[00:00:01]
[Roll Call]
WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, MARCH 11TH, 2024, ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING.WE ALWAYS START THE MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
EVERYBODY'S HERE EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
SO IF YOU CAN STAND, FACE THE FLAG, THAT'D BE GREAT.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA,
[Approval of Agenda]
WHICH WE WILL DO ALL IN ONE VOTE.ALL THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON CONSENT I WILL GO OVER BEFORE WE GO OVER THEM.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A STAB OF CONSENT TONIGHT?
[Consent Agenda]
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEMS NUMBER 1-10, REMOVING 2.
WAS THERE A REQUEST FOR ANOTHER ONE?
>> ONE THROUGH 12, TAKING OUT 2 AND 12.
>> ALL RIGHT. CROSBY [LAUGHTER] USUALLY DOES THIS HERE SO I WAS ON THE SPIRE.
>> WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT IS NUMBER 1, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 26TH, CLAIMS AND BILLS, NUMBER 3.
NUMBER 4, ELECTION RECAP, NUMBER 5, ACCEPT DONATION PARK BENCH FOR GOLF COURSE RESOLUTION 7457.
I THINK I WANTED TO THANK KEVIN GOLLMER FOR HIS $850 FOR THE PARK BENCH FOR THE GOLF COURSE IF HE'S OUT THERE.
NUMBER 6 IS ACCEPT SEASONAL EMPLOYEES 2024V1.
SEVEN, ACCEPT PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER RESIGNATION AND APPROVAL TO INITIATE RECRUITMENT.
NUMBER 8 IS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.
NUMBER 9 IS LA 24-14 NEIL WEBBER ON BEHALF OF ORONO APARTMENTS LLC 2475 KELLY PARKWAY, FINAL MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, FOURTH EXTENSION RESOLUTION 7455.
NEIL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE EXTENSIONS WE CAN GET.
>> [LAUGHTER] TEN REAPPOINT PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION 7454 AND NUMBER 11, CITY CODE UPDATE ADOPT ORDINANCES 298-301.
WE WILL BE TAKING OFF THE CONSENT NUMBER 2, WORK SESSION DRAFT AGENDA, AND WE'LL ADDRESS THAT ONE RIGHT AFTER, AND WE'LL PUT PICKLE BALL THE FIRST ONE UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT AFTER OUR TWO PRESENTATIONS.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH NUMBER 1-12 TAKING OFF 2 AND 12?
>> QUESTION. THE PICKLE BALL WHEN DID THAT GET ADDED ON?
>> BECAUSE WE'VE GOT COPIES [INAUDIBLE] AND IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING OUR SECOND MEETING IN MARCH, THEY JUST REALIZED THAT THEY NEED TO GET IT ON THIS ONE VERSUS THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE A MEETING UNTIL THE EIGHTH OF APRIL, AND IT'S DUE ON APRIL 1ST.
>> OKAY. ONE MORE QUESTION. ARE THESE DONATIONS, LIKE THE BENCH ONE, IS THAT GOING THROUGH THE NONPROFIT?
>> I DO BELIEVE THAT ONE IS NOT.
THAT ONE IS JUST GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.
>> IS IT ONE OF THE BENCHES THAT [INAUDIBLE] ALREADY?
>> OKAY. I GOT A MOTION. I GOT A SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'LL NOTE THAT PASSES 4-0.
[2. Work Session Draft Agenda]
BEFORE THE PRESENTATIONS, WE'LL HIT THE WORK SESSION DRAFT AGENDA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON WANTED OFF.>> YES. ADAM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED DURING A PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE MEETING MINUTES PROPOSED FOR APRIL 8TH, ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING IT ON THE 8TH OF APRIL?
>> THAT'S WHAT'S PROPOSED IN FRONT OF ME, YES.
>> OKAY. AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES' MEETING MINUTES FOR THAT WORK SESSION?
>> THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> SURE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE WORK SESSION DRAFT AGENDA.
>> OKAY. I'LL NOTE THAT PASSES 4-0.
[13. Long Lake Fire Department Annual Report]
WE'VE COME TO OUR PRESENTATIONS.NUMBER 13, A LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
[00:05:05]
>> NO. WE'RE GOING TO PUT 12 THE FIRST ONE UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
>> MAYOR WALSH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MIKE HEILAND, FIRE CHIEF LONG LAKE FIRE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I'M GOING TO BLOW THROUGH THIS FIRST PART PRETTY QUICK, BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF OUR PROTECTION AREA BY PROVIDING EXCELLENT COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION, FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES THROUGH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, PREPAREDNESS, AND RESPONSE.
THIS IS A DEFINITION, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING WE'RE ALL WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN TO DO THE RIGHT THING JUST TO COVER THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN IT, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN IT, THE PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH IT.
THIS YEAR WE HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTRUCTURE OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
FIRST OF ALL, CODY FARLEY OVER HERE.
YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> CODY FARLEY, 16 YEAR VETERAN IN THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE SERVED AS FIREFIGHTER, TRAINING COORDINATOR, TRAINING CAPTAIN, TRAINING CHIEF, AND NOW ASSISTANT CHIEF AS OF JANUARY 1ST 2024.
>> WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE CODY ON OUR TEAM.
JOHN PASKOWITZ, HE'S OUR BATTALION CHIEF.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON THE FIRE GROUND, WHAT GOES ON THE TRUCKS, HOW WE ATTACK FIRES.
RYAN GONSIOR IS CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE ALSO VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM.
HE TAKES CARE OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF.
THE LITTLE THINGS AROUND THE FIRE STATION, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S TAKEN.
SCOTT SPINKS, OUR TRAINING CHIEF.
VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A GUY LIKE SCOTT SPINKS.
HE WORKS FOR NORTH AMBULANCE, HE TRAINS IN THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
HE'S A VERY WELL RESPECTED TRAINER.
AGAIN, WE JUST FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM.
TED WOYCHICK AND RYAN HOSTER WERE PROMOTED FROM LIEUTENANT TO CAPTAIN RECENTLY.
THEN WE HIRED THREE NEW LIEUTENANTS, JEFF KRAHL, MATT SMILEY, AND VEACH, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD AS WELL.
THIS IS BASICALLY OUR ORGANIZATION CHART.
YOU CAN SEE BELOW BATTALION CHIEF WE HAVE TWO CAPTAINS AND THE THREE LIEUTENANTS AND THEY ALL HAVE COMPANIES BELOW THEM THAT ALL HAVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMPANIES.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THE DAY TO DAY NEEDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMPANY, MAKE SURE ALL THEIR CERTIFICATIONS ARE CURRENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IF THEY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS OR QUESTIONS THEY CAN GO TO THEIR OFFICER AND THEN THEY'LL RUN UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
BUT ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT WE HAVE ALL THE COORDINATORS.
THEY'RE BASICALLY LIEUTENANTS IN TRAINING.
THEY HAVE THEIR JOBS AROUND THE STATION.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PIPELINE TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS WHO ARE MOVING FORWARD.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE 40 ACTIVE MEMBERS.
ALL MEMBERS ARE FIREFIGHTER I AND FIREFIGHTER II STATE CERTIFIED, EMR OR EMT CERTIFIED, AND HAZMAT OPERATIONS CERTIFIED.
THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD THROUGHOUT.
THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT 0-5 YEARS WE HAVE THE MOST PEOPLE.
THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE AFTER FIVE YEARS YOU CAN SEE HOW IT STARTS TAPERING OFF ON MEMBERS.
USUALLY FROM 5-10 YEARS IS WHEN THEY'RE AT THEIR MOST PRODUCTIVE.
THEN IT GETS CHALLENGING BEYOND THAT TO KEEP THEM ON THE DEPARTMENT TO GET UP TOWARDS THAT 20 YEAR LEVEL.
AT STATION 1 THIS IS OUR FLEET.
EVERYTHING'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FROM LAST YEAR.
THE SECOND ONE DOWN, ENGINE 11, IS SLATED TO BE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER.
WE FINALLY GOT A DATE ON THAT ONE, AND THE UTILITY 11, THE 1998 FORD IS SLATED TO BE REPLACED SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.
WE DO HAVE TWO COMMAND VEHICLES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR BOAT IN THE LAKE PRETTY SOON, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND ALL OF OUR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT HAS ALL BEEN GONE THROUGH AND IS IN GOOD SHAPE, READY TO GO.
[00:10:01]
IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.WE JUST HAD SOME WORK DONE ON RESCUE 21, THE MINI PUMPER.
WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE EMERGENCY LIGHTING, SO WE JUST HAD SOME WORK DONE ON THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT ORONO, AGAIN, THIS IS HOW WE BREAK THE CALLS DOWN.
BASICALLY THERE ARE SIX FIRE CALLS;127 OF THEM WERE MEDICAL, 51 OF THEM WERE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, AND THAT CAN BE FROM A HIT GAS LINE TO A POWER LINE DOWN.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SERVICE CALLS CAN BE SMOKE REMOVAL OR PD CALLING US FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
GOOD INTENT CALLS ARE USUALLY CALLS THAT WE GET CANCELED ON THE WAY.
FALSE ALARM AND FALSE CALLS ARE THE SAME THING TOO.
WE GET CALLED A LOT OF FIRE ALARMS THAT GET CANCELED IN A ROW.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY NATURAL DISASTERS.
THE SPECIAL EVENT TYPE WERE PD CALLING US IN SPECIAL ASSISTANCE ON CERTAIN THINGS.
THEN THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN FROM 2021.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE YEAR ON THE TOP AND THE AMOUNT OF CALLS ON THE BOTTOM, FROM 2021-2022 AND 400-431 CALLS, AND FROM '22-'23 WE HAD 76 MORE CALLS THAN LAST YEAR, UP TO 507.
THE ONES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT INCREASED THE MOST, THE MEDICAL CALLS AND THE FALSE ALARM CALLS.
WHAT AUTO-AID IS WHEN WE GET CALLED TO A FIRE, LET'S SAY WE GET CALLED FOR IN NAVARRE AND WE GET CALLED TO A FIRE BY THE NARROWS BRIDGE, EXCELSIOR WOULD GET AUTO STARTED ON THE FIRST ALARM.
WE RESPONDED TO ONE AUTO-AID AND WE HAD FIVE AUTO-AIDS THAT CAME OUR WAY.
THEN MUTUAL AID IS THE SECOND ALARM WHEN YOU GET MORE ASSETS FROM MORE DEPARTMENTS SHOWING UP.
WE DELIVERED 13 MUTUAL AID CALLS TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND WE RECEIVED TWO MU TO AREA.
IT'S NOT YOU, YOU'RE, AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST UNIT ON SCENE, AVERAGE TIME FOR ORONO WAS EIGHT MINUTES AND 28 SECONDS.
WE TRACK OUT WHICH UNIT GETS TO THE SCENE FROM THE TIME IT'S PAGE TILL WE GET TO THE SCENE AND ALL OF THEM TOGETHER THROUGHOUT FIVE CITIES OR FOUR CITIES.
MUTUAL AID AVERAGED OUT TO EIGHT MINUTES AND 25 SECONDS.
THIS IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, BUT BASICALLY THIS IS WHAT IT'S TELLING FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING TILL 6:00 AT NIGHT OR NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, WE AVERAGE 13-14 RESPONDERS PER CALL, WHICH IS EXCELLENT AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENT OVER THE YEARS.
THIS BASICALLY BREAKS IT DOWN BY THE HOUR.
IF WE'RE ON A FIRE SCENE WITH 20 GUYS FOR SO MANY HOURS, WE JUST ADD UP THE HOURS CUMULATIVELY.
THAT'S JUST BREAKS IT DOWN HOW MANY HOURS WE SPEND IN EACH AREA YEAR OVER YEAR.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S CONSISTENT ON THIS ONE IS FEBRUARY IS ALWAYS THE SLOWEST MONTH AND JULY IS ALWAYS THE BUSIEST MONTH.
THAT'S MY 30 SOME YEAR CAREER THAT'S BEEN VERY CONSISTENT.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S HARD TO GUESS WHICH HOW BUSY EACH MONTH IS GOING TO BE.
>> EXCEPT THIS FEBRUARY BECAUSE WE HAD ONE EXTRA DAY.
>> YEAH. THIS JUST SHOWS WHAT DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE THE BUSIEST.
LAST YEAR WAS THURSDAY, THIS WEEK, IT'S FRIDAY.
WHAT THIS BASICALLY POINTS OUT IS IT'S UNPREDICTABLE WHAT DAY IS GOING TO BE THE BUSIEST SO YOU JUST HAVE TO BE READY EVERY DAY.
LAST YEAR WAS FRIDAYS AND THE WEEKENDS.
MEMBERS THAT RETIRED, EXCUSE ME, WE HAD PAUL CABISTA RETIRE AND HE WAS A TENURE MEMBER, AND I TRULY DIDN'T GET TO KNOW HIM THAT WELL.
BUT HE DID RETIRE AND HE DID GET HIS TEN YEAR PENSION.
AND THEN SHANE GARDNER WAS A 16 YEAR MEMBER.
SHANE WAS EXCELLENT FIREFIGHTER AND HE WILL BE MISSED.
THEN IN 2023, WE HAD NO NEW MEMBERS JOINING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE HAD FIVE FIREFIGHTERS COME OFF OF PROBATION.
COMING OFF OF PROBATION THAT MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
THE OTHER FIREFIGHTER 1, FIREFIGHTER 2, MTEMR, AND HAZMAT TECH, BUT IT'S BEN CARLSON, AMANDA STRAKA, PAUL MORRIS, AJ REWERT, AND VERONICA VASINA.
[00:15:04]
THIS IS THE DUTY SHIFT NUMBERS.THE RED NUMBERS INDICATE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAD ON SHIFT FOR THAT MONTH, HOW MANY SHIP POSITIONS WERE FILLED, AND THE BLUE NUMBERS INDICATE HOW MANY SHIPS WERE AVAILABLE.
THE BOTTOM RIGHT ONE INDICATES THAT'S JUST MONTH BY MONTH, LIKE NOVEMBER.
WHAT WE DO IS WE BREAK IT DOWN.
YOU GET THE SCHEDULE FOR HOW MANY CALLS CAME IN WHILE WE HAD A DUTY CREW STAFFED.
IN NOVEMBER WE HAD 27 CALLS WHEN THE DUTY CREW WAS STAFFED IN OCTOBER, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THEN WE KEEP TRACK OF THE IN SERVICE TIME.
IN BLUE, OUR GOAL IS TO HIT TWO MINUTES, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE THREE MINUTES ON DOWN.
THEN THE RED NUMBERS INDICATE HOW LONG IT TOOK US TO GET ON.
IN 2023, WE MADE GOALS FOR 2024, AND THE BACK SEAT CREW TRAINING, THAT'S BASICALLY THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE FIRE ENGINES, SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM, WHAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO GRAB WHEN THEY GET OFF THE TRUCK AND SO ON.
THEN THE STATION TWO, THIS HAS BEEN UP THERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS I NOTICE.
BUT STATION TWO, THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE TRAININGS AT STATION 2.
WE ALWAYS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO HAVE MORE TRAININGS OVER THERE.
WE'VE BEEN MAKING A HUGE STRIDES ON GETTING EVERYBODY TRAINED, AND SO EVERYBODY CAN PUMP, EVERYBODY CAN RELAY PUMP, EVERYBODY CAN DRAFT.
THERE'S A LOT TO IT AND WE'VE BEEN SPENDING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME ON THAT.
THEN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, THAT'S ALSO THE OFFICER.
WE WANT THE OFFICER TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO WHEN WE ARRIVE ON SCENE.
ALL YOU DO IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES WHEN YOU GET TO A FIRE SCENE WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE NEXT FIVE HOURS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE OFFICER TRAINED AND THEN OUR NEW TRAINING CHIEF IS REALLY INTO IN HOUSE TRAINING VIDEOS, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT HE COMES UP WITH.
SITUATIONAL READINESS, WE TRAIN, WE TRAIN, WE TRAIN.
EVEN WHEN I WAS TALKING EARLIER ABOUT OUR GRASS, OUR WILD LAND FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, WE GOT ALL THAT UP AND RUNNING, OBVIOUSLY.
I MEAN, WHEN I STARTED LAST YEAR, ACTUALLY I'M TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
BUT, UM, LAST YEAR WHEN I STARTED, WE HAD GRASS FIRES ALL OVER THE PLACE OF THIS AREA.
WE'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP, IF YOU WANT TO BE A CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO BE EMT, IF YOU'RE IN THE MEDICAL SCENE, IF YOU WANT TO BE A ENGINEER, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A CAREER DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE THAT, THE TRANSITIONAL PLAN, WE'RE JUST, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO JUST MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO DO OUR JOB AS BEST WE CAN NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
THEN OUR DUTY OFFICER PROGRAM, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE, BUT EVERY DAY WE HAVE A DUTY OFFICER ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY.
THEY BRING A VEHICLE HOME, ONE OF THE SQUADS HOME WITH THEM AT NIGHT SO THEY CAN RESPOND TO THEIR DRIVEWAY.
WHICH GETS US EYEBALLS ON THE SCENE AS QUICK AS WE CAN, DIRECT TRAFFIC AND LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW IF WE NEED TO STRIKE ANOTHER ALARM OR EVERYBODY CAN SLOW DOWN OR WHATEVER WE NEED AT THAT POINT.
THEN THE DUTY CREW PROGRAM OUTLINE.
WE DO HAVE OUR SIX MONTHS IN, I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT TOMORROW AT OUR FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, BUT WE'VE GOT SIX MONTHS UNDER OUR BELT, AND WE DID GET SOME GOOD DATA.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING ME THE LATITUDE TO EXPERIMENT AND TRY SOME DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THAT PROGRAM. I THINK IT'LL PAY OFF.
THESE ARE JUST THESE NUMBERS ARE INCREDIBLE.
BUT TOP RESPONDERS FOR STATION ONE, I MEAN, MIKE JOHNS, ROD MADE 92% OF THE CALLS. THAT'S AMAZING.
THIS JUST SHOWS THEIR DEDICATION.
TOM ALDRICH, PAUL MORRIS, ZACH BURBIG, CODY FARLEY.
THE DEDICATION THEY PUT IN TO MAKE THAT AMOUNT OF CALLS, IT'S AMAZING.
THIS IS STATION 2, AJ REWARDS, CHRIS ADAMS, ADAM HAYDEN, SHANE GARDNER, AND RYAN GONSIOR.
AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLE NUMBERS.
I MEAN, OUT OF 507 CALLS TO MAKE, 84% IS AMAZING.
THIS IS OUR TRAINING ATTENDANCE AGAIN.
WE TRAIN, TRAIN, AND WE TRAIN AGAIN.
[00:20:02]
WE'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION THESE GUYS NAMES BECAUSE WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED.BUT TOM ALDRICH, MATT SMILEY, MIKE JOHNSRUD JOHN PASZKIECZ AND CODY FARLEY, ALL HAVE PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE TRAINING, I SEE CODY UP THERE A LOT.
A THEN STATION 2, WE HAVE CHRIS ADAMS, TOM DAVIS, SHAUN RIOUX, TED WOYCHICK AND SHANE GARDNER AGAIN.
AMAZING. THANKS. THIS IS SOME MILESTONES.
I'VE KNOWN DJ A LONG TIME AND WE HAD A FIRE OVER THE SUMMER AND IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I GOT THERE AND I HOPPED INTO THE DJ WAS OUR DUTY OFFICER THAT NIGHT.
I GOT TO THE CALL AND HE WAS ON DUTY AND I HOPPED IN THE CAR AND WE WERE DOING OUR COMMAND THING.
I LOOKED OVER AND I GO, DJ, CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE STILL HERE DOING THIS? IT WAS JUST THE BOND FORM IN BETWEEN FIREFIGHTERS. IT WAS JUST AMAZING.
YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. IT WAS A COOL THING THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE'RE STILL AT IT.
THEN SCOTT SPINKS, IT IS 10-YEAR MARK.
WE USUALLY DO IT BY FIVE-YEAR INCREMENTS, BUT WE ONLY HAD TWO, SO WE SPICE IT UP A BIT.
THEN I'VE GOT 32 YEARS ON, AND 30 OF THOSE YEARS WE'RE IN EXCELSIOR.
SAVE THE DATES, YOU ALL KNOW THAT APRIL 14TH IS OUR PANCAKE BREAKFAST.
THEN WE GOT THE 5K IN JULY, OUR OPEN HOUSE IN OCTOBER, AND OUR SLOW BURN BRIGADE TOY AND FOOD DRIVE IN DECEMBER. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR WELCH, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I SAID I'M GOING TO BE SEEING YOU TOMORROW.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT NUMBERS OR ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, YOU CAN GIVE THEM TO ADAM AND WE'LL TALK TO THEM AT THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> I THINK THE ONE THAT JUST FOR OVERALL STAFFING, IT WAS 11 PEOPLE AT STATION 2, AND I THINK 31 AT STATION 1.
THE SERVICE TIME GOALS OF TWO MINUTES, GETTING CLOSER WITH DUTY CREWS, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
THERE'S SOME INTERESTING THAT'S ALL FOR SURE.
>> PERFECT. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANKS CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS DOWN THERE? ANY QUESTIONS, MATT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, CHIEF, THANKS FOR COMING.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GLAD YOU DID. YOU GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING OVER OUR COMMUNITY HERE AND OF COURSE WE'RE STARTING TO TRANSITION COME JULY.
I DID WATCH YOUR LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION AT THAT MEETING.
THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME REQUEST FOR A DELAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM, BUT WE'RE TRANSITIONING, PART OF OUR TERRITORY.
YOU'RE AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO HELP US TRANSITION TOO.
I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR CHIEF OVER HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THAT AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE AS WE GO.
SO YOU KNOW THERE ISN'T ANY DELAYS BEING REQUESTED FROM THE CITY.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AFTER WATCHING YOUR MEETING.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY NOT BEING 100% SURE WHERE OUR FUTURE IS.
I KNOW JULY 1ST IS YOUR TARGET DATE, BUT AS IT GETS CLOSER, I'D LIKE TO FIRM IT UP AND THEN JAMES AND I CAN START MAKING SOME DECISIONS FROM THERE.
>> THANK YOU BECAUSE WE NEED YOU.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
>> AS FAR AS THAT GOES, I HADN'T SEEN THE VIDEO POSTED YET, AND I MISSED IT BECAUSE MY SON HAD A HOCKEY GAME.
BUT SO I DID ASK JOHN FOR A RECAP, AND HE SAID THAT FROM OUR CONVERSATION, IT WAS GOING TO BE THE CITY ADMINISTRATORS AND FIRE CHIEFS BOTH GETTING TOGETHER.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, IT WAS JUST THE CITY ADMINISTRATORS AT THIS POINT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU UNDERSTOOD OR WHAT WAS THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR CONTINUING COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE TRANSITION.
>> I'VE HEARD BOTH, TO BE HONEST WITH SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT.
>> GREAT. SO YOU'D BE OPEN NOW?
>> LIKE I SAID, I'M OPEN TO WHATEVER.
>> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ANY MORE DIFFICULT.
>> I KNOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU QUESTIONS IF WE'RE GOING TO
[00:25:02]
DO THEM AHEAD OF TIME AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT.I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OBSERVATIONS JUST WATCHING THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT I WANT TO GO OVER FOR A MOMENT.
I KNOW AT YOUR COUNCIL MEETING, JUSTIN PINKER PUT IN HIS RESIGNATION AND I KNOW HE WAS BELITTLED A LITTLE BIT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE BY THE MAYOR AND BY ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE WORKING FOR BOTH ORONO AND LONG LAKE.
THEN HE DECIDED TO RESIGN, BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO WAS READ HIS LETTER BECAUSE HE HAD SOME REASONING FOR IT.
I'M GOING TO READ HIS LETTER BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN WORKING AT LONG LAKE, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE IS 80% OF THE CALLS ARE IN ORONO.
I APPRECIATE JUSTIN'S SERVICE EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T SAID AT ORONO BUT HE WROTE IT HERE.
>> EXCUSE ME. WE WERE ASKED BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR, PRIOR TO THIS REPORT TO STICK TO THE REPORT ONLY.
>> DIDN'T WE TALK ABOUT CIVILITY? I'M TALKING AND YOU'RE INTERRUPTING ME NOW, SO THANK YOU.
>> ADAM, THIS IS A POINT OF ORDER BECAUSE I BELIEVE ADAM THAT WE WERE TOLD TO STICK AHEAD OF TIME TO THE CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I HAVE GOT A LETTER I WANT TO READ FROM JUSTIN PINKER.
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ADVISED OUR COUNCIL AHEAD OF THIS REPORT TO STICK TO THE REPORT.
>> WE COULD RELEASE THE CHIEF.
HE DOESN'T HAVE TO STAND THERE.
WE CAN HAVE OUR CONTINUED CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> IF I'M WRONG ON SOME OF THE OBSERVATIONS, I WANT YOU TO SPEAK UP WHEN I'M DONE SPEAKING THOUGH, SO I DON'T GET INTERRUPTED AGAIN.
BUT I DO OWE TO JUSTIN PINKER WHO HAS GREAT SERVICE.
HE SAID, I AM WRITING TO FORMALLY RESIGN FROM MY POSITION AS A LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 16TH, 2024.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS LETTER AS MY OFFICIAL NOTICE OF RESIGNATION.
I'VE ENJOYED MY TIME BEING A LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES I'VE GAINED DURING MY TENURE.
HOWEVER, THE RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS BY FIGURE OUT FIRE AND KELLY GRADY, ALONG WITH COMMENTS BY LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS, I CAN NO LONGER BE PART OF THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH THAT HE'S GAINED THERE, AND I WISH THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED SUCCESS.
I KNOW HE GOT A LITTLE BIT BELITTLED BECAUSE HE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN COURT THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE IN BOTH, BUT OBVIOUSLY SOME OTHER THINGS HAPPENED IN THE MEANTIME, AND SO HE DIDN'T DO THAT.
>> HE DID INDICATE IN COURT THAT HIS INTENTIONS WERE TO RESIGN FROM LONG LAKE FIRE ON JULY 1ST.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, HE DID IT EARLY, AND SO HE GOT BELITTLED BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS BELITTLING CAME FROM. I HAVE NO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WATCHED THE VIDEO. I WATCHED THE LONG LAKE MEETING, AND SO I DID WATCH COUNCIL MEMBER MINOR AND, YOU'RE BEING RUDE. YOU'RE BEING RUDE.
THAT WAS SOME OF THE TESTIMONY HE GAVE, OBVIOUSLY AT COURT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD MENTIONED KELLY GRADY, AND SOME OF THE STUFF WENT ON THERE.
I DID NOTICE THAT DURING THE MEETING, THERE WAS A FIRE CALL, AND THE MAYOR SAID, DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
HE DIDN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO GO BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE A CONSULTANT, DEMANDED EVERYBODY HAS TO GO WHEN THERE'S A FIRE CALL, NO MATTER WHAT, HE WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE CONVERSATIONS.
THAT WAS HIS WORDS. I NOTICED THAT WHEN HE SAID, DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, YOU REACHED DOWN AND JUST CLICKED IT OFF AND YOU KEPT TALKING AND YOU ARE THE CHIEF.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY THOUGH WHEN YOU WERE IN COURT, YOU WERE VERY HONEST.
YOU WERE HONEST WHEN YOU DID THE LONG LAKE PRESENTATION WAS MUCH LONGER BECAUSE THEY TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE LONGER.
BUT IN YOUR TESTIMONY IN COURT, BECAUSE SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE, OUR CHIEF WAS UP FIRST AND ASKED, WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE CHIEF TO HELP COORDINATE DUTIES? ALL THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN COORDINATION, SO THERE'S NOT OVERLAP.
HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY, I'D BE WORKING WITH THEM.
I KNOW THAT WHEN THEY ASKED, BE QUIET, BRAD, MY GOD.
WHEN THEY ASKED YOU THE SAME QUESTION, WOULD YOU WORK WITH OUR CHIEF YOU SAID, NO, I'M DISAPPOINTED BY THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY AT THE MEETING WHEN IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHOWED ALL THE PIE CHART OF EVERYBODY THAT'S BEING RECRUITED AND YOU SAID, WHAT I'M REALLY AMAZED AT IS THAT THIS GREAT PIPELINE, LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING, WHICH IS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY THAN WHAT'S BEING TOLD TO THE COURTS THAT YOU CAN'T PERFORM BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING IN YOUR WAY.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY SAYING HOW GOOD THE PIPELINE IS AND YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM RECRUITING RIGHT NOW.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
I HOPE YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR MIND AND WE'LL WORK WITH HIM IN THE FUTURE.
[00:30:01]
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, I APPRECIATE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CHIEF HIGHLAND, IF I MAY, THAT WAS REALLY HARD TO LISTEN TO.
>> SOMETIMES THE TRUTH IS HARD TO LISTEN TO.
>> WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, I JUST RECOMMEND.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AGAIN [APPLAUSE] LEAD IS COMING.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AS A CHIEF AND WE IN ORONO ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO RESENT YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT JUSTIN INKER.
I'D INVITE YOU TO CALL HIM AND TALK TO HIM AND ASK HIM IF HE FELT SUPPORTED.
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT AS YOU WELL KNOW, TRYING TO LEAD AND GUIDE 42 PEOPLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
EVEN IF IT'S A GREAT PEOPLE WITH A GREAT CAUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE STRIFE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CONFLICT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO RESOLVE.
SO WE WERE IN GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH JUSTIN HECKER BEFORE AND AFTER THE POST, BEFORE AND AFTER HE RESIGNED.
>> AND IT WAS NOTHING EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE HE WAS WILLING TO SHARE NAMES.
HE JUST SAID YES, THERE WERE SOME THINGS SAID AND THAT ADDED TO HIS SITUATION.
BUT HE WAS, BY ALL MEANS, SUPPORTED.
AND YOUR COMMENTS, I FEEL, WERE A BIT MISPLACED.
WELL, THEY WERE, ACCORDING TO YOUR POINT, THAT WAS HIS LETTER.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE LONG LAKE MEETING, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE MAYOR TREATED HIM WHEN HE'S RESIGNING.
I'M APPRECIATIVE OF HIS SERVICE.
I THINK WHEN SOMEBODY RESIGNED, YOU SHOULD APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE AND NOT CALL OUT ISSUES ABOUT THAT PERSON AS HE'S WALKING OUT THE DOOR.
AND YOU NEVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIS SERVICE.
>> PERHAPS THOSE COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL AND NOT MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].
[14. Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Presentation - Resolution 7453]
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 14.
WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT.
PRESENTATION RESOLUTION 74 53. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR WALSH.
I'M THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT.
JOINED HERE TONIGHT BY BECKY CHRISTOPHER, OUR POLICY PLANNING DIRECTOR, AND KYLIE SERMAC, ONE OF OUR PROJECT PLANNERS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE LONG LAKE CREEK PARTNERSHIP, A MULTI AGENCY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ORONO, MEDINA, LONG LAKE AND LONG LAKE WATERS TO BRING INTO FOCUS A SHARED PRIORITIZED PLAN FOR DELIVERING CLEAN WATER AND RESILIENCE IN THE LONG LAKES WATERSHED.
TO GET US STARTED AND MOVE US THROUGH THINGS THIS EVENING, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT BEFORE FRAMING THE LONG LAKE CREEK PARTNERSHIP.
AND THEN I WILL ZOOM IN AND GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC BY OUTLINING PLANS TO RETROFIT A POND THAT WE OWN AT COUNTY ROAD 6 WITH DISTRICT FUNDS FOR WHICH WE'RE SEEKING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
BEFORE JUMPING IMMEDIATELY INTO THINGS, I THOUGHT I'D TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST SHARE SOME BASIC CONTEXT FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT, WHO WE ARE, OUR GEOGRAPHY, AND HOW WE THINK.
IN TERMS OF OUR GEOGRAPHY, THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT IS 178 SQUARE MILE WATERSHED, ONE OF THE LARGEST URBAN METROPOLITAN WATERSHEDS LYING WEST OF MINNEAPOLIS, ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE SUNNY SHORES OF LAKE WCONIA THERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE MAP.
THE WATERSHED CONTAINS A RICH MOSAIC OF LAND USE, NATURAL SYSTEMS, AND COMMUNITIES, AND INCLUDES PORTIONS OF HENNEPIN AND CARVER COUNTIES, AS WELL AS 29 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE GOT OVER 120 LAKES, A NUMBER OF MAJOR STREAM SYSTEMS, AND ICONIC RESOURCES, OF COURSE, LIKE LAKE MINNETONKA, OUR NAMESAKE MINNEHAHA CREEK, THE MINNEAPOLIS CHAIN OF LAKES, AND MINNEHAHAHA FALLS.
WE'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED STRONG VISION ALIGNMENT WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY OF ORONO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT NATURAL SYSTEMS UNDERPIN LOCAL IDENTITY AND CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE.
AND WHEN PROPERLY INTEGRATED THAT OUR WATERSHED WORK, OUR NATURAL RESOURCE PLANNING AND INVESTMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS IN SUPPORTING THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
[00:35:03]
BECAUSE LAND USE AND HOW WE USE LAND DRIVES WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WATER, THE AMOUNT OF IT, THE QUALITY OF IT.WE DON'T CONTROL HOW ALL THE LAND IS USED.
WHETHER WE'RE WORKING ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS OR POLICY, WE'RE ALWAYS CAREFULLY THINKING ABOUT HOW OUR INVESTMENTS CAN BE CATALYST FOR OUR PARTNERS GOALS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
WE DO THAT BY TAKING FIRST A DATA DRIVEN, SCIENCE BASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE WATERSHED AND THEN LAYERING IN OUR PARTNERS OBJECTIVES, WHICH MIGHT RELATE TO TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPTIVE DEVELOPMENT OR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.
THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE AMAZING PLACES IN THE WATERSHED THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND GOOD FOR PEOPLE.
IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEPLOY THAT APPROACH ACROSS THE WATERSHED UPSTREAM OF MINNEHAHA CREEK TO BENEFIT LAKE MINNETONKA, WE FOCUS ON THE LARGEST TRIBUTARIES, WHICH SPAN MULTIPLE CITIES AND WORK ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO DEAL WITH THE MOST POLLUTING TRIBUTARIES TO THE LAKE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE, ALL DRAIN INTO IMPAIRED BAYS ON LAKE MINNETONKA.
WITHIN THE LONG LAKE SUBWATERSHED THE LONG LAKE TANAGER BAY DRAINAGE AREA.
WE'VE GOT A STRONG HISTORY OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ORONO, DELIVERING PROJECTS THAT HAVE IMPROVED REGIONAL WATER QUALITY AND RESILIENCE AND PROTECTED AND ENHANCED OPEN SPACE.
IN THE MID '90S, WE IMPLEMENTED A SERIES OF REGIONAL WATER QUALITY INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE LONG LAKE, INCLUDING STORMWATER PONDS, SOME OF WHICH WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE WATERSHED.
AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS AT NELSON LAKESIDE PARK IN LONG LAKE, AND SOME ALUM TREATMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE LAKE TO HELP DEAL WITH INTERNAL PHOSPHORUS LOADING.
THEN 2009-2014 WE ENJOYED YET ANOTHER ROUND OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
THIS TIME FOCUSED ON THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF BIG ISLAND.
WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP AND $2,000,000 IN STATE BONDING, A 56 ACRE PARCEL ON BIG ISLAND WAS ACQUIRED.
WORKING TOGETHER, THE DISTRICT SUPPORTED THAT ACQUISITION WITH ALMOST A $900,000 INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLAR IN BLUFF AND SHORELINE RESTORATION AROUND BIG ISLAND.
AFTER BIG ISLAND IN 2015, WE AGAIN PARTNERED UP WITH THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS LEVERAGING FUNDS FROM THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO REMEDIATE THE FORMER WASTEWATER LAGOON AND PORTIONS OF LONG LAKE CREEK DOWNSTREAM OF LONG LAKE, IMPROVING WATER QUALITY AND CREATING 17 ACRES OF RESTORED GREEN SPACE THAT INCREASES FLOOD STORAGE FOR DOWNSTREAM.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE LONG LAKE CREEK PARTNERSHIP, WHICH I THINK IS USHERING IN YET A NEW ERA OF COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP ACROSS ORONO, MEDINA, LONG LAKE, AND WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF LONG LAKE WATERS.
THIS 12 SQUARE MILE WATERSHED CONTAINS PORTIONS OF THE CITIES OF ORONO, OF COURSE, MEDINA, LONG LAKE AND HAS LARGE PORTIONS OF WOODLAND WETLANDS, WHICH OCCUPY OVER 25% OF THE WATERSHED.
IT'S GOT TWO MAJOR STREAM SYSTEMS TO THE NORTH OF LONG LAKE, HOLY NAME IN THE EAST, AND SCHOOL LAKE IN THE WEST, WHICH COMBINE DRAIN OVER 3,000 ACRES INTO THE PRIMARY INLET OF LONG LAKE, AS WELL AS FIVE WATER BODIES THAT ARE IMPAIRED FOR NUTRIENTS AND SUBJECT TO A STATE TMDL.
TRACKING THE PARTNERSHIP HISTORY FOR A MINUTE BEGINNING IN 2016 TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THE CITIES ADOPTED A JOINT RESOLUTION, COMMITTING TO PARTNERSHIP AND AROUND THE SAME TIME, THE LONG LAKE WATERS ASSOCIATION FORMED, COMPRISED OF RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS THE THREE CITIES.
THEY QUICKLY GOT TO WORK AFTER FORMATION, BEGINNING WORK ON CARP MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE SYSTEM IN 2017.
THEN IN 2018, AFTER ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES AND LONG LAKE WATERS, THE WATERSHED DISTRICT SECURED $100,000 FROM THE STATE TO DEVELOP THIS DATA DRIVEN MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE WATERSHED.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE THEN.
BETWEEN 2019-2020, WE WERE COLLECTING DATA, CONDUCTING MODELING, AND THEN PULLING TOGETHER THE LONG LAKE CREEK ROAD MAP WHICH YOU'VE ALL BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF.
THAT ROADMAP BREAKS DOWN THIS LARGE AREA INTO A SERIES OF SIMPLE MANAGEMENT UNITS, IDENTIFYING WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE ISSUES, AND IDENTIFYING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR EACH.
FROM THERE, WE HELD WORKSHOPS WITH EACH OF THE PARTNERS, IDENTIFYING AND THEN FILTERING OUT WHAT THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE TO DRIVE RESULTS ACROSS THE WATERSHED.
THIS CHART SHOWS THAT WHEN IMPLEMENTED, THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED ARE ESTIMATED TO ACHIEVE ALL THE STATE TMDL OR WATER QUALITY LOAD REDUCTIONS REQUIRED, AGAIN BY THE POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY.
YOU CAN SEE HOLY NAME AND SCHOOL LAKE AT THE TOP MAY REQUIRE A FEW ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT INPUTS FOR ROUGH FISH MANAGEMENT IN ORDER TO MEET THE STANDARDS, BUT WE WILL ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE GET TO IT.
TO BRING FOCUS AND LASTING RESULTS,
[00:40:03]
WE'VE DEVELOPED A SIMPLE THREE PRONGED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AIMED AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF POOR WATER QUALITY.TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU TONIGHT.
THE FIRST PRONG IS REALLY FOCUSED ON REGIONAL STORMWATER RUNOFF TO COST EFFECTIVELY TREAT VERY LARGE DRAINAGE AREAS ACROSS THE WATERSHED.
THAT INCLUDES RETROFITS TO THE THREE PONDS THAT WERE BUILT IN THE '90S AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL STORMWATER FACILITY FOR THE MORE DEVELOPED DOWNTOWN LONG LAKE AREA.
AS THOSE REGIONAL PROJECTS ARE IMPLEMENTED, WE'LL HAVE MORE LOCALIZED LANDSCAPE PROJECTS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE WATERSHED AS OPPORTUNITIES ALLOW.
THESE ARE LABELED IN THE PLAN AS OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
THOSE CAN BE COORDINATED WITH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE YOUR ROAD, STREETS AND SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BASED ON LANDOWNER INTERESTS.
WE'VE GOT 19 LANDSCAPE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ACROSS CATEGORIES OF STORMWATER, STREAM BANK OR RAVINE STABILIZATION AND WETLAND RESTORATIONS.
THEN FINALLY, WE DO HAVE SOME INTERNAL LOADING PROJECTS.
THESE ARE PROJECTS WHERE WE'D INVEST DIRECTLY INSIDE THE LAKES SUCH AS ALUM TREATMENT OR SELECTIVELY MANAGING CARP.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE AFTER WE DEAL WITH SOME OF THE WATERSHED OR LAND BASED INVESTMENTS.
NOW I'M GOING TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE.
WE ALREADY HAVE THREE PROJECTS IN QUEUE WHICH WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT.
STARTING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WE HAVE THE HOLY NAME WETLAND RESTORATION.
THIS IS A WETLAND RESTORATION OF 19 ACRES IN SIZE.
THAT'S BEING COORDINATED WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER THAT'S UNDERTAKING A SUBDIVISION JUST UPSTREAM OF HOLY NAME IN MEDINA.
WE HAVE COUNTY ROAD 6, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
THE POND THAT THE WATERSHED OWNS THAT WE'D LIKE TO RETROFIT NORTH OF LONG LAKE.
THEN WE HAVE HOLBROOK PARK STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WHERE WE'VE SECURED JUST SHY OF $200,000 IN STATE GRANT DOLLARS FOR FEASIBILITY.
WE'RE NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW WITH LONG LAKE, HOW WE WILL MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD THROUGH FEASIBILITY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO ACHIEVE ABOUT A 50 POUND LOAD REDUCTION FOR LONG LAKE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE ALSO ADOPTED OUR LAND AND WATER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS ENCOURAGED BY STAFF TO PLUG.
THIS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED BY OUR COMMUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOUR STAFF SAT ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SHAPED THIS POLICY FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS REALLY ALL ABOUT COORDINATED PLANNING TO INTEGRATE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS INTO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
HOLY NAME IS PROBABLY A GREAT WORKING EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHERE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS A PROJECT IN ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITY ZONES CAME TO US EARLY, WE DEPLOYED TECHNICAL AND PROJECT PLANNING RESOURCES AND ARE NOW ADVANCING THE PROJECT TOGETHER.
TO BRING THINGS HOME THIS EVENING, I'M GOING TO FINISH WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COUNTY ROAD 6 POND, WHICH SITS INSIDE THAT FIRST PRONG OF IMPLEMENTING REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSETS WE'VE ALREADY GOT IN THE LANDSCAPE PONDS THAT WE ALREADY OWN BY RETROFITTING THEM TO WORK BETTER.
THIS 2.5 ACRE POND, AGAIN, WAS BUILT JUST SHORT OF 1990 AND 1988, AND IT TREATS REGIONAL RUNOFF FROM THAT LARGE NORTHERN DRAINAGE AREA, ABOUT 3,700 ACRES IN SERIES WITH ANOTHER POND WE'VE GOT UPSTREAM AND CAPTURES THAT WATER BEFORE IT GOES TO LONG LAKE.
IT'S A TWO CELLED POND THAT GETS WATER THAT COMES UNDER COUNTY ROAD 6 AND THEN THAT FLOWS OVER A YEAR SOUTHEAST INTO THE LAKE.
WE DID SOME MONITORING OF THE SYSTEM TO SHOW THAT WE COULD IMPROVE THE POND, IMPROVE THE TREATMENT EFFICIENCY, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.
FEASIBILITY FOR THIS RETROFIT IS JUST CURRENTLY BEING COMPLETED BY KAILEY.
WE EVALUATED A RANGE OF OPTIONS THAT WOULD KEEP PROJECT FOOTPRINT INSIDE OUR LAND RIGHT.
SHOWN HERE ON THE SCREEN, AND LANDED ON AS A VERY SIMPLE GRAVITY FED SAND BASED FILTER.
THAT'S AROUND $600,000 IN CAPITAL COST TO GET US ANOTHER 50 POUNDS OF WATER QUALITY BENEFIT FOR LONG LAKE.
THIS GRAPHIC JUST SHOWS POTENTIAL LOCATION AND SCALE OF ADDITION.
AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDERING TO FORMALLY ORDER THE PROJECT ON MARCH 28, IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.
THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO DESIGN THIS YEAR.
WE'D LIKE TO BID LATER THIS FALL AND THEN GET INTO CONSTRUCTION IN 2025.
I'LL FINISH BY THANKING YOU ALL, AGAIN, THANKING THE COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR BEING GRACIOUS HOSTS THIS EVENING.
KINDLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO ADVANCE THIS PROJECT TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN LONG LAKE.
>> OH, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN CLEAN WATER, RIGHT?
>> QUALITY WATER, QUALITY OF LIFE.
>> [LAUGHTER] NO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY STARTED THIS PROCESS A LONG TIME AGO, GOING UP THE NORTHERN SECTION AND COMING DOWN.
DEFINITELY ALL FOR DOING ALL OF THIS STUFF, SO ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE A CONTINUAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LONG LAKE WATERS ASSOCIATION?
[00:45:04]
>> WE DO, COUNCILMEMBER BENSON.
MAYOR WALSH, COUNCILMEMBER BENSON, WE DO HAVE A CONTINUED WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LONG LAKE WATERS, SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE TRAVELING ROAD SHOW TO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT LONG LAKE WATERS HAS THIS INFORMATION DISSEMINATED OUT.
WE THINK ABOUT THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE WATERSHED THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF LONG LAKE UP IN MEDINA.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRIVATE LAND OWNERS.
WE'RE REALLY WORKING WITH LONG LAKE WATERS TO IMPLEMENT POTENTIAL GRASSROOTS MARKETING, SPREAD THE WORD CAMPAIGN, SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE FOLKS.
>> TWO QUESTIONS. YOU'RE JUST HERE TO LET US KNOW THAT THIS IS IN THE WORKS AND YOU WANT US TO SUPPORT IT, BUT NOT FUND IT. IS THAT RIGHT>.
THAT'S RIGHT, COUNCIL. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR IF YOU'VE GOT FUNDING THAT YOU WANT TO DEDICATE TO THE PROJECT.
THIS IS OUR PROJECT, OUR FUNDS.
IT'S A MATTER OF POLICY FROM OUR BOARD THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING WORK IN COMMUNITY THAT WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE HERE JUST SIMPLY PASSING THE INFORMATION ALONG.
WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING CLOSELY WITH CITY STAFF AND JUST PART OF LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THE WORK THAT'S COMING INSIDE THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> I BELIEVE I HEARD IN YOUR PRESENTATION THERE.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP BEFORE YOU START WORKING WITH THE ROUGH FISH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, BEFORE MAYOR WALSH, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, BEFORE WE WOULD DO ANY IN LAKE WORK, WHETHER THAT'S ALUM DOSING, WHICH IS A CHEMICAL TREATMENT THAT'S WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA OR DEALING WITH ROUGH FISH, WE REALLY WANT TO WORK ON THE REGIONAL SOURCE OF POLLUTANTS.
RETROFITTING THESE PONDS, DEALING WITH SOME OF THE WATER THAT'S COMING FROM LONG LAKE WILL BE OUR FIRST STEP.
THEN WE'LL EVALUATE HOW THE LAKE IS RESPONDING AND THEN WE'LL MAKE THOSE SECOND TIER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AROUND ALUM DOSING OR FISH MANAGEMENT.
>> I ASKED THAT IN PART BECAUSE WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME FUNDINGS FOR REMOVAL OF THE ROUGH FISH.
IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
>> YEAH. IN OUR DIALOGUE WITH LONG LAKE WATERS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN GOING FISHING, WE'VE BEEN REALLY CLEAR TO TAKE A DATA DRIVEN APPROACH.
WE LIKE THE SCIENCE BECAUSE IT DRIVES MEASURABLE RESULTS.
THE LANDSCAPE FOCUS REALLY IS THE FIRST STEP.
WHETHER OR NOT FISHERIES MANAGEMENT INSIDE LONG LAKE IS GOING TO PRODUCE MEASURED WATER QUALITY RESPONSE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT.
FURTHER UP IN HOLY NAME AND SCHOOL LAKE, WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE CARP NURSERIES.
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE CONGREGATING SPAWNING AND THAT IN THOSE SYSTEMS, BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY SHALLOW, THE CARP ARE STIRRING UP ALL THE SEDIMENT AND DEGRADING WATER QUALITY AND THAT'S COMING DOWNSTREAM.
LONG LAKE IS QUITE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S A DEEPER SYSTEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IN AND OUT.
IT MIGHT BE THAT FOR LONG LAKE WE TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH, LIKE THE ALUM DOSING TREATMENT THAT WE DID IN THE MID '90S.
>> IS OUR STAFF DOING A GOOD JOB WORKING WITH THE WATERSHED DISTRICT?
>> IS CITY STAFF DOING A GOOD JOB?
>> [LAUGHTER] IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS.
YOU PLAY A BIG PART OF OUR PERMITTING AND ALL THOSE PIECES. THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTY ROAD 6 POND RETROFIT PROJECT.
>> WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> THAT PASSES FOR A ZIP. THANK YOU.
>> DID BRING SOME LEAVE BEHINDS.
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT AND WE'LL GO BACK TO
[12. Pickleball Project Grant Application - Resolution 7459]
NUMBER 12 WHICH IS THE PICKLEBALL GRANT OPPORTUNITY.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE INTRODUCTION TO THIS.
I HAD ON MY CALENDAR TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PICKLEBALL GRANT AT THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE.
THIS PICKLEBALL GRANT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT IN BY APRIL 1 AND A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED WITH THAT.
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, JOSH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW MANY OTHER CITIES IN THIS AREA THAT HAVE PICKLEBALL INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE USED GRANT MONEY TO FUND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, OR HOW COMMON THAT IS?
>> REMIND ME WHO THIS GRANT IS COMING FROM.
>> NO, THIS IS THROUGH THE DNR.
>> THE DNR. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY AWARDS THEY'VE GIVEN FOR RECREATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE RECENTLY?
>> I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
I DID LOOK AT SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS FROM LAST YEAR.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW THAT WERE AWARDED THE FULL AMOUNT, JUST DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROJECTS.
SOME WERE PLAYGROUNDS, SOME WERE SKATE PARKS,
[00:50:02]
NATURAL AREAS, SPORTS FACILITIES.IT'S A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES.
>> ARE ANY OF THEM OUT IN THE WEST SUBURBS OR JUST KIND OF ALL OVER? I DON'T KNOW.
>> I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE.
>> MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS, I KNOW IT'S TIME CONSUMING TO WRITE GRANTS AND IT'S JUST THE IDEA OF IS THIS GOING TO BE A WORTHWHILE USE OF STAFF TIME TO WRITE A GRANT? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE COME TO FRUITION OR ARE WE JUST TRYING TO GET A LAY OF THE LAND IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY AND HOW LIKELY AN AWARD LIKE THIS IS TO COME TO OUR CITY?
>> WELL THAT'S WHAT WE DO QUITE OFTEN AS WE APPLY FOR GRANTS.
SOME WE RECEIVE AND OTHERS WE DO NOT, SO CAN'T HURT TO TRY.
>> I DID GO AND TALK TO JOSH A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE MEETING TO TRY AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION AGAIN ABOUT LAST YEAR.
YOU SAID THAT THEY HAD QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND EVERYBODY BASICALLY GOT FUNDED THIS YEAR.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE APPLY, BUT LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF GIVEN OUT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
>> THE WAY IT'S SET UP, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN IF THE GRANT IS AWARDED, HOW THAT WORKS WITHIN THE PORTION THAT EITHER THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE UP.
>> I GUESS ON OUR SIDE, WE DO NEED TO COME UP WITH 50% MATCH OF THAT.
WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS FOR THE FULL AMOUNT FOR 350,000, SO WE WOULD BE ON THE LINE FOR ANOTHER 350.
NOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THROUGH CITIES FUNDS, THAT COULD COME THROUGH DONATIONS, THAT COULD COME THROUGH SPONSORS AS LONG AS WE COLLECTIVELY BRING THAT TO MATCH THEIR GRANT.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS WAS WORTH WRITING, THIS GRANT REQUEST?
>> WHAT'S THE COST OF THE PROJECT?
>> WE'RE STILL WORKING ON COST ESTIMATES.
WE DO HAVE ONE I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $900,000.
THERE ARE SOME ITEMS ON THAT THAT MAYBE WE'D WANT TO PROCEED WITH, OTHERS THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE.
>> DON'T YOU NEED TO KNOW THE COST OF THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT?
>> WE HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE, I THINK THEY FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT. SORRY.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE GRANT.
APPLICATION AND RESOLUTION 7459.
>> OPPOSED? NOTE THAT PASSES 4:0.
THANKS. THAT WILL BRING US TO NUMBER 15 WHICH IS LA 23-62.
[15. LA23-000062, Peter Eskuche, 4423 North Shore Drive, Variances, Resolution 7452]
HERE IS SKUCE, 4423, NORTH SHORE DRIVE VARIANCES RESOLUTION 7452.I THINK THIS IS COMING BACK FROM OUR LAST MEETING WHEN WE GAVE HIM DIRECTION TO ADJUST IT AND THEN BRING A RESOLUTION BACK WITH IT.
>> LET ME PULL UP THE AMENDED PLANS BECAUSE THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE BOTH AN AMENDED SURVEY AND AMENDED PLANS IN YOUR PACKET.
THIS APPLICATION IS REGARDING VARIANCES FROM BOTH AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK AND BLUFF SETBACKS IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT A HOME.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING ON FEBRUARY 26TH.
COUNSEL DIRECTED THE APPLICANT TO AMEND THE PLANS, IN PARTICULAR, TO FOCUS THE CHANGES DIRECTLY WEST OF THE HOME.
I'LL TRY AND ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN SEE THOSE CHANGES.
IN PARTICULAR, THE COUNCIL FOCUSED ON THIS EXISTING RETAINING WALL THAT ORIGINALLY WAS PROPOSED TO BE REMOVED.
COUNSEL MADE A CONDITION FOR THE APPLICANT TO REDESIGN IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT RETAINING WALL, TO MINIMIZE THE GRADING IN THAT AREA AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE BLUFF.
COUNSEL ALSO DID SOME MORE PARTICULAR DESIGN RESTRICTIONS BASED ON WHERE THE WALKOUT BASEMENT IS AND HOW MUCH IMPACT TO THE RETAINING WALL, SAYING THAT ABOUT 10 FEET OF IT COULD HAVE SOME MODIFICATIONS.
I THINK THE APPLICANT CAN BETTER SPEAK TO THOSE MODIFICATIONS IF YOU WANT TO TALK THROUGH THAT, BUT THE CHANGES WERE MADE.
JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, IN THE AMENDED PLANS WHERE THE EXISTING RETAINING WALLS NO LONGER PROPOSED TO BE REMOVED, IT'S SHOWN ON THE PLANS NOW WITH SOME MINOR MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THOSE 10 FEET.
SLIGHT GRADING MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME GRADING WITHIN THAT BLUFF SETBACK AND BLUFF IMPACT ZONE WHICH REQUIRE VARIANCES.
[00:55:03]
>> BUT THAT'S JUST THAT PIECE THAT'S GOING DOWN TO THE WALL?
>> YEAH. IF YOU CAN SEE THESE LIGHT BLUE MARKS HERE, IS THE PROPOSED GRADING CHANGES, BUT YES, IT'S COMING FROM THE HOUSE.
>> I THINK THEY HAVE ANOTHER PLAN THAT SHOWS BETTER, THE WHOLE BLUE.
IT'S COMPLETELY LIT UP BLUE SHOWING THAT PIECE.
>> YES, LET ME PULL THAT UP. THAT'S ONE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.
>> THAT'S MUCH EASIER TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S THE SECOND OR THIRD OR FOURTH ONE IN. YEAH, THAT ONE.
>> A COUPLE OTHER MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE MADE THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE BUT I'LL JUST NOTE, THE GARAGE WAS INCREASED IN SIZE I THINK JUST BY A COUPLE OF FEET, A NEW PATIO CAME ON THESE PLANS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S IN A COMPLIANT LOCATION.
I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY FOCUS TONIGHT TO SEE IF THE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE TO THE GRADING AREA AND THE RETAINING WALL, IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.
IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE, THERE IS A DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT CAN BE ACTED ON TONIGHT.
BUT I THINK INVITING THE APPLICANT UP TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IS PROBABLY BEST.
>> WHAT WAS ADDED? WHAT PATIO?
>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING MOVING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT IN THAT BACK AREA.
>> IT'S BEHIND THE BLUFF SETBACK.
BUT IT WASN'T ON THE LAST ITERATION OF PLANS AND I THINK THE APPLICANT CAN TALK TO THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? I'D COME UP AND I TELL US ABOUT THE CHANGES.
>> GOOD EVENING, PETER S. COOKIE, 18318 MENINTAKA BOULEVARD IN DEEP PIVEN. THANK YOU, NATALIE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YES, WE DID MAKE AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL, IT'S CLOSE TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THOSE CHANGES.
THE LANGUAGE AT THE MEETING WAS THAT WE COULD TAKE 10 FEET OF THE RETAINING WALL MODIFIED DOWNWARD IN ORDER TO GET THE WALKOUT TO WORK.
WHAT WE DID IS WE ACTUALLY HAD TO RAISE THE HOUSE FURTHER UP IN ORDER FOR THAT TO WORK.
THAT WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH PITCH, SO WE RAISED THE HOUSE 6 INCHES AND THE DRIVEWAY PITCH INCREASED FROM 8% TO 9.1%.
>> TOTAL GIVE AND TAKE ON EVERYBODY'S PART?
>> YEP, A LITTLE BIT. YEAH, AND THAT PATIO THAT NATALIE MENTIONED WAS ACTUALLY STILL IN THE CONFORMING AREA, SO THAT IS A CONFORMING APPLICATION, BASICALLY.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THAT SUMS IT UP.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?
>> YOU'RE JUST GOING TO MODIFY 10 FEET OF THE RETAINING WALL?
>> WE HAD DISCUSSED HOW MANY COURSES OF ROCK?
>> WELL, I THINK WE DISCUSSED TO REMOVE ONE COURSE OF ROCK. ISN'T THAT WHAT WE?
>> THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THE ONE COURSE.
[OVERLAPPING] FIND THE STRAINS OR WHATEVER DRAINS THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING.
THE NOTES SAID ONE ROW OF STONE BOTTOM OF RETAINING WALL TO REMAIN, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD SAY ONE COURSE OF EXISTING TO REMAIN.
>> IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT STONE WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES.
BASICALLY, IN ORDER FOR THE DRAINAGE TO GET TO WORK AT ALL, WE'RE BASICALLY AT 4% PITCH ON THE LAWN.
WE HAD TO RAISE THE HOUSE UP AND SO THERE'S ABOUT ONE COURSE OF ROCK LEFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RETAINING WALL.
>> AS LONG AS THERE'S JUST THE ONE COMING OFF THE TOP, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE AGREED TO.
>> HE'S SAYING THERE'S ONLY ONE LEFT.
>> I REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT AND THERE WERE DIFFERENT SIZES AND [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING].
BUT IF THERE'S ONE BURIED IN THERE AND THEN THAT ENDS UP BEING THE ONE YOU LEAVE IS THE ONE THAT WASN'T SEEN AT ALL, THEN THAT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER DISCUSSION, BUT IF I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT WOULD JUST BE TO BE CLEAR ON THAT ONE POINT.
>> PETER, FEEL FREE TO RESPOND BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ARE YOU JUST REMOVING ONE ROW OR?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE WALL, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES, SO IT'S REALLY NOT.
I THINK FOR STABILITY'S SAKE, WHAT WE REALLY SHOULD DO IS REMOVE ALL OF THEM AND REPLACE THEM.
[01:00:02]
IN THE END, THE RESULTING HEIGHT OF THE BOTTOM OF THAT WALL WOULD BE ABOUT A FOOT AND CURRENTLY, IT RANGES FROM TWO FEET TO ABOUT 3.5 FEET.>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A QUESTION.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDING DENIAL BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE GRADING WORK AND GRADING WORK WILL BE REQUIRED IN THIS BLUFF IMPACT ZONE FOR THIS RETAINING WORK TO HAPPEN, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS IN THE BLUFF ALREADY, WE HAVE TO DISTURB THE BLUFF JUST TO TAKE THE HOUSE DOWN.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, SO THERE'S NO WAY TO DO ANY WORK ABOUT THIS HOUSE BUILD WITHOUT DISTURBING THE BLUFF ZONE? NOT THE DRIVEWAY BUT THE WORK ON THE REMODEL OF THE HOUSE AND THE WALKOUT, THERE'S NO WAY TO NOT IMPACT THE BLUFF ZONE?
>> THERE WOULD BE NO WAY. IT'S, I MEAN, THE HOUSE IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> CURRENTLY PART OF THE EXISTING HOME IS WITHIN THE BUFF SO I THINK WHAT HE'S MENTIONING IS EVEN REMOVING IT, YOU'RE IN THERE AND YOU HAVE TO, BUT I THINK FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE IS THERE IS MORE GRADING THAT IS OCCURRING IN ORDER.
>> WHICH IS THAT BLUE PART RIGHT THERE, THAT'S THE PART WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S GOING FROM A LITTLE PATIO DOWN TO THE RETAINING WALL.
>> THERE IS MORE GRADING THAT'S HAPPENING BEYOND THAT AS WELL.
>> I'M TRYING TO DISCERN IF THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION BE TO APPROVE THIS TYPE OF GRADING NECESSARY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN THE BLUFF ZONE FOR THE PLAN AS IT STANDS WITH THIS WALK OUT WHERE WE WILL BE IMPACTING THAT BLUFF ZONE WHICH IS WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL, IS THAT?
>> YES. I THINK STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IS THAT WE COULD SUPPORT THE DRIVEWAY AND WE COULD SUPPORT THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK.
THE ADDITIONAL GRADING TO THE WEST DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF STAFF, BUT AT THE LAST MEETING, COUNCIL HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY COULD SUPPORT IT WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS AND SO WE HAVE PROVIDED A DRAFT APPROVAL RESOLUTION BASED ON THAT RECOMMENDATION.
BUT WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS PART OF YOUR RECOMMENDATION DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DECONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE BLUFF AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT [OVERLAPPING].
[OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] YOU NEED TO REMOVE WHAT'S THERE IN ORDER TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW.
I'M GOING BACK TO THE IDEA THAT IS THERE LIKELY IS A WAY TO CONSTRUCT EITHER PART OF THE HOME OR A WALKOUT POTENTIALLY WITHOUT IMPACTING THE BLUFF ZONE.
BUT AS IT STANDS, THIS PLAN FOR THIS CONSTRUCTION DOES IMPACT THE BLUFF ZONE.
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. THANK YOU.
>> WHAT IMPACTS THE BLUFF ZONE, AS WE CAN WALK, WELL, YOU WEREN'T THERE BUT YOU WERE OVER THERE.
THAT THAT WHOLE AREA WHERE WE SAID YOU COULD DO THE GRADING GOING TO A RETAINING WALL WAS COMPLETELY WHEN THEY BUILT THIS BUILDING 50 YEARS AGO, THEY FLATTENED THAT WHOLE AREA FROM A BLUFF TO A FLAT BACKYARD TO BEGIN WITH.
TECHNICALLY, IT'S IT'S NOT ORIGINAL.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S IT'S BEEN REFLATTENED OUT AND SO WHAT WE SAID, BASED ON THAT, IT'S ALREADY COMPLETELY BEEN CHANGED FROM A GRADING STANDPOINT OR FROM A WATER MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.
I THINK MATT HAD BROUGHT IT UP.
INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT OUT, YOU'D GO OUT AND YOU'D TAPER IT DOWN TO 10 FEET, TAKE OFF THE TOP LAYER, AND THAT COULD BE I KNOW THAT THE STONES ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE LAYERS OF BRICKS.
THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT SIZED STONES.
BUT IN GENERAL, I THINK THE GUIDANCE WOULD BE AGAIN, TO BE THE TOP LAYER, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT MEAN.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DEFINE THAT COMPLETELY AT THIS POINT.
>> RIGHT. I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE SURVEY ENGINEER TO USE BROADER TERMS LIKE THAT, SO THEY JUST USE NUMBERS.
>> I THINK IT'S BEST TO VOTE BASED ON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DRAFT RESOLUTION 7452, IS THAT WHAT STAFF WANTS TO SEE?
>> WITH THE CLARIFICATION OF IT'S THE TOP ROW ON THE RETAINING WALL IN THAT 10 FOOT AREA.
[OVERLAPPING] SO NOTED JUST SO ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
>> THEN YOU GUYS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. [LAUGHTER].
>> I HAVE A MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL MAKE A SECOND.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE FURTHER COMMENTS TO MAKE BEFORE I MAKE MY VOTE ON THIS.
>> YEAH, I DO. I WANT TO CLARIFY AND THANK YOU TO THE APPLICANT FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION THAT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS AND WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
I DO SUPPORT VARIANCES AS WE IMPACT
[01:05:02]
THE BLUFF FOR THE DRIVEWAY TO BE REGRADED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY IS MET HERE BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO HAVE A WALKOUT BASEMENT.I DO AGREE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO ORONO'S NATURAL AREAS AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY IS MET HERE. SO THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> YOU NOTE THAT PASSES THREE TO ONE. THANK YOU.
THAT'LL TAKE US TO NUMBER 16 WHICH IS LA 24-3 BRETT LARSON,
[16. LA24-000003, Brett Larson, 2480 Carman Street, Sketch Plan]
2480 CARMEN STREET SKETCH PLAN.>> YES, IT IS. I ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO HAND OUT TO VERY BRIEFLY.
NEW PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SENT IN TODAY.
>> THIS APPLICATION IS A SKETCH PLAN.
NO FORMAL ACTION IS REQUIRED TONIGHT BY THE COUNSEL, BUT WE DO REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE APPLICANT.
THE APPLICANT OWNS AND RESIDES AT 2480 CARMEN STREET, THAT'S LOCATED RIGHT HERE.
THE PROPERTY IS LONG AND NARROW, AND IT IS DIVIDED BY AN INLET.
THE PROPERTY IS ALSO SPLIT ZONED CURRENTLY WITH LR1C1 ON THE NORTHERN PORTION, AND THE SOUTHERN PORTION IS LR1B.
THIS IS A SKETCH PLAN, BUT THE PROPOSAL IS TO REZONE THE AREA THAT'S OUTLINED IN RED IN ORDER TO EVENTUALLY SUBDIVIDE THE PROPERTY, ALLOWING THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS TO BE CONFORMING TO THE STANDARDS.
CURRENTLY, SUBDIVIDING THE PROPERTY WOULD CREATE A NONCONFORMING LOT BECAUSE THE CURRENT ZONING REQUIRES ONE ACRE, AND THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY IS JUST ABOUT 0.75 ACRES.
REZONING THESE PARCELS TO LR1C, WHICH IS A 0.5 ACRE ZONING DISTRICT, IT'S ALSO THE ZONING DISTRICT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DIRECTLY WEST, IS 0.5 WHICH WOULD BRING ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES INTO CONFORMANCE IN SIZE.
THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT AND THEY CAN DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL.
BUT AGAIN, TONIGHT, STAFF INVITES YOU TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE APPLICANT, ASK THEM QUESTIONS.
I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND NO FORMAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? DOES THE APPLICANT HERE LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECT?
>> YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> BRADY LARSON, 2480 CARMEN STREET, ORNO.
THIS IS MAYBE THE THIRD MEETING WE'VE BEEN TO OVER THIS.
I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH A FEW MORE.
LAST YEAR, MR. GRANBERG HELPED ME PREPARE A PROPOSED PLAN THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE A FLAG LOT, THAT WOULD KEEP PART OF THE NORTHERN PARCEL CONNECTED TO THE SOUTHERN PARCEL.
I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE LEGALLY CONFORMING.
WHEN I MET WITH MELANIE AND STAFF EARLIER THIS YEAR, I ASKED, IS THERE SOMETHING, ALTHOUGH LEGALLY COMPLIANT IS TYPICALLY GOOD ENOUGH.
I ASKED, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD FIND MORE PALATABLE? THAT'S WHEN THE CITY STAFF BROUGHT UP THIS IDEA OF BASICALLY BRINGING THESE LOTS INTO CONFORMITY WITH THE ZONING CODE, AND ALSO IN CONFORMITY WITH REALISTICALLY, PRACTICALLY, HOW THE LOTS ARE USED ON BOTH THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDE OF CARMEN BAY.
IT'S ALSO COMPLIANT WITH THE 2040 COMP PLAN.
>> DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT CITY STAFF CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN?
I ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE PALATABLE THAN THE FLAG LOT IDEA AND THEY SAID, WELL, ONE WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS WOULD BE TO REZONE THE LOTS.
>> I KNOW IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY TALKED ABOUT ACCESS ISSUES AND THEY TALKED ABOUT DOCK ISSUES AND TOLD YOU TO PREPARE FOR TODAY, SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?
>> ON THE DOCK, I BELIEVE THE CITY STAFF SPOKE WITH LMCD.
[01:10:01]
>> THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM FOR A DOCK.
IT WOULD BE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM OUR DOCK THAT YOU CAN SEE UP THERE.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PERPENDICULAR OR PARALLEL TO THE LOT ITSELF, I THINK PRACTICALLY, BUT IT WOULD WORK.
IN TERMS OF ACCESS, THERE'S A CURB CUT ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THAT NORTHERN LOT.
IT'S REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN ACCESSING THE STREET FROM CARMEN STREET.
WE DO IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A DAY, AND I'LL [OVERLAPPING]
>> I REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY ON THIS AND EXPLAINED THERE'S AN EXISTING CURB CUT THERE AND THE SITE DISTANCE IS FAIRLY GOOD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK TO ME YET, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT.
>> I KNOW IT HAS SOME GRADING ISSUES, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU HEARD RIGHT BEFORE US ALL THE STEPS WE HAD TO TAKE TO DO A GRADING ISSUE ON A DRIVEWAY.
>> THERE WOULD BE NEED FOR A FLAT AREA BEFORE YOU GO DOWN THE HILLS.
>> IT'S A RELATIVELY STEEP HILL IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.
WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IS PROBABLY FLATTEN OUT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AS THEY'RE PULLING OUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CURB CUTS ON SHORE LINE DRIVE THERE.
WE'RE ADDING ONE OR TWO MORE CARS.
MY LAST QUESTION WAS FOR STAFF AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED REZONING IT A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS, AND ONE WAS THE LR1C1 WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED FOR TWIN HOMES, WHICH WOULD ADD TO MAYBE MORE ISSUES WITH THE ROADS AND THAT WAY.
WHY WOULD WE CHOOSE THAT OUT OF ALL THE OPTIONS?
>> I THINK I CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THE PROPOSAL THAT THE APPLICANT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH IS JUST TO REZONE THE BOTTOM PORTION AND TO LEAVE THE LR1C1 AS IS NOT TO TOUCH THIS AREA.
IT'S ALREADY ZONED THAT BECAUSE IT'S A CONFORMING LOT FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THE LR1C1 DISTRICT DOES ALLOW, I BELIEVE, AS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT IF THAT MORE DENSITY WOULD BE WANTED ON THIS PARCEL, THEY'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING AND MEET ALL THE STANDARDS FOR THAT.
THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS THERE, AND I THINK AS FAR AS STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, THE APPLICANT HAS NEVER INDICATED THAT AS PART OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT IT WOULD JUST BE A SUBDIVISION FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON THAT NORTHERN PORTION, BUT THEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.
>> I MIGHT NOT BE INVITED TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD BARBECUES A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO IS PUT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THERE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? THANKS.
>> BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL. I KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES, SO THE WHOLE ISSUE ALWAYS IS ABOUT REZONING.
ONCE YOU START REZONING AND YOU OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE.
>> THAT'S WOULD BE MY CONCERN TOO, AND I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF REZONING THIS AREA, OBVIOUSLY ANY LOT CONFIGURATION THAT IS CONFORMING HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE, OBVIOUSLY CAN DO THAT.
BUT TO REZONE IT, I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF.
>> I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN ON REZONING.
WE HAVE REZONED ANY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS INTO HIGHER DENSITY I'VE EVER SEEN YET.
I KNOW A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD LOVE TO REZONE RIGHT NOW.
>> ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES IN ORNO'S HISTORY WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DONE?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, NOT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH A BIT OF CONTEXT ABOUT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM OR IF THIS HAS COME UP IN THE PAST, HOW IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED.
>> IT'S COME UP IN THE CRYSTAL BAY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW THEY WANTED TO REZONE STUFF BECAUSE THOSE ARE ON A HALF ACRE ZONES, I THINK OVER THERE OR TWO ACRES ONES.
I'M SORRY, TWO ACRES ZONES. BUT THEY WANTED TO GET IT DOWN TO A HALF ACRES BECAUSE NOTHING'S GOT MORE THAN A HALF ACRE EXCEPT ONE OR TWO PIECES.
IT'S THOSE PIECES WHO WANTED IT.
I THINK WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS ONCE YOU OPEN THE FLOOD DATES, WHERE DOES IT STOP, AND THEN YOU'RE INCREASING DENSITY EVERYWHERE.
THAT'S BEEN THE BIG ISSUE IN THE PAST.
I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTIVE EVER JUST FOR THE SAME REASONS FROM THE LAST TIME IT WAS HERE IS THE DENSITY ISSUES AND REZONING. ANY THOUGHTS, MARIA?
[01:15:04]
>> I THINK I ADDRESSED MY QUESTIONS.
I'D LOVE THAT IT ADDS CONFORMITY.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
A REALLY NICE APPROACH IS TRYING TO DO THAT.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT ADDING DENSITY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED.
THERE IS HESITATION THERE AND THE IDEA AND INTENT.
BUT 10 YEARS LATER COULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I LOVE THAT YOU LOOKED INTO THE EXCESS ISSUES AND THE DOCS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING PREPARED.
>> ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMEMBER?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THIS IS JUST GUIDANCE. WE'RE JUST GIVING US OUR FEEDBACK.
>> WELL, ANY OTHER STUFF FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT? DID LAURA GO HOME ALREADY?
>> OH, THERE YOU ARE. [LAUGHTER]
>> HI, MAYOR. I POPPED UP HERE IN CASE THERE WERE MORE QUESTIONS.
ADAM, DO YOU WANT TO BRING UP MY PERMIT SLIDE?
>> I THINK I HAVE A PDF IN THERE.
OVERALL, WE'VE BEEN BUSY THIS MONTH.
WE'VE BEEN HANDLING SOME TRAININGS, GETTING THROUGH SOME SEPTIC TRAININGS, A HANDFUL OF DNR TRAININGS, AS WELL AS A LOT OF MEETINGS.
PEOPLE HAVE SOME BIG IDEAS THAT THEY WANT TO DO IN 2024, SO A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNER AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS. EXCITING STUFF.
I DID PRINT OUT OR BRING UP THE BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE, WHICH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HELPS ME PREPARE.
IT'S ON TRACK. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOW, BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU CAN SEE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE USUALLY OUR LOWEST.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR PEOPLE ARE DRAFTING PLANS AND GETTING READY TO SUBMIT FOR THE SPRING.
I THINK THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD OPEN SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING.
WE'VE EITHER HAD ORONO CROSSINGS, WHICH ARE TOWNHOMES AND ORONO PRESERVE AND LAKEVIEW.
A LOT OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE FILLING UP OR IF NOT FILLED UP ALREADY.
IT'S A LOT OF PROJECT MEETINGS, BUT WE ARE BUSY WITH PERMITS STILL.
ADAM, I THINK I HAVE ONE OTHER PAGE ON HERE.
THIS JUST GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF PICTURE FOR TWO YEARS.
JUST RESPECTIVELY, 2022 I BELIEVE IT'S IN GOLD, AND THEN '23 IN PURPLE, AND '24 IN SILVER.
RIGHT ON TRACK AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE YEAR HERE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT MARCH BRINGS, AND I AM AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> I HEARD YOU MAKE SOME COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.
WHAT PROJECT IS COMING FORWARD FOR COMMERCIAL?
>> SOME PEOPLE JUST TENANT SPACES WORKING THROUGH SOME PERMITTING.
A WHILE AGO YOU SAW A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT.
SO COORDINATING WITH THEM REGARDING THEIR PERMITTING AND THEIR PLANS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.
>> THERE ARE NO NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FOR COMMERCIAL.
>> WE'RE MEETING WITH SOME PEOPLE. HIGH LEVEL IDEAS, NO FORMAL APPLICATIONS HAVE MADE YET, BUT WE'VE BEEN HAVING A HANDFUL OF MEETINGS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT OR GIVE MORE BACKGROUND, BUT NO FORMAL APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> I DID HAVE A LOCAL GENTLEMAN AT A MEETING THAT APPROACHED ME AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EMPTY SPACE NEXT TO THE LIQUOR STORE IN NAVARRE WHERE ALL THE FIREWORKS IS ALL.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO'S COME FORWARD BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DEVELOP THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, THERE'S A FEW THINGS IN NAVARRE, THEN A FEW THINGS UP HERE IN LONG LAKE.
PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY VERY ACTIVE LOOKING TO EITHER RETROFIT TENNIS SPACE, CREATE NEW TENANT SPACE, CREATE NEW BUILDINGS.
PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY FUN AND EXCITING IDEAS.
>> NO. I'VE BEEN TRACKING SOME OF THE STATE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT.
I THINK IN DECEMBER, THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE SENDING EMAILS ASKING INQUIRIES ABOUT OUR POLICY ON IT, BUT NO ONE'S REACHED OUT FOR ANY MEETINGS OR ASKED FOR ANY OF OUR CURRENT ZONING INFORMATION ON THAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING ON MY LIST THAT WE'LL PROBABLY BE HAVING A WORK SESSION ON LATER THIS YEAR FOR A POLICY, DEPENDING ON HOW THE STATE PUTS OUT THEIR GUIDANCE. SEE MORE OF THAT.
>> IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.
[17. Approve Orono Firefighters' Relief Association Bylaws]
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT, WHICH IS NUMBER 17, APPROVAL OF THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF ASSOCIATION BYLAWS. CHIEF.
THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A RELIEF ASSOCIATION SINCE MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF ORONO TO MANAGE THE PENSIONS OF THE ORONO PAID ON-CALL FIRE FIREFIGHTERS.
SINCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY, THE CITY MUST APPROVE THE BYLAWS FOR THE ASSOCIATION WHICH HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BEFORE YOU.
GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THE NEW ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF FULL TIME,
[01:20:01]
PART TIME, AND PAID ON-CALL VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.THE FULL AND PART-TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARE ENROLLED IN POLICE AND FIRE PARENT OR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
THE PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVE THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS THROUGH THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION AND THEIR PENSION FUND.
THE VOLUNTEER RELIEF ASSOCIATION IS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT RECEIVES AND MANAGES PUBLIC MONEY TO PROVIDE RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES OF FIREFIGHTING EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE.
THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE AFFILIATED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY, AND IT'S GOVERNED BY ITS OWN BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH ON THAT BOARD WE HAVE THREE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS THAT ARE MYSELF, THE MAYOR, AND ADAM, THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.
RELIEF ASSOCIATION HAVE VARIOUS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR AS WELL WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR CERTIFIES RELIEF ASSOCIATION IS ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AID ONCE ALL REPORTING INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND ANY IDENTIFIED ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 424A.001, SUBDIVISION 4, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ORGANIZED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAPTER 317A, THE MINNESOTA NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT, MINNESOTA STATUTES CHAPTER 317A APPLIES TO ALL MINNESOTA NONPROFIT CORPORATION CONTAINS NUMEROUS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANNER OF INCORPORATION, GENERAL POWERS, BYLAWS, FUNCTION OF THE BOARD AND OFFICERS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS, PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATION, MERGER DISSOLUTION, AND CORPORATE REGISTRATION.
THERE COULD BE SOME COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION IS STATE AID AND RATE OF RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENTS, AND CAN BE ALSO CITY CONTRIBUTIONS.
FOR THE ORONO RELIEF ASSOCIATION, STATE AID RULES WILL RESULT IN THE ASSOCIATION RECEIVING ITS FIRST BATCH OF STATE AID FUNDS IN 2026 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2025.
THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RELIEF ASSOCIATION FINANCE GUIDELINES ACT OF 1971, MINNESOTA STATUTE SECTION 69.771-776 REQUIRES MUNICIPAL SUPPORT OF A RELIEF ASSOCIATION IF THE MAIN OTHER REVENUE SOURCE, THE FIREFIGHTER STATE AID PROGRAM UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES IS INSUFFICIENT.
THE ORONO PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS HAVE MET AND FORMED A BOARD.
THEY HAVE USED THE STATE AUDITORS PROVIDE TEMPLATE TO PREPARE THE ATTACHED BYLAWS.
THE BYLAWS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY CITY STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.
ON MARCH 6, 2024, THE RELIEF ASSOCIATION BOARD APPROVED THESE BYLAWS.
THE ASSOCIATION, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY, WILL BE DRAFTING ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AS A NONPROFIT.
THE BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE AUDITORS FOR CERTIFICATION, AND WE'VE ALSO GIVEN THEM INFORMATION ON HOW TO GENERATE THEIR FEDERAL TAX ID NUMBER.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF ASSOCIATION BYLAWS AS PRESENTED.
>> I WAS THERE WHEN WE APPROVED THE BYLAWS AND PROBABLY WENT THROUGH PROBABLY AT LEAST A MONTH OF NOT TWO MONTHS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE BYLAWS, READING THEM, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS.
I KNOW THEY DID THEIR HOMEWORK VERY WELL IN TERMS OF COMING UP WITH THE CONTRIBUTION THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT CONTRIBUTION LEVEL AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THE VESTING PERIOD THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD COME UP WITH WHAT THEY SAID IS IN LINE WITH THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH AS WELL.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS FIRST STEP OF TWO STEPS OF GETTING THAT FORMATION COMPLETELY DONE AND OVER WITH.
YOU SAID THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET THE ARTICLES AND THEN THE HEX ID, AND THAT IS A RELATIVELY QUICK PROCESS.
THIS WAS THE LONG PROCESS OF GETTING THE ARTICLES ALL PUT TOGETHER.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF?
>> ACTUALLY, COULD I JUST CUT IN FOR AN ADMIN THING? I WOULD JUST ASK OUR VIDEO CONTRACTOR SWAGE, IF YOU COULD DOUBLE CHECK YOUR FEED.
I'M GETTING FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE LIVE STREAM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
I CAN SEE FROM THE FEEDBACK SCREEN THAT IT'S STILL BEING TAPED AND EVERYTHING, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LIVESTREAM IS NOT FUNCTION FOR SOME FOLKS.
>> WHICH IS OUT OF OUR HANDS. HE'S GOT TO DO IT ON HIS END.
I'D LOVE TO KNOW YOUR STANDS ON MY POSITION.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON OTHER ITEMS GIVEN YOUR HUSBAND'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I DO THINK THAT THE CAUTIOUS APPROACH WOULD BE TO ABSTAIN ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES INVOLVE FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO YOUR HUSBAND.
I WOULD SAY AS JUST A POINT OF COMMENTARY THOUGH THAT THIS IS A GENERAL APPLICATION DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS YOUR HUSBAND.
[01:25:02]
IT IS SOMETHING FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.BUT I DO THINK ON MATTERS OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IT IS BEST TO AVOID THAT VOTE.
PURSUING, IT INVOLVES FINANCIAL BENEFITS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I GUESS I WILL RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF ASSOCIATION BY LAWS.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS ITEM MY SUPPORT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF A RELIEF ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>> NOW THAT PASSES TWO TO ONE.
>> CHIEF, ANY FURTHER UPDATES? I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER STUFF THAT'S FIRE RELATED, BUT NOTHING UNDER YOUR CATEGORY. [LAUGHTER]
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE STARTED TO DO SOME TRAINING LAST WEEK.
WE MET AS A GROUP AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUE STATEMENTS.
WE'LL BE FORMALIZING THEM, BRINGING THEM TO COUNSEL TO TAKE A LOOK.
WE'LL BE SENDING SOME OUT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO THE INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DRAFTS.
IN APRIL, WE'LL START MEETING REGULARLY IN TRAINING.
OUR FIRST ONE, WE'VE GOT ONE COMING UP HERE ON 20TH MARCH YET, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE IN APRIL.
WE'RE SETTING UP DRIVER'S TRAINING FOR BOTH OUR ENGINE AND OUR LADDERS TRUCKS.
THAT'LL BE HAPPENING ALSO STARTING IN APRIL.
>> A LOT OF THINGS WILL BE HAPPENING.
>> AWESOME. I GUESS THEY WILL BE.
THAT'LL MOVE US OVER TO OUR ATTORNEY REPORT.
AMY, ANY ANYTHING FROM YOU TODAY.
>> MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATE AT THIS POINT.
>> THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT NUMBER 18,
[18. Acceptance of quotes for materials and services for the conversion of the Public Works Facility to a Temporary Fire Station]
ACCEPTANCE OF QUOTES FOR MATERIALS AND SERVICES FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY TO A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION.>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, NUMBER 18 AND 19 HAVE TO DO WITH PROVISION OF TEMPORARY FACILITIES FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, PREDOMINANTLY DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD FROM JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR UNTIL THE END OF SERVICE CONTRACT IN JANUARY OF 2026.
THIS FIRST ITEM HAS TO DO WITH REFORMATTING OR RESETTING THE EXISTING PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING TO BE A TEMPORARY FIRE FACILITY.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF WENT OUT AS THIS IS NOT AN OVERALL RENOVATION OR A BIG ENGINEERING PROJECT.
WE WENT OUT AS A SERIES OF MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR THIS FACILITY.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
SOME WHETHER IT'S USED FOR FIRE OR JUST USED FOR ANYTHING.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON HERE, WHICH INCLUDES RETROFITTING SOME GARAGE DOORS, UPGRADING SOME ELECTRICAL SERVICE, SOME GENERAL CONTRACTOR SERVICES, ABOUT PUTTING IN A DOOR IN A SIDEWALK TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO GET IN AND OUT.
THEN DOING SOME IT WORK SO THAT ALL THE IT SYSTEMS WILL SUPPORT THEM.
THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE IN THERE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUOTES FOR THINGS LIKE LOCKERS AND OTHER ITEMS. THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS THAT WE'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT THE CITY OF CHASKA HAS DONATED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS TO US FOR FURNISHINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS THEY ARE ALSO GOING THROUGH A FIRE RENOVATION PROCESS.
WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE US INVITE US OVER AND LET US TAKE A LOOK THROUGH.
>> WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CHASKA.
I WAS A FIREFIGHTER THERE FOR 14 YEARS, CHIEF FOR TWO.
IN CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE A REGIONAL CHIEFS MEETING AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CHIEF.
HE WAS SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUILDING A TEMPORARY FACILITY, HOUSING BEEFS OUTSIDE ON A TRAILER, ALL THAT STUFF AND THERE'S GOING TO BE OVER TWO YEARS WITH THIS TRANSITION.
THEY'RE MOVING OUT OF THEIR EXISTING FACILITY.
THEY'RE RAISING THAT FACILITY.
ANYTHING THEY CAN'T TAKE WITH THEM, THEY WERE GOING TO SELL AT AUCTION OR JUST GET RID OF.
THEY INVITED MYSELF AND I TOOK US MY DEPUTY CHIEF SHEIWITH TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO OFFER.
THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, SOME THINGS WE DIDN'T WANT, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT WE DID WANT.
WE PUT OUR NAMES ON THEM AND THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, YOU CAN HAVE THEM, NOT A PROBLEM.
AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE NOT CHARGING US ANYTHING FORM.
IT'S REALLY NICE. WE JUST HAVE TO JUST THE MOVING FEE, I GUESS.
>> THAT'S A GREAT JOB. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
>> I DO. I NOTICED SOME OF THE BIDS CAME IN LAST WEEK FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES,
[01:30:05]
AND I'M WONDERING WHEN THIS FACILITY SITE WAS CHOSEN AS AN OPTION.WAS THAT A RECENT DECISION OR?
>> NO. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS SITE AS AN OPTION FOR TWO YEARS NOW IN VARIOUS FORMS AND MANNERS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WE DID A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THAT FACILITY FOR FUTURE USE.
I THINK THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO NOW, WHERE WE LOOKED AT ITS USE AS A PERMANENT FIRE STATION OR AS A RECREATION CENTER.
THAT'S WHEN SOME OF THESE THOUGHTS STARTED.
>> ADAM, I'M GOING TO STOP YOU THERE BECAUSE I GOT 18 AND 19.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT FACILITIES.
THAT WAS MY MISTAKE. MY APOLOGIZE.
>> YES, WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT THAN IT IS.
WE DOWN SCOPE THAT SO IT'S A SERIES OF MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND BUYING.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR NUMBER 18?
>> I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ON 18.
DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE WEEK BY WEEK OR CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE FOR THIS WORK?
>> WE DO BEGINNING AS EARLY AS THE END OF THIS MONTH.
A LOT OF IT ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE IN APRIL AND EARLY MAY.
IT'S COMBINED WITH THE TRANSITION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS DEPARTMENTS OUT OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AND INTO THEIR NEW FACILITY. A LOT OF THAT'S TIED.
THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DO AHEAD OF THAT MOVE.
SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL WORKS WILL DO IMMEDIATELY UPON APPROVAL AND THEN THERE ARE SOME PIECES OF EQUIPMENT SUPPLY.
I GUESS I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT LEAD TIMES ON EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT THAT WILL BE COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> IS THIS THE STATION OR THE TEMPORARY STATION, I SHOULD SAY, WHERE THE DECONTAMINATION EYE WASH, THAT TYPE OF THING IS GOING TO BE HOUSED?
>> YES, CORRECT. WE'LL HAVE A GEAR EXTRACTOR THERE AND ALL THAT STUFF TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE GEAR ON OURSELVES.
>> THIS OBVIOUSLY WON'T BE DONE AHEAD OF AN INSPECTION, BUT THIS WORK CAN BE HAPPENING DURING A STATE FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTION.
>> I'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH DAVID, AND HE IS FINE WITH THAT, AS LONG AS WE SHOW HIM THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE.
>> WE CAN ESSENTIALLY GET SIGN OFF FROM THE STATE DURING CONSTRUCTION? > TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THERE'S VERY LITTLE OF THIS WORK THAT ACTUALLY HAS TO BE DONE FOR THAT STATE INSPECTION.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A BUILDING.
>> A BUILDING THAT IS HEATED THAT DOESN'T FREEZE WATER BASICALLY IS ALL BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE FACILITIES HERE.
WE HAVE NICER FACILITIES DOWN HERE THAN WE DO UP NORTH, AND THEY'RE ALL CONSIDERED FIRE STATION.
REALLY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS JUST OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND, TO BE ABLE TO PAGE OUT BY DISPATCH, AND THEN TO HAVE A FACILITY TO HOUSE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS HEATED.
>> WHEN IS THE PUBLIC WORKS TRANSITION GOING TO BE COMPLETED?
>> YOU MEAN TO THE NEW FACILITY?
>> WE'LL START IN APRIL AND HOPE TO BE COMPLETE MID MAY.
>> NO THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING. I'M SORRY? [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARING.
PUBLIC COMMENTS IS WHEN YOU HAVE A TIME TO COME TALK.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME.
>> LISTEN TO ME. PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE QUOTES FROM MATERIALS AND SERVICES AS LISTED IN THE TABLE ABOVE TO CONVERT CURRENT PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING TO A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION, TO ACCEPT DONATION FROM THE CITY OF CHASKA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> NOTE THAT PASSES THREE TO ONE.
[19. Navarre Fire Garage Facility (24-034)]
WHICH IS OUR NAVARRE FIRE GARAGE FACILITY.>> [NOISE] NUMBER 19 IS THE SECOND OF OUR FACILITIES ITEMS FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IN ESSENCE, WHAT THIS ITEM IS ASKING THE COUNCIL TO DO IS REJECT ALL BIDS FOR THE FIRE GARAGE THAT WE HAD DESIGNED AND PLANNED FOR THE NAVARRE FIRE STATION PARCEL, AND INSTEAD, SHIFT TO LOOK AT DESIGNING AND BUILDING AN EXTENSION ON THE EXISTING GARAGE AT THE NAVARRO WATER PLANT FOR USE AS A TEMPORARY FIRE FACILITY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS OR NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
[01:35:05]
A COUPLE OF JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THAT IS NUMBER 1, WE WENT OUT, WE DESIGNED, WE SOLICITED BIDS.BIDS CAME IN QUITE A BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING OR PROJECTING WITH OUR ARCHITECT.
SO THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THERE.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVEN'T GOT RESOLUTION FROM THE JUDGE WHO'S LOOKING AT THE LONG LAKE VERSUS ORONO CASE AND TO ACCEPT THOSE BIDS AND BEGIN THAT CONSTRUCTION MAY PUT US AT SOME FINANCIAL JEOPARDY OR HAZARD IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT CAME I GUESS IS THAT WE COULDN'T PROVIDE THAT FACILITY.
IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT TO WHAT HAD BEEN OUR PLAN C, AND TOOK A LOOK AT THAT AND HOW WE WOULD BRING THAT INTO REALITY AND THAT CONSISTS OF JAMES THROWING IT UP ON THE SCREEN THERE, TRYING TO LOOK AT PUTTING AN EXTENSION ON THAT EXISTING GARAGE AT THE NAVARRE WATER PLANT.
YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN HASHED AREA THAT I PUT THERE WHICH IS ROUGHLY CONFORMS TO THE SIZE OF THE EXISTING CONCRETE PAD OUT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF EXTRA FEET.
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ODDS AND ENDS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE TO MAKE THAT FEASIBLE. [BACKGROUND]
>> BUT WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS IT'S AN EXISTING BUILDING THAT'S PRETTY LARGE AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD ABOUT 25 FEET ON IT.
ADAM AND ALL OF HIS BRILLIANT SAID THIS IS A POTENTIAL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY GO LOOK AT THIS THING, AND RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC WORKS AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT USE THIS.
THEY HAVE STREET SWEEPERS VEHICLES.
OBVIOUSLY, OVER THE YEARS, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A LOT MORE THAN THEY DID EIGHT YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE WERE HARDLY DOING ANYTHING EIGHT YEARS AGO.
NOW WE'RE DOING LOTS OF STUFF.
THEY NEED STORAGE OUT IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS AND SO THEY ARE ECSTATIC BECAUSE WE HAD THEM OUT THERE, SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET ADDED ROOM TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE STREET SWEEPERS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT THE PARK [OVERLAPPING] AND IN 18 MONTHS WE WILL TRANSITION OVER TO THE NAVARRE FACILITY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE WATER TOWER PEOPLE AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL HAVE ALL ACCESS WITH EXTRA ROOM EXACTLY WITHIN.
WHY ARE YOU SO RUDE? ARE YOU JUST INTERVIEWING? YOU JUST INTERRUPT EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME.
>> IS THIS WHO YOU ARE? PEOPLE COME AND JUST INTERRUPT PEOPLE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT OUR MEETING.
>> ANYWAYS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT FACILITY.
IT'S A DIRECT ACCESS RIGHT OUT IT'S A HALF A BLOCK AWAY FROM 15.
IT'S PROBABLY EVEN BETTER THAN THE FACILITY OVER AT THE FIRE STATION FOR TEMPORARY STUFF AND IN 18 MONTHS, WE WILL TRANSITION OVER THERE.
WE'LL TRANSITION OVER OVER TO WILLOW. IT'LL BE BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION QUESTION [OVERLAPPING] THAT I HAD ABOUT THE OTHER ONE.
HOW IS THE SITE CHOSEN AND WHEN?
>> THE SITE WOULD BE CHOSEN TODAY, IF YOU APPROVE THIS. [LAUGHTER]
>> MAYBE I SHOULD REPHRASE THAT, ADAM.
>> WHEN DID SOMEBODY START THINKING ABOUT IT?
>> PLAN A IS WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO GET ACCESS TO OUR FIRE GARAGE IN NAVARRE.
[NOISE] PLAN B WAS TO CREATE A USABLE ADDITION TO THAT FACILITY THAT WE COULD USE IN THE INTERIM PERIOD AND THEN HAVE A LONG TERM BENEFIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN PLAN C WAS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER OPTION THAT PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE LONG TERM FIRE BENEFIT, BUT IN THIS CASE, DOES HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE BENEFITS, LONGER TERM FOR THE CITY AFTER ITS FIRE USE.
>> THE HAVE THE RIGHT AT THE FIRST TIME, YOU ONLY CRIED ONCE.
WHAT IS WITH THIS? THAT IS EMBARRASSING.
>> BRIAN, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? YOU ARE SO RUDE. WILL YOU JUST BE QUIET AND LET US DO OUR STUFF?
>> [INAUDIBLE] PLACE IN THE BAR YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> YOU ARE SO RUDE. CAN YOU JUST LEARN TO LET THE COUNCIL DO ITS WORK UP HERE?
>> YOU'RE SO STUPID. IT'S HARD NOT TO BE.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE, HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> ANY MORE NUMBERS FOR US TODAY? YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADAM.
HOW DID YOU ESTIMATE THE 162,000?
>> I TOOK THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE ADDITION, APPLIED A SQUARE FOOT RATE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR ARCHITECT AND THEN ADDED A 20% CONTINGENCY TO THAT.
>> OKAY. THIS IS A QUESTION THAT'S RELATED TO BOTH THESE BUILDINGS AND IT'S WHO ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY?
[01:40:04]
IS THAT OUR CITY THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS OUT OF THESE BUILDINGS ON JULY 1?>> YES, WE ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THEN CHIEF AND I MUST ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE THESE WERE ON PLAN C NOW, AND WE ARE JUST FAST APPROACHING A JULY 1 DEADLINE AND I AM CURIOUS WHAT ASSURANCES YOU CAN GIVE OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THE PREPAREDNESS OF THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SERVICE OUR RESIDENTS SAFELY ON JULY 1.
>> WE WILL BE UP AND READY AND PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCIES ON JULY 1ST OF 2024.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> MOTION TO REJECT THE BIDS RECEIVED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GARAGE FACILITY AT 3770 SHORELINE DRIVE AND AUTHORIZED STAFF TO USE THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH ORTEL TO DESIGN AN ADDITION FOR THE EXISTING STORAGE GARAGE AT THE NAVARRE WATER PLANT.
MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 7458 AT EXHIBIT E.
>> NOTE THAT PASSES THREE TO ONE.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ADAM?
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR 2024 ROADS PROJECT IS OUT FOR BID.
WE'LL BE OPENING THOSE BIDS, I THINK IT'S NEXT WEEK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL TO AWARD AT THE FIRST MEETING.
>> FIRST MEETING IN APRIL. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 5-10 MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE GET TO PUBLIC COMMENTS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND STRETCH.
[Public Comments - (limit 3 minutes per person)]
>> [NOISE] WE'RE BACK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING, SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AND CITY AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.
WE WILL INVITE ALL THE ORONO RESIDENTS UP TO SPEAK FIRST.
WHEN ALL THE ORONO RESIDENTS ARE DONE SPEAKING, WE WILL INVITE NON ORONO RESIDENTS TO COME AND SPEAK.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND ADAM WILL BE OUR TIMEKEEPER.
HE'S GOT THE THREE MINUTES. I THINK IT SHOULD SHOW ON THE BOARD.
>> I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I KNOW WE'VE HAD AUDIO VISUAL ISSUES TONIGHT, AND ADAM, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S NOT UP, YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE AUDIO RECORDING.
>> YOU HAVE AUDIO RECORDINGS OR BACK UP, YES.
>> THE LIVE FEED MAY NOT BE WORKING.
LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VIDEO RECORDING, EVERYTHING HAPPENED FINE.
IT WAS JUST THE LIVE FEED OUT.
BUT I HAVE A BACKUP OF JUST AUDIO AS WELL THAT WE HAVE USED.
>> BARBARA PETERSON, 1261 ARBOR STREET ORONO.
JUST QUICKLY, FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE YOUNG LADY THAT DID ADDRESS AND ASKED TO SPEAK, THE AGENDA DOES STATE CLEARLY THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COUNSEL REGARDING ANY ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
SHE WISHED TO SPEAK REGARDING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT YOU DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO DO THAT.
MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE REWARDED.
BUT AS A COURTESY, I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HEARD.
SECONDLY, CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST A TOTAL NOW OF HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING IS COSTING, MADAM?
>> NO. THE NEW THE NEW GIANT PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
>> SIXTEEN? I HAD ANOTHER NUMBER, BUT THANK YOU.
THEN BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED, I DID ADDRESS THE MAYOR AND DID ASK HIM IF HE WOULD CONSIDER CHANGING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETINGS, AND HE SAID EMPHATICALLY, I QUOTE, "ABSOLUTELY NOT." THEN HE MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE COME HERE AND PAY FOR VARIANCES, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE HEARD AHEAD OF ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ALSO, THESE FOLKS OUT HERE ARE PAYING TAXES IN THE CITY OF ORONO, AND SHOULD BE HEARD.
>> NO CLAPPING. [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IT'S JUST NOT APPROPRIATE, IT'S JUST ANNOYING.
>> ADAM, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS OR MAYBE SWANN CAN ANSWER IT.
WITH AN UPCOMING ELECTION IN THE FALL IF THERE IS A TURNOVER OF MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL AND ANY NEW COMING MEMBERS WISH TO, LET'S SAY, NOT AGREE WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE CONTRACT TERMINATES 123125, CAN THIS BE STOPPED?
>> WELL, THIS ISN'T A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
SO YOU'VE GOT A MINUTE TO TALK. THESE ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[01:45:02]
>> I RECALL MY TIME PLEASE, I HAVE MY THREE MINUTES.
>> THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC COMMENT TIME.
YOU CAN SPEAK YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS A PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS IS NOT DIALOGUE COMMENTS.
>> OKAY. BUT NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ANSWERING.
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION EITHER.
IF YOU WANT TO CALL AFTERWARDS, YOU WANT TO EMAIL, WE'LL BE GLAD TO DO ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT THIS IS NOT A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.
>> MY NAME IS KEVIN RILEY, 3045 HIGH LANE, ORONO.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS OPEN COMMUNICATION AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN AS REPRESENTATIVES OF ORONO SURPRISES ME TO LIMIT THAT COMMUNICATION AND I THINK THAT MANY OF US ARE UPSET BY THAT.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR AN APPLAUSE, TO BE POLITE, I'M SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU LOOK AT WAYS TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU ALLOW US TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.
ALLOWING US TO JUST COME UP AND MAKE A COMMENT, REALLY IS DOING ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING TO PROMOTE GOOD EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, GOOD REPRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS DAVE PEARSON, 2160 WEBER HILLS ROAD. TWO THINGS.
ONE, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO TAKE EXCEPTION TO COUNCILMAN JOHNSON AND THE CHIEF ON THERE BEING NO PLAN.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SAY EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE FINE.
STATION 2 IS GOING TO BE UP, WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY IN PLACE AND WE'LL GO.
WELL, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY AND I HAVE SEEN NOTHING AS TO WHAT A BACKUP PLAN MAY BE IF YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE.
I MEAN, YOU'VE SAID YOU'VE DONE, BUT OKAY.
NOW IT'S TIME WHEN WE CAN'T DO IT.
I GUESS YOUR APPROACH IS TO GO BACK TO THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO WHICH I WOULD SAY TO THEM, SEE A LATER, EXCEPT FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE WAY YOU'VE TREATED THEM AND YOU'VE TREATED PEOPLE HERE, I WOULD SAY NO.
YOU OWE THE COMMUNITY A BACKUP PLAN BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THIS WHOLE THING IS COMING DOWN TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, WHETHER YOU CAN GET IT DONE OR WHETHER YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE.
I JUST HOPE THE PEOPLE OF NAVARRE HEAR THIS, SEE THIS, DO ANYTHING.
BUT THEY SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I CAME IN LATE, BUT I THINK THERE'S 10 PEOPLE GOING TO BE OUT OF THE NAVARRE STATION.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE VERY MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF ONLY 30 OR 40% ATTEND THE CALL.
WHERE ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE GOING TO COME FROM? LONG LAKE. MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND VERY SAFE TO ME.
I'VE BEEN IN STATE POLITICS, I'VE BEEN IN NATIONAL POLITICS, AND I'VE BEEN IN CITY GOVERNMENT, AND I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE MORE ANTAGONISTIC, EMBARRASSING, DEMEANING COUNSEL IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND THIS IS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES.
THE CONVERSATION IS THE WAY YOU, MAYOR, JUST LIKE YOU TREATED THIS LADY HERE IS REPREHENSIBLE.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY, YOU WANT TO RUN THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU WANT TO BE THE KING OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE BUILDER OF THE COMMUNITY.
YOU MAY HAVE DONE SOME GREAT THINGS IN THE PAST, BUT I WASN'T HERE IN THE PAST, AND SO MY POINT TO YOU IS THAT, WELL ACTUALLY, MY POINT TO THE COMMUNITY OF ORONO AND THE PEOPLE OF ORONO IS YOU BETTER GET ON BOARD WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL MINUS OF COURSE, COUNCILMAN BENSON.
>> HEY, YOU'RE INTERRUPTING, PLEASE.
>> WELL, YOU GOT THREE MINUTES. WE KEEP IT PRETTY, WE KEEP IT CLEAN.
ALL I'M JUST SAYING IS THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP, THE ONLY WAY ANYTHING CAN BE DONE IS BY GETTING OUT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS COUNSEL IS DOING TO YOU AND THE WAY IN WHICH THEY'RE DOING IT TO YOU MAKES NO SENSE [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND].
[01:50:10]
>> [INAUDIBLE] POINT ROAD AND I'LL CONTINUE HIS POINT.
BECAUSE THERE'S CHANGES, THERE'S SO MANY CHANGES THAT KEEP COMING UP THAT TO ME SAYS THERE'S NO PLAN.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE WHACK-A-MOLE, SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU MAKE A DIFFERENT TACTIC OF HOW TO SOLVE IT.
THE REPORT FROM LONG LAKE WAS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.
IT WAS RESPONSE TIMES, PEOPLE.
PLEASE RESPECT WHAT WE CAME FROM.
LONG LAKE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB FOR US.
I WISH YOU WOULD RESPECT THE HISTORY, BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR LONG LAKE, ORONO WOULDN'T HAVE HAD SERVICE FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
>> ELLIE PERKO, 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD.
ORONO'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE OVER FIRE SERVICE IN THE DANVARA AREA AS OF JULY 1ST, THAT IS 16 WEEKS AWAY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PREPARATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THE REPORT THAT WE SAW EARLIER.
ALL THE MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT LONG LAKE HAS TO PROVIDE COMPLETE SERVICE.
THE PLAN IS TO OPERATE OUT OF A TEMPORARY SPACE IN A PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
WILL TRUCKS HAVE TO GO FURTHER TO RESPOND? WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THE RESPONSE TIMES? HEATED AND COVERED WITH HAND ME DONE FURNITURE, ARE WE REALLY OKAY WITH THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE'RE SPENDING? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS TO MEET COVERAGE NEEDS? HOW MANY ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO EACH CALL? LONG LAKE HAS OVER 40 FIREFIGHTERS, 13 ON AVERAGE, RESPONDING TO EACH CALL AS WE HEARD TONIGHT.
IF ORONO ONLY HAS 9 OR 10, ARE THREE SHOWING UP TO A CALL? ARE WE EXPECTING MUTUAL AID FROM LONG LAKE? IN MY OPINION, WALKING AWAY FROM A PREVIOUSLY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT JUST CAUSE, RECRUITING AWAY THEIR CHIEF, MANY LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS, AN INCREDIBLY SCARCE RESOURCE, AND THEN TREATING THEM LIKE YOU DID TONIGHT AND THEN EXPECTING MUTUAL AID WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS TO COVER A JOB? THAT FEELS LUDICROUS. WHAT ARE WE PAYING ALL THESE EXTRA FUNDS FOR? FOR AN INCOMPLETE DEPARTMENT, AND WHEN DO YOU INFORM DISPATCH? SURELY YOU CAN'T JUST FLIP A SWITCH ON JUNE 30TH AT MIDNIGHT.
WHEN DO WE HAVE TO SHOW OUR READINESS? MY CONCERN IS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE RISK.
YOU DON'T HAVE A FIRE STATION.
YOU TAKE OVER A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY IN 16 WEEKS.
CONTINUE TO URGE THE MAYOR AND YOUR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO WALK AWAY FROM LONG LAKE FIRE.
WE DO NOT NEED TO DUPLICATE EXISTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT.
PLEASE SET YOUR EGOS ASIDE AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
PURSUE A COLLABORATIVE OPTION.
LONG LAKE IS MORE THAN CAPABLE.
ONCE AGAIN, CITIZENS, PLEASE SPEAK UP, ASK QUESTIONS, TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT YOU'RE HEARING US.
TO THE REST OF YOU, KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, TAKE A STEP BACK AND RECONSIDER THESE TERRIBLE PLANS.
IF YOU'RE THREATENED BY MY CLAPPING TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR AN IDEA THAT I AGREE WITH, WE'VE GOT HUGE ISSUES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T FEEL HEARD, AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS OTHER THAN THREE MINUTES EVERY TWO WEEKS TO COMMUNICATE WHAT WE ARE FEELING AND HOW WE ARE FEELING THAT YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO US.
>> KIM CARSWELL, 261 SIGNET PLACE.
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE NEWSLETTER THAT WE ALL GOT.
THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT GRAND OPENING IS JULY 1.
WATCH FIRST NOTIFICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENT AS FESTIVITIES ARE FINALIZED.
AFTER ATTENDING COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, I FOUND THE FOCUS ON FESTIVITIES IN THE NEWSLETTER AS A CLEAR STRATEGY TO TRY AND CONTROL THE NARRATIVE OF A VERY CONTENTIOUS TOPIC.
THE READINESS OF THE NAVARRE STATION IS NOT COMFORTING, THE SIZE OF THE TEAM IS SMALL, AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO PROJECT A CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN EXPLORED, IS VERY WORRISOME.
HISTORICALLY, JULY IS THE MONTH WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CALLS FOR WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM CHIEF HIGHLAND.
I ASKED THIS COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER NEGOTIATIONS WITH LONG LAKE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
LONG LAKE IS OFFERING THE COUNCIL WHAT ORONO WANTS CONTROL, AND AT A MUCH LOWER COST THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING.
AND WITH THIS HAPHAZARD WAY OF GETTING THERE, THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE DEEP EXCELLENCE WE'VE ALL DEPENDED ON.
[01:55:01]
THIS OPTION PRIORITIZES CITIZENS SAFETY AND IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION.>> YOU FORGOT TO MENTION IN THE NEWSLETTER THE REALLY GOOD LOOKING GUY UP IN THE CORNER.
>> I'M SORRY, BUT THIS IS NOT A BIOLOGICAL SHOW. [LAUGHTER]
>> GOOD EVENING, JAMES ELDER, 195 SOUTH BROWN ROAD, ORONO.
COUNCILWOMAN BENSON NAILED IT WHEN SHE SAID THAT AS A RESIDENT OF ORONO, WE ALL SHOULD SEEK ASSURANCES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPERATING CERTIFIED, TRAINED, EQUIPPED, ETC, FIRE DEPARTMENT COME JULY 1 FOR NAVARRE.
AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE YOU'VE ONLY GOT THREE-AND-A-HALF MONTHS.
LOTS OF THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE.
YOU'RE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK, AND SOME OF THIS LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MAKING IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, IT'S NOT A POLITICAL STUNT.
FRANKLY, SOME OF THIS THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS IS DUCT TAPE AND BAILING WIRE.
YOU'RE RACING AGAINST THE TIME, AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
I HAVE THIS QUESTION, AND JAMES, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONTACT ME AFTER THIS MEETING.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHAT STATE AUTHORITY WILL OFFICIALLY CERTIFY THAT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS READY TO TAKE OVER EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE NAVARRE AREA ON JULY 1.
YOU CAN'T JUST BE TAKING YOUR WORD FOR IT.
IT ISN'T JUST THAT YOU HAVE A BUILDING.
I EVEN WONDER IS YOUR BUILDING OSHA APPROVED? IF ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A FACILITY THAT DOESN'T FREEZE, THAT'S NOT A VERY HIGH STANDARD FOR AN EMERGENCY BUILDING.
BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE STATE AUTHORITY THAT'S GOING TO CERTIFY TO US THAT YOU ARE READY TO PROTECT US.
>> DE CARNE, 4305, CHIFFOI LANE, ORONO.
TO BEGIN WITH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A QUESTION YOU PROPOSED TO ME AT ONE OF YOUR COFFEES WITH THE MAYOR.
THAT WAS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE GAVE YOU THE FINGER? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS MEANT TO BE LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE, BUT MY ANSWER IS TO YOU, MOVE ON.
THE CITIES OF ORONO AND LONG LAKE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ITS CITIZENS TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, THAT IS, A SINCERE, RESPECTFUL, AND CREATIVE MANNER WITH THE GOAL TO ESTABLISH A WIN-WIN SOLUTION.
FIRE RESCUE AND EMS SERVICES ARE BEING SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED BY VERY WELL TRAINED AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS.
IT TAKES YEARS TO BUILD THIS TYPE OF CAMARADERIE, RESPECT, AND TRUST NECESSARY TO HANDLE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS.
DISRUPTING THESE ATTRIBUTES COULD LEAD TO A FATAL MISTAKE.
THE DYSFUNCTIONAL CIVIC PROCESS, AS YOU DEMONSTRATED TO US THIS EVENING IN REGARDS TO THE FIRE RESCUE AND EMS SERVICES, IS DETRIMENTAL TO CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE STAFF, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, NEGOTIATE A WIN-WIN RESOLUTION, THAT IS, A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME THAT GIVES BOTH SIDES AS MUCH OF WHAT THEY WANT AS POSSIBLE.
IT THEN MUST BE ACTED ON AND ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED TO MAINTAIN FIRE RESCUE, EMS SERVICES, RELEVANCY NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
IT MAY NOT SEEM TO YOU TO BE YOUR EASIEST PATH, BUT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE NOTHING LESS.
[02:00:06]
I LIVE IN WAYZATA, NOT IN ORONO.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO AN ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE.
I DID NOT SEE THE AGENDA BEFORE I CAME TONIGHT.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT I READ ABOUT THE ORONO CIRCUMSTANCES HERE.
I LISTENED, AND IT'S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN WHAT I READ, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE BECAUSE I'M NOT A CITIZEN.
WHAT I DID THINK WAS INTERESTING WAS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT'S NOT RELATED TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WHO ARE CITIZENS? I'VE LIVED ON LAKE MINNETONKA, MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'VE HAD PROPERTY IN MOUND, I'VE HAD PROPERTY IN ORONO, AND I HAVE PROPERTY IN WAYZATA.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT GRANTING VARIANCES FOR THIS MATTER OF THIS CONSTRUCTION ON THE BLUFF, I WAS SURPRISED THAT, MAYBE YOU HAVE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO OTHER MEETINGS, BUT WHEN I'VE WATCHED OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THE LAKE SHORE, THERE IS MORE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THIS CONCEPT OF GIVING A VARIANCE THAT IS ON A BLUFF, AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ALONG SHORELINES.
WHEN THEY MOVE SOIL AROUND TO CREATE THESE AREAS, YOU PROBABLY CAN SAY THAT YOU'VE WATCHED THE DEVASTATION THAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
THEY'RE TRUCK LOADS AND TRUCK LOADS THAT HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE WHATEVER THAT SITUATION IS GOING TO BE THERE.
WHERE DOES THAT SOIL GO? ARE THEY PLACING IT ON THAT LAND? ARE THEY HAULING IT OUT? THE MESS THAT COMES, WE CAN SEE ALL OF THAT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT ANY COUNCIL, NOT JUST ORONO, BUT WAYZATA AND ANYBODY OF THE NINE COMMUNITIES ON LAKE MINNETONKA, WOULD BE ASKING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THIS PROPERTY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WALL OR THAT WALKOUT BASEMENT OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE YOUR DECISIONS ARE SETTING PRECEDENTS FOR PEOPLE ALL AROUND.
THEN I'LL JUST MAKE THIS EMOTIONAL REACTION TO WHAT I HAD READ ABOUT IN THE MEDIA AND SEEN IN THE PAPER AND HEAR OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, AND REALLY WOULD SAY, IT'S EMBARRASSING TO BE IN THIS ROOM TO SEE THIS, AND I'M REALLY EMBARRASSED FOR ALL OF YOU.
I'M GOING TO GO AWAY. I DON'T REALLY NEED TO TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT WHAT I SAW OR HEARD HERE TONIGHT, BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY ALL BETTER PEOPLE THAN WHAT I SAW HERE TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO JUST HOPE THAT IF I EVER COME TO AN ORONO MEETING AGAIN, THAT IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THIS.
>> HI, I'M EVIE KNAPP AT 85 CRISTOFORI CIRCLE.
I'M SURE YOU DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS, BUT I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU ARE CREATING.
I REALLY WISH THAT YOU WOULD GET BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH LONG LAKE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT SERVICE FOR US.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS EVEN CAME TO FRUITION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT WHAT THE CITIZENS OF ORONO WANT.
IF YOU DID, I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE PUT A REFERENDUM.
PERHAPS EVEN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
PEOPLE THAT DON'T WATCH THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OR ATTEND, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S REALLY SAD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN COUNCIL MEETINGS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU'RE TRANSPARENT, BUT YOU ARE NOT.
>> KELLY GRADY, 271 GREENHILL LANE, LONG LAKE, MINNESOTA.
YOUR OBSESSIVE FOCUS ON ME, A LONG LAKE FIREWIFE AND A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY IS A DISTRACTION REGARDING ORONO'S REPEATED FAILURES OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICE AND THEIR DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO BE SERVED BY THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU HAVE REFERRED TO ME PERSONALLY AS POISON IN PUBLIC MEETINGS, YOU THREATEN FIREFIGHTERS WITH LITIGATION.
YOU CONSISTENTLY TREAT FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALISA BENSON LIKE SHE'S YOUR ENEMY AND NOT A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL THAT WAS ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.
YOUR INABILITY TO SHOW RESPECT TO CHIEF HIGHLAND AND ASSISTANT CHIEF CODY FARLEY THIS EVENING AS PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING SAYS MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR INABILITY TO BE THE EFFECTIVE LEADER THAT ORONO DESERVES, THAN IT DOES ABOUT ME AS A DEEPLY CONCERNED CITIZEN.
IF ANYTHING, YOUR BEHAVIOR TONIGHT HAS SHOWN THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
[02:05:04]
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU ARE JUST SITTING UP THERE SCARED AND HOPEFUL THAT BY BULLYING ME AND INTIMIDATING ME, THAT I WILL RUN SCARED AND THAT I WILL STOP INFORMING THE ORONO COMMUNITY ABOUT THE MISSTEPS OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL AND HOW EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE FURTHER HINDERS THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY.FOR EVERYONE HERE AND WATCHING ONLINE I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW FIGURE OUT FIRE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO BE HONEST AND INFORMATIVE.
I CANNOT PROMISE THAT I WILL NOT SHOW PASSION BECAUSE I LOVE MY LONG LAKE FIRE FAMILY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS.
I LOVE THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE CHOOSING TO SERVE ON SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I WISH JUSTIN INKER ALL OF THE BEST IN HIS FIRE CAREER.
I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR THEM, BECAUSE I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT THEY WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
SINCE YOU LOVE QUOTES SO MUCH, I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE FROM THE LATE GREAT TOM PETTY.
>> RICHIE ANDERSON. I LIVE AT 3025 CHRIS BELL ROAD.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESENTATION BY THE MCWD TONIGHT.
AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS SINCE 2019 WHEN WCD DISCUSSED THE LONG LAKE PROJECT FOR COMING INTO TANAGER.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO PORTRAY TO ADAM WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE SAND FILTER.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND.
IRON SAND FILTER, WHICH COMBINES WITH PHOSPHATES AND GOES TO IRON SULFATE OR IRON PHOSPHATE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT.
THEN THAT BECOMES LIKE A POND.
BUT ACTUALLY, THEY TALKED ABOUT SAND FILTER, BUT REGULAR SAND ISN'T GOING TO DO IT.
THEN AS FAR AS MONEY GOES, SO THE LMCD LAKE MANTAKA COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED BY 14 COMMUNITIES.
TEN OF THE 14 OF THE TOP 20 RICHEST CITIES IN MINNESOTA.
GUESS WHO'S PAYING HENNEPIN COUNTY'S BIG SHARE OF THE TAXES THEY TAKE FROM US.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MCWD GETS FUNDING, BUT TANAGER BAY, WHICH THEY DECLARED IMPAIRED, IS CLEANING UP IMMENSELY.
IT SAID, FEEL GOOD THING, DO GOOD THING, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF SPENDING ANY MONEY ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN PONDS I KNOW OVER WOOD HILL AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, WHICH HAVE BEEN MANAGED EXTREMELY WELL AND TANAGER, WHICH I HAVE A VISUAL ON FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, IS CLEANING UP CONSIDERABLY.
ANYWAY. JUST MY THOUGHTS ON FUNDING WHICH MATT TALKED ABOUT.
>> THANKS. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE?
I LIVE AT 2570 THOROUGHBRED LANE.
MR. JOHNSON, ARE YOU AWAKE? [LAUGHTER]
>> GREAT. I GUESS I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED, AND A LITTLE MIFFED, ACTUALLY, EARLIER WHEN MAYOR WALSH YOU PULLED THE CIVILITY CARD, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT CHARACTERISTIC BEFORE.
I GUESS YOU MAYBE YOU JUST PULL IT WHENEVER IT SEEMS TO SUIT YOU AND FOR YOUR OWN PURPOSE.
I GUESS IF YOU WERE INTERESTED IN CIVILITY, IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU DEMONSTRATED THAT CONSISTENTLY WITH EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL AND THE CONSTITUENTS.
THE REASON I'M UP HERE TODAY IS TO ASK FOR SOME TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT WILL THIS INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT COST? IF WE COULD HAVE SOME SORT OF ACCOUNTING, SOME CLEAR LEDGER PLACED IN THE NEWSLETTER THAT DOES A NEWSLETTER GO TO ALL ORONO CITIZENS, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE CASE, IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THAT LAID OUT VERY CLEARLY.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE TEMPORARY FIRE STATION, WHICH I DIDN'T HEAR TONIGHT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VOTED ON, BUT I NEVER HEARD A FIGURE ACTUALLY THROWN OUT FOR WHAT THAT WOULD COST.
[02:10:06]
THAT WOULD BE ONE GOOD THING IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COSTS HERE IN THE MEETINGS TO REALLY ACTUALLY JUST BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE.WHAT IS THE COST FOR STAFFING UP? WHAT IS OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL? IF YOU COULD HAVE SOME CLEAR INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THE OTHER COMMENT THAT I WOULD MAKE IS MY COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
IN PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS, I DON'T SEE OR HEAR ANY OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M WONDERING WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM, THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DRIVE THIS THROUGH AND RAM HEAD IT THROUGH WITHOUT ANY CLEAR PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IT.
THANK YOU. I REALLY HOPE TO SEE SOME CLEAR INFORMATION SHARED CITYWIDE.
[Mayor/Council Report]
I WILL BRING BACK TO THE MAYOR COUNCIL REPORTS. COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ACCORDING TO THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PROVIDING RELIABLE INFORMATION WHILE ALSO NOT MISLEADING THE PUBLIC ARE TWO KEY ELEMENTS WHEN COMMUNICATING.
I CONSIDER IT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE RELIABLE INFORMATION AND TO ALSO CALL OUT INSTANCES WHEN THE STANDARD IS NOT MET, AS WAS THE CASE AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
AT THE FEBRUARY 26 MEETING, COUNCIL HAD A DISCUSSION ON THE EFFORT TO BUILD A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DURING A PRESENTATION ON OUR ANNUAL REPORT, I COMMENTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF DATA GATHERED IN COMMENT CARDS DEMONSTRATED THAT RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY DO NOT SUPPORT ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR THEY HAD QUESTIONS AND WANTED MORE INFORMATION.
I SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS CAUSING DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN RESPONSE, THE MAYOR MADE STATEMENTS OF HIS OWN THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE, AGAIN, HOW ELECTED OFFICIALS COMMUNICATE MATTERS AND PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT ESPECIALLY SO IN MATTERS RELATED TO FIRE SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS STARTED AT TIMESTAMP TWO HOURS, ONE MINUTE, AND 45 SECONDS ON FEBRUARY 26TH.
HE SAID, "I THINK YOUR SUPPORTERS, THE VERY FEW OF THEM THAT CONTINUE TO COME TO HERE, LIKE A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE SITTING OUT HERE ARE THE ONES THAT CONTRIVE AND MAKEUP ALL THIS DIVISION.
IN TWO HANDS, I CAN COME UP WITH ALL THE PEOPLE.
IT IS CONSTANT, BUT IT'S 10 PEOPLE, AND THAT'S ALL IT IS.
ALL THE PEOPLE I TALK TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S VERY OBVIOUS TO EVERYBODY, THE ONLY DIVISION THAT'S BEING CREATED IS A DIVISION BY A VERY FEW PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM AREN'T EVEN RESIDENTS OF OURS.
THE MAYOR WENT ON TO SAY, IT'S NOT DIVISIONAL, IT MIGHT BE DIVISIONAL TO LONG LAKE AND YOUR SUPPORTERS, BUT THAT'S IT.
YOU WERE BLOWING THIS WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.
YOU WERE MAKING THIS UP AS YOU GO.
YOU'RE MAKING IT UP THAT IT'S A DIVISION.
WHEN YOU HAVE 100 PEOPLE, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE RESIDENTS, AND EVEN MARIA VIC'S CARD GOT PUT INTO THE WRONG PILE.
IT WAS ALL INTERPRETED BY YOU AS YOUR OWN PERSON, NOT VETTED BY ANYBODY.
THAT DIVISION IS CAUSED BY YOUR ANALYSIS OR THE WAY YOU WANTED IT TO COME OUT.
AND THAT'S THE END. I WANT TO MAKE THREE POINTS ABOUT THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.
THE FIRST POINT IS ABOUT HOW OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS.
IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, OUR STAFF MAILED THIS CARD OUT TO RESIDENTS.
IT SAID, "THE CITY OF ORONO IS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, WHAT SHOULD OUR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES LOOK LIKE? WE WANT YOUR INPUT." WE THEN RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM OUR PUBLIC ABOUT THE QUESTION WE POSED.
IT IS NOT DIVISIVE FOR ME TO DISCUSS THE DATA WE COLLECTED.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT RESIDENTS THINK IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR JOB.
WE RECEIVED 120 CARDS FROM RESIDENTS, NOT 100 WHICH MATTERS, GIVEN THE SAMPLE SIZE.
THE SEVEN RESPONSES FROM NON-RESIDENTS WE RECEIVED WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESULTS.
I IDENTIFIED THREE MAIN CATEGORIES IN THESE RESPONSES.
[02:15:01]
ONE, THOSE WHO SUPPORT AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.THREE, THOSE WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION OR HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
BY MY ANALYSIS, 26% SUPPORTED AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, 60% DID NOT, AND 11% HAD MORE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, AND 3% OF COMMENTS WERE UNRELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
AGAIN, NON-RESIDENTS WERE NOT INCLUDED.
A TOTAL OF 71% OF RESIDENTS EITHER DO NOT WANT AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT OR WANT MORE INFORMATION, AND THAT IS A CLEAR MAJORITY.
LAST YEAR, WE, AS A COUNSEL, ASKED FOR RESIDENTS FEEDBACK ABOUT PLANS FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT WE HAD ALREADY STARTED TO CREATE.
THAT WERE SENT OUT DID NOT EXPLAIN THIS.
WE JUST ASKED WHAT OUR FIRE SERVICES SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
WHEN PEOPLE WROTE BACK TELLING US WHAT OUR FIRE SERVICES SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
OUR COUNSEL DIDN'T ENABLE STAFF TO EVALUATE THE INFORMATION.
THE COMMENT CARDS I'M REFERRING TO CAN BE FOUND IN THE MAY 22ND, 2023 COUNSEL PACKET.
I AM NOT, AS THE MAYOR STATED AT OUR LAST MEETING, MAKING THINGS UP AS I GO.
THE SECOND POINT IS ABOUT MY ANALYSIS BECAUSE OUR COUNSEL WOULD NOT ENABLE STAFF TO ANALYZE THE RESULTS I DID IT MYSELF BECAUSE RESIDENT VOICES MATTER.
HERE'S THE ISSUE. MY WORK WAS INVALIDATED BY COUNSEL BECAUSE AS THE MAYOR SAID, "IT WAS ALL INTERPRETED BY YOU, NOT VETTED BY ANYBODY." IF ON ONE HAND, COUNSEL IS UNWILLING TO HAVE STAFF ANALYZE DATA AND ON THE OTHER ALSO DISCOUNTS WORK DONE BY SOMEBODY ELSE, IN THIS CASE, ME, THAT'S A CATCH-22.
UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK, THERE IS NO VIABLE WAY FOR RESIDENTS TO SHAPE POLICY ON THEIR CITY'S FIRE SERVICE.
IN MY OPINION, THAT IS A DYNAMIC THAT RESULTS IN DIVISION.
CITIZENS NEED TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE DECISIONS WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE.
THAT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PROCESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE HAVEN'T APPLIED IT TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN.
FINALLY, I SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY FROM THE MAYOR, WHO STATED THAT IT'S ME AND A FEW OTHERS WHO ARE CREATING DIVISION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS A SERIOUS VULNERABILITY IN OUR PLAN.
IN ADDITION TO THE 71% OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PLAN, FOUR FORMER MAYORS OF THE CITY DIDN'T EITHER.
IT'S WRITTEN IN A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE ORONO COMMUNITY LAST JUNE.
I DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY TO TELL FOLKS WHAT TO WRITE IN CARDS OR LETTERS, BUT I DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DISCUSS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT.
WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, SHARE THAT OBLIGATION.
OUR COUNCIL HAS SHOWN THAT WE'RE WILLING TO USE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OTHER ARENAS THAT SHAPE CITY PROJECTS, PARKS, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE ARE USING RESIDENT OPINIONS TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR RECREATIONAL GOALS.
WHY AREN'T WE DOING THE SAME FOR A CITY PLAN THAT INVOLVES HUMAN LIFE, PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND AS A MUCH LARGER COST TO RESIDENTS? THE MAYOR HAS CONCLUDED THAT I AM CAUSING DIVISION, BUT OUR CITY RECORDS REFLECT THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES ON THE RECORD SINCE BEFORE MY TIME ON COUNCIL.
I'LL MENTION THREE OF THEM FROM 2022.
THAT'S THE YEAR WHEN THIS COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION TO CREATE AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OCTOBER 24TH, A RESIDENT ASKED IF ANYONE HAD USED DEDUCTIVE REASONING, LIKE AN ECONOMIST DOES, AND SAID BEFORE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY, WHAT ABOUT EXAMINING THE REAL COSTS? NOVEMBER 28, A RESIDENT ASKED ORONO TO HOST AT LEAST TWO TOWN HALLS, AND ASKED WHY WE NEED A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT COST WILL BE TO INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS.
THEY SAID THAT THEY THINK ORONO OWES IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE SOME SAY IN THE PROJECT.
ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THAT MEETING STATED THAT ORONO BUYING FIRE TRUCKS IS WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY, TIME AND ENERGY.
AND ASKED THAT ORONO STOP AND FORM WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE.
IN EXAMINING WHAT RESIDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT FIRE SERVICE AND KNOWING THAT WE CONTINUE IN A DIRECTION THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO ALIGN WITH OUR PUBLIC, I HAVE THESE QUESTIONS FROM MY FELLOW COUNSEL.
WHOSE INTERESTS ARE WE SERVING? WHOSE INTEREST DO WE SERVE BY CREATING A NEW DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN EXTENDING OR RENEGOTIATING THE SERVICE CONTRACT WITH LONG LAKE FIRE? WHOSE INTEREST DO WE SERVE WHEN SPENDING RESIDENT TAX DOLLARS ON EQUIPMENT FOR A NEW DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN USING THIS MONEY TO IMPROVE AND UPGRADE EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN USE BY LONG LAKE? WHOSE INTEREST DO WE SERVE WHEN ASKING FOR RESIDENT FEEDBACK, BUT NOT USING IT TO SHAPE OUR FIRE SERVICE POLICY? THESE QUESTIONS ARE NOT RHETORICAL, AND THEY'RE ALSO NOT ASKED TO PROMOTE DIVISIVENESS.
IT'S PROMOTING A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
IF THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WE PULLED DON'T SUPPORT THIS PLAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THIS COUNCIL SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACT UPON IF THE MAYOR
[02:20:02]
OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF COUNCIL HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HOW I ANALYZE THE DATA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH BROUGHT THIS UP DURING THE WORK SESSION TONIGHT.IF I UNINTENTIONALLY MISIDENTIFIED ANY REMARKS, WHETHER COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH'S OR ANYONE ELSE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO ANALYZE IT THEMSELVES.
IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND ABOUT HOW WE GOVERN? THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE? FIRST, OUR CITY CAN UTILIZE WHAT THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES DEEMS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE POLICY-MAKING.
LISTENING TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND BUILDING CONSENSUS.
WE COULD RECOMMIT TO LISTENING TO MORE RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES, LIKE IN A SERIES OF TOWN HALLS THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED.
SECOND, THE JULY 1ST DEADLINE TO SERVE ABOUT A THIRD OF ORONO WITH OUR OWN FIRE SERVICE IS SELF-IMPOSED.
WE, AS A CITY CAN RETURN TO LONG LAKE TO EXTEND THE STATE INTO THE FUTURE, TO GIVE OUR CITY WARM BREATHING ROOM BASED ON WHERE WE ARE AT THIS TIME, AND HAVING NO GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL BE READY ON JULY 1, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER.
THIRD OPTIONS FOR RE-ENGAGEMENT WERE MENTIONED DURING LONG LAKE'S COUNCIL MEETING JUST LAST WEEK AND ALSO DURING LONG LAKE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY MAYOR MAYNA.
AND OFFER STANDS TO EXTEND THE CURRENT CONTRACT FOR FIRE SERVICES AND ALSO TO RE-EXAMINE OTHER AVENUES FOR SHARED SERVICES GOING FORWARD.
HEARING CHIEF HIGHLAND'S PRESENTATION TONIGHT DEMONSTRATES THAT FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN GROW MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFICIENT OVER TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THOSE THEY SERVE BEHIND THEM.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR APPLAUSE.
I'M LOOKING TO JUST SIMPLY STATE.
>> WE'RE LOOKING THROUGH A PLOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> COUNCILMEMBER VEACH, IF YOU CAN BE RESPECTFUL.
>> JUST SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT CIVILITY WAS THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BEFORE THIS EVENING.
WE ALL TALKED ABOUT WHAT ROLES WE PLAY INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY, AND HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE, ESSENTIALLY EARLIER TONIGHT, AND WE ARE EXPLORING THAT.
WE OWE YOU BETTER. WE'RE GOING TO DO BETTER.
I PERSONALLY TRY TO TAKE ON AS MUCH AS I CAN AS FAR AS MY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S HARD TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING INTO A MICROPHONE AND SEEMS SINCERE.
IT'S A HARD FORUM TO DO THAT. SORRY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS FORM IS A I TALK, YOU TALK, I TALK.
THAT'S HOW THE FORM OF CITY COUNCIL IS.
IT IS FRUSTRATING AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT IS WHY WE REGROUPED WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE TO TRY TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT? BECAUSE IT IS FRUSTRATING TO GET UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND HAVE VALID QUESTIONS THAT DESERVE ANSWERS AND NOT GET THEM.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT FORUM.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER AND FIND COMMON GROUND TO WORK ON OUR ISSUES.
WE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO IDENTIFY THAT.
WHAT I'VE DONE AND WHAT I CONTINUE TO DO IS REACH OUT.
I'VE MET WITH 100% OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASKED TO MEET.
I'VE MET AND REACHED OUT PROACTIVELY WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T, WHO I THOUGHT ARE KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND DECISION MAKERS, OR MAYBE HAVE SOME FEEDBACK FOR ME.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT IN THIS CHAIR AND BE AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING THAT COMES ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS SOMETHING TO KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SPEAK ON, MAYBE SOME EXPERTISE, SOMETHING TO GIVE, AND THEN CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN SHARE AND HELP YOU EXPAND THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I TRIED TO DO LAST WEEK, LAST MONDAY BEFORE TWO MONDAYS AGO NOW, I GUESS.
ON MY WAY TO THE POST OFFICE I'VE THOUGHT WHAT THE HECK? I'M JUST GOING TO GO TALK TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR AT LONG LAKE BECAUSE LAST NOVEMBER WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE ANOTHER FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING COMING UP TOMORROW.
I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO BE PROACTIVE AND GET THIS STARTED AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WE LEFT OFF, TALKING ABOUT OUR OPTION A AS ADAM REFERRED TO IT AS ALYSA REFERRED TO IT I THINK, WHAT DEB SAYS IS A WIN WIN OPPORTUNITY.
I WENT AND TALKED TO SCOTT AND GOT IDEAS AND SAID, HEY, THERE'S OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS OPTION OR THIS OPTION, BECAUSE YOU ARE BUYING A FIRE TRUCK DOES NOT MEAN IT'S A BAD THING.
I THINK EVERY FIRE TRUCK AND EVERY INVESTMENT WE'VE MADE COULD BENEFIT EVERYBODY AT THIS POINT, AND THAT IS WHAT I SAID.
THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING IN MY COMMENT CARD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDED HELP.
[02:25:03]
ANY FIREWIFE, ANY FIRE HUSBAND, FIREFIGHTER IN GENERAL, WILL TELL YOU THAT.IT WAS UNDER FUNDED, IT WAS STRESSED, THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
THE NUMBERS YOU SAW REPORTED TONIGHT WITH 11 PEOPLE AT STATION 2 IS WHAT THEY HAVE.
WE HAVE EIGHT RIGHT NOW, OR NINE?
>> NINE, EXCUSE ME, PLUS [BACKGROUND] NINE PAID ON CALL, PLUS 12 FULL TIME AT STATION 2.
IT USED TO BE TOO INDEPENDENT, IF YOU THINK OF IT THAT WAY, AS IT STANDS NOW, IT IS NO DIFFERENT AND I GET THAT'S FRUSTRATING.
I WISH IT DIDN'T COME TO THIS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT, AND THEN I MET WITH CHARLIE IN THE MORNING AND THEN WITH JOHN LATER AND EMAILED SAYING I WOULD MEET WITH EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT CONNECTION THROUGH FIRE ADVISORY.
I WOULD MEET WITH EVERYBODY AND TELL THEM SOME IDEAS, SOME OUT OF THE BOX THINKING.
THIS PROJECT GOT POLITICAL AND THAT'S NOT HOW, IN MY SHORT EXPERIENCE, ANY CITY CONTRACT HAS EVER BEEN MADE.
IT IS NEVER US SITTING UP HERE SAYING, THIS IS WHAT'S BEST.
THIS IS HOW A FIRE TRUCK SHOULD PARK, WHERE IT SHOULD PARK, WHERE IT SHOULD SERVE.
THAT IS NOT THE WAY CONTRACTS WORK.
WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE SHOULDN'T.
MY SUGGESTION WAS THAT WE GOT OUR BRIGHTEST, OUR CITY ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR FIRE CHIEFS, TOGETHER AND REMOVED US.
WE CLOUD IT COLLECTIVELY, AND I INCLUDE MYSELF IN THAT, IT IS POLITICAL WHEN YOU INCLUDE US.
I SUGGESTED WHY NOT BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL AND ASK.
I WASN'T ABLE TO LISTEN TO LONG LAKE'S YET.
I DID REACH OUT TO JOHN AND HE SAID IT GOT CLOUDY BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS MORE FOR ORONO TO WIN.
MAYBE SHORT TERM I SAID THIS IS MY OUT OF THE BOX IDEA THAT I SPOKE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF BUT SAID IF WE CAN SHOW SOMETHING, A PROOF OF CONCEPT WITH SOMETHING THAT IT'S EXPIRING.
IF WE JUST WAITED AND DID NOTHING, THE CONTRACT WOULD END.
WE WOULD BE SET TO REDO SOMETHING.
IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT LONG LAKE IS DOING RIGHT NOW WITH YZETA, THEY STARTED TRAINING WITH YZETA.
THEY DIDN'T PUT A TITLE ON IT, THEY DIDN'T PUT A CONTRACT WITH IT.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE? I THOUGHT MY TERRIBLE ANALOGY WAS LIKE, IT'S LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND THAT WHY DON'T WE JUST START DATING FIRST AND THEN MAYBE GET A TITLE LATER IF IT WORKS OUT? IT'S A BAD ANALOGY.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT SOMETIMES IT'S AS SIMPLE AS IT IS, PUT THE EXPERTS TOGETHER, LET THEM TALK.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS LONG LAKE'S OPTION TO HAVE THE CITY ADMINISTRATORS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY FIRE CHIEFS WEREN'T INCLUDED, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF TO DO THAT.
I WOULD LOVE FOR THE FOUR OF YOU TO SIT IN A ROOM AND COME WITH IDEAS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OPTION A IS EVER OFF THE TABLE.
ADDING ONTO A UTILITY BUILDING CAN STILL PARK TRUCKS LATER, CAN STORE SALT, IT CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS.
THIS IS NOT A WASTED INVESTMENT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HEARD THE WORDS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE; A POLITICAL STUNT, A WIN WIN SOLUTION.
I THINK THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN FIGURE OUT.
ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP TONIGHT AND I TOLD DENNY I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HOW YOU TREATED MIKE.
WE HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY HERE AND I THINK EVEN IF YOU HAVE A MESSAGE TO DELIVER, THE FORMAT OF DELIVERING IS IMPORTANT AND I KNOW THAT AND I KNOW YOUR MESSAGE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE GREAT IDEAS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED.
I WANTED TO SAY SORRY TO CHIEF AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TOMORROW.
I THINK EVERYTHING IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND WE ALL HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH MAKING MISTAKES AND GOING FROM THERE AND LEARNING FROM THEM.
I GUESS THAT'S IT. IN OTHER NEWS, MY DAUGHTER MADE IT TO THE STATE AND HER HISTORY DAY PROJECT, WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WAS A THING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SEVENTH GRADERS, IT'S A REALLY COOL PROGRAM ORONO OFFERS.
MY SON TOOK SECOND PLACE IN DISTRICTS IN HOCKEY, SO IT WAS A FUN WEEKEND FOR US.
THAT'S IT. [APPLAUSE] BUT OH, SORRY.
WE DID TALK IN OUR CIVILITY THAT TO KEEP THE ORDER OF MEETING PURE, NO POSITIVE, NO NEGATIVE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP IT GOING.
IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK WHERE YOU LIKE SOMETHING, PLEASE REACH OUT LATER.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO KEEP FORUM AS BEST AS WE COULD. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WAS GOING TO HIT ON A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS.
[02:30:03]
LIKE WAS ALREADY SAID, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME CIVILITY THINGS.WE'RE NOT THREATENED BY THE CLAPPING, BUT IT'S JUST A CIVILITY PIECE, PART OF DECORUM.
WE THOUGHT AN IDEA TO HELP EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE IS TO CREATE A LIST OF EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS.
CLAPPING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP TONIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE HE LEFT NOW, BUT THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ME SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE READY JULY 1.
WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO WAS STATEMENTS MADE BY LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS MENTIONING THAT PART OF THE REASON THAT MARIA REACHED OUT TO TRY TO WORK ON STATION NUMBER 2 WAS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT READY TO DO IT AND WE NEEDED MORE TIME.
I WAS JUST LETTING HIM KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS US TO THINK THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE READY.
THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS EVERYBODY KNOWS.
GETTING THE BUILDINGS ALL LINED UP, WHICH IS NOW WE DO HAVE A PLAN.
I THINK THAT SHOULD TRIGGER SOME ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT OUR TIMELINE AND PLAN BECAUSE IT'S REASONABLE TO WANT ASSURANCES FROM YOUR CITY THAT YOUR AREA IS GOING TO BE PROTECTED.
THIS IS THE LAST PIECE OF THE OF THAT PUZZLE WHICH I'M REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF.
I THINK THE IDEA OF US TAKING A PORTION OF THE TERRITORY TO START OUT HAS A LOT OF BENEFITS, AND IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE A PORTION THAT HAS BEEN UNDERSTAFFED, QUITE HONESTLY, FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF THE EFFORTS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, I WANT TO MAKE THAT SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
BUT WHEN WE'RE IN A POSITION TO POTENTIALLY GROW AND ENHANCE OUR RESPONSE TIMES IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE.
THE BLUFF QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED HERE IS A GOOD ONE.
YOU CAME IN AT THE THIRD MEETING OF IT.
YOU JUST SAW THE TAIL END OF IT.
SO I THINK WE ALL TAKE PROTECTING ON THE BLUFFS REALLY SERIOUSLY, AND LAKE WATER AND WATER QUALITY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES THAT GO BEHIND IT.
BUT YOU WERE JUST SEEING THE THIRD TIME THAT APPLICATION WAS HERE.
YOU CAN REST ASSURED WHEN YOU GO BACK TO ZETA, YOU CAN TELL THEM ALL WE CARE ABOUT WATER RUNOFF BECAUSE WE DO.
THEN THE LAST THING I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TOUCH ON WAS ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT WE DIDN'T DIRECT STAFF TO ANALYZE THE RESPONSE CARDS THAT WE GOT.
THIS KEEPS COMING UP AND I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IS WE ALL RECEIVED THAT DATA.
SO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND READ IT, DO OUR OWN RESEARCH, TALK TO MANY, MANY OTHER RESIDENTS.
IT WASN'T THAT WE WEREN'T AWARE OF WHAT IT SAID BECAUSE WE ALL RECEIVED IT.
BUT TO DIRECT STAFF TO ANALYZE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY WAS ONE OPTION, BUT WE HAD GOTTEN THE INFORMATION, WE ALL TOOK THE TIME TO REVIEW IT, AND SO WE MADE OUR DECISIONS WITH THAT INFORMATION.
IT WASN'T LIKE THAT INFORMATION WAS LACKING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
[BACKGROUND] THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WELL, I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT COMMON GROUND AND NEVER TRANSPARENCY, WE CAN'T TALK TO YOU.
WELL, WE HAVE COFFEE AT THE MAYOR.
IF YOU READ MY FABULOUS NEWS THAT EVERY COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR THIS WEDNESDAY AT NINE, YOU CAN ALL COME.
IT'S EVERY MONTH, YOU CAN COME, FREE DONUTS AND COFFEE.
IT'S AMAZING. SPEAKING OF, I THINK JUST LAST WEEK, ALL THE DIFFERENT PLACES I WAS AND THE DIFFERENT PLACES IN NAVARRE AND LONG LAKE, THAT I WAS EATING DINNERS AND VISITING PEOPLE, I THINK I TALKED TO 120 PEOPLE LAST WEEK AND ALL 120 SAID THEY SUPPORT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING TO ORONO.
IT'S 100%, IT'S AMAZING AND THOSE ARE ALL DIRECT.
>> WINNING, BABY. I APPRECIATE
[02:35:04]
THE NEWSLETTER BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 18TH FOR THE OWNER OF PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, AND LOOK FOR THE GRAND OPENING STUFF FOR JULY 1ST FOR THE OWNER FIRE DEPARTMENT.A FRIEND OF MINE PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY OUT OF THE BLUE ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
JUST THIS YEAR, HE WAS ONLY 47 YEARS OLD.
LEFT A WIFE AND A FABULOUS YOUNG SON.
I WAS AT HIS FUNERAL, JUST IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH MY QUOTE, WHICH IS ON HIS VISITATION, I THINK IT'S ANDREW CULLEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY KNEW ANDREW IN HERE, BUT I KNEW HIM WELL FOR 15 YEARS. VERY SAD.
MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU, MAY THE WIND ALWAYS BE AT YOUR BACK.
MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE, AND THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
HUG YOUR KIDS, HUG YOUR WIFE, HUG YOUR HUSBAND, HUG YOUR FRIENDS, LIFE IS SHORT.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.