TO THE ENTIRE CALL AREA.
IF YOU HAVE FOUR DUTY CREW AVAILABLE DURING THE DAYTIME, EVEN IF THEY'RE COMING FROM STATION ONE, THEY CAN GET TO THE STATION TWO COVER AREA A LOT FASTER THAN TRYING TO PULL JUST PAID ON CALL GUYS WHO MIGHT BE AT THEIR OTHER PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT.
SOME OF IT IS NOT REALIZED YET.
THAT'S JUST I THINK IT TAKES I THINK THAT'S UNREALISTIC, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT LONG LAKE IS KIND OF ASKING FOR IN THIS IS TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM, AND I THINK A 60% FUNDING RATE OR 80% FUNDING RATE TO SEE IF WE CAN THEY CAN THEY CAN EXPAND IT AND GET IT TO, TO GROW AND IMPROVE.
THE OTHER BENEFIT THAT THEY'RE REALLY SEEING IS THAT SMALL GROUP TRAINING, WHEN THEY ONLY HAVE 3 OR 4 PEOPLE THERE, YOU CAN REALLY GET THE HANDS ON PIECE TO THAT, AND THAT'S A MARKED IMPROVEMENT.
SO I THINK THEY'VE BEEN CERTIFYING MORE DRIVERS TOO.
SO EXACTLY. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL WHERE YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN GROUPS.
THAT'S POSITIVE. WELL I AGREE THAT IT'S EARLY AND HAVING PATIENCE WITH THE PROCESS IS ACCEPTABLE.
WHAT TO ME IS HARD TO GET BEHIND IS THIS WAS DATED IN JULY, AND IT SAID IN THREE WEEKS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO FINALIZE THE SOP, AND WE'VE ASKED YOU GUYS HAVE ASKED FOR MORE UPDATES ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
ALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN OUTLINED TO US IN MORE DETAIL, AND IT HASN'T, AND I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO PUT TAXPAYERS' MONEY TOWARDS THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVEN'T COMPLETELY OUTLINED AND UPDATED TO US DESPITE OUR ASKING. SO AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THEY WON'T USE ANY OF OUR RESOURCES DURING THIS PERIOD EITHER.
WE COULD PUT JAMES IN STATION NUMBER TWO, SERVE AS A DUTY CREW MEMBER THERE, UTILIZE THAT RESOURCE, ENSURE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR THAT AREA WHILE WE TRANSITION, AND THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWING AND EVEN GOING BACK EVEN TO ALLOWING IS IT BLUE LINE, BLUE CARD, BLUE CARD TRAINING THEY'RE HIRING OUTSIDE PARTIES TO DO BLUE LINE TRAINING CARD, BLUE CARD, SORRY, AND BLUE CARD TRAINING WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE IT FOR FREE, AND THAT IS NOT COOPERATION, AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME TO PUT OUR MONEY.
SO AGAIN WHERE I'M AT IS THE BUDGET, THE WAGE INCREASES.
I'M ON BOARD WITH THE DUTY CREW I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF SUPPORTING BASED ON WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
I THINK IT MIGHT I THINK WE CAN WORK IT OUT, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE UPDATES FROM THEM TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE ORGANIZING IT, AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. POINT WELL MADE, I AGREE THE ONE THING IN THEIR DEFENSE FROM THIS UM JULY DOCUMENT IS THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED UPDATES TO THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD AND THREE, THREE OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THEN.
SO THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US A WRITTEN, A WRITTEN UPDATE TO THE PROCEDURES OR PLANNING DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FAIRLY REGULAR UPDATES, SO WE KNOW REGULAR UPDATES.
I JUST GOT THE ONE UPDATE AT THE LAST ALONG THE WAY ABOUT TIMES OR PERFORMANCE.
I JUST YEAH, WE JUST HAD THE ONE.
YEAH, THAT'S THE ONES THAT I'VE BEEN TO.
YEAH. WELL I MEAN AN UPDATE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN, A WRITTEN PLAN FOR IT YET BECAUSE THIS ONE SAYS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE DUTY CREWS IN BOTH STATION ONE AND STATION NUMBER TWO.
I MEAN, DO WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE? WE HAVE THEIR WE HAVE THEY PROVIDED THEIR MONTHLY ROSTERS TO US AT OUR LAST FIRE ADVISORY BOARD TO SHOW WHAT THEIR FILL RATES WERE YEAH, BUT IT WAS LIKE ONE PERSON AT STATION. THAT'S WHERE STATION TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER VEACH WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW, YEAH, YOU CAN SEE ON THOSE THAT THEY'RE GETTING REALLY GOOD RESPONSE RATES FOR STATION ONE AT SOME POINTS I THINK HAVING FOUR BUT STATION, STATION NUMBER TWO, THEIR RESPONSES IS USUALLY ONE, IF ANY AND SOMETIMES TWO AND AGAIN, IN TALKING WITH
[00:55:08]
WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR OVER AT LONG LAKE, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE NEW YEAR IS DO WE ADJUST THE MODEL SO THAT MAYBE, MAYBE THEY DON'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO FILL STATION TWO IS FOCUS ON STATION ONE? LIKE I SAID, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MOVING RIGHT.I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MATT SAID, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND YOU GUYS CAN WORK AS A STAFF TO MAKE SURE WITH OUR FIRE ADVISORY BOARD TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO AS BEING THE STUFF THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING.
SO I KNOW YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ON ONE OF THESE MARIA.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 LONG LAKE OPERATING BUDGET.
LESS PAY AND DUTY CREW BUDGET LINES.
SECOND THAT. OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
THEN MARIA WILL RECUSE HERSELF ON THE SECOND ONE.
I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. NOTE THAT PASSES 4 TO 1 ABSTENTION, AND THERE'S.
WELL, THAT WAS THE PAY INCREASES.
WHAT'S THAT BUT THAT DUTY CREW.
IT'S DUTY CREW AND PAY TOGETHER.
THREE ONE AND ONE DUTY CREW PORTION, BUT OKAY.
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THREE AND A HALF.
WELL THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 21 RON, OUR FINAL LEVY 2023 COLLECTIBLE AND 2024 RESOLUTION 7436.
[21) Final Levy 2023 Collectible in 2024 - Resolution 7436]
THANKS, CHIEF. YEAH, THANKS.YES THIS ITEM IS TO ADOPT THE 2024 COLLECTIBLE TAX LEVY, WHICH IS USED TO FUND OUR BUDGET WE HAD OUR TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO NO ONE REALLY SPOKE COMPLETELY ABOUT THE TAX LEVY ITSELF THERE IS ONE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE DURING THE TNT MEETING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP I REVIEWED THIS WITH THE TRANSCRIPT FEATURE OF OUR NEW SOFTWARE TODAY, AND, AND THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT SAID THAT NOT PAYING DOWN DEBT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT THE CITY IS PAYING DOWN ALL OF THE DEBT THAT WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PAY AND WHEN IT COMES TO BONDS, THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY.
WE CAN ONLY PAY THESE BONDS WHEN THEY'RE DUE, UNLESS WE DO A FORMAL COUNCIL ACTION TO REFUND THE WHOLE BOND ISSUE, WHICH I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MOVE TO DO THAT, AND CERTAINLY THAT WOULD TAKE TIME.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR IT UP.
WE ARE PAYING ALL OF THE DEBT THAT WE ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PAY WITH THAT SAID THE TAX LEVY WAS GOING UP 12.6%.
IT FULLY FUNDS THE OPERATING BUDGET IN THE GENERAL FUND.
IT FULLY FUNDS THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IT FULLY COVERS OUR DEBT SERVICE.
SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THE LEVY HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE IT WAS ADOPTED AS THE PRELIMINARY LEVY THREE MONTHS AGO, AND OUR TAX RATE IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN.
TAX RATE IS GOING DOWN JUST A HAIR.
THEREFORE, I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.
[22) Special Revenue Funds Budgets 2024 - Resolution 7438]
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT ONE AGAIN IS ME THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS WE HAD.WE ADOPT BUDGETS FOR THESE FUNDS THAT HAVE RESTRICTED USES OF THE FUNDS.
SO THE PARK FUND, MAIN FUNDING SOURCE USED TO BE PARK DEDICATION FEES, AND THEY'RE RESTRICTED BY LAW AS TO WHAT THEY COULD BE USED FOR, AND THAT'S WHY WE CREATED THE PARK, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WAY, WAY BEFORE MY TIME HERE WE NOW SUPPLEMENT THOSE PARK DEDICATION FEES WITH A TAX LEVY THE TIF FUND WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE BUILDING OF THE ORONO WOODS SENIOR
[01:00:03]
BUILDING IT IS USED TO.THOSE ARE SOMETIMES IF THERE'S A DWI AND A CAR WILL BE FORFEITED AND SOLD AT AUCTION, THOSE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DWI ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN IF IT'S A DRUG FORFEITURE THOSE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR DRUG DRUG PROGRAMS OR POLICING.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
WE DO HAVE A FEW OTHER ONES THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY ADOPT BUDGETS FOR.
ONE WOULD BE LIKE THE CRYSTAL BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHERE THEY COME TO US.
SAME ONE, BUT SINCE WE'RE JUST A PASS THROUGH ENTITY ON THAT ONE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY ADOPT A FORMAL BUDGET, AND I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS SOME QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REVENUE BONDS.
OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 7438 2024 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BUDGETS.
SECOND. I'LL SECOND, COUNCILMEMBER VEACH.
OPPOSED. NOTE THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.
OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 23, WHICH IS FEE SCHEDULE UPDATES.
[23) Fee Schedule Updates - Ordinance 288]
ORDINANCE 288.OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR, AND THE DOCUMENT ITSELF HAS A NUMBER OF CHANGES MADE TO IT MOST OF THEM ARE MINOR AND HOUSEKEEPING IN NATURE, I THINK, AND THE BUILDING AND ZONING.
WE ADDED THE WORDS PLUS EXPENSES TO IT.
IT REALLY DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
IT JUST CLEARED IT UP THAT YES, PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING MIGHT HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT ARE INCURRED BY THE CITY, WHICH WAS ALWAYS THE CASE, BUT IT JUST MADE IN THE FEE SCHEDULE.
THERE WAS SOME WORDING CHANGES TO AND SOME AMOUNT CHANGES TO MAKE WHAT THE POLICE WERE CHARGING WHEN THEY MADE A PHOTOCOPY FOR SOMEONE THE SAME AS WHAT CITY HALL WOULD DO FOR A PHOTOCOPY AND LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF MINOR MINOR CHANGES THERE.
THE BIGGER CHANGES OR THE CHANGES MOST PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WOULD BE THE UTILITY RATES, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, WE ACTUALLY ADOPTED THE NEW UTILITY RATES AT THE LAST MEETING SO THAT WE COULD COMMUNICATE THOSE CHANGES TO THE CITIZENS ON ON THEIR ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS THAT WERE JUST MAILED LAST WEEK.
THEY SHOWED UP. THERE YOU GO AND THEY'RE INCLUDED IN TONIGHT'S MEMO JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE INCLUDED AS A SECTION OF THE FEE SCHEDULE AS A WHOLE, BUT COUNCIL ALREADY GAVE THE APPROVAL OF THEM TWO WEEKS AGO THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE ON THE FEE SCHEDULE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FEE SCHEDULE? OKAY, I'VE GOT TWO MOTIONS THAT'LL MAKE IT THE SAME TIME HERE.
ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. 288 OF THE THIRD SERIES AMENDING TITLE ONE, CHAPTER TWO OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO THE FEE SCHEDULE, AND NUMBER TWO, APPROVE A SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE 288.
I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
OKAY, THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 24, WHICH IS ADOPT 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
[24) Adopt 2024 Capital Improvement Plan]
OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY STATING THIS IS A PLANNING DOCUMENT.
ONLY APPROVAL OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN DOES NOT APPROVE ANY INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURE, AND SINCE THESE ARE ALL BIG PROJECTS IN THEM, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM, IT WOULD REQUIRE US COMING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL SO THIS IS MORE OF A PLANNING DOCUMENT.
WE USE IT WHEN WE'RE SETTING UTILITY RATES IN THE FUTURE.
WE WE IT ACCOUNTS FOR ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED FOR WATER, SEWER, STORMWATER PUBLIC WORKS WITH THEIR TRUCKS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE GOLF COURSE AT EVERY, EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY THAT HAS CAPITAL OR EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT OR HAS BIG PROJECTS WE TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM SO WE CAN FORECAST TAX TAX NEEDS AND AND RATE NEEDS FOR THE UTILITY FUNDS AND SO I GUESS, ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON IT, WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THE COUNCIL HAS SEEN THAT BEFORE TOO.
[01:05:04]
IT WAS SEEN TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY LAST WEEK AND WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE BY THE END OF THE WEEK ONCE IT'S APPROVED.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RON ON THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BECAUSE OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE ARE ACCRUING TOWARDS ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE ONE TIME PUBLIC SAFETY MONEY GIVEN TO OUR CITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $371,000 THAT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC SAFETY BUT WE'RE EARMARKING FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 CIP.
SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? CAN I SECOND IT? RICHARD SECONDED. OH, YOU SECOND.
THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 25, WHICH IS THE FINAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2024, RESOLUTION 7437.
[25) Final General Fund Budget 2024 - Resolution 7437]
OKAY. THIS THE BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET HAS REALLY NOT CHANGED SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE PRELIMINARY GENERAL FUND BUDGET.WE'VE SHIFTED SOME NUMBERS AROUND AS AS NUMBERS CAME IN AND BECAME MORE DEFINITE, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS THE SAME AS WAS ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER AND SHORT OF ANY, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD THE TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETING LAST WEEK THAT ALLOWED PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND OTHER THAN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC REALLY HAD NO COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AT ALL.
ANYTHING. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? NO QUESTIONS. JUST A COMMENT THAT AGAIN I DON'T SUPPORT THIS PLANNED EXPENDITURE RELATED TO ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SPEND OVER $772,000 NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS A 342% INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR.
SO I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS DIRECTION.
I WILL MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 7437 ADOPTING THE 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES FOUR ONE.
NUMBER 26 SAYS ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
[26) Enterprise Funds Budget 2024 - Resolution 7439]
BUDGET 2024, RESOLUTION 7439.I BELIEVE THIS IS MY LAST BUDGET ITEM.
I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AS A RESULT OF LAST LAST MEETINGS TNT MEETING A COMMENT WAS MADE THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE REFERRING TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AS SLUSH FUNDS THAT ACTUALLY BOTHERED ME QUITE A BIT BECAUSE WE DO A, WE WORK HARD AT SETTING OUR RATES AND SETTING WHAT WE NEED FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AND TO REFER TO THEM AS SLUSH FUNDS IS JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS RATHER UNCALLED FOR YES, THEY DO HAVE GOOD FUND BALANCES.
IF YOU GO BACK THREE OF THE FOUR YEARS BEFORE THAT, WE HAD INCREDIBLY WET SEASONS, AND WE WERE ACTUALLY UNDER BUDGET ON SOME OF OUR WATER REVENUES, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE VERY WEATHER DEPENDENT ANOTHER WEATHER DEPENDENT FUND.
THAT IS A NEW ONE. WE JUST MOVED THE GOLF COURSE BACK TO AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
THAT SHOULD BE SEEN AS A POSITIVE STEP IT'S BEING MOVED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, SO REGULAR TAX DOLLARS WILL NO LONGER BE SUPPORTING THE GOLF COURSE FUND, BUT REGRESSED A LITTLE BIT OFF THE UTILITY FUNDS.
I THINK WE DO A GREAT JOB OF SETTING THE BUDGETS THERE.
THE RATES WERE SET IN A 2019 RATE STUDY AND ONCE AGAIN, 2% FOR WATER, 2% FOR SEWER, 1% FOR STORMWATER, SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE LEVEL OF INFLATION.
IT IS EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN, IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE RATE SET AS WE HAVE, AND THE WATER FUND HAS $9.3 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE GROUND OR THE WATER IN THE CASE COULD BE A WATER TOWER, WHICH IS ANYTHING BUT IN THE GROUND, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE WATER RATES WE DO.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SEWER RATES WE DO, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE COUNCIL HAS MET.
WE'VE MET WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE'VE MET WITH THE WHOLE COUNCIL, THE WORK SESSION AND THE RATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET, AND THIS IS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGETS. ALL RIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET?
[01:10:01]
[INAUDIBLE].YEAH I THINK THE BIG THING TOO ON WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS OUR POPULATION DENSITY BECAUSE IT'S A MORE RURAL AREA? YES. GOT LONGER PIPES, LESS PEOPLE ON THEM.
NOT AS DENSE OF POPULATED AREAS.
SO 45 LIFT STATIONS, GIVE OR TAKE, RIGHT? FOR 2100 CONNECTIONS.
THAT'S A VERY HIGH RATIO OF LIFT STATIONS TO CONNECTIONS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHEN THOSE PIPES OR SEWER CONNECTIONS NEED TO BE REPLACED, THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING ASSESSED ON IT AT YOUR HOME, BECAUSE THAT CAN BE DEVASTATING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND WE'VE PLANNED VERY WELL TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE BUDGETS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, WHETHER IT'S PARKS, WHETHER IT'S OUR ENGINES OR OUR CARS OR OUR SNOWPLOWS OR OUR ROADS, WE DO A FABULOUS JOB OF MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS BUDGETED AND TAKEN CARE OF FOR OUR CITIZENS, ON TOP OF BEING THE LOWEST TAX RATE AROUND HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS ON THAT AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RON AT ALL? I'VE APPRECIATED EVERYTHING YOU'VE TAUGHT ME, RON, AND I THINK YOUR FORECASTING IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 7439 ESTABLISHING THE 2024 ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGETS.
SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NOTE THAT PASSES 5 TO 0.
ANY OTHER FINANCE STUFF? WE HAVE A YOU HAVE A SLIDE FOR US.
I DO HAVE A SLIDE BEFORE WE GET TO THE SLIDE, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IT'S BEEN A IT'S BEEN AN ENJOYABLE, MOSTLY ENJOYABLE 26 YEARS.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT MAGGIE, AND SHE WILL IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS, SHE'LL SAY, RON WHO, AND THAT'LL BE FINE WITH ME.
SHE MIGHT BE CALLING YOU A LOT.
SHE MIGHT BE. [CHUCKLING] SHE HAS MY PHONE NUMBER.
SO, ADAM, IF YOU COULD PULL UP THE PERMIT SLIDE.
OH, WHY DOES THAT NOT SHOW THE WHOLE SLIDE? IT'S NOT DISPLAYING. WE HAD THE SAME THING LAST TIME WHERE IT KIND OF GOT OVER THIS WAY.
WE ARE WELL ABOVE IT AT JUST A HAIR UNDER 800,000 THROUGH NOVEMBER SO WE WILL GO OVER 800,000.
WE'RE DEFINITELY AHEAD OF LAST YEAR ALSO SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.
THERE IS, THERE IS EXTRA BUILDING PERMIT FEES COLLECTED FAR OVER WHAT WAS BUDGETED I TALKED WITH LAURA A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, AND SHE'S NOT HERE TO TALK ON HER BEHALF.
AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE ORONO CROSSINGS.
SO WE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF THE BIG DEVELOPMENTS.
SO MY MY SUSPICION IS WE WILL COME BACK DOWN CLOSER TO THE BUDGETED NUMBERS JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE BIG DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW BUT WHO KNOWS, MAYBE ONE OF THE TWO DOWN HIGHWAY 12 HERE WILL COUNTY 112 WILL POP, AND THEN WE'LL.
EXCEED BUDGET AGAIN, BUT IT'S GOOD NEWS ON THE BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE, AND I'M PRESENTING IT ON BEHALF OF LAURA BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO ME, AND I'M A LITTLE HURT ABOUT THAT.
OH, MY GOD, THAT'S THE CUTEST THING EVER.
OH FOR REAL? IT'S STILL CUTE. [CHUCKLING] OH, YEAH.
YEAH, THEY'LL STILL BE THE REROOFING AND THE RESIDING AND THE ADDITIONS.
PEOPLE TEARING DOWN HOUSES, TEARING DOWN AND REBUILDING, KITCHEN REMODELS, I'M SURE.
YOU'RE THE ONLY PLANNING DEPARTMENT LEFT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR ATTORNEY REPORT.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR TONIGHT.
BRING US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
[27) Appreciation for Finance Director Ron Olson - Resolution 7435]
WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR 27 APPRECIATION FOR FINANCE DIRECTOR RON OLSON.WE COULD HAVE PUT THAT ON CONSENT.
I WOULD NOT HAVE. SO YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION HERE? I'D LIKE TO READ IT.
IT SAYS IT'S A IT'S A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO RONALD J.
[01:15:01]
OLSON FOR HIS 26 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.WHEREAS RON OLSON SET THE EXAMPLE FOR HIS FELLOW PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE, CALM DEMEANOR AND SERVICE FOCUS SINCE BEING APPOINTED AS A MANAGEMENT ANALYST SLASH ACCOUNTANT ON OCTOBER 27TH, 1997, AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HARD WORK AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCE, RON QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO POSITIONS OF INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY FIRST BY BEING PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR IN 1998 AND CULMINATING AS IN HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE ORONO FINANCE DIRECTOR IN 2006.
WHEREAS RON'S FINANCIAL ACUMEN HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CITY'S ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A AAA BOND RATING SINCE 2005, ONE OF THE RELATIVELY FEW MUNICIPALITIES OF ORONO SIZE TO DO SO, AS WELL AS RECEIVING A 100% CLEAN ANNUAL AUDIT REPORTS, AND WHEREAS RON LED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THEN THE MODERNIZATION OF THE CITY'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE CURRENT NETWORK AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING OF NUMEROUS SOFTWARE PROGRAMS, RESULTING IN IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES AND ACCURACY THROUGHOUT THE WIDE VARIETY OF CITY STAFF FUNCTIONS, AND WHEREAS, RON CREATED THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCE FUNCTION AND THEN SPEARHEADED THE STREAMLINING OF THE PERSONNEL SYSTEM THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED BENEFITS, ONBOARDING AND PAYROLL, AND WHEREAS, RON OLSON'S 26 YEARS OF SERVICE HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY PROFESSIONALISM, EXPERTISE, AND DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE TO THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS, AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AT THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL STAFF AND RESIDENTS WISH TO EXTEND THEIR UTMOST APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO RON OLSON FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A FINANCE DIRECTOR.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT.
AYE. NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
RON, COME UP HERE FOR A PICTURE WITH THE SEAL UP HERE.
OH, GEEZ. OKAY, WHO'S GOT A PICTURE? WHO'S GOT A CAMERA? SORRY.
[INAUDIBLE] GOT IT. THANKS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANKS, RON, FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY WITH A LITTLE CAKE AND EVERYTHING GOING.
YEAH SO WE ARE HAVING THE RETIREMENT PARTY ON WEDNESDAY.
OKAY. OKAY, SO THAT BRINGS US TO COUNCIL OR DO I HAVE ANY MORE CITIZENS IN YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS? UM, NO. OTHER THAN THE YOU KNOW, THE STAFF FOCUS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAS REALLY BEEN GETTING THE BUDGET FINALIZED AS WELL AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, FINDING A REPLACEMENT FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, SO VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAD ANY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE DID NOT. I THINK THAT JUST GOT LEFT ON THE TITLE.
OKAY. SOMETIMES WE HAVE ONE AND I FORGET WE HAD ONE.
[Public Comments - (Limit 3 Minutes per Person)]
SO THIS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE A DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTIONS ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF OR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
STAFF SHOULD OR SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.
WE WILL INVITE THE ORONO RESIDENTS FIRST.
WHEN THE ORONO RESIDENTS ARE DONE, WE WILL ASK FOR ANY NON ORONO RESIDENTS TO COME UP.
IF THERE'S ANY ORONO RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT.
CHERYL [INAUDIBLE], 725 STONE BAY DRIVE, ORONO.
DURING THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SIX CITIZENS CAME UP DURING THE TRUTH IN TAXATION AGENDA ITEM AND 11 PEOPLE CAME UP TO THIS PODIUM DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THAT IS 17 TIMES PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WANTED TO GIVE THIS COUNCIL FEEDBACK.
[01:20:08]
PORTRAYED BY THE SAME 12 PEOPLE WHO COME UP HERE EVERY SINGLE MEETING.THAT IS WHAT CHANNEL NINE ASKED ME.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMING? IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S PICKLEBALL OR [INAUDIBLE], IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE WHO COME UP AND GIVE US GRIEF.
WHEN SOMEONE TURNS AROUND AND SAYS, YOU DO NOT REPRESENT ORONO, WELL, MAYBE IT'S THE 12 PEOPLE WHO WHO FROM ORONO DO NOT LIKE US HERE, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE WATCHING, THE PEOPLE THAT I SEE DAY IN AND DAY OUT OVER ALL OF ORONO SAY WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT OTHER CITIES WANT TO BE LIKE ORONO RIGHT NOW.
I AGREE THAT WHAT YOU DO SPEAKS VOLUMES.
HOW YOU BEHAVE, SPEAKS VOLUMES.
I DO SO SADLY, KNOWING THAT WHAT I SAY WILL PROBABLY NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
STANDING UP HERE DOES NOT COME EASY TO ME.
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK IF THEY'RE CHASTISED FOR IT? DO YOU REALLY THINK WE COME HERE TO GIVE YOU GRIEF? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I, FOR ONE, WANT TO CONTINUE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND.
LECTURING CITIZENS KNOWINGLY DEFYING COURT ORDERS THE NON-VERBALS DURING MEETINGS.
DISRESPECTING FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME.
I WANT TO SEE HEALTHY DEBATE OF CITY COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE THEY TAKE A VOTE AND I EXPECT TO SEE SOME DISAGREEMENT, BUT PLEASE TRY TO REMAIN RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER.
FOR MY PART, I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY DISRESPECT I'VE SHOWN IN THE PAST BY LEAVING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS EARLY, OUT OF FRUSTRATION OR CLAPPING IN AGREEMENT DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS. I PROMISE TO DO BETTER.
I WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO MEETINGS TO LISTEN, TO LEARN, AND TO SPEAK UP.
WHEN I CANNOT ATTEND, I WILL WATCH THE VIDEOS.
I'LL ENCOURAGE MY NEIGHBORS TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND LASTLY, I WILL VOTE IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT? SO NOBODY ELSE FROM ORONO DO YOU HAVE TO GO IN ORDER OR CAN YOU GO AFTER SOMEONE? YOU CAN GO OUT OF ORDER IF YOU WANT, BUT IT'S FIRST FOR ORONO RESIDENTS, AND IF THERE IS NO MORE THAT WANT TO COME UP FIRST, THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO JUST COME UP IN GENERAL? NO. YES.
[INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE]K, VALLEY VIEW ROAD, LONG LAKE.
THEY ATTENDED BOTH CITY'S HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTINGS, BRINGING SANTA AND PARTICIPATING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND SO I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO SAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, AS YOU GUYS WRAP THINGS UP TONIGHT AND HEAD HOME INTO THE COMING WEEKS WITH LOTS OF FAMILY, I ASK THAT YOU THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL BE READY TO RESPOND ALL HOLIDAY SEASON DURING CHRISTMAS PARTIES AND CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY AS THEY SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF THE CITY WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY FOR THEM, AND IF DUTY CALLS, THEY WILL BE TORN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY.
TIME TO RESPOND AND THEY WILL DO SO.
AS HUMBLE SERVANTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
REMEMBER THAT THEY HAVE ASKED YOU NOT TO SPLIT THEM UP.
REMEMBER THAT EVERYBODY DOES BETTER WITH A COLLECTIVE EFFORT WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD COMMON GOALS.
NO MATTER WHAT NARRATIVE YOU TELL YOURSELF.
THEY WANT TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
LONG LAKE WANTS TO BUILD TOGETHER WITH YOU A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT.
[01:25:01]
LOCAL ENTITIES COME TOGETHER TO POOL RESOURCES AND THE GOVERNANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT IS TRANSITIONED TO A BOARD COMPRISED OF MEMBERS FROM EACH CITY INVOLVED.THIS IDEA COULD POTENTIALLY BRING ORONO SHARE OF A FIRE SERVICE BUDGET FROM 85%, CURRENTLY DOWN TO 49% IF ORONO, LONG LAKE, MEDINA, MINNETONKA BEACH, AND WAYZATA CAME TOGETHER UNDER A JPA, THIS IS WHAT LONG LAKE HOPES TO DO.
IN FACT, A PROPOSAL TO BEGIN WORKING TOGETHER UNDER SOME TYPE OF JPA REMAINS ON THE TABLE.
YOU COULD BE THE ANSWER TO WHAT THEY ALL HOPE THIS SEASON TO STAY TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC? KELLY GRADY. TWO SEVEN, ONE GREEN HILL LANE, LONG LAKE.
WHY DO YOU CARE? YOU DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.
THE RHETORIC IS NOT ONLY DISMISSIVE AND UGLY, BUT IT IS NOT ROOTED IN THE TRUTH.
WHILE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE IN ORONO, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, MY FAMILY LIVES OUR LIVES IN ORONO AND THE DECISIONS MADE BY THIS COUNCIL AFFECT OUR DAILY LIFE. CASE IN POINT WHY DO I CARE? MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER FOR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS, AND AS SUCH, FIRE DECISIONS MADE HERE AFFECT MY FAMILY MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF YOUR VOTERS, BUT THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY REASONS WHY I CARE.
FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
MY DAD DIED AS A RESULT OF SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST THAT DAY, SO I UNDERSTAND AS MUCH AS ANYBODY THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE AND SKILLED FIRST RESPONDERS. FOR NEARLY A DECADE, THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE EVERYTHING BUT BURN DOWN THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THEIR LACK OF SUPPORT IN WAYS THAT I BELIEVE HAVE BEEN A LONG PLAY FOR CONTROL, INCLUDING DENIAL OF THE NEARLY EVERY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SPEND THAT WOULD INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND SET IT UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.
REFUSAL TO NEGOTIATE A SOLUTION THAT DIDN'T RESULT IN ORONO HAVING MAJORITY CONTROL, AND THIRD, BUT NOT LASTLY, ALL OF THE FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS THAT JUDGE MILLER NOTED IN HER ORDER FOR CONTEMPT USING LFD AS A PRIMARY POOL OF RECRUITS, INTIMIDATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, NOT INCLUDING LONG LAKE IN PLANNING THAT COULD TAMPER WITH THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE UNDER THE EXISTING CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND WHAT KILLS ME IS THAT ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE WITH ZERO COMMUNITY INPUT.
THIS IS NOT EFFECTIVE GOVERNING.
IT IS RECKLESS, AND I KNOW ALL TOO WELL THAT THERE IS A HUMAN COST TO PLAYING WITH FIRE.
ORONO DOES NOT HAVE TO GO IT ALONE.
CALL IT A JPA, A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT, A FIRE SERVICE, A FIRE DISTRICT, WHATEVER, BUT COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE RESOURCES AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS THE FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICE NATIONWIDE.
MEDIATION IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO WRITE THIS COUNCIL AND ASK THEM TO HEAD INTO THAT MEDIATION IN GOOD FAITH AND WITH A GOAL TO WORK TOWARDS A SOLUTION THAT BUILDS ON THE EXISTING, EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND EXCELLENT PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE UP, AND NOT TO BURN IT DOWN.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COME UP? I'VE GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT HERE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS I HEARD YOU'VE BEEN NAUGHTY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FUNNY AT ALL.
SO, BRAD ERIKSON, 21150 HORSESHOE TRAIL, CORCORAN.
SO I'M DOWN ON MY LOT, MUCH LIKE I WAS THE DAY THE PERSON DROVE UP TO ME AND TOLD ME ABOUT MR. CROSBY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE J6 THING AND THE PROUD BOYS AND ALL THAT STUFF OUT.
WELL, ANYWAY, SAME THING HAPPENS TO ME ON NOVEMBER 14TH, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU, MR. WALSH, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GETTING THIS BAG OF COAL.
SEE? HE ROLLS UP AND HE SAYS, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE RUMOR THAT'S GOING AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL? AND I SAID, HOW IN THE HELL? AND I'M SURE I USED A DIFFERENT WORD, BUT WOULD I HEAR ABOUT A RUMOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL?
[01:30:03]
SO HE GOES ON TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS RUMOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL INVOLVING YOU AND A HIGH SCHOOL KID, GIRL? RIGHT. YEAH.SO THEN I FIND OUT THAT THERE'S A VIDEO ONLINE ABOUT IT NOW ON YOUTUBE CALLED IS THE ORONO MAYOR PROPOSITIONING A TEENAGER OR SOMETHING? HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
I'M NOT DONE! HERE'S THE PROBLEM FOR ME! PAUSE THE CLOCK, SO I CAN SAY--I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR TIME, BUT IS THIS APPROPRIATE? I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT IT.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH CHIEF FARNIOK AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH AN INVESTIGATING OFFICER TODAY.
IT'S NOT MY GODDAMN DAUGHTER, I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER THESE ALLEGATIONS, OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT THERE AND SHAKE YOUR HEAD AND YELL OUT FAKE NEWS AND FALSE NARRATIVE AND WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW WILL GET YOU OUT OF THIS? IT'S OVER, DUDE.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? I THINK IT'S A DRINKING PROBLEM.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE.
YOU NEED TO CHECK YOURSELF, GET YOUR DRINKING IN LINE.
GET IT? BUT I WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR TO CONTINUE UNTIL YOU'RE GONE.
THIS IS DESPICABLE, I DON'T KNOW.
HOW COULD YOU EVEN MAKE THIS UP? SOMEBODY DROVE ONTO MY LOT.
I WAS PRESSURE WASHING EQUIPMENT TO TELL ME THIS.
WHAT'S UP? SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SORT THIS OUT.
SOMEBODY WITH SOME POWER, PRIVILEGE AND AUTHORITY, OKAY? BECAUSE I KNOW WHO IT IS, AND I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND I BELIEVE HER.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? CAN WE GET THE COAL OUT OF HERE? BRAD, WOULD YOU GRAB, WOULD YOU MIND GRABBING YOUR COAL? YEAH, YOU CAN HAVE IT.
EIGHT TURBINE [INAUDIBLE] 1386 WREST POINT ROAD.
LOST A FEW SECONDS, BUT WHO CARES? BRAD MIGHT BE A LITTLE WOUND UP, BUT I REALLY HATE TO TELL YOU ALL, BRAD'S ON TO SOMETHING.
YOU ALL RIGHT HERE? YOU ALL RIGHT HERE ARE LOOKING AT A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE, AND IT WASN'T JUST A FAMILY FRIEND.
IT WASN'T JUST A FAMILY MEMBER.
IT WAS PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL OF ORONO.
THIS STUFF HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT CHANGED MY LIFE, LIKE NONE OF YOU COULD UNDERSTAND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING'S TRUE.
I CHALLENGED MR. WALSH TO GO TO MR. WILKOS AND SIMPLY TAKE A DETECTOR TEST AND PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.
THE CHALLENGE IS STILL OUT THERE, BUT IF THIS IS TRUE, THERE IS A VICTIM IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YEARS AGO, MY DAUGHTER WAS YOUNG, AND SHE HAD FRIENDS OVER.
I CHALLENGED HER FRIENDS AND I TALKED TO THEM.
NOT JUST ABOUT DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ABOUT ABUSE AND WHAT I HAD BEEN THROUGH.
YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND OUT LATER? BECAUSE I HAD THE STRENGTH TO SPEAK ABOUT MY ABUSE.
THERE WAS A GIRL BEING ABUSED WHO FOUND HER OWN STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND SPEAK AND TO HELP HERSELF, AND I FOUND THAT OUT LATER, AND THAT'S WHY I SPEAK OF IT.
NOT BECAUSE OF ME, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP OTHERS AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY, AND I'M NOT A SPECIFICALLY ACCUSING MR. WALSH OF A THING.
I HAVE HEARD HETRE ARE THINGS OUT HERE, AND I WOULD NEVER ACCUSE ANYBODY OF SOMETHING SO HEINOUS, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT CAN DO WHEN YOU DO, BUT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THESE KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE THIS. WE. YOU KNOW WHAT? EVERYBODY WAFFLED WHEN I WAS A KID, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
[01:35:07]
IT'S NOT TIME FOR WAFFLING IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.IT'S TIME TO STAND UP, INVESTIGATE.
LOOK, IS IT TRUE OR NOT? AND MOVE ON.
FIND THE TRUTH, AND IT'S UP TO OUR ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR MORE TONIGHT WHO ARE NOT FROM ORONO ? I'M KATHLEEN SWEETMAN, RETIRED PEDIATRICIAN, AND I LIVE ON 475 DEBORAH DRIVE.
I HAVE ZERO OPINION ABOUT ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM AND THEIR ATTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THIS EVENING, BUT I WILL SAY THAT PRACTICING PEDIATRICS FOR A LONG TIME.
I HAD INNUMERABLE CHILDREN THAT WERE ASSAULTED AND PEDOPHILIA AND RAPE ARE ROUTINELY DISMISSED AS NOTHING.
I HAD A TWO YEAR OLD RAPED BY HER STEPFATHER.
I HAD JUST BEFORE I RETIRED, I HAD A YOUNG WOMAN WITH MORBID OBESITY WHO CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND MY PARTNER, WHEN THE RESULTS OF HER TEST CAME BACK, TREATED HER GONORRHEA THE NEXT DAY.
ANOTHER THING IS MY NEPHEW WAS WITH JACOB WETTERLING WHEN HE WAS KIDNAPED, RAPED AND MURDERED, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT HAS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT MAYOR WALSH OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM, BUT IT'S A REAL THING.
IT IS USUALLY SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW.
IN THE CASE OF JACOB, IT WAS STRANGER, BUT THE MOST COMMON SCENARIO IS A FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, UNCLE, BROTHER, PARENT AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE IT IS.
IT'S ONLY HERE IT IS NOT ONLY HERE.
IT AFFLICTS VIRTUALLY EVERY COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN THE US.
MY HUSBAND GREW UP IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM IT.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT, BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WILL JUST TELL YOU IT IS ABSOLUTELY A LIE.
YOU HAVE ONE PERSON SAYING HE KNOWS WHO IT IS AND ANOTHER PERSON SAYING IT'S A RUMOR AND HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS THE VIDEO PROCLAIMING THAT THERE'S RUMORS OUT THERE.
[INAUDIBLE] THAT'S WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
THEY'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS.
[INAUDIBLE] SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO MAYOR COUNCIL.
ARE YOU GOING TO--SIT DOWN! SIT DOWN! SIT DOWN! NOTHING? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO? YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER. SIT DOWN.
I'M NOT OUT OF ORDER. YOU ARE.
YOU CAN'T USE WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU TO TRY AND ATTACK SOMEBODY ELSE.
NO. SIT DOWN. NO! THAT IS WHO YOU ARE.
DON'T SIT UP HERE AND DENIGRATE OTHER PEOPLE AT YOUR REPORT.
YOU WANT TO DO THAT? YOU, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, COME HERE AND TAKE YOUR THREE MINUTES.
THE COUNCIL MAYOR REPORT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR CITY BUSINESS.
SIT DOWN. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY THAT I WANT TO HEAR.
NOW SIT DOWN. DEFEND YOURSELF.
[INAUDIBLE] EXCEPT BY YOU WHEN YOU LIE.
SIT DOWN. WHEN YOU LIED AND CLAIMED I BEAT MY KID BLOODY.
WELL, THE FUNNY THING IS, I HAVE A DEPOSITION.
YOU DID IT HERE, AND IT'S ON TAPE.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU TALK ABOUT CITY BUSINESS UP THERE AND YOU DO NOT.
YOU WANT TO DENIGRATE PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE, COME DOWN HERE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
ARE YOU DONE? ONLY IF YOU LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE AND YOU TALK ABOUT CITY BUSINESS.
[Mayor/Council Report]
WELL, WE OBVIOUSLY HIT AN ISSUE THAT'S TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HERE, BUT I AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROLE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE PLAY IN THAT AWARENESS, BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.[01:40:02]
I THINK THE ACCUSATIONS THAT ARE DIRECTED AT THE MAYOR.I MEAN, IT WAS TASTELESS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM JAY'S HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, AND MANY OF US ARE PARENTS, AND THE IDEA OF ANY CHILD BEING HARMED THAT HURTS AND IT LINGERS CLEARLY, AND AND SO I'M SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE BUT AT THE SAME TIME THESE ACCUSATIONS COMING AND, AND AND ATTACKING THE MAYOR AND BRAD, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB JUST BRINGING YOUR INFORMATION, AND AND SO IT WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING TURN TODAY AND SO THE I THINK A BIG I, I THINK A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO ON THE COUNCIL IS WE RESPOND TO WHAT'S BEING SAID, AND SO ON ANOTHER NOTE I'M GLAD A PIECE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BEHIND US TONIGHT.
IT'S ABOUT BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THE CITY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IN THAT BUDGET BEHIND US, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T QUITE READY DUE TO THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE DUTY CREWS, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PIECE TO HAVE BEHIND US AND LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING MOVING ON ON THAT.
I DO JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S VERY HARD TO LISTEN TO THESE STATEMENTS TONIGHT, AND I KNOW COMING FROM A HELPING PROFESSION PROFESSIONALLY AS WELL, IN MENTAL HEALTH, HOW INCREDIBLY HARD.
THESE ISSUES ARE TO COPE WITH AS ADULTS, SO I APPLAUD ALL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THAT, AND I WAS GOING TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING SOME OTHER REMARKS HERE IN LIGHT OF THESE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO EMOTIONALLY SHIFT LIKE THAT, BUT AS SOMEBODY WHO VALUES TACKLING ISSUES REGARDING CITY BUSINESS IN A TIMELY MANNER, I DO FEEL THE NEED TO PROCEED WITH MY REMARKS FOR THE NIGHT.
IT IS RELATED TO CITY BUSINESS AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DID SPEAK WITH OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT THE TOPIC I PLAN TO DISCUSS TONIGHT TO ENSURE THAT MY COMMENTS WOULD NOT BE IN ANY VIOLATION OF THE RULES THAT GOVERN OUR CLOSED SESSIONS, AND AFTER DISCUSSING WITH OUR ATTORNEY, OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT.
SO I DO WANT TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT OUR DECEMBER 4TH CLOSED SESSION A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, A FELLOW MEMBER, RAISED AN ISSUE OF CONCERN REGARDING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY BY COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE DAIS DURING REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE LEGAL STRATEGY WE WERE DISCUSSING THAT NIGHT, I AM LEGALLY ABLE TO OPENLY DISCUSS THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO DO THIS IN AN EFFORT TO HELP RESOLVE THIS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, IN THE NEW YEAR, AND DURING THE MEETING, THE COUNCILMEMBER EXPLAINED THEIR CONCERNS THAT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS MAY BE TEXTING OR OTHERWISE COMMUNICATING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DURING MEETINGS, AND THE ISSUE AT HAND WAS WHETHER OR NOT SENDING OR RECEIVING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DURING MEETINGS IS A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW, AND BECAUSE THE MEETING WAS FOCUSED ON LITIGATION, THE ISSUE WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT LENGTH.
SO FOR THE RECORD, IF A FELLOW MEMBER OF COUNCIL HAS CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE OPEN MEETING LAW VIOLATIONS, I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS, AND TO THAT END, I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND ALSO WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES.
THERE ARE NO FORMAL POLICIES THAT EXIST GOVERNING THE USE OF CELL PHONES AT THE DAIS, AND THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ATTORNEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE MATTER BE DISCUSSED AS A COUNCIL UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
[01:45:06]
CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF CELL PHONES IN COUNCIL MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC MAY AS WELL, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES FURTHER DISCUSSION.SO APART FROM THIS, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS PAST YEAR OF SERVICE ON THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN BOTH CHALLENGING AND ALSO TREMENDOUSLY GRATIFYING.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER, ENJOY YOUR TIME, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A LOT OF PAIN IN THIS ROOM, AND, BRAD, I DID NOT MEAN TO OFFEND YOU AND I'M SORRY IF I DID I JUST THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN IN ANY COMMUNICATION THAT I'VE COME ACROSS IS HOW YOU FACILITATE CHANGE, AND I BELIEVE ACCOUNTABILITY TO ONESELF IS THE FIRST STEP AND SOMETIMES BUYING TIME FOR THAT IS THE ONLY YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR THREE WEEKS.
I KNEW ABOUT IT SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS FAR AS THE MEETINGS GO AND COMMUNICATION, I HAVE CONTINUED TO TRY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE BUDGET BEING PASSED TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M SORRY.
IT'S REALLY DISTRACTING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE OF THE BUDGET BEING PASSED, AND IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, AND MAYBE A SMALL WIN, BUT I THINK IT IS A STEP, AND WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO ONESELF, WHAT TRYING TO DO, WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
ALL WE CAN DO IS CONTROL OURSELVES, AND COMING TOGETHER CAN BE THE HEALING SOLUTION THAT WE NEED AND HOPEFULLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, EVERYONE HAS TIME TO REFLECT, MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE BREAK, A BREATHER FROM ALL OF THIS AND I HOPE WE START THE NEW YEAR FRESH.
WELL, FIRST I WANT TO THANK RON FOR AGAIN FOR ALL OF HIS FABULOUS SERVICE FOR THIS CITY, AND ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN UP HERE AND ALL THE OTHER COUNCILS THAT YOU'VE ADVISED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE HAD A GREAT SUCCESSFUL TREE LIGHTING AGAIN, THE FOURTH ANNUAL AT THE ORONO GOLF COURSE.
I KNOW THE ORONO LIONS, THEY WENT THROUGH 400 BRATS AND HOT DOGS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY JUGS OF HOT CHOCOLATE THAT YOU HAD TO GO GET AND BRING BACK OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TOO BAD.
SO I THINK WE'VE CREATED A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER ALL THE TIME AS OUR FOURTH ANNUAL, AND I WISH VIC WAS HERE, BUT I'LL THROW MY HAT OFF TO HER BECAUSE SHE HELPED KIND OF COME UP WITH THE IDEA BACK MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND WE KIND OF ALL CHAMPIONED IT BEHIND HER AS WE NEEDED A COMMUNITY EVENT, AND THAT WAS ONCE A TOW ROPE.
SHE WANTS A TOW ROPE, RIGHT? I THINK WE ALL NEEDED IT THIS YEAR.
WE ALL WANT A TOW ROPE COMING UP IN THAT YEAR FOR THE SLEDDING HILL.
YEAH, WE NEEDED SNOW THOUGH THIS YEAR.
GOT IT. WE DO HAVE COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT JUST FROM A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
EVEN AT OUR OUR WORK SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.
COFFEE AND DONUTS THE COFFEE'S ALWAYS WARM, AND THE DONUTS ARE ALWAYS GOOD.
I HAVE LOTS OF JEWISH FRIENDS WHICH JUST STARTED I THINK HANUKKAH STARTED BACK IN THURSDAY, AND IT GOES TO THE 15TH, SO THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RIGHT NOW. HAVE A FABULOUS NEW YEAR FOR 20, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A FABULOUS 2024.
I'VE GOT THREE GREAT QUOTES THAT ARE ALONG THAT THEME.
COME TO THINK OF IT, WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS TO DO THAT? SECOND ONE IS RELATED TO HANUKKAH BY ALBERT EINSTEIN SAYS THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.
ONE IS AS THOUGH NOTHING IS A MIRACLE.
THE OTHER IS AS THOUGH EVERYTHING IS A MIRACLE.
[01:50:04]
THE LAST ONE IS ABOUT NEW YEAR'S AND RESOLUTIONS BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN.ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THAT YOUR OWN RESOLUTION TO SUCCEED IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER.
WE ARE ADJOURNED. ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.