Apr 08, 2024 City Council

>> MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE LAKESHORE SETBACKS AND THEN ABOUT THE SEPTIC.

YOU'VE ANSWERED THEM NICELY.

THANK YOU, NATALIE.

>> I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORS.

I KNOW THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS IF WE APPROVE, WHICH WE PRETTY DO MOST OF THE TIME FOR THESE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACKS, WHEN THEY'RE UNBUILDABLE, IF THEY CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOUSE, THE FOOTPRINT, THE HEIGHT, ANYTHING CHANGES BASED ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK FOR APPROVAL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE TO AFFIRM THAT SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S ONLY WHAT'S SHOWN IS THAT IS WHAT IS GETTING APPROVED BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE VARIANCE ITSELF.

>> THE VARIANCE IS FOR THE VOLUME OF THE HOME, SO NOT ONLY THE LOCATION, THE FOOTPRINT, BUT ALSO THE HEIGHT OF THE HOME AS WELL.

ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD MAKE IT TALLER WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO COME BACK.

>> IS THE APPLICANT HERE, THEY'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION? IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, THAT'D BE GREAT. THANKS.

>> JOHN DALY WITH REVISION 153 EAST LAKE STREET WAYZATA.

THANKS FOR TAKING CONSIDERATION.

I WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO I WASN'T QUITE SURE IF IT WAS GOING TO COME BEFORE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

IN THE PLANNING WITH THIS LOT AND THE PROPERTY AND THE HOME, WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF FINDING THE BEST LOCATION AND TRYING TO BE MINDFUL KNOWING IT'S A CHALLENGING LOT WITH THE WAY THE SETBACKS WORK AND FOUND THIS TO BE THE MOST REASONABLE APPROACH.

WE'RE BUILDING A MAIN LEVEL ONLY, WE'RE NOT DOING A SECOND STORY IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S WHY THE HEIGHT GOT PULLED DOWN TO THE 20 FEET THAT WHAT IT IS, AND TRYING TO BE MINDFUL AND WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP IT.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?

>> THANKS.

>> BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS? COUNCILMEMBER BENSON, I KNOW YOU PULLED THIS OFF.

[OVERLAPPING] YOU PULLED THAT OFF.

IF YOU HAD ANY CLARIFICATIONS THAT HELPED YOU ON THAT ITEM? SEPTIC WAS MY MAIN CONCERN THERE AND THEN THE LAKESHORE SETBACK.

THIS IS THE FIRST THAT I'VE SEEN A DIFFERENT ONE.

>> ANYWAY, JACK CAN MAKE A MOTION OR DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

>> NOT MORE QUESTIONS. MORE DISCUSSION MAYBE, NOT MORE QUESTIONS.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

>> I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 7463 APPROVING AN AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK VARIANCE FOR 797 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

>> I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE'VE TAKEN ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

[00:10:02]

>> I'LL MAKE A SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND IF COUNCILMEMBER VEACH HADN'T PULLED IT, I WAS GOING TO.

I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING ON THIS APPLICATION IS THAT IT IS ONE WHERE I KNOW MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS, PHOTOS, AND THERE'S INPUT.

I BELIEVE THAT IN THESE CASES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PROCESS.

I THINK, NATALIE, HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE EXPERT STAFF AS THE EXPERT.

I KNOW I RELY HEAVILY ON STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION, AND BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR THIS.

MY QUESTIONS WERE SIMILAR AND I THINK SOME OF THESE RELATE FOR ME TO THE SETBACK.

THE LAKESHORE SETBACK IS ONE THING, BUT WE ARE WELL WITHIN THAT.

IN FACT, THERE'S 150 FOOT MINIMUM ON THIS LAKE AND THAT IS THE INTENDED PURPOSE, I BELIEVE, TO PROTECT THAT LAKE WATER.

THE WETLAND DELINEATION IS ANOTHER POINT THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CONCERN IS WITH THIS NATURAL BODY OF WATER THAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL WHEN WE'RE BUILDING AROUND IT.

BUT THAT 150 FOOT HAS BEEN SET AND ALSO THE WATERSHED IS GOING TO HAVE ESSENTIALLY ALL THAT WORK DONE AROUND ANY FORMAL DELINEATION.

THAT'S GOING TO COME AND HAVE TO BE APPROVED?

>> YES, THEY WILL HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

>> TECHNICALLY IT'S CONTINGENT ON THE WATERSHED APPROVAL AND GETTING APPROVAL FOR THE SEPTICS THAT THEY MEET EVERYTHING.

NOT ONLY THEY CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING, IT'S CONTINGENT UPON MAKING SURE THAT THOSE APPROVALS ARE IN ORDER AS WELL.

>> THEY'LL HAVE TO RECEIVE ALL OF THOSE APPROVALS FROM THE WATERSHED INCLUDING EROSION CONTROL, ANY TYPE OF PERMIT THE WATERSHED WILL REQUIRE DURING THE TIME OF BUILDING PERMIT.

THIS APPROVAL IS JUST FOR THE VARIANCE FOR THE LOCATION OF THEM.

>> THANK YOU. THE SEPTIC CONCERNS ARE VALID AS WELL.

YOU'VE POINTED OUT THAT THOSE ARE GENERAL AREAS BUT ALL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT AS PART OF THE BUILDING PERMIT PLANT PROCESS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THE ISSUE HERE IS THE LAKESHORE VIEW OR WHAT NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN USED TO SEEING IN TERMS OF THEIR BACKYARD VIEW OF THAT BODY OF WATER.

THE APPLICANT, IN GOOD FAITH, LOWERING THE HEIGHT TO 10 FOOT BELOW WHAT IT COULD BE AT 30 FEET I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT IN THIS PLAN.

I KNOW TREES ARE ANOTHER CONCERN.

CLARIFY FOR ME, NATALIE, IF THOSE WILL NOT ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITHIN A CERTAIN SETBACK FROM THE LAKE?

>> SURE. THE TREES WITHIN THE 150 FOOT SETBACK HERE, SO BEYOND THIS BLUE LINE HERE TO LAKE LYDIARD WOULD BE PROTECTED.

>> OKAY. I HAVE READ AND LOOKED AT ALL THE INFORMATION AND IT DOES MATTER THAT THIS LOT IS UNABLE TO BE BUILT UPON WITHOUT THAT LAKESHORE SETBACK VARIANCE.

THE TOUGH PART ABOUT THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS, IS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET USED TO SEEING A CERTAIN VIEW FROM THEIR HOME OVER TIME.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IF SOMEBODY CHOSE TO BUILD ON IT, COULDN'T BE BUILDABLE.

NOW, IF SOMEBODY HAD CHOSEN TO PURCHASE A LOT AND NOT BUILD ON IT OR BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT VIEW, THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING ALTOGETHER.

BUT THIS LOT HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND THERE'S A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE THAT AGAIN, HAS TO MEET ALL THE BUILDING CODES ONCE THE VARIANCE IS TAKEN CARE OF AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES THE CONCERN IS THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY OVER TIME, BUT THAT'S NOT ALLOWABLE UNLESS THE APPLICANT, THEY'D HAVE TO COME BACK FOR THAT.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE PLAN THAT WE SEE IN FRONT OF US IS WHAT WE ARE AGREEING TO, THE FOOTPRINT, THE MASSING, THE HEIGHT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ON THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER BENSON?

>> NO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

>> I HAVE A MOTION, I HAVE YOUR SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> OPPOSED? NO, THAT PASSES 5-0.

THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 15,

[15. LA24-000008, GreenWood Design Build o/b/o Brenda Iversen, 1850 Lakeside Trail, Variance]

WHICH IS LA 24-8 GREENWOOD DESIGN BUILD ON BEHALF OF BRENDA IVERSEN, 1850 LAKESIDE TRAIL, VARIANCE.

>> HAVING TROUBLE GETTING MY STUFF. THANK YOU.

1850 LAKESIDE TRAIL WAS PLATTED IN 2019 AS PART OF THE WILLOW BAY SANCTUARY PLATE.

THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY IS OVER DICKEY'S LAKE CREEK, WHICH IS A PROTECTED TRIBUTARY.

CITY CODE ALLOWS FOR A DRIVEWAY WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF EIGHT FEET WITHIN

[00:15:04]

A 75 FOOT SETBACK FROM PROTECTED WATERS IF THERE IS NO OTHER ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY.

THE PROPERTY OWNERS REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE DRIVEWAY TO BE INCREASED TO 12 FEET IN WIDTH AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, WHICH WOULD CREATE NEW ENCROACHMENTS AND ADDITIONAL HARD COVER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CREEK RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY 737 SQUARE FEET OF ADDITIONAL HARD COVER WITHIN THE 75 FOOT SETBACK.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AT THE MARCH 18TH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

THERE WAS NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING OTHER THAN THE APPLICANT.

THE COMMISSION VOTED 3-1 TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST TO EXPAND THE DRIVEWAY TO 12 FEET WITHIN THE 75 FOOT SETBACK.

STAFF DOES NOT FIND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES TO SUPPORT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.

THE NEWLY CREATED PROPERTY AND ROADWAY CORRIDOR ARE ARRANGED AND ORIENTED WITH THE TRIBUTARY AS A KNOWN CONDITION.

ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY IS PROVIDED BY THE EIGHT FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY OVER THE CREEK AS PERMITTED BY CODE.

STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO ALLOW THE WIDTH OF THE DRIVEWAY TO EXCEED EIGHT FEET.

COUNCIL SHOULD REVIEW THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF, AND DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED AT YOUR APRIL 22ND MEETING.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MELANIE? NO? IS THE APPLICANT HERE LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THE PROJECT? YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOUG CUTTING.

I'M THE OWNER OF GREENWOOD DESIGN BUILD.

OUR OFFICES ARE OUT OF EDINA.

WE'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING THE NEW HOME FOR MRS. IVERSON ON THE PROPERTY.

MRS. IVERSON DID PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FULL KNOWING THAT THE TRIBUTARY EXISTED AND THAT THERE WAS AN ENCUMBRANCE THERE WITH THE ORDINANCES.

THE POSITIVES OF THE PROPERTY FOR HER FAR OUTWEIGHED THE CHALLENGE OF THE DRIVEWAY.

HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST, AND I'M HERE ON HER BEHALF, A VARIANCE TO WIDEN THIS DRIVEWAY.

A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE, I GUESS ON THE WIDTH.

IF YOU IMAGINE THE PARKING SPACE YOU PARKED IN OUTSIDE TONIGHT.

THOSE MEASURE EIGHT FOOT, 10" WIDE.

SO IMAGINE TAKING 10" AWAY FROM THAT, THAT'S THE WIDTH OF THIS DRIVEWAY.

I THINK WHAT'S OVER ENCUMBERING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS THE LOCATION OF THE CREEK ACTUALLY AFFECTS.

THERE'S A 75 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE TRIBUTARY WHERE THE DRIVEWAY IS ONLY ALLOWED TO BE EIGHT FEET.

IN THIS CASE, THAT AFFECTS BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE CREEK.

SO WE'RE DEALING WITH 150 FEET OF HER ONE AND ONLY ACCESS TO HER PROPERTY.

PRIMARY CONCERNS THERE IS ONE, THE EIGHT FOOT WIDTH FOR SUCH A LONG DISTANCE TO THE DRIVEWAY.

TWO, AS YOU SEE WHERE IT CROSSES OVER THE CREEK, THE BLUE LINE THERE, THERE'S ABOUT A 12-14 FOOT ELEVATION DIFFERENCE OFF THE WEST AND EAST SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY AT THAT POINT.

WHAT WE'VE MAINTAINED WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION ENTRANCE, THERE IS ABOUT 14 FEET TO 15 FEET IN WIDTH OF GRAVEL.

WHAT'S PROPOSED WITH WIDENING THE DRIVEWAY TO 12 FEET IN LIEU OF EIGHT DOES NOT ALTER THAT AT ALL.

ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WITHIN THAT 150 FEET OF TRIBUTARY SETBACK, WE ARE NOT ALTERING THE GRADING OF THE PROPERTY WHATSOEVER.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS INCREASING THE HARD COVER.

IT'S A TIER TWO PROPERTY WHICH ALLOWS UP TO 30% TOTAL HARD COVER.

IF WE TAKE THE CREEK OUT OF THE EQUATION, WE'RE ALLOWED TO COVER UP TO 30% OF THE PROPERTY IN HARD COVER.

OUR REQUEST TO WIDEN THE DRIVEWAY ONLY TAKES US UP TO ABOUT 8.9% TOTAL.

AGAIN, SHE'S NOT ASKING TO TRY TO INCREASE THE HARD COVER SUBSTANTIALLY, SHE'S JUST ASKING FOR SOME LEEWAY ON THE WIDTH OF THE DRIVEWAY FOR SAFETY REASONS, CONCERNS BEING SNOW REMOVAL AND THE LIKE.

IT WAS ALSO NOTED, OR WE NOTED AT THE LAST MEETING, THAT IF YOU CONSIDER EVEN A MOVING TRUCK OR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, AN AMBULANCE, IF THEY NEEDED TO ACCESS HER PROPERTY, A LOT OF THOSE HAVE A WHEELBASE THAT'S ALREADY EIGHT FEET IN WIDTH.

THIS DRIVEWAY MAY CREATE SOME DIFFICULTIES IN THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES REACHING THE ACTUAL HOME.

THAT'S WHERE WE STAND TONIGHT, AND WE APPRECIATE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS THE APPLICANT.

THANKS. JUST STAY AROUND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

>> WILL DO.

>> I'LL BRING YOU BACK TO COUNCIL. ANY THOUGHTS?

>> I GUESS MY QUESTION, FIRST OF ALL, IS WHERE DID THE EIGHT FEET COME FROM ORIGINALLY IN THE CODE?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WAS IN OUR ORIGINAL SHORE LAND REGULATIONS.

>> THEN WHEN WE SAY EIGHT FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY, CAN THEY HAVE A SHOULDER TO THE DRIVEWAY?

[00:20:03]

>> WELL, GRAVEL DRIVEWAYS ARE CONSIDERED HARD COVER.

IF IT'S NOT DRIVEN ON, IT'S LANDSCAPING.

IT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED HARD COVER, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MAKE UP IS OF WHAT'S ALL THAT SHOULDERING.

>> WELL, IT'S A RELEVANT POINT SAYING SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ARE EIGHT FEET IN THEMSELVES, BUT THEN SO THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, HOW DO WE DEFINE THAT ROAD? CAN THEY STILL HAVE A SHOULDER, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE [INAUDIBLE] WERE THEY GOING TO PAVE THIS?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

>> IF WE LIMITED IT, THE PAVEMENT TO THE EIGHT FEET, BUT THERE WAS A SHOULDER THAT WAS USABLE IN THESE THINGS, MAYBE THAT'S A COMPROMISE, BUT IT IS A PRETTY REASONABLE QUESTION THAT YOU'VE GOT.

IT'S DROPPING OFF ON BOTH SIDES AND YOU ONLY HAVE EIGHT FEET AND THERE'S SOME VEHICLES THAT ARE EIGHT FEET.

WHAT'S THE WIDEST FIRE TRUCK WE HAVE?

>> YEAH. THAT WAS THE ONE QUESTION TO BEING CONSISTENT WITH OUR CODE BECAUSE THE HARDSHIP COMPONENT COMES IN, BUT MAYBE THE HARDSHIP IS THE FACT THAT VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN BIGGER SINCE WE WROTE THAT PROVISION IN THE CODE.

THAT WOULD BE THE DISCUSSION THAT I WANTED TO HAVE.

>> IS THIS PROPERTY GOING TO BE A TWO STORY.

>> PARDON ME?

>> THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE A TWO STORY HOME?

>> I BELIEVE THERE'S A SECOND FLOOR ON THE HOME, CORRECT?

>> A SMALL PORTION, THE LOFT IN SIZE.

>> I GUESS REITERATING WHAT MATT WAS SAYING, MY CONCERN WOULD BE GETTING EMERGENCY VEHICLES IN HERE.

YOU HAVE A SLIGHT WIND IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT'S RATHER NARROW.

MY GUESS IS, ESPECIALLY IT'LL BE FAIRLY DARK AREA.

IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING.

I GUESS I WOULD BE IN FAVOR TO HELP THE APPLICANT WIDEN THE DRIVEWAY WITHIN REASON.

WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I LIKE MATT'S SUGGESTION ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SHOULDER BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE ALREADY GOT 14 FEET NOW OF GRAVEL GOING ACROSS.

WE HAVE 14 FEET OF GRAVEL GOING ACROSS ALREADY.

SO IT'S JUST ESTABLISHING THAT YOU CAN HAVE EIGHT FEET OF PAVEMENT AND YOU CAN KEEP THE ADDITIONAL THREE FEET ON EACH SIDE, I GUESS, OF GRAVEL SO IF YOU DO GET THE VEHICLES.

I THINK, RICHARD, YOUR POINT IS VERY SALIENT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING AROUND THE CORNER AND YOU'VE GOT AN EIGHT FOOT WIDE VEHICLE, PART OF YOUR VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE OFF THE ROAD UNLESS YOU HAVE A RUBBER BAND VEHICLE, WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THOSE LATELY.

>> ESPECIALLY OVER THE CREEK AND IF IT'S ELEVATED AT ALL, MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF LETTING THEM DO 10 FEET OF PAVEMENT AND KEEPING THE BALANCE.

>> BUT WE ALSO WORRY ABOUT THE POINT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SOLID SURFACE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF EIGHT FEET, PEOPLE ARE GOING ON EITHER SIDE AND IT'S NOT CRUSHED OR COMPACTED WELL ENOUGH FOR A ROAD VEHICLE, YOU'RE GOING TO START ERODING THAT.

YOU COULD LOSE PART OF YOUR ROAD PRETTY EASILY AS YOU START HAVING A LOT OF WEIGHT ON THE GRAVEL OR THE HILL AND THEN YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES GOING ON TO REMEDIATE ONCE AGAIN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I'D BE IN FAVOR OF GETTING SOMETHING DONE UP FRONT THAT MAKES SENSE PROBABLY WITH THE GRAVEL VERSUS THE BITUMINOUS BECAUSE THEN AT LEAST YOU'VE GOT SOME STILL WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE GRAVEL VERSUS BITUMINOUS THAT'S JUST ROLLING OFF.

GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS DOWN THERE?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M WONDERING HOW LONG HAS THIS PLOT BEEN HERE? HOW LONG HAS THE EXISTING HOME.

>> THE HOME IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE PROPERTY WAS CREATED IN 2019.

>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE WIDENING HERE, AND WHEN WE SAY A DROP OFF, I HEARD THAT JUST A MOMENT AGO, A DROP OFF FROM THE DRIVEWAY.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S EXACTLY A DROP OFF RIGHT THERE, BUT THERE IS A CHANGE IN GRADE OVER-

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY AERIAL PHOTOS?

>> WE DO. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> HERE'S THE [INAUDIBLE].

>> YES, I'LL GET IT UP.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS YOU WITH THE HUES.

>> YEAH, IT DOESN'T.

>> THE CONTOURS REALLY SHOW YOU MORE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A HILL.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE PROVIDING FEEDBACK FOR A RESOLUTION.

WE'RE NOT VOTING ON IT TODAY.

>> YOU'RE DIRECTING?

[00:25:01]

>> DIRECTING STAFF TO CREATE A RESOLUTION.

>> THAT SEEMED A LOT STRAIGHTER THAN THIS DOES TO ME.

>> WHAT DOES?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AERIAL.

>> THE DRIVEWAY?

>> YEAH, IT JUST LOOKS A LOT STRAIGHTER.

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST THE CONSTRUCTION ACCESS.

>> THE WORD DROP OFF WOULD IMPLY THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF SHEER EMBANKMENT OR WHATNOT ON EITHER SIDE.

IS THAT THE CASE? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S GENERALLY FLAT BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A RAISED PORTION FOR A DRIVEWAY?

>> THESE ARE SOME FOOT CONTOURS HERE THAT DROPS OFF ON BOTH SIDES.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE DRIVING FOX BETWEEN BROWN AND OLD OWNER ORCHARD, WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING AND IT STRAIGHT DROPS TWO FEET AT A CRACK, TWO OR THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE IN A ROW, GO DOWN PRETTY QUICK.

>> WELL, THAT BLUE LINE THERE IS A CREEK, SO THERE HAS TO BE A DROP OFF, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT. WELL, THAT BRINGS ME TO SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMEND IN THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

THE FINAL SENTENCE HERE SAYS, THE PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.

CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> THIS WAS A KNOWN CONDITION AND A KNOWN DESIGN FOR ORIENTATION OF ALL THE LOTS WHEN THEY PLATTED IT.

CROSSING THE CREEK IS THE ONLY WAY INTO THE BUILDABLE ENVELOPE OF THE PROPERTY AND AS THE LIMITATION TO THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CREEK EXISTS, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE PURCHASER OF THE PROPERTY.

>> SO THAT'S A VALID POINT.

MY FEEDBACK ON THIS APPLICATION IS THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF INFORMATION, AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALLOWING CERTAIN TYPES OF VARIANCES WITHIN A 75 FOOT OF AN ORDINARY HIGH WATER LEVEL OF A CREEK, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS POTENTIALLY AVOIDABLE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NECESSARILY BE REAL SUPPORTIVE OF GIVEN THE INFORMATION, GIVEN WHAT'S INCLUDED HERE, GIVEN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND ALSO GIVEN PLANNING.

WELL, THEY VOTED 2-1 IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL.

>> THREE TO ONE IN FAVOR? YEAH.

>> RIGHT.

NO, I SEE ENOUGH INFORMATION HERE TO SAY THAT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOLKS ARE DESIRING TO DEVELOP AND BUILD UPON, THIS WOULD BE A CONDITION, AGAIN, GIVEN THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY OF ORONO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE FIGURED OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

AN EIGHT FOOT DRIVEWAY IS STILL NAVIGABLE EVEN IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

BUT WE NEED TO, IN MY OPINION, BE MINDFUL OF SETTING PRECEDENT FOR HARDCOVER IN A 75-FOOT.

THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY.

>> YEAH. I WILL JUST SAY THAT I THOUGHT YOU PRESENTED IT QUITE WELL, AND THANKS FOR COMING WITH YOUR INFORMATION.

SHARING THAT THE HOMEOWNER DID KNOW THAT IN ADVANCE IS HELPFUL.

I, TOO, WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH STAFF THAT PROBABLY SOMETHING NOT IN FAVOR OF AT THIS POINT.

BUT AFTER HEARING SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES OF ADDING A SHOULDER, I'D BE OPEN TO LOOKING AT THOSE AND TALKING WITH OUR ENGINEER AND SEEING WHAT YOU COULD PRESENT THAT WAY AND TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT IT.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT IF THE COUNCIL DOES FEEL THAT THE REGULATION IS OUTDATED, IT NEEDS TO BE REVISED, THEY COULD DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK INTO A REVISION OF THE CODE WITH A CHANGE IN THE WIDTH IN THAT AREA.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE TO GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF THE WIDTH.

MAYBE NOT THE WHOLE 12 FEET, BUT MAYBE 10.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO GET IN THERE AND NAVIGATE PROPERLY.

I DON'T SEE THE BIG, HUGE BENEFIT WE'RE SAVING.

THERE'S PLENTY OF HARD COVER ON THIS LOT.

>> YEAH, I SEE A HARDSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO OVER A CREEK OVER THERE.

JUST TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID, I THINK 12 FOOT IN WIDTH AND EIGHT FOOT IN BITUMINOUS IS WHAT I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE DOING.

>> SAY IT AGAIN?

>> A 12 FOOT IN TOTAL WITH AN EIGHT FOOT, SO I GET TWO FEET ON EACH SIDE.

THANKS, MELANIE, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON.

I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

IF WE KIND OF LOOK AT PART OF OUR JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS THERE.

MINUS THE CREEK AND ALL THESE THINGS, IT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY COULD JUST DO IT.

WHAT MAKES THIS UNIQUE IS THEY GOT THIS CREEK TO CONTEND WITH,

[00:30:02]

SO LET'S FIND A WAY TO HAVE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION INSTEAD OF NOT APPROVING IT AND HAVING THEM DOING IT ON THEIR OWN ANYWAY LATER DOWN THE ROAD.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE CODE TOO. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> YEAH. I THINK STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS RIGHT IN THIS CASE, BUT THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

>> YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO REVIEW?

>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION, DO WE?

>> PROBABLY A MOTION TO GIVE DIRECTION? YEAH.

>> WE'RE DIRECTING STAFF AT THIS POINT ON WHETHER TO PREPARE FINDINGS TO APPROVE OR DENY OR IF THERE'S A MODIFICATION OF SOMETHING IN BETWEEN IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'D LIKE.

>> REVIEW THE CODE ITSELF.

>> STAFF DOES NEED DIRECTION TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION.

>> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH DIRECTION?

>> EIGHT TO 12.

>> EIGHT FEET AND A COUPLE OF FEET ON EACH SIDE OF GRAVEL.

>> I'D BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> I GUESS I'D BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT TOO. HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I'D BE OPEN TO LISTENING.

>> COUNCIL MAYOR BENSON?

>> SURE, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

>> THERE'S YOUR DIRECTION.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

>> WOULD YOU WANT A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT AN APPROVAL RESOLUTION ON LA 204-000008 TO APPROVE A DRIVEWAY IN OVERALL WIDTH OF 12 FEET WITH EIGHT FOOT BITUMINOUS, OR A SHOULDER OF MAXIMUM TWO FEET ON EACH SIDE.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT.

>> I GOT A MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> OPPOSED? OKAY, NOTE THAT PASSES 5-0.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

>> ALSO, DO WE NEED A MOTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CODE?

>> THANKS.

>> A REASONABLE DRIVEWAYS?

>> I THINK JUST DIRECTION IS FINE.

>> I THINK DIRECTION ON THAT IS FINE AT THIS POINT.

>> THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 16,

[16. 975 Long Bridge Lane, Outdoor Excapes and Hendel Homes o/b/o Paul and Andrea Scott, Encroachment Agreements]

WHICH IS 975 LONG BRIDGE LANE, OUTDOOR ESCAPES AND HANDEL HOLMES ON BEHALF OF PAUL AND ANDREA SCOTT REGARDING ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENTS.

>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT THE COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENTS TO ADDRESS TWO AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED OR PLACED WITHIN THE WETLAND BUFFER, CONSERVATION AND DRAINAGE EASEMENT, AND/OR THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS ON THIS NEWLY DEVELOPED PROPERTY.

THE ENCROACHMENTS ARE SHOWN IN THE CLOUDED ORANGE AREA.

THERE'S A SEPTIC TANK OR TANKS IN THIS AREA HERE, AND NEAR THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY THERE IS A STONE RETAINING WALL THAT'S PART OF A RAISED LANDSCAPE BED ENCROACHING WITHIN THE EASEMENT.

STAFF BECAME AWARE OF THE ENCROACHMENTS DURING THE REVIEW OF THE FINAL AS-BUILT SURVEY FOR THE NEW HOME.

SEPTIC TANKS AND A PORTION OF A NEW STONE RETAINING WALL ARE SHOWN WITHIN EASEMENT AREAS.

THE SEPTIC TANKS WERE LOCATED WITHIN THE WETLAND BUFFER AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT.

RETAINING WALL ENCROACHES INTO THE DRAINAGE AND UTILITY STORMWATER EASEMENT.

ALL OF THE EASEMENT AREAS WERE ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THE LONG BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT.

THERE ARE OVERLAPPING EASEMENTS BENEFITING THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT OVER THE WETLAND BUFFER AND DRAINAGE EASEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY.

[NOISE] THE APPLICANTS WERE ADVISED TO REACH OUT TO THE WATERSHED FOR APPROVAL TO ALLOW THE ENCROACHMENTS TO REMAIN.

WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE WATERSHED REGARDING THE SEPTIC TANKS WITHIN THE BUFFER, WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED TO YOUR SPOTS THIS EVENING.

THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT AS THE REMOVAL OF THE TANKS WOULD CAUSE MORE DISTURBANCE TO THE BUFFER THAN IT WOULD BENEFIT.

STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE WATERSHED REGARDING CLARIFICATION ON THE RETAINING WALL, AND I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM ON THAT.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE SEPTIC TANKS TO REMAIN IN THEIR CURRENT LOCATION.

ADDITIONALLY, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT IF IN THE FUTURE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE TANKS, THE TANKS SHOULD BE RELOCATED TO A CONFORMING AREA OF THE PROPERTY OUTSIDE ANY EASEMENT AREA.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE BOULDER RETAINING WALL TO REMAIN.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE COUNCIL REQUIRE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MOVED TO A CONFORMING LOCATION OR REMOVED AT THE APPLICANT'S CHOICE.

COUNCIL SHOULD DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT FOR CONSIDERATION AT YOUR APRIL 22ND MEETING.

I DO HAVE SOME PHOTOS THAT THE APPLICANTS PROVIDED AND THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT. THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

>> GREAT, ANY QUESTIONS FOR, MELANIE? DIANE.

>> SEEING NONE. IS THE APPLICANT HERE LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECT? YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

[00:35:01]

>> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME IS HANS FREES.

I'M REPRESENTING OUTDOOR ESCAPES.

I'M ALSO AN ORONO RESIDENT AT 820 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD SOUTH.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PAUL AND HIS WIFE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS SINCE THEY STARTED BUILDING WITH HANDEL HOLMES.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE RETAINING WALL PIECE OF THIS.

A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKSTORY HERE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PERMITS ON THIS PROPERTY, SO THERE WAS CERTAINLY NO ILL WILL TO GET US TO THIS POSITION WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.

WE'VE SUBMITTED THAT AS WE'VE SEEN YOU ALL BEFORE, AND WE ACTIVELY HAVE MANY PERMITS IN THIS CITY.

BUT THE BACKSTORY HERE IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A FUTURE VEGETABLE GARDEN FOR THE SCOTT'S TO BE ABLE CREATE SOME RAISED PLANTERS, AND THIS WAS A LATE ADDITION INTO THE PROPERTY.

IT DOES HAVE THE UNIQUE WETLAND SETBACKS, AND TO BE 100% HONEST, THIS IS COMPLETELY ON OUR FAULT.

THIS WAS A MISMEASURE FROM OUR FIELD STAFF DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS LATE ADDITION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, JUST THAT BACK FAR RIGHT CORNER IS SNEAKING OVER OUR LINE.

IT'S ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE BOULDER, MAX TWO FEET AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT SEVEN FEET LONG.

WE'RE CERTAINLY WILLING TO REMOVE THAT.

IN DOING SO, WE FEEL THAT WILL CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO TREES, THE HILLSIDE, AND THE EROSION STABLE CONTROL THAT WE'VE PUT AROUND THAT AREA.

IF WE DO REMOVE THAT, WE WILL ALSO BE INVITING MORE OF THE RUNOFF DOWN INTO THE HOLDING AREA JUST BELOW. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?

>> MELANIE, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT WHEN MOVING THE SEPTIC, THE WATERSHED WAS IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT FOR DISTURBANCE.

WOULD, IN YOUR OPINION, THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE FOR THIS?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE WATERSHED DISTRICT.

BUT THE BUFFER AREA IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE STORMWATER EASEMENT AREA AND THE SEPTIC IS A NECESSITY FOR THE HOME.

>> BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT DOES CAUSE A DISTURBANCE AND THERE WERE TREES, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE PICTURE, PLANTED QUITE CLOSE.

>> IT'S ON THE BACK CORNER [INAUDIBLE].

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? SEEING NONE, THANKS.

>> WELL, I HAD, I GUESS, ONE QUESTION.

>> ANY THOUGHTS?

WHAT WE NOTICED WITH THE INSPECTION FROM THE CITY AND NOT CATCHING THAT EARLY ON AND KNOWING MISSTEPS HAPPEN.

I SEE IT HARD TO SAY WHEN WE MAKE A MISTAKE, WE'RE OKAY DOING IT.

BUT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE DOES ON THE SAME PROJECT THAT WE WOULD HOLD THEM TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD.

THAT'S A HARD ONE FOR ME.

>> ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE SEPTIC?

>> YEAH. WITH THAT JUST AS FAR AS THE TWO ITEMS AND THEY WERE BOTH MISSED BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT ONE WAS BY OUR CITY AND ONE BY THE.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE MISSED.

WHAT IS THE SECOND THING THAT?

>> I THOUGHT WHEN THE CITY WENT OUT, THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE APPROVAL FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE SEPTIC?

>> THE SEPTIC SYSTEM?

>> YES.

>> OUR SEPTIC CONTRACT AND THE SEPTIC INSPECTOR, HE APPROVED THE LOCATION OF THOSE TANKS.

>> YES. BUT THE WALL WAS NOT.

>> BUT THAT WAS A MISTAKE TO APPROVE THAT, CORRECT?

>> THE SEPTIC [OVERLAPPING].

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> OUR SEPTIC CONTRACTOR REVIEWS OUR SEPTIC PERMITS FOR THE COUNTY REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SETBACKS AND EVERYTHING.

WE DON'T GET THE SEPTIC DESIGN WITH THE NEW HOME BUILD, THOSE ONLY COME IN WITH THE SEPTIC PERMITS.

THE LOCATION OF THE TANKS AND THE PUMPS, AND EVERYTHING, ALL ARE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN A SEPTIC PERMIT, SO OUR SEPTIC CONTRACTOR IS REVIEWING ALL THOSE.

THAT HAS DIFFERENT SETBACKS, 50-FOOT SETBACKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT FROM PROPERTY LINES AND FROM THESE PROTECTED AREAS.

ALL OF THOSE WERE MET FOLLOWING HIS REQUIREMENTS.

WHAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF, BEING A SEPARATE CONTRACTOR AND OFF-SITE, WAS THIS ADDITIONAL 75-FOOT EASEMENT THAT WAS PUT ON THIS PROPERTY.

AS HE DOESN'T LOOK AT THE SURVEYS THAT WAY, HE JUST IS WORRIED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE RELATING TO THE PROPERTY LINES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.

WE ISSUED A SEPTIC PERMIT WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BY OUR SEPTIC CONTRACTOR.

THESE RETAINING WALLS, WHILE THEY'VE PULLED DIFFERENT, LIKE THE APPLICANT SAID, DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS FOR THE POOL AND ACCESSORY STUFF, WERE NEVER DEPICTED, SO THERE WAS NEVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO CORRECT OR TELL THEM THAT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GO THERE.

>> THEN IT SHOULD BE NOTED.

[00:40:02]

WE ARE IN TRANSITION INTO TAKING OVER OUR OWN SEPTIC.

>> TRUE.

>> JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, RIGHT NOW WE OUTSOURCE OUR SEPTIC INSPECTIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE CERTIFIED ON OUR STAFF NOW.

BUT SHE'S GOING THROUGH THAT TRAINING NOW. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE HAVE TWO. I THINK WE HAVE TWO [OVERLAPPING].

>> BOTH ARE IN TRAINING, YEAH, AND WE HOPE TO START TAKING OVER THIS YEAR.

>> THAT WILL HELP POTENTIALLY WITH THIS COORDINATION COMPONENT.

I'M GLAD WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT BECAUSE WE'LL BE BETTER OFF.

BUT I'M WITH YOU, I THINK THAT THE RIGHT TIME TO CATCH THIEVES IS IF THEY ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE BEFORE THEY WERE COMPLETED AND WE DIDN'T.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE WATERSHED IS COMFORTABLE WITH THEM, I'M GOOD THERE.

THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THE MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY RECTIFIABLE WITHOUT CAUSING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DAMAGE BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT REMOVING THE CORNER, AND SO I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THAT AND PUT THAT INTO THE CONFORMING LOCATION BY TAKING OFF THAT CORNER TO DO IT.

>> I AGREE. I THINK THAT WAS WELL STATED AND I WOULD AGREE WITH IT.

>> I WOULD AGREE AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY, TO THE CONTRACTOR, EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES, BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GOT PERMISSION TO DO IT, AND YOU CAN'T CREATE YOUR OWN PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY AFTER THE FACT BY SAYING, OH, IT MIGHT CAUSE SOME ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

THE SEPTIC IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S GOT SOME WHOLE DIFFERENT TYPE OF DISTURBANCES GOING ON, SO FOR SURE, IF THE WATERSHED IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

BUT I DO THINK MATT IS RIGHT, I THINK THAT CORNER IS PROBABLY EASILY RECTIFIABLE.

IT'LL STILL BE A GREAT PLANTER BED AND EVERYTHING FOR VEGETABLES. BUT I AGREE.

>> I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION IS DO WE WAIT FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE WATERSHED OR WOULD WE?

>> I THINK IF WE WERE GOING TO GRANT IT TO REMAIN, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE WATERSHED'S OPINION WAS.

IF WE ARE REQUIRING IT TO BE REMOVED, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A REASON TO.

>> THE WATERSHED, I DON'T THINK HAS AN IMPACT ON ME FROM A LINE AND WHERE THE HARDCOVER CAN BE.

>> DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE?

>> PLEASE COME UP TO THE MIKE.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, WE WOULDN'T NEED A PERMIT FOR THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, RIGHT MELANIE?

>> YOU NEED A PERMIT FOR THIS WALL.

>> FOR THE RETAINING WALL?

>> YOU DO.

>> BECAUSE IT'S OVER.

>> BECAUSE IT'S A STRUCTURE.

>> OKAY. WHEN DID ORONO START REQUIRING WALL PERMITS? I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY OVER FOUR FEET TALL NATIVE ENGINEERING.

>> A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR A RETAINING WALL OVER FOUR FEET, A ZONING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR ANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS LIKE A PATIO.

>> YEAH. NO, I APOLOGIZE.

I MEANT BUILDING PERMIT.

NOT BUILDING PERMIT, ZONING PERMIT.

>> COULD WE MAKE A MOTION?

LET'S SEE. GOT DIRECT STAFF.

THIS IS ANOTHER DIRECTION.

DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT THE APPROVAL OF THE SEPTIC TANK IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND DRAFT REQUIREMENT TO REMOVE WE CALL THAT THE RETAINING WALL OUT OF THE SETBACK.

>> I HAVE A MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND THAT.

>> OPPOSED? NO, THAT PASSES 5-0.

THAT'LL BE ON IN OUR COUNCIL MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.

>> THANKS FOR COMING THOUGH. FACING IT. THAT'S GOOD.

>> HERE WE GO.

ANY OTHER THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT? YOU HAVE A SLIDE AND EVERYTHING TODAY.

>> I HAVE A SLIDE. [LAUGHTER] I THOUGHT YOU WANT TO THROW THAT UP FOR ME.

HERE'S OUR BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE.

IN 2022 IS IN YELLOW, 2023 IS IN PURPLE, AND THEN SILVER IS 2024.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE LOWER THAN 2023, BUT RIGHT IN THE SAME BALL GAME, SAME TRACKING AS PREVIOUS YEARS, SO NOTHING TOO CONCERNING.

PERMITS ARE STARTING TO PICK UP A LOT OF THEORY MODELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OR TWO NEW HOUSES A MONTH, SO THAT'S ON TRACK WITH PREVIOUS YEARS.

OTHER THINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

LIKE WE MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN BUSY DOING SEPTIC TRAINING AND SEPTIC CERTIFICATIONS AND CROSSOVER.

WE HAD OUR INSPECTOR OUT RECENTLY TAKING SOME TESTS AND WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE CLASSES.

[00:45:02]

I WILL NOTE THAT HENNEPIN COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN HELPING US GET SOME OF OUR ON-SITE INSPECTIONS DONE.

THEY'VE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH AND COORDINATING WITH.

WE ALSO ARE BUSY PLANNING FOR OUR PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET AS OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING THIS NEXT WEEK, SO GETTING ALL THOSE THINGS DONE.

NATALIE AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE COMING UP NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS BEING HOSTED HERE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS.

>> THAT'S NICE.

>> THAT'S EXCITING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY COMING TO THAT, SO IT'LL BE FUN TO ATTEND.

>> AWESOME.

>> WELL, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LAURA?

WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

>> THANKS LAURA.

WE GOT CHIEF VAN EYLL AND WE'LL START WITH OUR NUMBER 6 WHICH IS CONTRACT FOR SCHEDULING SOFTWARE RESOLUTION 7467.

>> ABSOLUTELY. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE TO BE USED BY THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT FITS BEST PRACTICES AND HELPS THE DEPARTMENT BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.

VECTOR SOLUTIONS IS AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT WE UTILIZE FOR OUR TRAINING AND ALSO FOR OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CHECKLIST PLATFORM.

WE WOULD UTILIZE VECTOR SOLUTIONS SCHEDULING TO DELIVER AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR OUR CREW SCHEDULING AND FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

THIS ONLINE SOFTWARE PROGRAM COMES ALSO WITH A FREE APPLICATION TO ASSIST OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN PICKING THEIR SHIFTS, LOGGING THEIR TIMES AND CALLS, DOING TRADES, THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

VECTOR SOLUTIONS IS WELL KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY AND IS A PARTNER WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS.

THEIR SCHEDULING SOFTWARE ANNUALLY IS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $3,000.

THERE WAS A ONE TIME CHARGE OF $800 TO SET IT UP, BUT SINCE WE UTILIZE THE TWO OTHER PLATFORMS, THEY'RE WAIVING THAT FOR US AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

ALL FUNDING FOR THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED WITH THE OPERATING BUDGET BACK IN '23 FOR THIS YEAR.

I RECOMMEND THE USE OF VECTOR SOLUTIONS SCHEDULING SOFTWARE.

THE COUNCIL SHOULD AUTHORIZE ORONO TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR VECTOR SOLUTIONS.

>> I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER BENSON TOOK THIS OFF CONSENT AGENDA. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I DID SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO FUNDING PROJECTS OR EXPENSES FOR ORONO FIRE, WHICH IS WHY I CHECK IT OFF. THANK YOU.

>> DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON IT OR ANYTHING?

>> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ON IT, NO.

I JUST WANT TO SEPARATE IT FROM THE REST OF THE VOTE. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I GUESS I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACTS FOR THE VECTOR SOLUTIONS SCHEDULING.

>> SECONDED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?

>> OPPOSED?

>> THAT'S A NOTE THAT PASSES 4-1.

COUNCILMEMBER BENSON IS THE NO.

THAT BRINGS US TO NUMBER 17,

[17. Pay for On-Call and Certifications]

PAY FOR ON-CALL AND CERTIFICATIONS, CHIEF.

>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS ONE TONIGHT IS TO GET APPROVAL FOR SOME SPECIAL COMPENSATION PAY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.

THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT LINES OF COMPENSATION PAY HERE, ONE BEING FOR NATIONALLY REGISTERED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.

ALSO COMPENSATION PAY FOR OUR DUTY OFFICER PROGRAM.

THEN ALSO SPECIAL COMPENSATION FOR HOLIDAYS AS DEFINED BY OUR EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.

THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TOWARDS HAVING ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS BE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DMTS, WHICH IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAINING THAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDERS.

THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAINING ALLOWS OFD TO DO MORE ADVANCED ACTIONS ON THE SCENE AND RIDE WITH THE AMBULANCE ASSISTS, PARAMEDIC CREWS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.

THAT'S SPECIAL COMPENSATION PAY.

WE'RE GOING TO EMPLOY A DUTY OFFICER ON SHIFT.

WHEN THE DUTY CREW IS NOT ON SHIFT, THAT DUTY OFFICER WILL RESPOND TO CALLS FOR SERVICE WHILE ON SHIFT AND MUST REMAIN IN THE AREA AND AVAILABLE FOR RESPONSE.

THE DUTY OFFICER CAN EITHER BE PAID-ON-CALL OR A PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER IF THEY LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH OR REMAIN IN THE AREA WHILE ON SHIFT.

WE'LL HAVE SPECIAL CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT THE DUTY OFFICER WILL BE THE ONLY ONE RESPONDING TO WHILE NOT PAGING OUT ALL OF OUR OTHER.

THAT DUTY OFFICER WILL RECEIVE THEIR NORMAL HOURLY RATE ONCE THOSE CALLS COME IN FOR SERVICE BESIDES ON-CALL PAY.

THEN THE THIRD ONE, THAT IS FOR OUR DUTY CREW SHIFT SCHEDULE FOR HOLIDAYS AND ALSO EMERGENCY CALLS ON HOLIDAYS, WE'RE SETTING UP SPECIAL COMPENSATION SIMILAR TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE RECOMMENDED COMPENSATION BELOW IN THE GRAPH.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT A MOTION BE APPROVED FOR SPECIAL COMPENSATION AS LISTED IN THE TABLE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR SOREN.

I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER VEACH WE'VE COVERED THIS IN TERMS OF SALARIES.

GIVEN YOUR HUSBAND'S NATURE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I DO THINK IT'S ADVISABLE FOR YOU NOT TO VOTE ON IT.

WITH THAT SAID, AND I THINK I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I DO THINK THAT'S A BIT OF CONSERVATIVE ADVICE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A INCREASE THAT IT IS TARGETED FOR YOUR HUSBAND.

IT IS DEPARTMENT-WIDE, BUT BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT YOUR HUSBAND AND BECAUSE

[00:50:02]

THAT DOES IMPACT YOUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT THAT POINT, IT IS ADVISABLE TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM THIS VOTE WITH A CONFLICT, IN MY OPINION.

>> OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GETS DOUBLE TIME FOR HOLIDAY PAY, CORRECT?

>> I BELIEVE WE LOOKED AT THE UNION CONTRACTS AND THERE'S SOME WORDAGE IN THERE.

THEY GET SOME COMPENSATION FOR HOLIDAY PAY.

>> THIS WOULD BE SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT WITH THAT?

>> IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THAT AND SOME OTHER UNIONS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY.

>> SPOKEN FROM SOMEBODY WHO SPENT IN ER.

I WAS IN THE ER ON CHRISTMAS AFTER A RESCUE ONE TIME ALL DAY.

THIS SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO ME.

>> I WAS ALSO THERE WITH YOU.

>> YES, I KNOW YOU WERE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU CHECKED.

[LAUGHTER].

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT NREMT AND HOW THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE EMR IN YOUR EXPERIENCE PREVIOUSLY WITH LONG LAKE AND WHAT THE DISTINCTION IS.

ALSO CLARIFY WHAT THE MORE ADVANCED ACTIONS ON SCENE WOULD BE AND THE RIDING IN THE AMBULANCE, AND IS THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY OR DIFFERENT?

>> A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OR NATIONALLY REGISTERED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN GOES THROUGH, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING, BUT IT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDERS GO THROUGH.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO.

THEY CAN ASSIST WITH THE SET UPS OF IVS.

THEY CAN PUT ADVANCED ORAL AIRWAYS IN, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THEN THEY ARE ALLOWED IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE.

THE AMBULANCE COMES WITH A PARAMEDIC AND AN EMT, AND THEN AN EMT IS ABLE TO RIDE BACK, THERE ARE ALSO WITH THEM TO ASSIST.

>> THIS WOULD BE FOR BOTH DUTY CREW AND PAID-ON-CALL, THE CERTIFICATION?

>> YES. CORRECT.

>> IS THAT FAIRLY STANDARD WITH PAID-ON-CALL TO HAVE THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAINING GIVEN THAT YOU ALSO HAVE EMERGENCY MEDICAL OR AMBULANCE PROCEDURE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT REQUIRE ALL EMTS AND THERE'S SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT REQUIRE JUST EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.

IN OUR AREA, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE EMTS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SORRY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IN YOUR EXPERIENCE AT YOUR PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT? HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS FOR NREMT VERSUS EMR?

>> WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THERE WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 THAT WERE EMTS.

THEN WHERE I CAME FROM CHASKA, MOST OF THEM WERE EMTS.

THEY REQUIRED THEM ALL TO BE EMTS.

>> YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET EVERY PERSONNEL FOR ORONO FIRE IN THIS CATEGORIZATION?

>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND MOVE THAT DIRECTION. YES.

>> IS IT FAIRLY COMMON FOR FIRE PERSONNEL TO PLACE AN IV OR DO THOSE HIGHER LEVEL FUNCTIONING OR IS THAT TYPICALLY DONE?

>> TO ASSIST WITH THAT, YES.

FOR AN EMT, YES.

IT'S COMMON WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE THAT YOU'RE ASSISTING WITH THOSE.

>> ASSISTING WITH BUT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST IF YOU'RE EMR TRAINED ONLY?

>> THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THE EMT IN THE BACK BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS REQUIRED.

IF THEY ARE SHORT PEOPLE THEY'LL TAKE AN EMR, BUT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE AN EMT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> WOULD YOU SAY IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL THAT ALL PERSONNEL HAVE THIS HIGH LEVEL OF TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB FUNCTION?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF EMT, YES.

>> IS IT MORE STANDARD THAT AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ARE DOING THAT TYPE OF LEVEL OF CARE OR WOULD YOU SAY IT'S VERY COMMON THAT FIRE PERSONNEL ARE ALSO ASSISTING WITH THOSE HIGHER LEVELS OF FUNCTIONING? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF RESPONSES.

YOU GET THE AMBULANCE THERE TYPICALLY FIRST IN GENERAL OR POLICE AND THEN MAYBE FIRE?

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY WITH OUR DUTY CREW MODEL, NO, WE'LL HAVE THE POLICE THERE FIRST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN AND AROUND THE AREA CONSTANTLY.

THEN WE'LL HAVE THE DUTY CREW IF IT'S DURING THE DUTY CREW HOURS THAT'LL BE RESPONDING AND THEY'LL HOPEFULLY BEAT THE AMBULANCE THERE.

THAT'S OUR GOAL.

THEN YOU HAVE THE AMBULANCE THAT WOULD SHOW UP AFTER THAT? DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE RESPONDING FROM? WE'RE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, SO THE POLICE HAVE SOME EMT'S, MAINLY EMRS, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE FOR THEM.

THEN WHEN THE AMBULANCE SHOWS UP WITH THAT PARAMEDIC IN THE BACK, THEY'RE AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN US.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THE MORE TRAINING THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE, THE BETTER.

OBVIOUSLY, GIVING THEM AN INCENTIVE TO ENHANCE THEIR TRAINING TO AN EMT LEVEL.

WHAT THE EXACT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN EMR AND EMT, WHAT WE ALL CAN AGREE ON IS MORE TRAINING TO BE AN EMT.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE THAT JUST LIKE WE DID ON

[00:55:03]

THE PUBLIC WORK SIDE WHERE WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE SKILLS AND HAD DIFFERENT PAY BASED ON YOUR SKILLS.

I THINK IT'S A TERRIFIC IDEA HERE TO REWARD THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE MORE TRAINING. WE NEED THEM.

WE KNOW THAT OVER 70% OF OUR CALLS ARE MEDICAL, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE MORE MEDICAL TRAINING.

SAME THING WITH THE DUTY OFFICER AND ON CALL PAY.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO THE SERVICE, TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND WITH THE IDEA OF ENHANCING RESPONSE TIMES.

NO ONE THINKS THESE FIREFIGHTERS ARE OVERPAID.

FINDING AN INCENTIVE TO REWARD THEM AND THEN COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE MORE DIFFICULT TIMES IS SOMETHING I'M 100% ON BOARD FOR.

I'LL JUST SIDE THROW THAT IN.

>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AND I FULLY AGREE.

I'M A BIG FAN OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND ENSURING THAT PERSONNEL ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND SKILLED IN WHAT THEY DO.

MY ONLY QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT THIS SPENDING AS IT RELATES TO THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

BECAUSE THE WAY WE'VE SET UP THIS WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS TO BE A VERY NIMBLE UNIT OF GOVERNMENT WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.

USING PAID ON CALL, USING DUTY CREW, USING ON CALL, PAID ON CALL GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MASSAGE AND MOVE AROUND BASED ON THE TYPE OF CALLS WHEN THEY'RE HAPPENING.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, ALL THE BOOMERS HAVE GOTTEN OLDER, SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MORE MEDICAL CALLS.

WELL, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN LATER ON THE POPULATION GETS YOUNGER AND CALLS COME IN DIFFERENTLY ON THE WEEKEND OR THE NIGHTS OR THE DAYS.

WITH THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, WE'RE ABLE TO CHANGE THE HOURS FOR PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S ON CALL OR DUTY CREW, TO EFFECTUATE THE BEST DELIVERY MODEL OF FIRE AND RESPONSE THAT WE CAN DO.

WE CAN ONLY DO THAT BY PUTTING THIS IN PLACE, AND I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE THE INSURANCE RATING.

THE INSURANCE RATING HAS TO TAKE OVER WHEN WE'RE TAKING OVER AN AREA, THE INSURANCE COMES IN AND RATES IT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF OUR MODEL AND HOW WE'RE PROVIDING OUR SERVICE.

THE LOWER THE RATING AND THE BETTER YOU HAVE FOR INSURANCE RATES AND ARE BASED ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING OUR SERVICES FOR OUR CITY AND ALL THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.

JUST LIKE THIS ONE EXAMPLE, OUR INSURANCE RATING IS ACTUALLY GOING TO GO DOWN.

WE ARE ORONO PROUD, ORONO STRONG, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNDER THIS LEADERSHIP.

WITH THAT SAID, SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON THIS.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL COMPENSATION PAY AS LISTED IN THE TABLE.

>> MOTION BY CROSBY.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> SECOND BY JOHNSON. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER OF EACH WHO HAD ABSTAINED FROM THIS, RECUSED YOURSELF.

>> THREE ONE, ONE.

>> THREE ONE AND ONE AND THE OTHER ONE WAS COUNCILMEMBER BENSON ON THE NO SIDE.

NOW OUR PEOPLE ON THE SCREEN TAKING ALL OF OUR NOTES KNOW WHO'S MAKING THE MOTIONS BECAUSE WE GOT LECTURED ON THAT TODAY.

WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 18 WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT MORE EXCITING STUFF WITH HIGHER PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[18. Hire Part-Time Firefighters]

>> ABSOLUTELY, MR. MAYOR. THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY SEEKING PART TIME AND PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS FOR RESPONSE IN THE TWO ZONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER ON JULY 1.

SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE POSITION INTERVIEW INVOLVED ADVERTISING FOR THE POSITION SCREENING AND AN INTERVIEW.

THE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE FIRE CHIEF AND OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES.

THE APPLICANTS MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A PHYSICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM AND A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK PERFORMED BY THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, ONE OF THEM IS THOMAS BROWN.

I RECOMMEND TOM BROWN WITH SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND MATT HOOVER, WHO WAS JUST STARTING HIS FIRE SERVICE CAREER FOR CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS AS PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS WITH EFFECTIVE DATES OF APRIL 9, 2024.

TOM BROWN HAS EXPERIENCED WITH AS A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANOTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HE'S PASSED AS FIREFIGHTER 1, 2 AND EMT.

MATT HOOVER IS A NEWER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HE'S PASSED AS FIREFIGHTERS 1, 2 AND EMT.

BOTH ARE EXCITED TO BECOME CHARTER MEMBERS OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING THE BEST DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA.

I'LL RECOMMEND STARTING COMPENSATION PAY TO BE $20 AN HOUR FOR THEM.

BENEFITS TO INCLUDE POLICE AND FIRE PARA OBVIOUSLY, THE CONDITIONS AS WE'VE DISCUSSED ABOVE WOULD BE PASSING THE BACKGROUND CHECK, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM, AND THE PHYSICAL EXAMS.

>> THANKS, CHIEF. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF?

>> CHIEF, CAN YOU CONFIRM WHERE THOMAS CAME FROM? WHICH DEPARTMENT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. TOM BROWN IS AN EXCELSIOR FIREFIGHTER.

>> TOM WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT.

>> MATT HOOVER?

[01:00:01]

MATT HOOVER JUST GRADUATED FROM CENTURY COLLEGE.

>> OH, GREAT. HE'S GONE THROUGH HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND FIREFIGHTER 2 AND EMT ALL THROUGH THERE.

>> GREAT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WERE THESE PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS PART OF THE PLAN, THESE HIRES? CAN YOU CONFIRM HOW MANY NUMBERS YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF PART TIME?

>> YEAH. IF THESE TWO ARE APPROVED, WE'LL BE AT 10 TOTAL PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS.

>> HOW MANY PAD ON CALL?

>> NINE PAID ON CALL. WE HAD 10, BUT WE HAD ONE THAT RESIGNED DUE TO SOME HEALTH ISSUES.

OKAY.

ARE THESE HIRES NECESSARY BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE ENOUGH PAID-ON-CALLS?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL.

TRYING TO FILL IN ALL THESE HOURS AND TO MAKE ALL THE SCHEDULES WORK, WE'RE GOING TO NEED PROBABLY 8-10.

THEN IN MY UPDATE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EXPANDING THOSE DUTY CREW HOURS, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED A COUPLE MORE.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, I THINK, BEFORE THE MEETING, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT AND WE HAVE MORE IN THE PIPELINE, PAID-ON-CALL AS WELL AS DUTY CREW AS FIREFIGHTERS.

>> CORRECT? YES.

>> WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH THIS. THERE'S ANY SHORTAGE OF BEING COMPLETELY STAFFED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AND LOOKING AT JANUARY OF 2026 AS WE VENTURE INTO THE REST OF THE ORONO TERRITORY THAT WE WILL BE FULLY STAFFED BY THEN AS WELL AND BRING IT ALL UNDER OUR HOUSE, ORONO PROUD AND ORONO STRONG.

>> CHIEF, EXCUSE ME, SORRY, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO PREPARE NUMBERS VERSUS OUR GOAL?

>> YEAH. I HAVE AN UPDATE COMING UP AFTER THIS SESSION, AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT THEN. ABSOLUTELY.

>> ARE YOU GIVING AN UPDATE TONIGHT?

>> THERE'LL BE A LITTLE PRESENTATION TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT WITH EVERYTHING.

>> AFTER THESE ITEMS.

>> THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

IS IT DIFFERENT?

>> THAT'S JUST A PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

>> IT'S JUST AN UPDATE. THERE WAS QUESTIONS AS TO WHERE WE WERE AT WITH EVERYTHING IF WE'RE GOING TO BE OPERATIONAL-READY BY JULY 1ST, SO I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE AT THIS COUNCIL MEETING.

>> [OVERLAPPING] LAURIE, GIVEN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT, HE'S GOT A PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY. ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS FOR THOMAS BROWN AND MATTHEW HOOVER AS PART-TIME FIREFIGHTERS AT THE RATE OF $20 PER HOUR WITH A START DATE OF APRIL 9TH, 2024.

>> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER VEACH AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> OPPOSED?

>> THAT MEANS [NOISE] IT'S FOUR TO ONE, BENSON ON A NO.

>> WELCOME.

>> WELCOME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. CHIEF, TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

>> REAL QUICK AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS, SO THIS WAS THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT WE PUT TOGETHER DURING THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

ON THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE EXPECTATION WAS TO HAVE EIGHT DUTY CREW AND 18 PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS IN 24, AND THEN 14 DUTY CREW IN 36 AND 26.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAD PLANNED ON.

WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN THE LAST YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PART-TIME PEOPLE? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PAID-ON-CALL PEOPLE? WE HAD TO BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE IN HOW THINGS WERE GOING.

THE STATUS AS WE STAND UP THIS DEPARTMENT AS OF TODAY, SO THAT PERSONNEL SECTION ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, WE HAVE THE ONE FULL-TIME PERSON MYSELF.

WE HAVE THE PART-TIME PEOPLE AS YOU SEE THEM FILLED OUT, THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM, AND THEN THE PAID-ON-CALL PEOPLE AS NINE.

PROVING TWO OF THEM TONIGHT WILL HELP.

WE HAVE ONE OF OUR PART-TIME PEOPLE THAT IS GOING TO DO SOME TRAINING, AND THIS WILL ACTUALLY START IN JULY.

HE'S GOING TO GO DO SOME TRAINING TO BE AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, SO HE'LL BE GONE FOR SIX WEEKS.

WE NEED TO FILL IN HIS POSITION IN SOME OF HIS HOURS.

HE'S A BRAND NEW FIREFIGHTER FOR US ALSO, PASSED ALL OF HIS STUFF THROUGH CENTURY, HAD APPLIED FOR AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL JOB ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THEN FINALLY GOT SOME INFORMATION BACK THAT HE'S BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.

HE'LL GO THROUGH HIS TRAINING AND HE'LL TRY AND COME BACK TO THE AREA.

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT HE'LL STILL BE A PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER FOR US IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE THREE OTHER PAID-ON-CALL APPLICATIONS.

TWO OF THEM WE'VE INTERVIEWED SO FAR, AND ONE JUST CAME IN OVER THE WEEKEND.

I TALKED TO TYLER OVER THE WEEKEND, RECOMMENDED BY ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS, SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHER PART-TIME APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN ALSO.

AS WE LOOK AT, WE SET UP THIS MODEL TO BE FLEXIBLE AND TO BE ABLE MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN PAID-ON-CALL AND PART-TIME PEOPLE.

INITIALLY, OUR DUTY CREW TIMES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT TO FILL WERE FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING TILL 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

[01:05:02]

WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION.

ADAM AND I, AND SHEA AND I, IN THE LAST ANYWHERE FROM A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO A YEAR AGO, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO DO THIS? WITH THE RULING THAT WE RECENTLY RECEIVED WHERE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HIRE ANY MORE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS FROM LONG LAKE, WE NEED TO MAKE A SHIFT OR A LITTLE CHANGE IN OUR DUTY CREW HOURS TO ASSIST TAKING SOME TIME OFF OF OUR PAID-ON-CALL DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING A DUTY CREW STAFFED FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 10:00 AT NIGHT.

THAT'LL BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

INITIALLY, WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT WEEKDAYS TO STAFF THE DUTY CREW MODELS.

WE'LL BE REDUCING OUR STAFFING FROM FOUR-PERSON STAFF TO A TWO-PERSON STAFF OR A THREE-PERSON STAFF, DEPENDING ON IF IT'S A PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER OR NOT.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR STAFFING MODEL.

THAT BEING SAID, WE WOULD NEED A COUPLE MORE PART-TIME PEOPLE, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THEM TO FILL SOME OF THOSE SHIFTS.

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE USED ENGINE THAT HAS COME IN.

WE HAVE THE TWO COMMAND VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE LADDER TRUCK THAT ARE IN.

THOSE ARE WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

WE HAVE THE BRUSH MEDICAL TRUCK THAT IS ON DELIVERY TO BE HERE IN JULY, AND THEN WE HAVE THE TANKER THAT'S ON DELIVERY TO BE HERE IN JUNE.

THEN WE HAVE THE TWO FACILITIES, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE OLD PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.

ONCE PUBLIC WORKS MOVES OUT OF THAT, WE'LL DO SOME CLEANING AND WE'LL DO SOME PAINT AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF, AND GET THAT READY FOR A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION IN THE SHORT TERM HERE.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PLANS TO MODIFY THE GARAGE DOWN BY THE NAVARRE WATER TOWER DOWN THERE.

THAT'S IN THE WORKS ALSO, SO THAT'LL GIVE US VERY NICE SPACES TO WORK OUT OF TEMPORARILY.

ONCE WE GET OUR FACILITIES BACK AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT, STATION 2 WILL THEN MOVE FROM THAT NAVARRE GARAGE INTO STATION 2.

ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU SEE THE ENGINE THAT'S GOT THE DOTTED GREEN LINE AROUND IT.

THAT'S THE ONE RESCUE PUMPER THAT'S ON ORDER THAT SHOULD BE HERE IN NOVEMBER OF 25, JUST IN TIME TO START SERVICE FOR US IN JANUARY OF 26 OUT OF THE STATION UP HERE.

TRAINING, WE STARTED DOING OUR NORMAL TRAININGS STARTED IN APRIL.

HERE YOU'LL START SEEING US IN AND AROUND THE AREA.

SOME INDIVIDUAL TRAININGS, I WANTED TO THROW SOME THINGS OUT THERE, 60% OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS RIGHT NOW ARE EMTS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH ARE ALREADY HAVE THEIR FIREFIGHTER 1 OR FIREFIGHTER 2, AND THE ONES THAT DON'T ARE IN THE CLASS RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL BE DONE HERE SHORTLY.

OVER 70% OF OUR STAFF IS AN ENGINEER, OR FAO, WHICH IS A FIRE APPARATUS OPERATOR.

THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THEIR PUMPING AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.

THE ONE WEAK POINT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IS THE LADDER TRUCK, SO WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING MORE PEOPLE TRAINED IN THE USE OF THE LADDER TRUCK.

THEN ALMOST HALF OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS RIGHT NOW ARE BLUE CARD IC CERTIFIED, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

I BELIEVE AS I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, OUR AVERAGE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, OR OUR PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS, ARE OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE.

OUR AVERAGE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OVERALL FOR ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS IS RIGHT AROUND NINE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF FIREFIGHTERS WITH A GOOD MIX OF EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM THE INITIAL TO FIVE YEARS AND A THIRD THAT ARE AT THAT FIVE-YEAR TO 10-YEAR MARK, AND THEN THE REST OF THEM FILTER INTO THE OTHER AREAS.

ADMINISTRATION, AS WE GO DOWN OUR CHECKLIST, THE GREENS ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE.

THE BLACKS ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST ONE BEING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER.

WE HAD THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL OUT THREE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TODAY.

WE HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH THEM.

THEY TOURED THE FACILITIES, AND IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, WE NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR LETTER TO THEM TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT STATE FIRE MARSHAL BECAUSE THE ONE THAT WE HAD ADDRESSED, ONE OF THEIR SPECIALISTS, RATHER THAN THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, SO WE'LL GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

THEY WANTED AN AERIAL VIEW OF OUR ZONES THAT WERE TAKEN OVER JULY 1ST.

WE'VE GOT THAT ALL INTO THEM, AND THEY ARE SUBMITTING US FOR APPROVAL FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER.

SO HOPEFULLY, WE SEE THAT SOON.

THE SCHEDULING SYSTEM WAS STILL BLACK ON HERE, AND THAT WILL BE TURNING GREEN AFTER TODAY'S MEETING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF, AND THE SPECIALTY PAY.

THE THING THAT'S LEFT IN THE NORTHERN AREA IS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THAT STATION 1, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO SOME CO-USE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE ON THAT FACILITY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR UPDATES SO FAR.

OUR EQUIPMENT'S COMING IN FAST AND FURIOUS.

[01:10:01]

ALL OF OUR SCBAS ARE IN, OUR PORTABLES ARE ALL IN, THEY'RE ALL AT COUNTY BEING PROGRAMMED.

MOST OF OUR MOBILES ARE IN, THE REST OF THEM WILL BE COMING IN SHORTLY.

OUR PAGERS ARE IN, THEY'RE BEING PROGRAMMED.

WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING GOING AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN READY TO START COME JULY 1ST.

>> QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF?

>> CHIEF, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING YOU SAID WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HIRE MORE.

WE ARE ABLE TO HIRE LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS STILL PER THE JUDGE'S ORDER AS LONG AS WE RECEIVE CONSENT FROM LONG LAKE. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I'LL FIND OUT MORE TONIGHT WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE CLOSED SESSION AS TO HOW THAT IS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE INTERPRETATION OF IT RIGHT NOW. YES.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE CHIEF?

>> I REALLY LIKE YOUR TRAINING MATRIX, [LAUGHTER] VERY NICE.

>> THANK YOU, JAMES. WE APPRECIATE IT.

LOOK FORWARD TO MORE GREAT NEWS CONSTANTLY MOVING FORWARD.

>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR ATTORNEY REPORT.

>> THANKS. [APPLAUSE]

[Attorney Report]

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I DO HAVE SOME UPDATES, BUT I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND I'LL COVER THEM THERE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.

I THINK THE FIRST ONE IN THE DOCKET IS NUMBER 19,

[19. Consider Public Road Petition (Mr. Ryan Ortlip)]

CONSIDER PUBLIC ROAD PETITION FOR MR. RYAN.

HE IS GOING TO GO THROUGH A SHIP.

>> MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL ACTION IS TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL WITH A RESIDENT PETITION REQUESTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC STREET AND TO GAIN COUNCIL DIRECTION ON HOW THE CITY SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS PETITION.

MR. RYAN ORTLIP, WHO IS HERE WHO WILL COME UP AND I THINK SPEAK IN A MINUTE TO PLEAD HIS CASE ON WHAT HE WOULD LIKE LIVES AT 46 85 WEST BRANCH ROAD.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PARCELS IN THIS AREA THAT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE WEST BRANCH ROAD ADDRESSES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SERVICED BY EITHER NO DRIVEWAY OR LONG DRIVEWAYS COMING DOWN A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SOUTH OF OFF THE WEST BRANCH ROAD.

AND I DO HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] AERIAL HERE IN A MINUTE.

CURRENTLY, TWO OF THE PARCELS ARE ALREADY SERVED BY A SHARED DRIVEWAY THAT GOES DOWN THAT RIGHT OF WAY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.

OUR CITY CODE LIMITS THE NUMBER OF PARCELS THAT MAY SHARE A DRIVEWAY TO TWO.

SO MR. ORTLIP WOULD BECOME A THIRD, WHICH OUR CODE SAYS, AT THAT POINT WE NEED A STREET TO BE BUILT.

WHAT ELSE? MR. ORTLIP HAS ASKED THE CITY TO CONSIDER THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC ROAD WITHIN THIS RIGHT OF WAY.

WE'LL SAY THAT THE EXISTING RIGHT AWAY DOES MEET OUR CITY REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS ITS WIDTH.

SO A PUBLIC ROAD COULD BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THAT RIGHT OF AWAY, IT'S WIDE ENOUGH.

THE ONLY THING IT IS LACKING AS FAR AS THIS GEOMETRY AT THIS POINT IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY AT THE SOUTHERN TERMINUS FOR A CUL-DE-SAC OR SOME OTHER APPROVED TURNAROUND WOULD BE REQUIRED DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE ROAD THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE FIRE [INAUDIBLE].

ALSO UNIQUE TO THE RIGHT OF AWAY.

NOT NECESSARILY UNIQUE, BUT ONE OF THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS OF THIS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CAUSING MR. ORTLIP SOME ISSUES IN TRYING TO BUILD A DRIVEWAY DOWN IT, IS THAT THERE IS A CREEK THAT DOES BISECT THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT REQUIRES REASONABLY SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING TO OVERCOME [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE HYDROLOGY THAT'S PRESENTED THERE.

I DID SOME VERY ROUGH ESTIMATES JUST LOOKING AT SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE BUILT ROADS OF THE SAME DIMENSIONS IN OUR CITY.

AND THIS WOULD BE ABOUT A 510 FOOT LONG ROAD WITH CUL DE SAC WOULD PROBABLY COST ON THE ORDER OF $200,000 IN CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD.

IF IT'D GO DOWN THE ROAD OF LOOKING AT ASSESSMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, PART OF THAT PROCESS WILL BE TO DO A MORE FINE FEASIBILITY STUDY, TO GET BETTER ESTIMATES THAT ARE AS PART OF AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

I PUT IN YOUR COUNCIL PACKET FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONSIDER THIS APPLICATION OR THIS PETITION.

ONE THING, THE CITY COULD JUST AGREE TO CONSTRUCT AND FUND A NEW CITY STREET.

THIS OPTION WOULD REQUIRE THE ADDITION OF THE ROADWAY TO THE 2025 STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

IF YOU DID THIS, THE MOST LIKELY PLACE THAT THIS WOULD BE FUNDED WOULD BE FROM OUR PAVEMENT FUND AND FROM OUR STORMWATER FUND.

[01:15:04]

OPTION TWO IS THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] A CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CITY STREET BE DONE WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS PAYING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.

THIS WOULD REQUIRE SOMETHING, AGAIN, TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY FOR HOW THAT WOULD BE BUILT AND PAID FOR.

I WOULD IMAGINE, OR I WOULD EXPECT IN THAT SCENARIO, ONCE THE ROADWAY IS DONE, MUCH LIKE IN SOME OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS, THEN IT WOULD BE INSPECTED IF MET CITY STANDARDS WOULD BE ACCEPTED INTO THE CITY NETWORK FOR THE CITY THEN TO MAINTAIN FROM THAT DAY FORWARD.

THE OTHER THING THE CITY COULD DO IS AGREE TO ENTER INTO AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS, WHICH IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROCESS IN WHICH CASE THE BENEFITING PROPERTIES END UP PAYING FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS NOT DONE, TO MY RECOLLECTION FOR THE STREET PROJECT.

THE LAST TIME THAT WE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS FOR A SEWER PROJECT WHERE WE PUT IN A SEWER SYSTEM INTO THE GREEN TREES NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN 2013.

I THINK IN THAT CASE, WE HAD 100% OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PETITION THE CITY AND VOLUNTEER FOR THE ASSESSMENT.

ASSESSMENTS CAN ALSO BE DONE WITHOUT ALL THE BENEFITING PROPERTIES VOLUNTEERING.

HOWEVER, THAT DOES PRESENT ITSELF WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER CHALLENGES.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MOST RESIDENTS DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR AN IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT.

THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE STATUS QUO OPTION WHICH IS THE CITY COULD JUST SAY DO NOTHING, AND MR. ORTLIP WILL BE ON HIS OWN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO DOWN TO CONSTRUCT A DRIVEWAY WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO, ALTHOUGH IT DOES PRESENT AS A JOB JUST FOR HIM.

IF WE WANT TO START GOING DOWN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, I DID PUT A LITTLE BIT IN THE COUNSEL ACTUALLY, JUST VERY HIGH LEVEL FRAMEWORK OF HOW THAT WORKS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE.

OTHERWISE, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR MR. ORTLIP TO TELL YOU HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR ADAM? IS THE APPLICANT HERE, LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THAT'D BE GREAT.

>> YES.

HI, MY NAME IS RYAN ORTLIP.

I OWN 4685 WEST BRANCH ROAD AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE PETITION.

I DID WANT TO CLARIFY TWO THINGS THAT I FOUND OUT FURTHER.

I THINK I SAID THAT THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY GETS FLOODED IN 100 YEAR HIGH WATER LEVEL.

I SPOKE WITH THE ENGINEERS THIS MORNING AND IT'S THE 10 YEAR HIGH WATER LEVEL.

AND THAT IS JUST THE MODELING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY FLOODED WHILE THE NEIGHBORS HAVE OWNED IT.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR THAT ADAM SAID IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS.

I THINK I HAVE A LAND ROUTE USE APPLICATION APPROVED FOR A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.

AND THERE WAS A APPROVAL FOR A DESIGN THAT HAD THE CAVEAT OF A CONNECTION WITH THE NEIGHBORING CULVERT, WHICH THE NEIGHBORS DID NOT GRANT.

SO I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY DESIGN THAT IS APPROVED, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A DESIGN THAT WOULD NOT HAVE AN EROSION CHALLENGES.

AND I CAN'T BUILD THE DRIVEWAY HIGHER THAN THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE IT CAUSES AN UPSTREAM DAMMING EFFECT THAT CAUSES A HIGH WATER LEVEL INCREASE FOR THE NEIGHBORS, FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT RULES.

SO I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION OVER 50.

I'VE BEEN MODELED, I CAN STILL KEEP LOOKING.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW FRUITFUL THAT WILL BE.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

>> WHAT IS THERE FOR US TO DISCUSS THEN IF THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO BUILD A ROAD? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.

>> WELL, SO THE ENGINEERS DID MODEL PUTTING IN ANOTHER CULVERT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT FLOWS THROUGH THIS CREEK AREA IS ABOUT 430, 450 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND DURING THE MAX FLOOD EVENT.

THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY HAS 148 INCH CULVERT THAT CAN HANDLE ABOUT 100 OR 80 -100 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND.

AND THIS WAS PUT IN I THINK 1960, 1970, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHEN THE SAME REGULATIONS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THERE, JUST SPECIFICS ON THAT THOUGH.

A LOT OF THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGES ARE FACED BY THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.

THE ENGINEERS DID MODEL PUTTING IN ANOTHER 38 INCH CULVERT NEXT TO THE NEIGHBOR'S EXISTING ONE THAT CREATED A DECREASE IN THE HIGH WATER LEVEL UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM.

I THINK WITH MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WATERSHED DISTRICT, IF THE CITY WERE TO COME AND PUT IN LIKE 248 INCH CULVERTS, IT WOULD PROVIDE A DECREASE IN HIGH WATER LEVEL UPSTREAM AND

[01:20:02]

I'LL LET ADAM MAYBE SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS, BUT I DO THINK THE CITY WOULD HAVE RIGHTS TO MAKE IT AN ADEQUATE CROSSING THAT WOULDN'T BE FLOODED AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE DRAINAGE WHERE I CURRENTLY CANNOT.

>> YEP. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS AND I MENTIONED WITH THE STREAM IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MR. ORTLIP FACES NOW IS IF YOU HAVE TWO DRIVEWAYS PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER IN THIS RIGHT OF WAY WHERE THE STREAM COMES UNDER AND A GAP IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO DRIVEWAYS, YOU INTRODUCE ALL KINDS OF HYDRAULIC CHALLENGES, OF WATER GETTING THROUGH.

IF WE WERE TO BUILD A ROAD, REGARDLESS OF HOW THE FUNDING PIECE WORKED, PART OF THAT PROCESS WOULD BE DESIGNING A STREAM CROSSING [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WATERSHED.

SO IT IS TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE TO DO, I THINK AS MR. ORTLIP POINTED OUT.

BUT IT WOULD CAUSE US TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT WHOLE DESIGN PROCESS FOR A STREAM CROSSING WHICH IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ROADS, LOTS OF ROADS CROSS STREAMS AND DITCHES ALL THE TIME.

JUST A PROCESS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

>> BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT THERE WAS THIS SIX-CULVERT OPTION TOO, RIGHT?

>> YES. WE HAVE MODELED A SIX 48-INCH CULVERTS AND YOU GET A DIMINISHING RETURN WITH EACH CULVERT BECAUSE OF THE HYDRAULIC AIR NATURE IN BETWEEN THE DRIVEWAYS.

THE WATERSHED DISTRICT HAS VERBALLY SAID ON OUR MEETING THAT THEY WOULD APPROVE THAT OPTION, HOWEVER, FOR THE WATERSHED RULES, THEY'RE MORE FOCUSED ON NO INCREASE IN HIGH WATER LEVEL UPSTREAM OR DOWNSTREAM, EROSION OF THE DRIVEWAY, OVER-TOPPING OF THE DRIVEWAY, THAT DRIVEWAY WOULD STILL BE OVER-TOPPED DURING THE FLOOD CONDITIONS, EVEN WITH THE SIX CULVERTS.

EVEN WITH THAT CROSSING MEETING THE WATERSHED STANDARDS, I CAN'T BUILD A DRIVEWAY HIGHER, SO IT WOULD STILL FLOOD OUT AND THEN I WOULD BE CHALLENGED WITH THE EROSION FROM THE DISCHARGE OF THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY HITTING MY DRIVEWAY OVER TIME AND ERODING IT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SO THAT ALONE DOESN'T WORK, BASICALLY?

>> NOT FOR THE WHOLE PICTURE.

IT WOULD MEET THE WATERSHED DISTRICT RULES, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE AN ENDURING ACCESS THAT WOULD BE RELIABLE IN EMERGENCY, GETTING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL DURING A RAINY DAY, IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ADAM.

>> NO?

THEY CAN'T MAKE THIS A PRIVATE ROAD OR THEY COULD BECAUSE IT'S THREE HOMES TO MAKE THE PRIVATE ROAD, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS CURRENTLY A RIGHT AWAY DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC.

>> I GUESS I MAYBE DEFER A LITTLE BIT TO [INAUDIBLE] WHETHER IT COULD BE A PRIVATE ROAD RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT I READ THE EASEMENT IS A PUBLIC ROAD.

>> IT IS. I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT ALL OF THE EASEMENTS.

I HAVE NOT DONE PROPERLY RESEARCH ON THERE TO KNOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS ORONO HAS DONE HISTORICALLY IS ALLOW FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN PRIVATE RIGHTS REGARDING THESE EASEMENT AREAS AND THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THEM OVER, SO I'D HAVE TO ASCERTAIN EXACTLY WHO HAS WHAT RIGHTS TO DO WHAT.

AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW.

MY RECOLLECTION IS, MR. ORTLIP, AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, HAS ACCESS TO THE RIGHT HALF OF THAT RIGHT AWAY, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER, I THINK TO THE BACK ACTUALLY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES, JUDGE.

>> TO THE BACK TO THE REAR.

>> HAS ACCESS TO THE OTHER HALF, IF YOU WILL.

FOR THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED, ONCE THE CITY IS INVOLVED, IT BECOMES A PUBLIC ACCESS PERIOD.

IT ISN'T A ACCESS FOR YOU AND AN ACCESS FOR YOU, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO CITY STANDARDS, AND I BELIEVE THE DOCUMENTS DO ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

THAT IS AN OPTION.

IN MY TIME IN ORONO, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU'VE UNDERTAKEN.

IN MY TIME IN ORONO, YOU HAVE NOT DONE ASSESSMENTS, IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THOSE.

ASSESSMENTS ARE SOMETHING SOME CITIES DO.

ADAM'S POINT IS I THINK THE LAST TIME WE DID ONE WAS WHERE WE HAD 100% FOLKS.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE'VE DONE SEWER EXTENSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'VE SAID WE WILL PUT IT IN AND HOOK IT UP TO OUR SYSTEM AS LONG AS EVERYONE AGREES TO PAY FOR IT.

WE DO NOT HAVE THAT HERE, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, FOR THAT ROAD, OR AT LEAST THAT'S NOT THE COMMUNICATION I'VE RECEIVED AT THIS POINT.

SO I THINK THE IDEA IS MR. ORTLIP HAS ACCESS TO WEST BRANCH ROAD.

THERE ARE SOMETIMES AVENUES YOU CAN TAKE IF SOMEONE IS TRULY LANDLOCKED AND DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS.

HERE, THERE IS AT LEAST PAPER ACCESS TO THOSE POINTS.

YOU JUST HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS DESIGN OBSTACLES.

I THINK THERE'S ONE OPTION I'LL VEER FROM ADAMS A LITTLE BIT IS GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, SEE IF YOU CAN'T WORK SOMETHING OUT ON YOUR PRIVATE SIDE, AND THEN JUST THE APPETITE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE IT ON.

BOTH JUST TO START SPENDING MONEY FROM A DESIGN CRITERIA, THE RESEARCH TO LOOK AT HOW THE TITLES HELD AND STUFF LIKE THAT,

[01:25:01]

TO TRULY DO A DEEPER DIVE THAN SOME HIGH-LEVEL ANALYSIS ON IT IF WE WANT TO TAKE IN AN APPLICATION SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST LOOK AT IT AND START TO GAUGE REAL OPPORTUNITIES AS OPPOSED TO SPECULATION.

BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE HAD AT LEAST ONE MEETING IN CITY HALL WITH STAFF ON, WITH THE VARIOUS PROPERTY OWNERS.

IT'S SOMETHING I GET CALLED FROM FROM STAFF, SO IF WE TRULY WANTED TO CREATE A CITY SOLUTION, IT PROBABLY IS TIME TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION ON THAT OF SOME SORT.

>> RYAN, YOU CAN SIT DOWN IF YOU LIKE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> I DID HAVE ONE MORE THING.

I KNOW ADAM DID MENTION THE TURNAROUND.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL 50 FEET FOR CUL-DE-SAC IF NEEDED, IF IT WOULD NOT BE AGREEABLE BY THE NEIGHBORS, TO PERMIT THAT ON MY PROPERTY, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WOULD BE A CHALLENGE WITH THE WAY THE DRIVEWAY IS FOR THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY, SO I COULD HAVE THAT SWING ON OUR SIDE, MY SIDE, AND THEN I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR SOREN.

I GUESS WHEN I SAW THE 35% PETITION, IS THAT FOR FRONTAGE OR NUMBER OF PROPERTIES?

>> NO. I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, RYAN.

I BELIEVE IT'S ON THE FRONTAGE SIDE OF THINGS.

WELL, EITHER WAY, I THINK IF IT'S PROPERTY OWNERS THERE'S THREE.

YOU'RE AT 33. IF IT'S FRONTAGE, I HAVEN'T DONE THE MATH.

[LAUGHTER]

>> THAT'S THE LEAGUE PRIMER ON ASSESSMENT TALKS ABOUT 35% OF THE BENEFITING PROPERTIES, NORMAL WAYS TO DETERMINE THAT ARE FRONTAGE OR YOU CAN LOOK AT OTHER MECHANISMS, SO YEAH, IN ONE WAY THERE'S FOUR OF YOU ALTHOUGH YOU COULD DISCOUNT THE 46 65 BECAUSE IT ALREADY HAS AN ACCESS DIRECTLY TO WEST BRANCH BUT IT IS AN ABUTTING PROPERTY SO ALSO THERE COULD BE AN ARGUMENT TO INCLUDE IT, BUT YEAH, EITHER WAY, YOU'RE EITHER 33 OR YOU'RE 25% AND WHERE 35% IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A PETITION WITHIN THE ASSESSMENT STATUTE.

THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHICH LEAVES THE CITY TO A CITY-INITIATED PROJECT ON IT.

>> WE'D BE WILLING TO HELP ANY OTHER WAY POSSIBLE PROVIDING THE SOIL NEEDED OF THAT I CAN, CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS FOR COMPENSATORY STORAGE THAT I KNOW HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE I FACED, SO WHATEVER YOU NEED, I'LL HELP.

>> OKAY. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU. ANY THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, I'LL JUST SAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE APPLICANT BEFORE HE CAME, SO TO ME, WE GOT TO SUPPORT HOW WE CAN TO MAKE SURE HE HAS ACCESS TO HIS PROPERTY.

I THINK THAT'S OUR JOB.

I WAS ALSO CLEAR WITH HIM THAT IT'S NOT REASONABLE TO HAVE THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR HIS DRIVEWAY IN ANY WAY, IN MY OPINION, SO THEN IT LEAVES WHAT CAN WE DO AS A CITY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP FACILITATE WITH THE NEIGHBORS, AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR OF WHAT HE'S SAYING, HE'S GOT A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS A CULVERT THAT IF HE JUST CONNECTS TO HIS CULVERT, THIS IS FIGURED OUT, BUT THAT NEIGHBOR ISN'T COOPERATING WITH THAT REQUEST, SO THEN HE HAD TO GO FIND ANOTHER SOLUTION WHICH INCLUDED HAVING SIX CULVERTS INSTEAD OF ONE TO DO THIS, AND THEN HIS CONCERN WAS THAT THEY WON'T LET HIM BUILD IT HIGHER THAN THE NEIGHBORS, AND HIS CONCERN IS ABOUT LONG TERM FLOODING, AND SO THE OBVIOUS ANSWER TO THIS IS ONE DRIVEWAY AND HAVE ALL THE BENEFITING PARTIES PAY FOR IT.

THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR, EXCEPT THAT'S REALLY THE QUESTION.

ARE WE, AS A CITY COUNCIL, GOING TO FORCE A SOLUTION ONTO THE OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO, I WOULDN'T APPRECIATE THAT IF I WAS THE OTHER NEIGHBORS EITHER, SO I THINK THAT BECOMES THE QUESTION IS WOULD WE FORCE THE NEIGHBORS TO DO THIS? I WOULD NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF FORCING A NEIGHBOR TO DO IT.

I WANT TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION IF THAT INCLUDES MAYBE GETTING STAFF AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY NEIGHBORS CAME OR IF THEY'D EVEN WANT TO COME UP.

>> HELLO.

>> HI.

>> KOFSKY, 4665 WEST BRANCH ROAD. I DON'T KNOW. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M SORRY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHICH ONE IS THAT? [OVERLAPPING]

>> IS THAT ON THE EAST SIDE?

>> OVER THERE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> ABSOLUTELY. I DO HAVE ACCESS IN MY DRIVE, SO THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY ACCESS TO OUR PROPERTY.

[01:30:02]

RYAN'S BEEN VERY GRACIOUS IN KEEPING ME INFORMED.

HE'S WILLING TO ADDRESS A WATER ISSUE, A DRAINAGE ISSUE FROM MY FRONT YARD, TO MAINTAIN DRAINAGE DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME A POND, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M GOING TO COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY I DON'T SUPPORT THE CITY COMING IN AND PUTTING IN A ROAD.

NOW, THAT SAID, I DO SUPPORT RYAN ACCESSING HIS PROPERTY AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY STEP IN, AND, MR. JOHNSON, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO FORCE AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY STEP IN TO MEDIATE THIS SITUATION.

RYAN'S TRYING VERY HARD AND I DON'T WANT TO DENY HIM AND I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST DENYING HIM ACCESS TO HIS PROPERTY, BUT I JUST WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY STEP IN AND HELP TO MEDIATE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

I THINK THERE'S A SIMPLE SOLUTION WITH TYING ONTO THE EXISTING 48-INCH CULVERT AND I'D WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MY OTHER NEIGHBOR'S HESITATION TO THAT.

I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST, AND I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO RYAN ABOUT THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT CULVERT ALREADY EXTENDS INTO THE PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT RYAN IS HOPING TO ACCESS.

SO, I BELIEVE, AND MR. MADDOCK, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE IN YOUR COURT.

I THINK HE CAN ALREADY TIE ONTO IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TO GET THE PERMISSION OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER SEEING AS THAT CULVERT ALREADY EXTENDS INTO THAT RIGHT OF WAY.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR COMING. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YEAH, THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THAT WAS THAT WAS HELPFUL.

>> I THINK. [OVERLAPPING]

>> ANY OTHER NEIGHBORS?

>> I THINK THAT WAS GOOD ADVICE.

>> I KNOW IN THE LAST 24 HOURS I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE.

THIS WAS VERY NEW FOR ME, SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT IN ALL OF MY LEARNINGS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WHAT WE DO TO AVOID ASSESSMENTS, I AM IN FAVOR OF THAT, AVOIDING ASSESSMENTS, I DO THINK IT'S BEST PRACTICE TO DO, AND WITHOUT HAVING THE SUPPORT, THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF WORKING WITH THE CITY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO YOU TO HELP FIND AN AMICABLE SOLUTION, BUT AN ASSESSMENT IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> MY QUESTIONS ARE MORE AROUND FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA IN TERMS OF, DOES PLANNING HAVE ANY SCHEDULED PLANS IN THIS AREA? IS THERE ANYTHING WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IN THIS PICTURE? IS THERE A PUBLIC BENEFIT TO A ROAD IN THIS AREA IN THE FUTURE? BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, IS WHAT IS THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, IF ANY, AND WHAT OTHER PLANS ARE IN STORE FOR THIS AREA OR NOT?

>> I WOULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA.

I TALKED TO BOTH ADAM AND JOSH AS THIS HITS THE TOP OF A PARK IN THE CITY, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T SPACE OR FEASIBILITY FOR REAL PUBLIC ACCESS OR TO CREATE A PARK ACCESS THROUGH THIS SPACE, SO THAT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SIDE ISN'T THERE.

NOT TO SAY IT COULDN'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IF THAT WAS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, BUT THAT APPETITE HASN'T BEEN THERE.

IT ISN'T TALKED ABOUT IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS AN ANTICIPATED PROJECT OR AS A GUIDED PROJECT IN THERE.

IT'S A FUNCTIONING PRIVATE DRIVE RIGHT NOW FOR THAT PROPERTY AT 4701, AND LIKE SOREN MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE MET WITH THESE PROPERTY OWNERS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, PRETTY ACTIVELY AND ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND DIFFERENT AVENUES, AND HE CAME FOR A FLOOD PLAIN OR A WETLAND ALTERATION PERMIT.

I BELIEVE ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN FRONT OF YOU ALL FOR HIS PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.

SOUNDS LIKE CONDITIONS OR APPROVALS HAVE SINCE CHANGED BETWEEN HIM AND HIS NEIGHBOR THAT HAS MADE THAT CHALLENGING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS PRIVATE DRIVE PLANS, AND I THINK HE'S EXPLORING OPTIONS, BUT FROM A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WE DON'T REALLY ANTICIPATE ANY IMPROVEMENTS HERE REGARDING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC OR PUBLIC USE LIKE THAT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NOT DONE PREVIOUSLY IN THE CITY IN GENERAL.

>> WE HAVE NOT DONE AN ASSESSMENT FOR A NEW ROAD.

>> THIS WOULD BE A PRECEDENT SETTING SITUATION IF THAT WERE TO OCCUR.

MY PERSPECTIVE IS THERE NEEDS TO JUST BE SOME MORE INFORMATION GATHERED HERE AND TRY TO FIND A WORKABLE SOLUTION.

BUT I WOULD AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SET PRECEDENT OR FORCE ANYBODY TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO BE.

IT'S CERTAINLY A DIFFICULT ONE.

>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF OBVIOUS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF HERE, THOUGH.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY IF THE APPLICANT HAS A SURVEY, AND WE HAVE A SURVEY OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY TO BE ABLE TO

[01:35:01]

KNOW IF THAT CULVERT IS ACTUALLY ENCROACHING INTO THEIR CITY RIGHT AWAY.

BECAUSE IF IT DOES, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE COULD BE AN EASY SOLUTION THERE.

>> THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY AND CULVERT ARE IN THE CITY RIGHT AWAY.

THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY, YOU CAN SEE IT UNDER THE HIGHLIGHTED GREEN IS IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

>> AS IT WAS SEEN THE CULVERT IS IN THERE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY.

>> OVER CROSSES UNDERNEATH.

>> WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT.

AS A CITY IN THE CITY RIGHT AWAY UNLESS THERE'S SOME OTHER LEGAL ISSUES.

THAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF IT, OF WHATEVER LEGAL RIGHTS EACH SIDE HAS WITHIN THERE, THAT HAS ALREADY DOCUMENTED AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE STAFF TIME, LEGAL TIME, AND THAT'S WHEN SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO BRING FORWARD A LAND APPLICATION WITH SOME DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME FEES THAT WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF US DIGGING INTO ALL THAT INFORMATION.

BUT I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS WOULD HELP SORT OUT WHETHER THOSE OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THE SOLUTION MIGHT ALREADY BE SITTING THERE, I'M NOT SURE.

BUT UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE, IT'S HARD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ANSWERED THE ASSESSMENT QUESTION, SO THAT'S A PROBLEM, AND I DON'T THINK WE ALSO WANT THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY'S ESSENTIALLY PRIVATE ROAD TO THREE HOUSES EITHER.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO PAY FOR A $200,000 ROAD EITHER.

WE'RE IN A QUANDARY, BUT I THINK THOSE QUESTIONS SEEM THE EASY ONES TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY UPFRONT AND SOME STAFF AND LEGAL TIME.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT'S NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THAT OTHER NEIGHBOR AND IF IT'S THE CITY'S, THEN THAT MIGHT CREATE A SOLUTION THERE WHICH SEEMS LIKE THE EASY, MOST LOGICAL ONE.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT ABOUT SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION OF SOME SORT.

>> SOME SORT WITH SOME REASONABLE FEES THAT-.

>> WHO WOULD THAT BE?

>> BETWEEN ADAM AND SOREN COULD HELP GUIDE YOU ON.

>> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY THE SAME THINGS.

IT'S FOR A STORM WATER PROJECT INSTEAD OF A ROAD PROJECT.

>> RIGHT. IT WOULD BE A STORM WATER PROJECT. THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF WE WOULDN'T BE BUILDING THE ROAD, WE'D BE JUST DOING THE STORM WATER PROJECT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

I THINK IF YOU CAN CONNECT WITH ADAM AND THOSE GUYS, I THINK THAT WILL [OVERLAPPING] A LOGICAL STEP.

>> WHAT WE CAN DO, REALLY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I NEED IS PERMISSION TO PULL TITLE WORK ON ALL IMPACTED PROPERTIES AND TO PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF, HERE'S WHAT THE TITLE WORK SAYS EVERYONE'S RIGHTS ARE.

THEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THERE, AND MAYBE WE ALREADY HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING FROM PREVIOUS SURVEYS OF WHAT'S IN THERE.

>> AND WHAT THE CITY'S RIGHTS ARE?

>> CORRECT.

>> AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF THIS DID NOT INCLUDE A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, WOULD THIS APPLICANT BE REQUIRED TO SIMPLY BUILD A GRAVEL OR CONSTRUCT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO GET APPROVAL SO THAT IT WAS MORE EASILY NAVIGABLE? LET'S JUST SAY WE TAKE THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OR THAT ISSUE OUT OF IT.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR AN APPLICANT TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN?

>> WELL, HE CAN ALREADY BUILD A DRIVEWAY LIKE WITHIN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

IF THIS IS ON PRIVATE LAND, THE PROCEDURES ARE GENERALLY THE SAME WITH THE WATER BODY CROSSING.

SIMILAR PROBLEMS THERE.

>> HE'S GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET APPROVALS FOR HIS PRIVATE IMPROVEMENT.

HE CAME FOR THAT WETLAND ALTERATION.

HE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE CITY'S ZONING PERMIT PROCESS TO CONSTRUCT A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.

WHAT'S GETTING HELD UP IS WHEN IT ORIGINALLY WAS REVIEWED BY COUNCIL AND BY STAFF, THERE WAS A DESIGN IN THERE TO ADDRESS THE CULVERT THAT ALLOWED A CONNECTION TO CONNECT THE CULVERT UNDERNEATH THE TWO DRIVEWAYS.

THE EXISTING ONE AND THEN HIS PROPOSED.

SINCE THAT ZONING PERMIT APPROVAL HAPPENED, THAT PERMISSION TO CONNECT TO THE CULVERT WAS NO LONGER THERE AND SO NOW HE HAS TO REDESIGN HIS CULVERT OR REDESIGN THAT WATER BODY CROSSING WHERE IT'S NO LONGER ALLOWED TO CONNECT TO THE NEIGHBOR'S PRIVATE CULVERT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY IT'S NO LONGER THERE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT OR RYAN HAD COMMUNICATED THAT HE NO LONGER HAS PERMISSION TO CONNECT TO THE NEIGHBORS CULVERT AS THAT'S THEIR CULVERT ON THAT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

>> THAT'S WHY I THINK SOREN HAS TO FIGURE OUT THE DETAIL WHAT'S IN THE TITLE AND WHAT EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS ARE, ABILITY TO CONNECT, LET ALONE EVEN REPAIR IT BECAUSE SOMEONE AT SOME POINT, LET REPAIR IT.

>> SIR, YOU CAN COME UP.

>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP.

>> WHEN I RECEIVED THE APPROVAL, I THINK THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THE END OF THE CULVERT WAS ON THE PROPERTY LINE, AND WHEN LOOKING BACK AT THE SURVEY AND EVERYTHING FROM THE ENGINEERS, IT IS ACTUALLY THREE FEET BACK FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.

THEN I DID REACH OUT TO MR. MADDOCK AND ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS YOU GUYS ARE ASKING ABOUT WHO OWNS THE CULVERT? WHO CONTROLS THE CULVERT? AND YOU LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS A PRIVATE CULVERT.

>> IT IS.

>> THE CITY DOESN'T OWN THE CULVERT.

THE CITY DOESN'T MAINTAIN THE CULVERT.

IT'S NOT THE CITY'S CULVERT AND THEY DON'T HAVE PERMISSION.

>> BUT THE CITY OWNS THE LAND ABOVE THE CULVERT, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY HAVE THE EASEMENT FOR A CERTAIN.

[01:40:02]

I'LL DEFER THIS ONE.

>> WE DO, IT'S IN THE EASEMENT.

MUCH LIKE WE WERE CONTEMPLATING ALLOWING MR. ORTLIP TO PUT A DRIVEWAY IN THE EASEMENT, PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE PUT THEIR DRIVEWAY IN THE EASEMENT.

WE HAVEN'T DONE STRICT REGULATION BEYOND ANY OF THAT.

IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT THAT PROPERTY OWNER HAS A CULVERT ON THEIR PROPERTY IN THE CITY'S EASEMENT AREA TO MR. ORTLIP IN A PRIVATE WAY TO BE ABLE TO GO ONTO THEIR PROPERTY TO HOOK UP.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE RIGHTS AT THIS POINT.

>> IT'S ONLY JUST A RIGHT-.

>> BUT IF IT WAS A CITY PROJECT, IT'S CITY RIGHT OF WAY.

AT THAT POINT, THE PROPERTY LINE DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU HAVE EASEMENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY LINE.

>> MAYBE THERE'S SOME MEDIATION.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK, YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT THE CREATIVE WAY OF HOW YOU SOLVE THAT WITH THE APPLICANT BEING INVOLVED, KNOWING WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER.

>> DOES HE HAVE AN APPLICATION IN RIGHT NOW THAT'S OPEN ON SOMETHING?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY OPEN.

HE GOT APPROVAL FOR A WETLAND ALTERATION FOR THE PRIVATE DRIVE AND HE GOT APPROVAL FOR A ZONING PERMIT.

>> THE FUNCTION OF THIS QUESTION, THIS IS JUST A REVIEW, RIGHT?

>> DIRECTION.

>> WE'RE JUST GIVING DIRECTION.

>> YEP.

>> SO I THINK MY OPINION ON THE DIRECTION IS THAT HE SUBMITS AN APPLICATION FOR SOMETHING, HE TELLS US WHAT IT IS.

>> I'LL FIND SOMETHING.

>> [INAUDIBLE] AND GET THAT UNDERSTOOD AND SEE IF AS A CITY WE CAN HELP FACILITATE THE EASIEST SOLUTION.

AND THAT'S NOT A TAXPAYER EXPENSE BUT THE APPLICANT EXPENSE AND WE CAN GET THAT.

>> AT LEAST RULE THAT OUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> RIGHT. AND THEN IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN BE WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME OTHER AND IF THERE'S BENEFIT THAT STAFF PARTICIPATES IN THAT TO HELP FACILITATE IT, THEN YOU CAN LET STAFF KNOW AND COORDINATE THAT AND SEE WHERE WE ARE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> AND I LIKED ADAM'S COMMENT ON THE STORMWATER BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN EASEMENT ON MY PROPERTY AND POSSIBLY THE NEIGHBORS FOR STORMWATER DRAIN ENGINE AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THERE.

BUT IF YOU GUYS JUST TOOK OVER THE CULVERT, I MEAN, I DID OFFER TO PAY FOR THE NEIGHBOR'S NEW CULVERT.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY AGED.

AND I SAID, CAN I JUST DO THAT FOR YOU AND THERE'S NO BITE THERE, OR PUT IT IN A TRASH GUARD.

THE NEIGHBOR DID HAVE RESERVATIONS WITH THE CONNECTION DUE TO THE CLOGGING.

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE, CULVERT, IF IT DOES GET BLOCKED, IT IS KIND OF AN EMERGENT SITUATION FOR HIM.

HE MADE IT SEEM SO.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A ENGINEER COULD FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> YEAH, I SAY YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, THOSE PARTICULARS YOU CAN WORK WITH STAFF ON AND GET FIGURED OUT.

BUT MAYBE THAT WILL HELP YOU. I HOPE IT DOES.

>> THAT'S OUR DIRECTION. HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS.

SO FIGURE THAT OUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND KNOW WHERE WE SIT.

>>THANKS. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ADAM.

IS THIS TYPE OF PROCESS PRETTY STANDARD IN YOUR YEARS HERE FOR US TO BE AS A CITY WORKING IN THIS DIRECTION, TO SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS THROUGH STORMWATER OR CULVERT.

>> WE ROUTINELY GET PETITIONS FOR VARIOUS PITS OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ADDED TO OUR SYSTEM.

SO IN THAT REGARD, YES.

WHAT'S UNUSUAL IS WE DON'T SEE THIS A LOT WITH STREETS OR STORMWATER.

WE SEE IT PREDOMINANTLY IN OUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES.

>> RIGHT. THAT'S THE ONLY DISTINCTION I WANT TO MAKE IS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE.

IS THIS A MANEUVERING OF A CITY AROUND SOLVING PRIVATE OWNERS OR HOMEOWNERS' ROAD SITUATION, AND MORPHING INTO A STORMWATER REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT OR WHAT NOT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE THAT AREA WAS DEDICATED TO THE CITY FOR RIGHT AWAY PURPOSES.

AND SO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS AT THE HEART OF THIS IS RIGHT AWAY.

HE WANTS TO ACCESS HIS PROPERTY.

SO WHEN A CITY REQUIRES YOU TO, WHEN THIS WAS DEVELOPED, AND I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF IT, BUT IF YOU JUST DO THE NORMAL COURSE OF DEDICATION.

WHAT A COMMUNITY SAYS IS TO CREATE YOUR VARIOUS LOTS, YOU HAVE TO GIVE US THE RIGHT TO USE IT FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT'S HOW THE CITY CAME INTO BEING OF THAT EASEMENT AREA.

AND SO RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHICH NORMALLY IT WOULD BE MORE, BUT THESE ARE BIGGER LOTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, SAYING, "I WANT TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY AND THERE'S A PUBLIC EASEMENT THERE.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?" AND I THINK THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT EVERYONE'S DOING RIGHT NOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MAKES SENSE.

WE'RE SAYING IT'S SINGULAR IN NATURE.

IT SEEMS IT SURE PRESENTS LIKE TWO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER ISSUE.

ISN'T THERE A WAY TO SOLVE THAT BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU? THAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFICIENT, MOST COST EFFICIENT, AND GIVEN THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AT STAKE HERE WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE.

IF THAT CAN'T HAPPEN,

[01:45:02]

THEN YOU STILL HAVE A PROPERTY OWNER SAYING, WELL, THERE'S PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND USE IT TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY.

AND SO I DO THINK THIS EXERCISE IS WORTHWHILE.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CLEAN PERMIT.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN ORNA DO, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST DO AN ESCROW AGREEMENT THAT SAYS YOU HAVE AN ISSUE REGARDING THE USE OF THE RIGHT AWAY, THE STATUS OF IT.

WE THINK TO EXAMINE IT FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE WILL COST X.

WE'D ASK THAT YOU DEPOSIT THAT AND WE WILL USE THOSE FUNDS TO FIGURE OUT THIS ISSUE AND REFUND YOU ANY OF THE FEES THAT WE DON'T USE DURING OUR INVESTIGATION.

THAT'S HOW I WOULD SEE IT PLAYING OUT AND I CAN WORK WITH STAFF AND MR. ORTLIP TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AT NO COST TO THIS.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO COST THE CITY, IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE APPLICANT.

>> ALL RIGHT. ALL GOOD? OKAY. THAT'LL MOVE US OVER TO NUMBER 20,

[20. Award Contract for 2024 Streets Maintenance Project]

WHICH IS AN AWARD CONTRACT FOR 2024 STREETS MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

>> MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE PROPOSED AWARD FOR THE 2024 STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

WE BEGAN THE PROCESS LAST YEAR.

IN FACT, TODAY AT OUR WORK SESSION, WE WERE BEGINNING THE PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR'S ROADS.

WELL, A YEAR AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THESE ROADS.

SO SINCE WE'VE MET LAST YEAR, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROCESSES TO INCLUDE GETTING APPROVAL FOR DESIGN OF THESE ROADS.

THE ROADS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR 2024 ARE WILLOW DRIVE, BETWEEN FOX STREET AND BROWN PARTON WOOD ROAD AND LANE, AND ORCHARD PARK ROAD.

WE DID RECEIVE BIDS ON MARCH 13.

WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED NINE BIDS, WHICH WAS FAIRLY GOOD.

THE SPREAD OF THE BIDS WAS FAIRLY CLOSE.

THE LOW BIDDER WAS GMH ASPHALT CORPORATION, WITH A BID OF $728,873.30 IN ADDITION, IT DID GET A PROPOSAL FROM BOLTON MINK ENGINEERING TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT FOR THIS YEAR'S ROAD PROJECT, FOR A NOT TO EXCEED $105,000.

WE'D ORIGINALLY PROGRAMMED $1.3 MILLION FOR THESE ROADS IN OUR CIP.

AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS LAST YEAR AS BID, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL OF $888,873.

>> AND $0.30.

>> AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PUT IN THE $0.30.

>> I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT OTHERWISE I RECOMMEND THAT WE DO AWARD TO GMH ASPHALT AND ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FOR BOLTON AND MINK.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR ADAM?

>> NO, GOOD JOB UNDER BUDGET.

>> AT WORK SESSION, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ROADS FOR 2025.

SO WE'VE GOT ALL THOSE ROADS WE'RE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT TOO.

IT'S NICE TO BUILD A PLAN WHEN YOU HAVE A ROADS BUDGET. THAT IS FOR SURE.

THAT'S WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE FROM EIGHT YEARS AGO.

PLANNING IS PARAMOUNT TO GOOD GOVERNANCE. THAT IS FOR SURE.

>> YEAH AND THE OTHER THING THAT WAS COVERED IN THAT WORK SESSION TOO WAS, THE CITY ENGINEER PUTS TOGETHER A MAP OF THE CONDITION AND RATES OUR ROADS, AND THAT'S HOW WE DECIDE WHICH ONES GET APPROVED.

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF HAVING A ROADS BUDGET, WE LOOKED AT THAT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RED SPOTS.

WE'VE ELIMINATED THE RED.

RED IS BAD.

IT MEANS THE MOST DETERIORATED ROADS, AND SO WE'VE ELIMINATED A HUGE CHUNK OF THAT SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THE ROADS BUDGET.

WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO AWARD THE 2024 STREETS PROJECT TO GMH ASPHALT FOR 728,870, 3,000 $0.30 AND AUTHORIZE BOLTON AND MINK TO PERFORM CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED 105,000.

>> I'LL SECOND IT..

SECOND BY CROSBY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> OPPOSED? NOTE THAT PASSES 50.

OKAY. THAT'LL TAKE US TO NUMBER 21,

[21. Work Session Schedule]

OUR WORK SESSION SCHEDULE. ADAM.

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS IS A FAIRLY STANDARD ITEM FOR YOU.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPOSED ADDITIONS ON THIS.

ONE THING THAT'S NOT ON THE PROPOSED ADDITIONS IS WE DISCUSSED AT TODAY'S WORK SESSION, COMING BACK AT ONE OF THE MAY ONES TO TALK ABOUT ROADS AGAIN.

I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO THAT ON 13 MAY.

[01:50:04]

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE NOTHING ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA FOR THE 22ND.

I HAVE A PROPOSAL TO COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT CODE OF CONDUCT WHICH IS A FOLLOW ON FROM OUR PREVIOUS WORK SESSION ON THE 13TH.

HAD A PROPOSAL FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADD, I'M CALLING IT A GRANTS PRIMER OR DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE DO GRANTS IN THE CITY.

COULD DO THAT ON 28 MAY AND HAD ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING IN A CONSULTANT TO TALK ABOUT SUBJECTS SUCH AS ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING ON THE CALENDAR OF FUTURE WORK SESSIONS IS THE SAME.

BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF THE PROPOSALS FOR UPCOMING.

>> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ADAM?

>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT I HAD PUT THE ONE ABOUT ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP AND I PROPOSE THAT WE DO THAT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE LEARNINGS THAT I GAINED FROM MY LMC TRAINING.

I THOUGHT IF THE CITY IS INVESTING THAT MONEY IN MY TRAINING, THAT IT WOULD BE INTUITIVE TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK.

I THOUGHT THE TRAINING WAS REALLY WELL DONE AND HAD TALKED TO THE GROUP THAT PREPARED THE SIX WEEK TRAINING AND THEY'RE READY TO PRESENT BUT WEREN'T AVAILABLE ON THIS TIMELINE.

SO I THINK THAT WE COULD DISCUSS IF IT IS A GOOD USE OF TIME TO SHARE BACK ON TRAINING SINCE THE CITY IS INVESTING IN OUR TRAININGS.

BUT AT THIS TIME THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO, SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT ONE.

>> JUNE 10, WE'LL JUST TAKE THAT OUT.

TAKE OUT JUNE 10 AND PUT ROADS IN MAY 13 AND I'D REPLACE CODE OF CONDUCT WITH ROADS.

SO I'D TAKE OUT CODE OF CONDUCT.

I THINK WE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT AT THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, WHATEVER THAT MEETING WAS.

AND THE GRANTS PRIMER SOUNDS FINE, AND CANCELING APRIL 22 SOUNDS FINE.

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT STAFF WAS GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME ON SOME OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT SUGGESTIONS AND I WASN'T CLEAR IF THAT WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO A WORK SESSION OR NOT.

>> THAT'S WHY I PUT THAT [OVERLAPPING] WAS TO PUT IT ON A WORK SESSION.

I WASN'T 100% SURE BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE GOT THEN, WHETHER YOU ALL WANTED THAT BACK IN A FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING OR WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT IN A WORK SESSION, IN A DRAFT FORM FIRST.

>> I THINK IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE FEEDBACK WAS AROUND A POTENTIAL FOR A SUGGESTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LEFT UNCLEAR AT THE END ONLY BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION WENT IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS TOWARDS THE END.

MY POINT WAS THAT THE STAFF'S TIME WASN'T WELL SPENT FIGURING OUT A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR FOLKS WHO COME TO MEETINGS IN THE ABSENCE OF THE COUNCIL, ADDRESSING SOME OF ITS OWN ISSUES WITH DECORUM AND MEETINGS, SO THAT WAS MY LAST THOUGHT ON IT.

I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION IN A WORK SESSION IF OTHERS FIND THAT USEFUL BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY TO BRING BACK ANYTHING TO COUNSEL FORMALLY ON ANY TYPE OF CODE OF CONDUCT BECAUSE WE REALLY DIDN'T FLUSH OUT THAT PROCESS, IN MY OPINION.

>> WELL, MY RECOLLECTION WAS THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN HOSTING A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE MEETINGS.

SO MAYBE STAFF CAN KICK THAT OVER TO THEIR COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND BRING A PROPOSAL THROUGH THAT AVENUE.

>> HOSTING FOR THE PUBLIC?

>> YEAH. THEN THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE COULD MAYBE BE YOUR SOUNDING BOARD AND THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL ON WHAT IT SAYS AND WE CAN STREAMLINE IT THAT WAY.

>> TONIGHT WE DID DISCUSS MAYBE REVIEWING REASONABLE DRIVEWAYS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D WANT TO ADD THAT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THAT'S FOR THE STAFF FIRST IN TERMS OF THE INFORMATION TOGETHER.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION TOO BECAUSE WHEN STAFF CAN LOOK AT THEIR SCHEDULE AND FIND OUT A TIME, IF WE WANT TO PUT THAT AT A WORK SESSION.

>> THOUGHTS FOR OUR NEXT MEETING THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING TO US.

>> WE COULD ADD THAT, I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING READY FOR THE 22ND.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY.

>> I WOULDN'T PROPOSE THAT, BUT YES, NO, I WOULD HAVE [OVERLAPPING]

>> ADD IT SO WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT.

>> ON THIS ACTION ITEM FOR THE 22ND, WE CAN HAVE A PROPOSED DATE FOR THE DRIVEWAY DISCUSSION.

>> CAN YOU REVIEW AGAIN WHAT WE'RE REMOVING?

>> I'D MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED, CANCELING APRIL 22ND, REPLACING MAY 13TH CODE OF CONDUCT WITH ROADS, AND KEEPING THE MAY 28TH OF GRANTS PRIMER, AND ON JUNE 10TH, WE WOULD PUT THAT ONE ON HOLD AND TAKE THAT OFF AS WELL.

[01:55:02]

>> I'LL STICK ON THAT.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> NO, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT RECOMMENDED THE GRANTS AND YOU'RE CALLING IT A PRIMER, WHICH IS FINE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS OF WHICH GRANTS GET PRIORITIZED.

STAFF DOES THAT, SOME OF THE AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALLOW FOR GRANTS IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE NUMBERS OF GRANTS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED RECENTLY AS A COUNCIL.

>> WE'RE NOT PULLING THAT. [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE JUST PUTTING A PLUG IN FOR IT. [LAUGHTER]

>> I'M GIVING CONTEXT ABOUT WHY I ASKED FOR IT TO PUT ON WORK SESSION.

>> SO THAT STAYS.

>> I SECOND.

>> PROPOSED. NOTE THAT PASSES 5-0.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF ODDS AND ENDS.

THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY IS TRAVELING ALONG.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A MOVE-IN DATE FOR WORKS AND PARKS ON OR ABOUT THE 15TH OF APRIL.

THERE'LL STILL BE SOME EXTERNAL EXTERIOR WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THE WEATHER CONTINUES TO WARM WHICH SHOULD SERVE TO GET MOVED.

THEN FOR THIS YEAR'S CURED IN PLACE PIPE PROJECT FOR OUR SANITARY SEWER WHICH WAS AWARDED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE DO HAVE OUR PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE THIS WEEK AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM TO START WORK ON THAT THE WEEK AFTER.

[INAUDIBLE] THEN ALSO IN ENGINEERING, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DESIGN TEAM TO GET THE FINAL BOOK PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR THE GARAGE PROJECT DOWN AT OUR WATER PLANT, WHICH I HOPE TO HAVE A WORD AT THE NEXT MEETING. THAT'S IT.

>> THAT'S IT. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS,

[22. Review Council Committee Reports]

AND IT LOOKS LIKE ON HERE WE HAVE THREE OF THEM.

WE HAVE GOT I THINK THE LONG LAKE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD NIGHT ON MARCH 12TH?

>> YEAH, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

IT WAS A QUICK MEETING.

EVERYBODY WAS PRESENT, EXCEPT RICHARD MISSED THAT ONE.

OVERALL, WE GOT A REPORT ON THE DUTY CREWS AT STATION 1 HAD BEEN GOING REALLY WELL.

A LOT OF GOOD BUY-IN FROM THE TEAM AT LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH HOW THE SERVICE HAS BEEN GOING, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES.

STATION 2 RESULTS HAVE BEEN LACKING, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING TO.

>> WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY THERE, SORRY?

>> THAT THE STATION 2 RESULTS HAVE BEEN TRACKING BEHIND THE STATION 1 RESULTS BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BUILD DOWN THEIR POSITIVE RESULTS AT STATION 1.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TRACKING BEHIND?

>> I THINK THEY DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY OF THE SHIFTS.

I HAVE THE NUMBERS. I PROBABLY DO. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YOU MEAN THEY WERE HAVING LESS PARTICIPATION FROM?

>> YEAH, THE INTEREST IN FILLING SHIFTS WAS LESS AT STATION 2.

>> WELL, THEN WE ALSO HAD THE POLICE COMMISSION MET ON MARCH 13TH.

>> I SHARED OUT LAST TIME, SO IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THIS TIME, THAT'D BE GREAT.

>> I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION SURROUNDING SOME OF THE PETTY CRIME THAT'S FINDING ITS WAY OUT HERE, PARTICULARLY WITH VEHICLE BREAK-INS INTO GARAGES AND SOME ADDITIONAL CRIME THAT'S FINDING ITS WAY INTO HOMES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING IS THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE VIGILANT AS WELL BY NOT LEAVING KEYS IN THEIR CARS AND WALLETS VISIBLE AND IPADS SITTING OUT THERE, AND LOCKING THEIR CARS.

THAT'S ONE PIECE OF IT.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT RESPONSE OUT OF OUR DRUG TASK FORCE, WHO CONTINUED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT INCORPORATE SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THEN THE OTHER PIECE, THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED IT, THANKS TO THE CITY OF SPRING PARK.

THE CITY OF SPRING PARK DONATED $30,000 TO THE CITY OF ORONO TO GO TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TASK OR A DOG FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

>> CANINE UNIT.

>> A CANINE. THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT WAS TO ME ANYWAY, BUT THEY'RE RETIRING ALL THESE SERVICE DOGS NOW BECAUSE OF THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

IF THE DOGS HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO SNIFF OUT MARIJUANA, THEY CAN'T USE THEM IN THE DEPARTMENTS ANYMORE, SO IT'S FORCING DEPARTMENTS TO PURCHASE NEW DOGS.

[02:00:04]

OURS HAD JUST RETIRED, AND SO THIS IS A MORE CAPABLE DOG, AND THE DOG WILL NOT BE USED FOR APPREHENSION.

IT'S NOT A DOG THAT WILL RUN PEOPLE DOWN, BUT IT WILL TRACK PEOPLE AND THEN IT WILL NOT BE TRADING FOR MARIJUANA, BUT IT WILL SNIFF OUT THE REST OF THE DRUGS.

SPECIAL, THANKS AGAIN TO SPRING PARK FOR EARMARKING PART OF THEIR DONATION TO GO TO THAT, AND THEN WE HAVE A DESIGNATED OFFICER FOR THAT.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG PIECE OF THIS IS A BIG COMMITMENT AND WE HAVE AN OFFICER THAT IS WILLING TO DO IT.

OVERALL, THE CITIES THAT WE SERVE WERE REALLY PLEASED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT AND AND WE ARE FULLY STAFFED, WHICH IS ANOTHER REALLY BIG ACHIEVEMENT IF YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS AT ALL SO CREDIT TO COREY AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING A CULTURE THAT RETRACTS AND RETRAINS THE GREAT OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE. THANKS FOR THAT.

>> THANKS. ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT.

>> THE THIRD ONE WE HAD WAS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER BENSON. GO AHEAD.

>> LIKE I SAID, I SHARED IT OUT LAST TIME SO I'D OFFER YOU THE OPPORTUNITY THIS TIME.

>> I'VE BEEN TALKING ALL DAY, SO GO AHEAD.

[LAUGHTER]

>> WE'VE GOT A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF ABOUT SOME NEW HIRES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE CITY BASED ON SOME NEEDS.

ONE IS A FULL TIME IT MANAGER.

THE CURRENT POSITION IS MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN BEAR AND REQUIRE SOME SPECIAL SKILLS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL BE HEARING MORE DETAILS ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL WORK REGARDING VARIOUS CITY FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING POLICE, WHICH IS APPARENTLY A VERY BIG DRAW ON IT, AS WELL AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME ABOUT AFTER SOME COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE AND APPARENTLY MAYBE NEEDS COMING OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE OR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MORE THAN OUR STAFF IS ADEQUATELY ABLE TO COVER AT THIS TIME.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT JOB DESCRIPTION WOULD BE, WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE FULL TIME, PART TIME, AND EXACTLY WHAT THAT JOB DESCRIPTION WOULD ENTAIL.

THE LAST ONE WAS A NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

OTHER CITIES HAVE DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS.

WE IN THE CITY DO NOT AND DESPITE HAVING A TOPOGRAPHY, WETLANDS, LAKESHORE, AND A LOT OF OTHER AREAS WHICH WE DISCUSSED EARLIER TONIGHT THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE AND CONSIDERATION AND EXPERTISE.

THE DIRECTION THAT STAFF IS LOOKING AT GOING IN RIGHT NOW IS TO ALLOW ONE OF THE CURRENT PLANNERS TO BE ABLE TO SPECIALIZE MORE HIGHLY IN THIS AREA OF NATURAL RESOURCE, IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD MEAN COORDINATING MORE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND REALLY BECOMING MORE OF A SPECIALIST IN THOSE AREAS OF WETLAND DELINEATION.

A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS, BLUFF LAND, THOSE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS NOT A HIRE OF A NEW INDIVIDUAL, BUT ACTUALLY A TRAINING AND A SPECIALIZATION IN ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT IS ALREADY DOING PLANNING IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE REALLY COVERING THOSE AREAS WHICH ARE VERY CRITICAL IN PLANNING IN THE CITY OF ORONO.

THESE WERE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, WHAT THAT UNDERSTATES AS A CITY BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.

WE'RE ALWAYS FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON TOP OF STUFF, THAT'S FOR SURE.

THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

GOING TO TAKE A 5-10 MINUTE BREAK HERE SO WE CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM AND WE'LL BE BACK. I'M GIVING 5-10 MINUTES.

[Public Comments - (Limit 3 Minutes per Person)]

WE'VE GOT PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.

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

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

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

THE COUNCIL WILL FIRST OPEN THE PODIUM TO ORONO RESIDENTS, AND ONCE THAT'S DONE, WE WILL OPEN THE PODIUM TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ADAM IS OUR GATEKEEPER IN TERMS OF DOING THREE MINUTES, SO IF YOU'D RESPECT THE TIME, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

[02:05:01]

>> HI. I'M GABRIEL JABBOUR, 985 TONKAWA ROAD, AND I RAN OVER TO TELL YOU WHAT I THINK.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING FOR ME TO SEE THAT YOU CHANGED THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THREE MINUTES.

I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT AND PUT IT IN THE END OF THE MEETING, MAKING EVERYBODY WHO WISH TO ENGAGE THE COUNCIL SIT THROUGH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED ON A 48 INCH CULVERT.

I THINK THAT'S DESPICABLE AND I THINK IT'S UNNECESSARY.

I BELIEVE IT'S DISCRIMINATORY FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZEN WHO COULD NOT STAY HERE IN CASE THE MEETING WENT TO TEN O'CLOCK OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND YOU RAN THE CLOCK ON CHANNEL 11.

CONGRATULATION.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU HOW DISHEARTENED AND UPSET THAT OUR BELOVED CITY HAVE GOTTEN THE SECOND CONTEMPT ORDER.

I'M RESENTFUL AND ANGRY THAT THE CITY OF ORONO RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES MOST PEOPLE THINK IS THE CITY.

IF WE GO TO THE APPELLATE COURT, WE WILL TRY TO ROUTE IT SO YOU GUYS ARE IN CONTEMPT INSTEAD OF THE CITY IS IN CONTEMPT.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL, AS OUR APPELLATE COURT JUDGE REMINDED YOU, THERE IS CIVIL LIABILITY AFFILIATED WITH THAT.

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

WE'RE A COUNTRY OF LAW AND PROCESS, AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR LEADER, WE PUT THE QUIZ IN OUR AND MADE MASHED POTATO OUT OF IT.

IN SHORT, YOU HAVE MISSED 99% WHAT'S IMPORTANT, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY.

YOU TURN PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER BADLY AND YOUR ARROGANCE ABOUT YOU KNOW IT ALL, AND WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS IS SO BAD THAT 100% OF THE MAYORS WHO ARE LIVING, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE YOU DON'T SEE THEIR NAME ON THE LETTER, ARE TAKING EXCEPTION TO YOU.

I ALWAYS FELT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT'S WHO YOU KNOW AND THE PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW WILL NOT TALK TO YOU.

VERY FEW CITIES OR AGENCIES, YOU HAVE DIMINISHED THE VALUE OF THE WORD ORONO IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY.

MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS IN HER 50S, WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THE MAYOR OF LONG LAKE.

HE LIVED ON SLOBS BAY.

THEY LIVE IN THE SAME BUS.

THEY GO TO THE SIMILAR PLACE OF WORSHIP.

THEY GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL.

WE GO TO THE SAME GROCERY STORE.

THEY DO THE SAME PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND YOU GUYS TURNED IT US AGAINST THEM.

YOU CAN SEE I CAN'T EVEN THINK BECAUSE THAT CLOCK IS TELLING ME I HAVE ONE SECOND.

>> GABRIEL, I APPRECIATE IT.

ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO WILL LIKE TO COME UP TODAY? [APPLAUSE] SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS?

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WALSH.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M PRAM SHUN MAGABELU, 7903 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE COMMENTS ON 7907 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TODAY.

A FEW THINGS I WANT TO CORRECT FROM PAST COMMENTS.

FIRST, THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAYING, THIS IS ABOUT THE SEPTIC SYSTEM ONLY BEING THE PUSHBACK.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PIECES OF COMMENTS THAT WERE PUSHED BACK ABOUT THIS.

MY WIFE AND I WERE ABLE TO SEND YOU A LETTER TO MANY OF YOU TODAY.

HOPEFULLY, YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT CONCERNS THAT US AS NEIGHBORS.

WE ALSO HAVE COMMENT LETTERS FROM THREE OTHER NEIGHBORS, AND ONE OTHER NEIGHBOR IS HERE TO SPEAK AS WELL ABOUT CONCERNS ON THE PROPERTY.

SECOND CORRECTION IS THE LAND, I THINK WAS SAID IT WAS ALREADY SOLD.

IT IS NOT SOLD YET. IT'S CONTINGENT UPON SEVERAL THINGS BEING ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PROCESS.

THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS.

ONE THING, WE HAVE MADE AN OFFER WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTED, A COMPETITIVE OFFER ON THE LAND.

OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP IT AS IT IS, KEEP IT PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL AS WE SEE TODAY.

THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY HOME AROUND LAKE LYDIARD TO BE THIS CLOSE TO THE LAKE.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE VIEWS, BUT ABOUT THE EFFECT IT COULD HAVE ON THE LAKE ITSELF.

OUR CONCERN IS, WHY DO WE NOT WAIT FOR THE WATERSHED DISTRICT TO DO ITS WORK BEFORE WE ACTUALLY START MAKING, MAKE DECISIONS ON THIS. THERE'S THAT.

THIRD, WE'VE SENT YOU SOME PICTURES.

BY THE WAY, OUR HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1988.

THIS PROPERTY WAS ONE ENTIRE PROPERTY UP UNTIL 1992, WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO SUBDIVIDE THE PROPERTY.

[02:10:02]

OUR HOUSE IS BUILT COMPLETELY WITH WINDOWS FACING THIS PROPERTY ONTO THE LAKE, INTO THE TREES.

THIS WOULD COMPLETELY AND VERY FIRMLY DIMINISH OUR PROPERTY VALUE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE'VE READ IN ORONO'S DOCUMENTS ABOUT WHY YOU, WHAT CONCERNS THAT YOU WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR THIS.

I THINK, ULTIMATELY WE DON'T DISLIKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING ON THIS PROPERTY.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY KIND AND TO DEAL WITH, BUT WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHARACTER, ABOUT THE VIEWS, ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE, AND ABOUT OUR AND OUR NEIGHBORS PROPERTY VALUES IN THIS PROCESS.

FINALLY, WE MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK 3.5 YEARS AGO.

WE MOVED HERE FOR MY WIFE AND HER FAMILY TO BE CLOSE TO THEM, OUR KIDS, TO GO TO SOME GREAT SCHOOLS AND US TO HAVE WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT RNO IS SPACE AND BEAUTIFUL SCENIC VIEWS.

THE WAY THAT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A DRIVEWAY IN A GARAGE AND OUR PROPERTY, THAT IS GOING TO BE WITHIN 100 FEET OF OUR VIEWS AND WE HAVE SOME MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ADAM, CAN WE ADDRESS THE FEEDBACK ISSUE OR WE DON'T?

>> MARK, DEPUTY 2605 HOLLANDER ROAD.

THE LETTER THAT I WROTE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU.

I PUT IT TOGETHER BEFORE I KNEW THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WEREN'T GOING TO BE PART OF THE EARLIER SESSION WITH REGARDS TO THIS AT 7907 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

BUT I'LL JUST READ THE LETTER I HAVE.

CONSIDERING THAT 7907 IS PRESUMED TO BE BUILDABLE, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT ALL DUE CARE IS USED IN GRANTING BOTH THIS AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK VARIANCE AS WELL AS ANY OTHER VARIANCES THAT MAY BECOME NECESSARY TO GRANT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT.

I'VE READ THE OTHER LETTERS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TONIGHT AND I AM IN SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

SOME OF THOSE HAVE NOT YET BEEN TALK ABOUT.

MY INTEREST IS PRIMARILY THAT THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ADHERE TO ALL THE NORMAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS.

MY OBSERVATIONS.

THE SURVEY AND PLANS FOR 7907 SHOW THE BOUNDARIES DEFINED BY THE CURRENT LAKE LEVEL, 970.9 FEET ELEVATION, AS WELL AS THE LOCATION OF WETLAND DELINEATION STAKES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY PLACED AT THE 30 YEAR HIGH WATERMARK 9703 FEET, 150 FOOT SETBACK THAT IS ILLUSTRATED IN THE SURVEY PLAN IS MEASURED FROM CURRENT LAKE SHORE AND NOT THE PROVISIONAL WETLAND BOUNDARY DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT 6 " OR SIX FEET, EXCUSE ME, RESULTING IN A SETBACK FROM THE PROVISIONAL WETLAND BOUNDARY OF 144 FEET.

MCWDS NOT YET REVIEWED, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

THEY WILL DO SO AS SOON AS THE GROWING SEASON STARTS.

I'VE ATTACHED THREE EXHIBITS TO MY LETTER WHICH NONE OF YOU HAVE YET. WE DON'T HAVE AN OVERHEAD.

FOR WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE 100 YEAR HIGH WATER MARK, WHICH BOTH ORONO AND MCWD DO CONSIDER IN THE COURSE OF THEIR APPROVALS.

THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE AT APPROXIMATELY 9705 FOOT ELEVATION.

MY FIRST EXHIBIT WITH THE RED LINE, WHICH NONE OF YOU CAN SEE, SHOWS 100 YEAR BOUNDARY THAT I'VE ESTIMATED IT PUSHES SUBSTANTIALLY INTO THE LOT AND WOULD RESULT IN ONE CORNER OF THE HOME BEING ABOUT 40 FEET FROM THE BOUNDARY.

THE OTHER TWO EXHIBITS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE RED LINE.

PART OF THE PROPOSED PRIMARY SEPTIC SITE IS SHOWN VERY CLOSE TO 100 YEAR HIGH WATER MARK.

THAT'S MY FIRST EXHIBIT.

THE SECONDARY SEPTIC SITE IS SHOWN MUCH LESS THAN 10 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY BOUNDARY, WHICH IS WHAT CODE WOULD REQUIRE.

DO WE KNOW YET WHAT TYPE OF SEPTIC SYSTEM IS BEING PROPOSED? PERHAPS CONSIDER ONE OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE OPTIONS TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON THE LAKE.

AS A SUGGESTION, WHY NOT HAVE THE PRIMARY SEPTIC SITE AT A HIGHER ELEVATION AND FURTHER FROM THE LAKE? SIMPLY SWITCH THE SITES TO ALLOW OR LESS LIKELIHOOD OF IMPACTING THE LAKE.

I REALIZE ALL THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS THE PROJECT UNFOLDS, BUT MIGHT IT BE A GOOD IDEA TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY BEFORE GRANTING THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE VARIANCE? AT THIS TIME, THIS WOULD ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALL REQUIRED VARIANCES AT ONE TIME RATHER THAN PIECEMEAL, AS I'VE MENTIONED WITH THE PROPOSAL AS IS, THERE WOULD ALREADY LIKELY BE A NEED TO GRANT A VARIANCE FROM THE HUNDRED 50 FOOT HOME SETBACK AND THE TEN FOOT SEPTICS.

>>THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MARK.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER GONOWSKI.

I LIVE AT 7903 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WILL JUST STATE THAT, OF COURSE, I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK WAS APPROVED TODAY.

[02:15:04]

YOU'VE SEEN OUR THOUGHTS AND SO YOU KNOW WHERE WE STAND.

BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.

I ALSO WANT TO READ THREE DIFFERENT STATEMENTS FROM OUR OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY WIFE LINDA MILLER, AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING, CARING FOR, AND ATTEMPTING TO PRESERVE ORONO'S TOTALLY UNIQUE LITIARD LAKE FOR 33 YEARS.

COME THIS SEPTEMBER, I HAVE SERVED AT THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT'S VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITOR FOR THE LAKE FOR OVER A DECADE.

I MONTHLY SAMPLED THE LAKE WATER QUALITY DURING THOSE SUMMERS.

ACCORDING TO THE MHC WD REPORT TO ME, LITIARD LAKE IS THE ONLY BODY OF WATER WITHIN 50 MILES THAT HAS MAINTAINED AN AA PLUS WATER QUALITY OVER THREE DECADES.

THE ER, LAKE, IN MY ESTIMATION, IS THE PUREST BODY OF WATER IN THE CITY OF ORONO, THE JEWEL OF THE LAKE SHORE CITY.

IN 33 YEARS, MANY ORONO PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCILS HAVE COME AND GONE.

THE PROPOSED FLAG LOT HAS COME TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEARS SEEING A LAKE SHORE SEPARATE, SEPTIC DRIVEWAY WITH ROOF HEIGHT AND OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS.

YOUR PREDECESSORS HAVE SEEN FIT TO DENY THESE REQUESTS.

LAKE LYDIARD IS NOT LAKE MINATAKA.

YOUR PREDECESSORS OCCUPYING THREE DECADES OF ORONO CITY COUNCILS WISELY APPRECIATED THIS.

THEY PRESERVED THE UNIQUE NATURAL LAKE MARSH ENVIRONMENT OF THE JEWEL OF THE LAKE SHORE CITY.

THE PROPOSED HOME CONSTRUCTION AT 7907 FERNDALE WOULD BE BREAKING WITH MORE THAN A 33-YEAR-OLD COVENANT BY WHICH TO PRESERVE THE LAST PURE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ORONO YOU CAN DECIDE TO BREAK THIS COVENANT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LAKESHORE CITY'S SHARE OF THE TEN TO $20,000 OF HENNEPIN COUNTY PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

MY NEIGHBORS SURROUNDING LAKE LYDIARD, AND THOSE WHO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE, LINDA AND I STRONGLY IMPLORE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, PRESERVE THE LONGSTANDING CITY COVENANT WITH LAKE LYDIARD, AND REJECT THE LAKE SETBACK VARIANT, AND THEREBY THIS ICONOCLASTIC, DISRUPTIVE AND ENCROACHING HOME PROJECT.

SINCERELY, PAUL BREWER AND LINDA MILLER.

OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES TO THE WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME ENOUGH TO SAY TO, BUT THERE ARE TWO OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED LETTERS TO THE COUNCIL.

WE WILL GIVE THEM TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.

WE'LL ALSO E MAIL THEM TO YOU.

YOU'RE STEPHEN KATHY PIERCE OF 259 HOLLANDER ROAD, AS WELL AS SCOTT AND LORI KNUTSON OF 795 FERNDALE ROAD NORTH.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THOSE LETTERS TO AN WHO'LL PUT THOSE IN THE RECORD?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SAME WITH MARTIN?

>> YEAH. WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL OF OUR LETTERS. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS NANCY BRANTINGHAM.

>> JUST WAITING.

I LIVE AT 3185 COUNTY ROAD 6.

MR. MAYOR, YOU MIGHT BE ORONO PROUD.

I AM ORONO EMBARRASSED.

I AM EMBARRASSED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ATTENDING ORONO COUNCIL MEETING SINCE NOVEMBER 2022.

I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU'VE SAID TO JUSTIFY YOUR DECISION ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT I STILL BELIEVE IT WAS A MISTAKE.

I'M REALLY EMBARRASSED ABOUT AS THE WAY YOU TREATED CHIEF HIGHLAND AT THE LAST MEETING.

FURTHER, I AM EMBARRASSED THAT YOUR ACTIONS HAVE NOW EARNED THE CITY A COURT INJUNCTION TO STOP ANY ACTION THAT WOULD COMPROMISE THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES AS WELL AS TWO CONTEMPT FINDINGS CONGRATULATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF JUDGE MILLER'S INJUNCTION.

YOU HAVE MADE THE CITY LIABLE THROUGH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL EXPENSES ACCUMULATED BY THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.

NOT TO MENTION FOR WHATEVER WE OWE MR. ROVERS FOR HIS LEGAL SERVICES.

YOU HAVE DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE STRESSED RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON WHICH WE ORONO CITIZENS DEPEND FOR OUR WELL BEING.

YOU HAVE BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS AND DAMAGE THEM BETWEEN US AND OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES.

THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOOD LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE AND WHAT GOOD LEADERS DO.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT GOOD LEADERS ARE CAPABLE OF ADMITTING THEM AND CHANGING COURSE BECAUSE THEY PUT THE WELL BEING OF THE COMMUNITY FIRST.

I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL SOME TIME TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU ARE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO CHANGE COURSE FOR THE SAKE OF THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE ORONO CITIZENS YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> CLARA BRA 10805 BROWN ROAD SOUTH.

I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING LIKE SOME OTHERS DID, BUT SPEAKING FROM MY HEART, I HEARD SOME THINGS THAT THE CHIEF DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF BUILDING UP THE VERY BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I ALSO HEARD COUNCILWOMAN BENSON ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EMT OR AN EMR,

[02:20:03]

AND THEN I ALSO HEARD YOU INDICATE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD AND THAT THAT MADE SENSE AND THAT WAS GOOD.

SO IF THAT IS GOOD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT GOOD BECAUSE THAT IS VOTING AGAINST OR NO.

AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU ARE COMPROMISED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF LONG LEAK AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INTERESTS OF ORONO.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AND AS A LONGTIME ORONO RESIDENT, THAT BOTHERS ME.

IT ALSO BOTHERS ME WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION.

NO, RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ANTAGONISTIC.

THEY HAVE BEEN DIVISIVE, THEY HAVE BEEN RUDE, THEY HAVE BEEN CONDESCENDING.

THEY HAVE BEEN SHARING MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

WHAT I WOULD ACTUALLY LOVE TO SEE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE FROM A VERY NOISY FEW INCESSANTLY POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WITHOUT A COUNTER MESSAGE THAT REALLY SHARES SOME OF THE GREAT NEWS THAT THE CHIEF SPOKE ABOUT TODAY.

THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TOWARDS JULY OF 2024 AND BEING READY UNLESS WE GET THAT MESSAGE CLEARLY OUT THERE SO THAT THE ORONO CITIZENS WHO VOTE UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH NOISE AND MISINFORMATION ON THE SIDE OF LONG LAKE.

MY REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL IS THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER A STRONGER MESSAGING CAMPAIGN TO GET THE TRUTH OUT.

I WOULD URGE MY FELLOW CITIZENS AND CITIZENS OF OTHER CITIES, ESPECIALLY TO DIAL IT DOWN. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] JIM ELDER 195 SOUTH BROWN ROAD.

WELL, I'M URGING BOTH OF THE CITIES TO GO BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND SETTLE THIS THING.

I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT CHIEF ANIL'S PRESENTATION TONIGHT, WELL, I DON'T THINK IT WAS ADVERTISED AS COMING, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND AS A POWERPOINT, IT LOOKED GREAT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME DETAILS THAT I THINK NEED TO BE FLESHED OUT.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, AS MY NEIGHBOR DID, TO HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THESE MATTERS ARE.

SUCH AS, WILL THE WARNER FIRE DEPARTMENT ON JULY 1 BE READY, EQUIPPED, AND TRAINED TO COVER THE PART OF NAVAR THAT THEY'RE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR? OUR POINT SAYS YES.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, WILL YOU HAVE AIR FILL EQUIPMENT, FILL BOTTLES IF YOU HAVE A FIRE? WILL YOU HAVE ENOUGH HOSE TO EQUIP THE TRUCKS WE'VE BOUGHT TO HANDLE ANY FIRES.

AS REGARDING THE EMP EMR ISSUE, IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HAVING HOW MANY OF YOU GOT, I'M NOT TOO SURE HOW MANY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON A RESPONSE TEAM.

ON THE POWERPOINT, YOU'VE GOT THEM.

WILL YOU HAVE THEM IN THE TRUCKS AND OUT THE DOOR WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED? THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ONLY CAN BE ANSWERED AFTER SOME TRAINING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND YOU'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT 12,13 WEEKS TO GET IT DONE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF ORONO.

IT'S MY FAMILY'S WELFARE THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

I'M ALSO A FORMER LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER ALONG WITH RICHARD.

I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE AS WELL TRAINED AND WELL EQUIPPED AS LONG LAKE IS.

IT ISN'T GOING TO BE JUST DONE BY THE SIGNATURE ON AN APPLICATION TO BUILD A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET YOUR FIRE ID NUMBER.

I DO LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHETHER YOU GET A FIRE ID NUMBER, BECAUSE THE FIRE MARSHAL IS GOING TO LOOK AT THINGS SUCH AS THAT HOSE AND AIR COMPRESSOR THING.

THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MARIA, WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT THE DUTY CREW DATA AT STATION 2 WAS LACKING.

WE'RE HAVING FEWER PARTICIPANTS AND THAT'S CRITICAL

[02:25:04]

BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE AREA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COME JULY 1.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ME AND MY FAMILY ARE ALREADY WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

THAT GOES FOR ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE.

GET BACK TO THE BARGAINING GAME.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S REDUNDANT, AND IT'S NOT ANY MORE EFFICIENT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> HI. I'M ELEANOR WINSTON 765 SPRING HILL ROAD.

I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT LAKE LYDIARD BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE.

IT'S THE CLEANEST LAKE IT HAS ALWAYS.

IT'S WATER LEVEL VARIES. IT'S GONE.

IT'S DOWN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR FEET WHERE IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS A VARIANCE PUT IN THAT I KNOW EXACTLY THE TRAIL GOING AROUND THE LAKE.

I WALK AROUND IT EVERY DAY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE A VARIANCE WAS GRANTED BECAUSE IT'S REALLY VERY LOW LAND RIGHT THERE WHERE WE SAW WHERE ROADS IS CLEARED.

BUT BECAUSE I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE, I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PLANTS.

ANYWAY, THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT.

IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE NICEST LAKES, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT RUINED BY DEVELOPMENT BY A HOUSE TOO CLOSE. THANK YOU.

>> I'M LINDSAY FREEMAN 190 SIGNET PLACE.

WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 25 YEARS NOW.

I GREW UP IN MINNETONKA. WE'RE HERE NOW.

WE KNOW MINNESOTA WELL.

WE KNOW ITS COMMUNITY AS WELL.

I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE CITY IS BEING RUN.

I HAVE SAT HERE SINCE SIX O'CLOCK 2.5 HOURS NOW I CAN TALK.

ALL THE REST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE WAITED AS WELL.

I WONDER IF YOUR VOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF YOU HAD ALLOWED THE OTHER PEOPLE TO JUST GOT UP TO TALK.

I'M ALSO EMBARRASSED ABOUT ORONO, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE A NEW FIRE STATION RENEGOTIATED.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

I KNOW THAT CHANNEL 11 LEFT. MAY BE A GOOD THING.

PEOPLE MAY LIKE THAT UP HERE, BUT THEY ARE STILL WATCHING THE NEWS FEED.

I WOULD JUST ASK A LAWSUITS SHAME THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO OUR CITY.

I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU'VE TURN THINGS AROUND.

>> EXCUSE ME. I THINK THERE'S NO COMMENTS ABOUT ORONO FOR YOU.

>> IT'S TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND AND I URGE YOU TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.

>> KELLY PERKEL, 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE AGENDA TEMPLATE HAS BEEN CHANGED SINCE THE LAST MEETING. IT'S A LITTLE HISTORY.

BACK IN 2015, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER DENNIS WALSH ASKED THAT THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE BE ADDED TO THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL AGENDAS.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ANY ITEM ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.

IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, YOU MAY SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.

WALSH EVEN CAMPAIGNED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INPUT.

AT THE LAST MEETING, I ASKED TO SPEAK ON A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM, AND I WAS QUICKLY SHUT DOWN BY MAYOR WALSH.

HE SHOUTED OVER ME, THIS WAS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

NOW, YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT THAT SENTENCE, ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT ON REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS HAS BEEN REMOVED.

DID THE COUNCIL VOTE ON THAT CHANGE? OTHER CITY COUNCILS I KNOW INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL MUCH EARLIER IN THE AGENDA.

HERE IN ORONO, NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SPEAK AFTER ALL THE DISCUSSION AND THE VOTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

WHAT VALUE DOES THIS COUNCIL PUT ON HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS? RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE COUNCIL ON RELEVANT TOPICS.

LIKE THREE RESIDENTS JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

INSTEAD OF THIS RATIONAL MODEL OF COMMUNITY DISCOURSE, ORONO IS NOW ALLOWING RESIDENTS JUST THREE MINUTES AT THE VERY END OF THE NIGHT TO TALK WITHOUT ANY REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF DIALOGUE.

YOU WAIT FOR US TO SAY OUR PIECE AND THEN YOU MOVE ON.

THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE THE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT FIRE.

YOU ASKED FOR COMMENT CARDS AND IGNORED THEM.

[02:30:01]

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FEEL HEARD IF WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU VOTE? THIS IS WHY YOUR RESIDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED.

YOU DON'T CARE TO LISTEN TO US, WE ARE CONSIDERED A NUISANCE BY MOST OF YOU.

THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP, IT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE.

THE SMARTEST AND BEST LEADERS ARE ABLE TO CONSIDER NEW INFORMATION TO INFORM THEIR DECISION MAKING.

FINALLY, I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR PLANS TO TAKE OVER SERVICES FOR ORONO ON JULY 1, A SELF IMPOSED DEADLINE.

IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN ADDITION TO AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE AND THERE'S A CLEAR PATH TO SUCCESS RENEGOTIATING SHARED SERVICES MODEL WITH LONG LAKE, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A CHANGE.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR RESIDENTS THAT YOU VALUE THEIR INPUT AND THEIR SAFETY.

>> [INAUDIBLE] 2874 CASCO ROAD.

I AGREE WITH THE LADY OF PET UP AND SAID WHERE'S THE BUDGET.

WHEN THE CHIEF GOT UP AND SHOWED US THE DIAGRAM OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTED.

THAT'S MONEY THAT'S SPENT, THAT'S COMMITTED.

YOU GUYS DO HAVE A BUDGET BUT YOU HAVEN'T TOLD US AND YET THERE'S THE PLAN THAT LEAVES LONG LAKE HIGH AND DRY? ORONO MAYBE 80% OF THEIR BUDGET.

I MEAN, THE PURSE FOR THEIR MONEY BUT THEIR PURSE WAS ALL WITH LONG LEG.

I GUESS THAT ISN'T RIGHT EITHER TO STRAND THEM.

THERE ARE HOLES IN OTHER COMMUNITY WITH A SERVICE THAT HELPED ORONO OUT IN THE BEGINNING.

ALSO, MAYOR WALSH, YOU'RE SERVING THE LAST TWO YEARS BY EDICT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IT WASN'T BY ELECTION.

I THINK YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE DID NOT ELECT YOU TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU GOT AN EXTENSION OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT, SO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT?

>> BRIAN TORIVIL 997 WILD HORSE TRAIL.

I'VE STOOD AT THIS PODIUM FIVE OR SIX TIMES BEFORE.

I'VE SAT IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO YEARS.

I CAN'T GET THE LAST THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK NOR THE MANY HOURS THAT I'VE SPENT IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL.

IN LISTENING, I SHOWED UP FOR AN ISSUE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD NO DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT DID TODAY.

AND AS I'VE TOLD, MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR AN ISSUE, STAYED FOR THE SHOW, IT'S RIDICULOUS.

IF ONLY THE CAMERAS WERE POINTING THAT DIRECTION, WHEN YOU GET PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD EMPLOY THAT.

THE CONTEMPT DOESN'T JUST LAY WITHIN THIS COURT ORDER.

THE CONTEMPT COMES FROM THIS COUNCIL, FROM THE MAYOR DIRECTLY BACK TO ALL TO SPEAK.

IF YOU ENJOY WHAT THEY SAY, IT'S ACCEPTED, AND IF YOU DON'T, IT GOES ON.

I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO THE COUNCIL.

I'LL SPEAK TO THE CAMERAS.

THIS IS THE SECOND CONTEMPT COURT ORDER.

CITY OF ORONO DEFENDANT.

I'LL READ EXCERPTS AND IT'S ALL IN THE PAPERWORK.

ORDER OF CONTEMPT, CITY OF ORONO DEFENDANT AND I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP AROUND THROUGH HERE.

IT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT TWO OF THE EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE OR TESTIFIED BEAR THE NAME FIREFIGHTER BEN BEACH AND FIREFIGHTER JAMES SEALS.

IF I JUMP FURTHER FINDINGS OF FACTS, ON JUNE 23 2023, LONG LAKE COMMENCED THIS ACTION.

THE COURT HEARD LONG LAKE'S INJUNCTION MOTION ON JUNE 30, 2023, AND TWO WEEKS LATER RULED THE COURT GRANTED LONG LAKE'S MOTION OF TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.

ON OCTOBER 13, 2023, LONG LAKE MOVED TO HOLD ORONO IN CONTEMPT OF A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

THE COURT HELD THE INITIAL HEARING IN LONG LAKE'S CONTEMPT MOTION ON NOVEMBER 8, 2023.

ON NOVEMBER 21, 2023, THE COURT ISSUED AN ORDER FOR CONTEMPT.

THE FIRST ORDER OF CONTEMPT,

[02:35:01]

THE COURT FOUND THAT THE CITY OF ORONO HAVE FAILED TO ABIDE BY THE COURT ORDERS.

OUR COUNCIL IS SMARTER THAN THE COURTS OF MINNESOTA.

THE COURT ORDERED THAT ORONO OUGHT TO PAY A FINE OF $2,000 FOR EACH INSTANCE FOR ANY FURTHER CONTACT, FOR PURPOSES OF RECRUITMENT, IN VIOLATION OF THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

WHEN I ASKED IF LONG LAKE AND ORONO COULD COLLABORATE THE STAFFING AND TRAINING, CHIEF HIGHLAND REPLIED THAT THE DEEP RIFF THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES WOULD MAKE THAT IMPOSSIBLE.

>> BY A PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE, CONTEMPT, AND NOT JUST ON THIS PAPER BUT TO THIS.

>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?

>> RICHIE ANDERSON, 3205 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD.

I JUST WANT TO HAVE A COUPLE THANK YOUS.

ONE IS TO YOU, MELINDA RINGENIER WAS RAISING MONEY.

A FRIEND OF OURS FOR THE ORONO GIRLS HOCKEY TEAMS. I GAVE THEM A DONATION, BUT YOU GAVE THEM A GENEROUS DONATION.

I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS OUT POUNDING THE PAVEMENT TO GET DONATIONS TO FUND ALL BRAND NEW JERSEYS FOR THE GIRLS.

MARIA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO GET TOGETHER WITH ALISA BENSON THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS OF IDEA, AND YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO PREVAIL THAT.

BUT YOU DID PUSH THAT FAIRLY HARD, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

ON THE ROADS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF WARRANTY WE GET, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE'VE GOT THESE REALLY NICE ROADS AND THEN THEY FALL APART.

WE HAD CROSS AND DO OUR ROAD ON CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, AND WHO KNOWS HOW YOU FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER HAVING PUBLIC COMMENTS INSTEAD OF THREE MINUTES, MAYBE FOUR MINUTES, WERE USED TO BE FIVE MINUTES.

THREE MINUTES, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS.

THE DOG THING, IF YOU CHECK WITH THE WAYZATA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY FOUND A GIRL WHO HAD GONE OFF AND WAS THINKING ABOUT COMMITTING SUICIDE.

THE DOG TRACKER FOUND THIS YOUNG GIRL.

I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THAT AND PROBABLY WILL DONATE TO THAT PROJECT.

AS FAR AS THE MAYORS GO, WHICH GABRIEL TALKED ABOUT, HE LISTED ABOUT FOUR MAYORS, NOT ONE OF THEM WAS WORTH A SHIT EXCEPT FOR HIM.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE IN 1994, HE MADE MY DILAPIDATED MARINA, ALLOWED ME TO DO THINGS, ALLOWED ME TO GET WHERE I WAS TOLD MY GAFFERIN, WHY DON'T YOU LAY OFF, LET HIM MAKE SOME MONEY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IF YOU COME DOWN TO MY MARINA IN MAXWELL BAY, YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE HE'S A VISIONARY. I GOT A PROBLEM.

YOU AND I ARE GREAT BUDS, ME AND HIM ARE GREAT BUDS.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, YOU GUYS COULD BE MONUMENTAL WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT I UNDERSTAND IF IT IS WHAT IT IS. ANYWAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, RICHIE. [APPLAUSE] IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP?

>> [INAUDIBLE] WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT FEEDBACK BEFORE I GET STARTED? [INAUDIBLE].

>> WHAT FEEDBACK?

>> I JUST STARTED. CAN I HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.

WELL, SINCE THE FEEDBACK WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO NOT BE HERE BEFORE WE STARTED SPEAKING, IT'S A LITTLE COMICAL.

IGNORING MR. WALSH IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER PATH, BECAUSE THEY'RE HARD NOT TO LOOK AT TODAY.

I ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT, AND IT'S NOT MY FRUSTRATION WITH HOW THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT THING HAS GONE, BUT IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S GONE ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

WHAT'S BEEN ALLOWED TO PERVADE OUR CITY FOR YEARS IS CALLED RACISM, THE BIG R. IT'S HERE AND IT'S PROVEN.

WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE A $90,000 SETTLEMENT THAT SOMEONE WAS FIRED FROM OUR CITY AND THEN CAME BACK AND FOUGHT IT, SHAKE YOUR HEADS, EXCEPT IT'S TRUE THAT THIS HAPPENED AND THAT THEY CAME BACK FOR REDRESS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THE INTERESTING THING IS I'VE GOT AN EMAIL HERE FROM MR. EDWARDS,

[02:40:01]

THAT GUY RIGHT THERE WHERE HE SAYS, I'M REACHING OUT VIA THERE'S EMAIL BLAST IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING UNSETTLING AND ILL INFORMED, ACCUSATIONS BEING MADE ABOUT ORONO STAFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THAT'S WHAT MR. EDWARDS HAS TO SAY ABOUT ME NOW, UNFORTUNATELY FOR MR. EDWARDS, MY WORDS WERE NOT MY WORDS.

MY WORDS WERE THE WORDS OF THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CITY AND WHO WERE SUBJECTED TO THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AND THE RACISM AND WERE SO UPSET WITH IT.

THEY CAME TO ME TO LET THIS CITY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN THE RACISM MYSELF WHEN A BLACK GENTLEMAN CAME TO MY DOOR KNOCKING WITH A PERMIT SELLING A CLEANING SUPPLIES AND THE POLICE HAULED HIM OFF.

THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO.

WHAT ELSE DOES MR. EDWARDS SAY, TYPICAL OF THE PURVEYOR OF THESE VIDEOS, THEY'RE LITTERED WITH INACCURACIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS.

MR. EDWARDS RIGHT THERE WOULD RATHER CALL ME A LIAR FOR REPORTING TO YOU PEOPLE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY THAN DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL RACISM, THE HARASSMENT, THE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT, THAT IS OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEADER OF IT IS ONE OF MR. EDWARDS'S FRIENDS WHO HE HAS COVERED FOR AND NOT ONLY COVERED FOR, BUT AFTER HE WAS TOLD THIS STUFF EXACTLY, HE PROMOTED HIM.

[INAUDIBLE] HE GOT A WATER LICENSE.

THIS IS THE SAME WATER LICENSE THAT NOT ONLY BROUGHT US CRAP INTO NORTH ARM, BUT HAS US A CRAP HIT UP BEHIND THE WATER TOWER.

I CAN'T TELL YOU. THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR CITY LEADER, BLAMING ME FOR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE TELL ME, CALLING ME A LIAR WHEN ACTUALLY ALL I [INAUDIBLE].

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TODAY?

>> I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME EIGHT BANGS INSTEAD OF ONE LIKE YOU DID THE OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT SHOWS THE DISRESPECT YOU HAVE FOR ME.

>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? IS THERE ANYBODY THAT'S NOT FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?

>> KELLY GRADY, 271 GREEN HILL LANE.

I STARTED TO FIGURE OUT FIRE WHEN MY HUSBAND WHO IS A LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER CAME HOME FROM A MEETING, SOMBER AND FRUSTRATED ABOUT WHAT THIS COUNCIL IS DOING TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT HE LOVES.

STATEMENTS FROM THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN A LEADING CONTRIBUTOR TO DEFLATING MORALE AND COMMUNITY DIVISION.

IN A RECENT PRESS RELEASE, YOU TOUTED ORONO'S LAWFUL DECISION TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE IMPROVED EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I TAKE UMBRAGE WITH THAT STATEMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON.

NO ONE IS ARGUING THE LAWFUL NATURE OF THESE DECISIONS, BUT THEY ARE ASKING WHY AND THEY HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER.

FURTHER, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SERVICE ABOUT LONG LAKE FIRE FROM THIS CITY OR THIS COUNCIL.

CITIZENS HAVE, HOWEVER, BEEN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND COST, AND THEY HAVE ALL GONE UNANSWERED.

THE MAJORITY OF OFFICIAL DATA GATHERED IN COMMENTS CARDS AND HEARING DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS OVERWHELMINGLY DEMONSTRATES THAT RESIDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IN JUST 12 WEEKS, ORONO HAS IMPLEMENTED A SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO TAKE OVER FIRE SERVICE FOR THE NAVARRE AREA.

THIS IS VERY CONCERNING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

ORONO FIRE IS UNDERSTAFFED BY MORE THAN HALF OF THE FIREFIGHTERS.

A FULLY FUNCTIONING DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO CALLS.

WITH ONLY NINE FIREFIGHTERS THAT CAN RESPOND TO CALLS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BETWEEN 10:00 PM AND 6:00 PM AND ON THE WEEKENDS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE ARE PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO 30% OF THE CALLS.

NOT ONLY DOES ORONO FIRE NOT HAVE A BUILDING TO WORK OUT OF, THEY ALSO LACK BASIC NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO RESPOND TO FIRE CALLS AND KEEP FIREFIGHTERS SAFE.

WHILE ORONO TOUTS OPERATIONAL READINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS JAMES VAN EYLL IS ASKING NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS TO BORROW TURNOUT GEAR AND HOSES AND EXPRESS NEEDS TO FILL SCBA TANKS AT THEIR STATIONS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GET THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU NEED IN TIME FOR JULY 1ST.

I HEARD HERE TONIGHT THAT A BUDGET HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND YET A BREAKDOWN OF THE ORONO BUDGET HAS NEVER BEEN PROVIDED TO THIS COMMUNITY DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS.

WHY? IT IS MY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THAT ORONO WILL EASILY SPEND 1-2 MILLION DOLLARS TO SEIZE CONTROL OF NAVARRE FOR SIX MONTHS THIS YEAR, WHICH AVERAGES ABOUT ONE CALL PER WEEK.

THIS IS PEANUTS TO THE APPROXIMATE $15 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT IT WILL COST FOR THE NEW DEPARTMENT.

ORONO COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE CITIZENS BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY OPTION FOR FIRE SERVICE WHEN THIS CONTRACT EXPIRES IS TO BUILD A NEW DEPARTMENT,

[02:45:02]

AND THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE IS STILL AN OPTION ON THE TABLE TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT WITH LONG LAKE FIRE AND EXAMINE OPTIONS FOR SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENTS GOING FORWARD.

THIS WOULD ALLOW ORONO TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE RELIED ON FROM LONG LAKE FIRE FOR 20 PLUS YEARS AND SAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THIS UNNECESSARY DUPLICATIVE DEPARTMENT WHERE THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE TO NO PUBLIC INPUT.

I URGE CITIZENS TO PAY ATTENTION AND GET INVOLVED.

I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AND TO DIRECT THE TEMPT OF COURT IN MEDIATION AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO FIGURE OUT FIRE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING TO LIGHT WITH THIS COUNCIL TO RATHER STAY IN THE DARK AND I WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

[APPLAUSE]

>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S NOT FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY?

>> RED ERICKSON, 21150 HORSESHOE TRAIL AND CORKER, AND I STILL HAVE MY BUSINESS DOWN HERE ON MAIN STREET IN ORONO AND I'VE HAD IT FOR OVER A DECADE NOW.

HOW INCREDIBLY GLARINGLY STUPID IT WAS OF YOU TO GO INTO THE PAPER AND SAY ABOUT THE JUDGE THAT SHE'S A JUDICIAL ACTIVIST, AND THAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE LAW.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS OUT FOR YOU.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO INTERJECT HERE IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, LONG LAKE'S ABOUT ONE SQUARE MILE, AND ORONO IS ABOUT 25 SQUARE MILES.

THAT MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT IT COSTS YOU GUYS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IT COSTS SOME GUYS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE AREA, INCLUDING MY BUSINESS DOWN THERE, WHICH YOU KNOW IS A FUCKING TINDERBOX, DON'T YOU? MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD GO DOWN THERE AND LIGHT IT ON FIRE FOR ME, WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE? WHAT ELSE YOU GOT FOR THESE PEOPLE? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FIRE STATION OPEN AND READY TO GO ON JULY 1ST? HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO BET, MR. WALSH? I'M THANKFUL TO MR. CROSBY TONIGHT FOR BEING HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE HAS AN ISSUE SHOWING UP TO THESE MEETINGS, I'VE BEEN TO MANY MORE THAN HE HAS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I THINK I'VE BEEN TO ALL OF THEM.

I THINK HE'S MISSED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OR SO, GIVE OR TAKE.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT HE WAS HONEST WITH MY ATTORNEY IN HIS DEPOSITION AND FINALLY CAME CLEAN ABOUT HIS ACTIVITIES ON J6 OUT IN WASHINGTON DC, STUMPING FOR TRUMP.

BUT I ALSO THINK, NOW THIS IS UNDER OATH, IT'S A THING.

I ALSO THINK THAT YOU GUYS GOT TO FIGURE OUT, YOU LIED THROUGH THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE VIDEO AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

I STILL THINK THE REST OF YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS A PRETTY DANGEROUS THING.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME? WE'RE COMING INTO THE SEASON.

REMEMBER WHAT THE JUDGE TOLD YOU AT MY SUMMARY? POLITICAL SEASON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS TIME, GUYS? GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, TIGHTEN UP, AND YES, I'M ALL FOR DECORUM AND PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS AND MORALS AND RELIGION AND ALL THE REST OF IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS, AND YOU HAVE TO STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF IT. CAPICHE.

>> ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL BREAK IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR OUR

[Mayor/Council Report]

MAYOR COUNCIL REPORTS. COUNCILMEMBER BENSON.

>> THANK YOU. AS CITY LEADERS, BUILDING AND MAINTAINING TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR ROLES, AND IT'S ALSO AN ONGOING PROCESS.

EVEN IF UNINTENTIONAL, OUR ACTIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FRACTURE TRUST REGARDLESS OF HOW CAREFULLY WE'VE WORKED TO BUILD IT OVER TIME.

WHEN WE BECOME AWARE THAT TRUST IS COMPROMISED, WE NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE AND CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS IN RECENT WEEKS ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF TRUST IN CITY GOVERNMENT WITH PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE STATE, AND ONE THEME AROSE THAT I WANT TO SHARE, IS THIS, COUNCIL MEETINGS REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN NECESSARY AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

CITIZENS LOSE TRUST IF THEY SEE DECISION-MAKERS DEFLECTING OR DISCOUNTING THEIR CONCERNS.

[02:50:05]

HAVING NECESSARY AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IS ALSO REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SOUND DECISIONS.

IT'S THE WAY WE DEMONSTRATE RIGOR IN OUR WORK.

THIS PROCESS OF THOROUGH DELIBERATION AND A WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IS WHAT ENGENDERS AND CREATES TRUST, EVEN WHEN THE OUTCOME MAY NOT BE FAVORABLY CONSIDERED BY ALL.

TRUST TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUILD AND AN INSTANT TO BREAK.

BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS HEARD OVER TIME, WE'RE CLEARLY GRAPPLING WITH ONGOING ISSUES OF TRUST.

IT'S 83 DAYS REMAIN UNTIL JULY 1.

THIS IS THE DATE WE HAVE SET FOR AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE EMS AND FIRE SERVICES TO A LARGE PORTION OF ORONO ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF OUR CITY.

ADAM, IF YOU HAVE A MAP OF THAT AREA, I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD PROJECT IT.

I'D LIKE EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THIS SERVICE AREA LOOKS LIKE.

JULY 1ST IS A DEADLINE WE SET OURSELVES.

IT WAS NOT DETERMINED BY THE CITY OF LONG LAKE, WHO HAVE OFFERED TO CONTINUE SERVICE WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOULD WE FIND OURSELVES UNABLE TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY MEET THIS DEADLINE.

WITH THIS IN MIND, I'M GOING TO REVISIT THE FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT WRITTEN BY STAFF AND PRESENTED TO COUNCIL LAST YEAR.

THIS IS THE DOCUMENT PROVIDING DETAILED INFORMATION TO THIS COUNCIL AND TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IS THAT THE AREA THAT YOU'VE PULLED UP THERE?

>> IT'S ALL [INAUDIBLE].

>> THE AREA THAT IS DEFINED AS THE ONE THAT WILL BE STARTING JULY 1ST IS DEMARCATED THERE. YOU'RE CIRCLING IT.

>> THAT HELPS IF YOU GET IT CLOSER. THANK YOU.

WHILE THE JULY 1ST DEADLINE HAS REMAINED CONSTANT, MANY OTHER CRITICAL ASPECTS OF THE INITIAL PLAN HAVE CHANGED.

I'M GOING TO ENUMERATE SOME OF THOSE AND THEN SUGGEST WHERE WE MAY GO FROM HERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS ON THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE THIS INITIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS PRODUCED, SO I REFERENCE IT BECAUSE UNTIL THE BRIEF DISCUSSION THAT WAS GIVEN TONIGHT, IT'S THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC WHO BRING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PLAN TO COUNCIL.

ADAM, IF YOU HAVE THE FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU BRING UP PAGE 56.

IF THAT'S TOO DIFFICULT, YOU CAN LEAD THIS SCREEN, I'LL JUST REFERENCE WHERE I'M GOING.

SECTION 7 ON PAGE 56 OF THE FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNDER RECOMMENDATION STATES FOUR CATEGORIES INCLUDED IN THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN.

THEY ARE, PERSONNEL, FACILITIES, APPARATUS, AND EQUIPMENT.

THESE ARE ALL ESSENTIAL THINGS FOR A FUNCTIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S ALSO A STATEMENT REFERRING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS AND A RECOMMENDATION THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE PART OF THE PROCESS.

IN THE PAGES THAT FOLLOW, THERE ARE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERSONNEL HIRES, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, AND REMODELING AND EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS PROCUREMENT, SOME OF WHICH HAVE DEADLINES WHICH HAVE PASSED.

ON PAGE 72, THERE'S A TIMELINE THAT OUTLINES SOME OF THESE TARGET GOALS RELATED TO THE JULY 1ST DEADLINE.

OF NOTE, THE WORK ON REMODELING FIRE STATION 2 IN NAVARRE WAS SCHEDULED TO START AT THE END OF 2023.

THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED.

DUE TO LITIGATION, THIS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE.

THIS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE EITHER.

THE LATEST DISCUSSIONS AND PLANS FOR BUILDING A VEHICLE GARAGE NEAR NAVARRE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TIMELINE.

IF YOU HAVE THE TIMELINE, ADAM, ON PAGE 72, THAT WOULD JUST BE A GREAT PLACE TO LAND, AND IF YOU COULD MAKE IT LARGER, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS SO MUCH. THE TIMELINE DOES NOT REFLECT WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARD TO BOTH THE CATEGORIES OF PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES AT A MINIMUM.

I'VE NAMED A FEW EXAMPLES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE ARE IN NEED OF CURRENT DATA.

THIS TIMELINE SHOULD BE A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT ADJUSTS IN REAL TIME TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN PLAN THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR.

COULD YOU MAXIMIZE IT A BIT, PLEASE? TO PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, WOULD OUR COUNCIL BE AMENABLE TO CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PRIVATE VENDOR HIRED TO

[02:55:01]

PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DID NOT ROUTINELY PROVIDE TIMELY AND ACCURATE UPDATES.

I SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE AT THIS TIME AND WHERE WE ARE IN REALITY.

MULTIPLE FACTORS, CRITICAL FACTORS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, BUT OUR TIMELINE HAS NOT.

OUR CITIZENS ARE ASKING WELL-CONSIDERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR SAFETY, AND THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TONIGHT DID NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE MECHANICS OF HOW A FIRE SERVICE CALL WILL OPERATE WHEN ONE COMES IN, WHO WILL GO WHERE, WHERE WILL TRUCKS ROLL FROM, AND THE LIKE.

THESE THINGS MATTER BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT TAKES YEARS OF TRAINING WITH THE CREWS, FACILITIES, VEHICLES TO BECOME A WELL-OILED MACHINE THAT WILL NOT HESITATE AND THERE WILL NOT BE UNKNOWNS OR RISKY FACTORS THAT WERE NOT FLUSHED OUT WELL IN ADVANCE.

WHEN WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE AT THIS TIME AND BUILDING FACILITIES, WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

UNKNOWNS ARE NOT WHAT YOU WANT WHEN A CALL COMES IN.

WE'RE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO TRUST US WITH THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROPERTY PROTECTION 83 DAYS FROM NOW.

WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE WITH CURRENT FACTS AND A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF HOW EVERY ASPECT OF THIS FIRE SERVICE DELIVERY WILL HAPPEN AND HOW IT'S GUARANTEED TO FUNCTION ON JULY 1.

IF WE CANNOT DO THAT, WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS THAT LONG LAKE FIRE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EMS AND FIRE PROTECTION TO THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE CITY AS THEY'RE DOING NOW.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RICH.

>> I AM READY. I HOPE YOU ARE.

TODAY, MY MAYOR COUNCIL ADDRESSES LONG AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO HEAR IT, THAT WANT TO LISTEN, I REQUEST CIVILITY FROM THOSE ATTENDING.

I WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE THIS IN WRITING, EASY TO READ WITH GRAPHS AND BULLET POINTS TO MAKE MY NOTES EASILY TO DIGEST.

BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO PROVIDE IT VERBALLY FIRST BEFORE I PREPARE ANYTHING.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM IF THEY FEEL I HAVE MISREPRESENTED ANY INFORMATION OR FEEL I'VE MISSED IMPORTANT IDEAS BEFORE I PREPARE IT.

I ALSO NEEDED TO CUT DOWN MY FIRST VERSION, WHICH WAS NEARLY 15 PAGES LONG AND ABOUT 35 MINUTES TO READ, SO OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYONE'S TIME, I'LL START.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A CRUCIAL CHANGE THAT OUR CITY IS UNDERGOING SWITCHING FROM CONTRACTING FIRE SERVICE AND BRINGING IT IN HOUSE.

THE DECISION IS NOT ONE TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, AS IT HAS AN ELEMENT OF SAFETY AND IT COMES AT AN INVESTMENT.

ALTHOUGH THE DECISION WAS MADE BEFORE I STARTED ON COUNCIL, ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN WHY THE TRANSITION IS RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE AND IN MY OPINION NOT ONLY NECESSARY BUT ALSO ADVANTAGEOUS FOR OUR CITY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND IN THE LONG TERM INTEREST OF ORONO TAXPAYERS.

I WILL EXPLAIN HOW THIS DECISION CREATES A LONG TERM FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

I WILL EXPLAIN HOW THE NEW ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITY TO BUILD EFFICIENCIES TO CONTROL COSTS WITH INCREASED SUPPORT FROM STAFF AND HOW THIS CHANGE WILL SEEK IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY BY CHANGING THE SERVICE MODEL, ALL WHILE PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORING CITIES.

FIRST, I'LL START WITH SUPPORT FROM STAFF.

BRINGING FIRE SERVICE IN HOUSE, ALLOWS THE ROBUST STAFF AT ORONO CITY TO HAVE GREATER CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE QUALITY AND SERVICE PROVIDED.

TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS NOT BECAUSE WE ARE RECEIVING POOR QUALITY, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO EVOLVE HOW WE OFFER SERVICE.

FIRE SERVICE AS TRADITIONALLY PROVIDED IS UNDER PRESSURE NATIONWIDE TO CHANGE AND ADAPT.

THIS SHIFT IN OWNERSHIP ENHANCES OUR ABILITY TO DO SO.

BY DIRECTLY MANAGING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN ENSURE THEY ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED, STAFFED, EQUIPPED, AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY UNDER THE NEW SERVICE MODEL, JUST AS THEY ARE AND THEIR CURRENT SERVICE MODEL.

YES, THERE WILL BE START UP COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSITION, BUT OUR GOAL SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE, AND BY THAT I MEAN SETTING THE STAGE FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS.

WHILE CONTRACTING, AS WE DO CURRENTLY, MAY SEEM FINANCIALLY ATTRACTIVE, WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE ALL OF OUR CITY'S RESOURCES.

BY ESTABLISHING OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN STREAMLINE OPERATIONS,

[03:00:01]

ELIMINATE MIDDLEMAN EXPENSE, AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY, ULTIMATELY, BETTER UTILIZING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

CHIEF ANIL HAS OUTLINED MANY OF THESE COST SAVING OPPORTUNITIES IN HIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROVIDED AT THE JUNE 12 MEETING LAST YEAR.

ONE EXAMPLE I'LL NOTE IS THE COST SAVINGS TO HAVE OUR CITY STAFF, WHO ALREADY ADDRESSED THE MECHANICAL NEEDS OF OUR POLICE FLEET, TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF SUPPORT FROM CITY STAFFING, EVEN IN THE MOST RECENT AUDIT, THE AUDITOR OF LONG LAKE POINTED OUT THE EXISTENCE OF LIMITED SEGREGATION OF DUTIES, MEANING ONE PERSON WEARING MANY HATS INCREASES THE RISK OF ERROR.

THE ROBUST STAFF AT ORONO WOULD PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES BENEFITING THE DEPARTMENT, OUR TAXPAYERS, AND THE CITIES WE CAN SERVE.

ON ONE OCCASION AS A MEMBER OF THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD TASKED WITH REVIEWING THE OPERATIONAL BUDGETS, WE AT ORONO WERE NOT PROVIDED THE BUDGETS TO REVIEW IN ADVANCE.

ANOTHER MEETING, WE WEREN'T PROVIDED ANY SUPPORTING INFORMATION TO JUSTIFY A LARGE INCREASE TO THE BUDGET IN ADVANCE.

WEAVING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INTO OUR BUDGETING PROCESS AT ORONO, WITH THE HELP OF OUR FINANCE STAFF, WILL ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO YIELD POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS IT SERVES.

NEXT, I'LL ADDRESS WHY THE TRANSITION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY.

THE DECISION TO TRANSITION FIRE SERVICE IS ROOTED IN THE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, PROSPERITY, AND COHESION OF THE CITY.

BY EMBRACING THIS CHANGE, WE EMPOWER OURSELVES TO BETTER PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WHILE OPTIMIZING RESOURCES.

BEFORE I WAS APPOINTED, I WAS FOLLOWING THIS DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE SERVICE, AS AN INVESTED FIRE WIFE AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER, I HAD REACHED OUT TO BOTH CITIES TO URGE THEM TO GIVE THE PROGRAM A REFRESH THAT WAS NEEDED.

THERE ARE WAYS OUTSIDE OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WE COULD EVOLVE TOGETHER WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT WITH THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT, IT IS HARD TO START THAT PROCESS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT INTERIM SOLUTIONS THAT SATISFY OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR CONTRACT TO END AND GAIN FULL ACCESS TO STATION 2, WHICH WE OWN COMPLETELY ON OUR BEHALF OF STATION NUMBER 1, WHICH WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE STARTING JANUARY 1ST OF 26.

IT TAKES TIME TO TRAIN AND ESTABLISH A TEAM AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE ARE STARTING BEFORE THE CONTRACT IS ENDING.

A DEPARTMENT CAN'T START OVERNIGHT.

WE ALREADY HAVE NINE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AND 10 PART TIME DUTY CREW FIREFIGHTERS FOR A TOTAL OF 19 MEMBERS.

THIS IS ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT EXISTS IN LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR STATION 2 CURRENTLY.

NEARLY DOUBLING THE STAFF IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.

DOUBLING THE TIMES OF DAY, WE HAVE RESPONDERS AT THE STATION IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.

WITH THREE MONTHS TO GO, WE ARE STILL ALLOWED TO GROW THAT NUMBER WITH OTHER PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS AND PAID ON CALL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THOSE OF LLFD IF THEY SO DESIRE AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE TO SEEK THE CONSENT OF THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.

SCHEDULES ARE BEING SET TO IMPROVE SAFETY BY HAVING RESPONDERS AVAILABLE FASTER AND CLOSER TO THE CALL.

WE WILL ALSO KNOW WITH CERTAINTY WHO WILL BE RESPONDING TO THE MAJORITY OF CALLS YET ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY.

IT WILL ALSO LIMIT THE NEED FOR PAID ON CALL MEMBERS TO BE OUR ONLY LINE OF DEFENSE AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND WHAT A HYBRID MODEL COULD LOOK LIKE.

NOW I'LL SPEAK ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

THE TENSION THAT EXISTS BETWEEN LONG LAKE AND ORONO COMMUNITIES CAN BE MENDED.

IT TAKES EFFECTIVE CHANGE MANAGEMENT, AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT INVOLVES SEVERAL KEY STEPS.

LET ME ELABORATE. STEP 1 IS CLEAR COMMUNICATION.

THIS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT DUE TO MEDIA BIAS, SOCIAL MEDIA POST POLITICKING, AND COUNCILS AND THE LAWSUIT, WHICH ALL LEAD US TO THE LACK OF SOLUTIONS BETWEEN TWO CITIES.

THESE MEDIA SOURCES DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS NOR DO THEY SPEAK FOR EITHER OF THE COUNCILS.

THEY ARE INDEPENDENTLY OPERATING, HEARING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE SITUATION THROUGH THEIR LENS, WITH THEIR BIAS, WHICH IS THEIR RIGHT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THEY ARE DRIVING THE WEDGE IN FURTHER BETWEEN THE CITIES.

PLEASE LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHOSE INFORMATION YOU ARE READING.

DETERMINE IF THIS IS SOMEONE LOOKING FOR MORE SOLUTIONS OR MORE CLICKS.

DO THEY FOLLOW THEIR OWN ADVICE? IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO A STAFF MEMBER AT EITHER CITY OR ANYONE ON EITHER COUNCIL.

TO DATE, I HAVE HAD ONE PERSON REACH OUT TO ME FROM THE ORONO COMMUNITY AND WE MET AND HAD MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION.

ENGAGE OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS, HAVE REAL CONVERSATION, AND LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS.

YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN TO LISTENING AND ENGAGING.

LEARN HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HOW TO DRIVE CHANGE.

I BELIEVE NOT ONLY WILL WE ACCOMPLISH MORE TOGETHER, WE WILL ALL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS FRUSTRATED.

I ENCOURAGE YOU BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, BE PART OF THE IMPROVEMENT IN COMMUNICATION.

STEP 2, EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE AND ADDRESS CONCERNS.

I HOPE THIS INFORMATION I SHARE TODAY PROVIDES

[03:05:03]

SOME CONSOLIDATION OF YEARS OF INFORMATION ALONG WITH SOME OF MY PERSPECTIVE.

REITERATING WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THE REASON WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF ORONO'S ROBUST STAFF, PROVIDE BETTER SAFETY THROUGH A NEW SERVICE MODEL, AND INCREASE THE VALUE OF SERVICE TO ORONO RESIDENTS BY FINDING EFFICIENCIES ULTIMATELY BETTER SERVING TAX DOLLARS.

IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING CONCERNS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS TOO.

IT IS CORRECT, ORONO DID NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVING AS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD ALREADY PASSED BACKGROUND CHECKS AND MET REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT THAT HAD BEEN DEEMED SUITABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

CHIEFS ARE ALLOWED DISCRETION.

LONG LAKE HAS RECENTLY GONE OUT OF THEIR STANDARD HIRING GUIDELINES AS WELL.

ALL CITIES ARE LOOKING TO HIRE THE BEST CANDIDATES AND KEEP OUR CITY SAFE.

IT IS ALSO CORRECT, A FEW SELECT RESPONDERS CONTINUED THEIR PAID ON CALL TRAINING WITH ORONO AFTER AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF RESPONDERS WERE ATTENDING A CALL.

LONG LAKE'S CHIEF ALSO DID THIS DURING A MEETING RECENTLY.

ALL FIREFIGHTERS ARE TRAINED TO KNOW WHEN A RESPONSE IS NECESSARY, AND THEY ARE GIVEN THE TOOLS TO ENSURE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

STEP 3, CELEBRATE SUCCESS.

RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE MILESTONES AND SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED DURING THE TRANSITION PROCESS.

A POSITIVE APPROACH WILL HELP BOOST MORALE AND MAINTAIN MOMENTUM TOWARDS CHANGE.

STEP 4, ADDRESS RESISTANCE.

ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.

THE CONSTANT ADDRESSING OF RUMORS AND CRITIQUING OF MISSTEPS HAVE KEPT US LOOKING IN THE PAST INSTEAD OF LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE.

I BELIEVE BOTH CITY ADMINISTRATORS CAN HELP OUR TEAM TO OVERCOME ANY TENSION AND WORK TOWARDS COLLABORATION.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CHIEF MIKE AND CHIEF JAMES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO LEAD THE TRANSITION WITH THEIR COMBINED KNOWLEDGE OF FIRE SERVICE AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

I BELIEVE OUR STAFF WILL CONTINUE MEETING BASED ON BOTH COUNSEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO FIND SYNERGIES AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESENT TO COUNCILS.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS CHANGE IN COMMUNICATION, EMPOWERING OUR CITY LEADERS, WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED.

I BELIEVE WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP, BOTH DEPARTMENTS WILL THRIVE THROUGH THE TRANSITION.

BOTH CITIES ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.

MOST HERE, NO, ORONO IS PURSUING AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT, BUT MAYBE DON'T KNOW THAT LONG LAKE HAS ALSO BEEN EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH WAYZATA.

ALTHOUGH WE AT ORONO AREN'T INCLUDED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOR HAVE WE BEEN PRESENTED ANY INFORMATION, I THINK IT'S POSITIVE THAT WE ARE BOTH EMBRACING TRYING NEW SERVICE MODELS.

IN FACT, I THINK WE SHOULD WELCOME IT.

MAYBE IN LOOKING FOR OPTIONS, WE CAN FIND SOME VALUE IN WHAT WE CURRENTLY POSSESS, SETTING THE STAGE FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP.

IF WE CAN, THEN PERHAPS THE CHANGE IS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR BOTH CITIES.

TO THIS POINT, I HAVE DISCUSSED THE THREE KEY ELEMENTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO WHY WE ARE MAKING THESE CHANGES.

WHICH ARE UTILIZING ORONO'S ROBUST STAFF, ENHANCING SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A NEW MODEL, PREPARING US FOR THE FUTURE, AND MENDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORONO AND LONG LAKE BY RE-ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION, LOOKING OUTSIDE OUR CURRENT CONTRACT FOR ENHANCEMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ORONO TAXPAYERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE MODEL OF FIRE SERVICE FOR ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ORONO HAS EXPERIENCED DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES IN OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET FROM THE CONTRACT WITH LLFD IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IF THIS WERE TO CONTINUE, WE WOULD BE PAYING 100% OF TODAY'S OPERATING BUDGET EVERY FIVE YEARS.

IN 2023, WE HAD A 15% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S OPERATING BUDGET WHEN WE PAID ROUGHLY $543,000.

IN 2024, WE ARE PAYING ROUGHLY $630,000 WHICH IS NEARLY A 16% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.

IF WE HAD NOT REMOVED THE INITIAL TERRITORY FOR THE PARTIAL YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING $665,000 FOR THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE A NEARLY 22% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AS A COMPARISON, IF WE WERE TO USE THE SAME SERVICE AND CURRENT MODEL, WE COULD UTILIZE OUR OPPORTUNITIES OF SHARING INTERNAL CITY ASSETS AND WE COULD FLATTEN ANNUAL INCREASES.

WE COULD PROJECT INTO THE FUTURE WITH OUR BUDGETING STRATEGIES.

ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT BE USING THAT SERVICE MODEL, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE COST.

FOR REFERENCE, ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS $850,000 THIS YEAR.

WITH THIS INCREASE, WE HAVE DOUBLED THE STAFF AT STATION 2 AND IMPLEMENTED PART-TIME DUTY CREWS TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS WE SERVE.

ALSO NOTED IS WHEN ORONO HAS CONTROL OF THE BUDGET, WE WILL ALSO GET 100% OF THE CALL HOURS FOR THE 100% BUDGET PAID.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, CURRENTLY WE PAY ROUGHLY 80% OF THE BUDGET AND RECEIVE ROUGHLY 60% OF THE CALL HOURS.

[03:10:03]

SECONDLY, I WILL ADDRESS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.

THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO DATE HAVE BEEN SPENT BY ORONO ARE ROUGHLY $3.2 MILLION IN VEHICLES.

YES, IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CYCLE, WE HAVE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, BUT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE NECESSARY IN OR OUT OF THE CONTRACT.

AS I LEARNED WATCHING LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, FROM JULY 5, IT WAS A SHORTCOMING OF THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY WEREN'T FUNDED PROPERLY.

NO CITY THAT WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTRACT WAS FUNDED PROPERLY, WHICH LEADS US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

ALTHOUGH THE CITY OF ORONO DOES HAVE AN ESTABLISHED FIRE CIP AND HAS FUNDED IT AT AND ABOVE THE AGREED-UPON AMOUNTS, THE OVERALL ISSUE IS THAT THE AGREED-UPON AMOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENT.

OUR FLEET NEEDS AN OVERHAUL, AND WE HAVE STARTED TO ADDRESS THAT.

CURRENTLY, ORONO OWNS THE MAJORITY OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS USED BY LLFD, AND THESE INVESTMENTS WILL MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO THOSE PIECES.

I WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE MORE GRAPHS IN DETAIL AND MORE CONTEXT ON THIS INFORMATION BASED ON THE CURRENT LONG LAKE BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED ORONO BUDGET.

I WILL WORK WITH STAFF TO DO THAT.

LASTLY, THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WILL COME IS OUR FIRE SERVICE MODEL WE UTILIZE NOTICED MOST BY THOSE WHO KNOW IT BEST, OUR CURRENT FIREFIGHTERS.

IN OUR LAST FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, WE HEARD FROM CHIEF HIGHLAND THAT TWO FIREFIGHTERS IS OFTEN THE RIGHT NUMBER OF RESPONDERS, WHICH MEANS, ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE 11 EXTRA FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDING PER CALL.

WE WILL LOOK FOR WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE CALL HOURS, SO IT LESSENS THE BURDEN ON PAID ON-CALL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS BETTER SERVICES TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHILE REMAINING STEADFAST IN SAFETY.

WE WILL UTILIZE PAID DUTY CREWS TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ENSURING SAFETY WITH EACH STEP.

UNDERSTANDABLY, ALL OF THESE STAFFING CHANGES ARE HARD TO DO WITH THE CURRENT SERVICE MODEL.

BUT NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION WHEN WE TRY TO RETHINK HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICE AND KNOWING WE HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPORT FROM STAFF IN PLACE.

THIS IS A BIG CHANGE, A BIG CHANGE TO OUR SERVICE MODEL, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO KNOW IT BEST.

BUT I BELIEVE IT IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR EVOLUTION THAT IS NEEDED THROUGH THE LENS OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE AND WILL BE A BENEFIT TO OUR CITIZENS.

IN CLOSING, WE NEED COLLABORATION SUPPORTED BY BOTH CITY COUNCILS AND EXECUTED BY STAFF.

WE HAVE TWO EXPERIENCED FIRE CHIEFS AND TWO ACCOMPLISHED CITY ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF EXECUTING A NEW STANDARD AND STYLE OF SERVICE WITH THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE DO NOT NEED TO LOOK TO OUTSIDE EXPERTS THAT HAVEN'T WORKED IN OUR KYLE AREA, WITH OUR SIZE OR CITY, OR WITH A HYBRID MODEL OF DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO IMPLEMENT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

WE HAVE THE EXPERTS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS.

A FRESH START IS NEEDED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS HEAVILY IN FAVOR OF LONG LAKE DUE TO THE ALLOCATION OF EQUIPMENT WE OWN, THE LAND WE OWN, AND THE FUNDING FORMULA, WHICH IS HEAVILY WEIGHTED IN RESIDENTIAL TAX VALUE, AND IT'S HARD TO USE AS A TEMPLATE TO MOVE FORWARD.

CITIES HAVE EVOLVED, HOME VALUES HAVE CHANGED, AND BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN BUILT TALLER, POPULATIONS HAVE AGED, AND THE LIST CONTINUES.

IT IS TIME FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO ADAPT AND THROUGH RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE, WE WILL BE READY TO DO JUST THAT STARTING JULY 1.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE GOLF COURSE OPENED OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> LOOK AT THAT. SHOW THEM THE SHIRT.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> [LAUGHTER] ORONO ORCHARDS GOLF COURSE.

>> NO, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DETAILED AND FANTASTIC.

>> COUNCILMAN CROSBY.

>> IT WAS LONG.

I THINK YOU COVERED FIRE FOR ME.

SO I AM GOOD. BUT I'LL KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.

I KNOW EVERYBODY'S TIRED.

I JUST WANT TO WISH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WAS HER BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME LAST NIGHT.

THAT'S IT. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOOKS TIRED OUT THERE.

>> HEY COUNCILMAN JOHNSON.

>> WELL, I GUESS JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT, AT LEAST IN PART, FOR THE FOLKS THAT THEY'VE LEFT, BUT THE ONES THAT WERE HERE FROM FERNDALE.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR LETTERS.

JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO OTHERS THAT, WE HAD RECEIVED A BUNCH OF THAT FEEDBACK, AND WAS ALREADY CONSIDERED IN OUR DECISION.

MUCH OF THAT INFORMATION WASN'T NEW BEFORE WE MADE THAT DECISION, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO SUBMIT IT SO WHEN WE'RE

[03:15:01]

REVIEWING THE APPLICATION FINALITY THOSE GET CONSIDERED.

IT CAME UP ON ONE SIDE, WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A CITY TO COUNTERACT SOME OF THE FALSE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE? I THINK WE'RE MAKING STEPS TO START TO DO THAT.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ON THAT, ABOUT GETTING OUR MESSAGE OUT THERE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE TRUE ACQUISITION. YOU CAN ADDRESS THOSE.

>> THEN I AGREE WITH MR. ALBERS THAT, THE RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE SOME REAL CLARITY ABOUT, WHERE THINGS ARE AT AND WHAT STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING.

I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE INTERESTED TO THE DETAILS OF THE HOSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL THAT, JAMES CONTINUES TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL EVERY MEETING GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SOME CAPACITY, AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT REAL QUICK.

AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CAN MAKE REQUESTS.

IF YOU FEEL THAT RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, YOU CAN MAKE A REQUEST TO STAFF TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AND TO JUST COME UP HERE AND INSINUATE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.

THAT'S NOT OUR JOB AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S OUR JOB TO INTERPRET WHAT THE POPULACE IS ASKING FOR AND GETS STAFF SUPPORT TO DIRECT IT, AND SO WE CAN ASK JAMES, WHICH WE DOING, WE HAVE BEEN DOING, AND I'M REITERATING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP UPDATING AND GET MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE PEOPLE DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

I'M CERTAINLY COMMITTING AND ASKING FOR THAT INFORMATION EVERY MEETING IN SOME CAPACITY.

BUT WHAT'S DISINGENUOUS IS TO SAY HOW MANY DAYS WE ARE TO THAT DATE, VOTE AGAINST EVERY SINGLE INVESTMENT IN ENSURING THAT IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

THEN CRITICIZING THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.

I MEAN THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.

WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL HERE IS MAKE SURE THAT JAMES AND HIS TEAM HAS SUPPORT AND THE EQUIPMENT AND IT'S HIS JOB TO KEEP US UPDATED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE NEED.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT YOU CAN'T ADDRESS THE COUNCIL BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AT OUR WORK SESSION.

THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS TO BE HEARD, ONE OF WHICH IS TO COME TO THE MEETING. YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE TALKED ABOUT UPDATING OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR STATEMENTS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AT THE MEETING.

IT CAN BE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.

THE AGENDA IS PUBLISHED WELL IN ADVANCE GIVES PEOPLE, WELL IN ADVANCE, BUT IT'S IN ADVANCE.

YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT IN WRITING TO BE HEARD.

IS IT WOULDN'T BE CORRECT TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T ADDRESS A COUNCIL BEFORE THE DECISION BECAUSE IN WRITING IS ANOTHER WAY TO DO THAT IN ADVANCE.

THANKS MARIA FOR THAT INFORMATION.

THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT TERRITORY NUMBER 2 IS, I THINK IN THE END WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT TERRITORY HASN'T SEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE AND WE GOT TO PROVE IT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ENHANCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE BECAUSE THAT AREA HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND ALL THE STATISTICS PROVE IT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN TERRITORY NUMBER 2, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE IT. GO AHEAD.

>> THANKS. WELL, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT EASTER, SPRING BREAK AS THAT JUST ENDED.

I WAS WITH MY SENIOR DAUGHTER, SO WE HAD THE SENIOR SPRING BREAK.

THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE I'VE EVER GOT TO GO TO.

IT'S INTERESTING GOING TO AN ALL INCLUSIVE WITH 75 OTHER ORONO FAMILIES AND LOTS AND LOTS OF KIDS, BUT THEY ALL INCLUSIVE KEPT THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE.

THAT WOULDN'T BE MY CHOICE OF A PLACE TO GO, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE WITH ALL THOSE KIDS, THAT'S FOR SURE. IT WAS REALLY FUN.

IT WAS WARM TOO. IT WAS 40 DEGREES HERE, IT WAS 85 DEGREES THERE, SO THAT WAS FABULOUS.

[03:20:02]

WE'VE ALSO GOT COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR ON WEDNESDAY AT 09:00 O'CLOCK. GOOD COFFEE.

GREAT DOUGHNUTS, LOTS OF THEM.

GOOD CITY COUNCILS ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THE BEST LONG TERM GOVERNANCE FOR THE CITIZENS IN THE CITY.

WE'VE GOT A FEW CELEBRATIONS COMING UP THAT SHOWCASES TREMENDOUSLY.

I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS BECAUSE MURRAY DID SUCH A GREAT JOB.

BUT ONE IS THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NO FINE APARTMENT ON JULY FIRST, AND IT WILL BE OPENING JULY FIRST.

WE ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WE ARE WORKING OUR BUTTS OFF.

WE HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE PEOPLE AND THANK YOU TO ALL THEIR SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE FROM LONG LAKE AND ORONO.

WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE CAN STILL.

I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE I REMEMBER BACK IN, OH GOD, IT'S GOT TO BE SIX YEARS AGO.

WHEN TOOK THE PIECE OF TERRITORY THAT WASZETTA COVERED UP IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER.

IT WAS ALWAYS SAYING, OH GOD, THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT FOR 40 YEARS, AND THEY DEPEND ON THAT $30,000 AND SAID, WELL, THAT'S STILL OUR TERRITORY, AND WE SHOULD BRING OUR TERRITORY AND IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT CORRECTLY.

WE GAVE THEM NOTICE AND WE DID.

THEY HAD IT FOR 40 YEARS, BUT THEN NOW THAT CAME OVER AND WE SAID THAT'S THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE NEXT YEARS TO GO, JUST LIKE IT IS FOR ORONO FIRE NOW.

IT'S A GREAT CELEBRATION.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING COMING UP IN IN JULY OR AUGUST, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CHIEF AND ADAM GET TOGETHER.

WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT CELEBRATION COMING UP AND THAT'S THE ORONO ORCHARD GOLF COURSE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

WE HAVE THE WHOLE WEEK OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 17TH.

WE'VE RENAMED IT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE HISTORY OF ORONO, WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED AS, IT WAS AN APPLE ORCHARD, THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED ORCHARD ROAD.

IT'S ORONO ORCHARD GOLF COURSE.

WE GOT THE SHIRT TO PROVE IT ALREADY, SO IT OPENED UP ON FRIDAY.

STUFF IS READY TO GO BUY SOME MERCHANDISE, HIT SOME SWAG.

>> IF THERE'S ANY LEFT THERE.

>> IF THERE'S ANY LEFT AFTER MARIA WENT THERE AND HAD TO GET ALL HER KIDS AND I THINK, RICHARD SAID HE'D BE GLAD TO BE ADOPTED IF YOU BUY HIM STUFF TOO.

WE'VE ALSO GOT THE PUBLIC WORKS GRAND OPENING, THAT'S COMING UP MAY 11TH, AND THAT'S A WHOLE FABULOUS EXAMPLE OF LONG TERM GOVERNANCE.

BECAUSE WE DO MANY MORE THINGS THAN WE DID 30 YEARS AGO IN OUR EXISTING BUILDING.

YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THEY BUILT THE BUILDING 30 YEARS AGO SURROUNDED BY SWAMPS, SO THERE'S NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.

WE HAVE MORE ROADS. WE HAVE MORE WATER AND SEWER.

WE ALSO HAVE IN HOUSE FLEET MAINTENANCE THAT NO ONE EVER DREAMED OF 30 YEARS AGO.

NOT JUST FLEET MAINTENANCE FOR PUBLIC WORKS, BUT FLEET MAINTENANCE FOR POLICE, FLEET MAINTENANCE FOR FIRE, INSPECTIONS, PERMITS ALL BRINGING ALL THIS STUFF IN HOUSE.

BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE EFFICIENCIES NOT ONLY FROM A COST STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO EFFICIENCIES.

WHEN WE NEED TO GET STUFF DONE, WE KNOW WE CAN GET IT DONE BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR OWN DISCRETION TO GET IT DONE AND TAKEN CARE OF.

WE FIND THE BEST PEOPLE.

WE HELP THEM WITH THE SUPPORT AND THE STAFF AND THE HR AND FINANCE.

THAT GOES ACROSS THE BOARDS.

WHETHER IT'S POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE DO IT ALL THE BEST WE CAN ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE ALL THESE CLEAN UP DAYS, AND I GOT PUBLIC WORKS HAS TO MOVE ALL THEIR STUFF OUT OF THE WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO RECYCLING AND CLEAN UP DAYS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM A 35,000 SQUARE FACILITY TO A 65,000 SQUARE FACILITY SO WE CAN HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE LIKE FLEET MAINTENANCE AND PLACES TO WASH THE CARS.

WE HAVE OUR OWN, BASICALLY A GAS STATION OVER THERE TO BUILD TO FILL UP OUR CARS.

WE HAVE A NEW WATER PUMP SO PEOPLE AREN'T OPENING UP, HIRE HYDRANTS ALL OVER THE CITY FOR THE CONTRACTORS TO FILL UP.

NOW WE HAVE A PUMP WITH AN ACTUAL METER ON IT, SO WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WAY MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO IT STUFF, YOU DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

WE ALSO, OVER THOSE YEARS, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAD VISION, WE PAID OFF ALL THE DEBT FOR ROADS AND WATER AND SEWER THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR BUDGET.

WE REALLOCATED THOSE SAME DOLLARS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, SO WE DIDN'T PAY ANYMORE IN THE BONDING PAYMENTS THAT WE DID FOR ALL THOSE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE DID FOR PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THAT $17 MILLION LOAN AT 1.9% WHICH WAS FABULOUS FORECASTING, AND MAKE SURE WE GET THAT DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE DID IT EARLY, AND WE DID IT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.

NOW WE'VE SET UP THE CITY FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.

I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IN THERE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I WON'T BELABOR IT TOO MUCH ANYMORE.

I DO HAVE TWO GREAT QUOTES.

AS IT IS SPRING TIME, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

MY FIRST ONE IS FROM LAURA ANGLES WILDER.

IT SAYS SOME OLD FASHIONED THINGS LIKE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE ARE HARD TO BEAT, BECAUSE IN MINNESOTA WE NORMALLY HAVE BEEN STUCK INSIDE, BUT WE'VE BEEN OUTSIDE.

[03:25:02]

ONE I REALLY LIKE IS MARK TWAIN, AND THIS ONE ENCAPSULATES WHAT MINNESOTA IS ALL ABOUT.

IN THE SPRING, I HAVE COUNTED 136 DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEATHER INSIDE OF 24 HOURS NOW IS THAT SPEAK TO MINNESOTA OR YOU CAN RAIN, SNOW AND HAVE HEAT PROBABLY ALL IN THE SPAN OF A FEW HOURS IN MINNESOTA.

IT'S PRETTY CRAZY. ANYWAYS, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

I GOT THIS NICE DISSERTATION TO READ NOW ABOUT GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.

FOR THIS NEXT AGENDA ITEM THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO CLOSE

[Closed Session]

THE MEETING PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE 13D05, SUBDIVISION 3B, IN ORDER TO CONFER WITH THE CITY'S LEGAL COUNSEL ON THE LITIGATION BETWEEN LONG LAKE AND ORONO.

BALANCING THE PURPOSES OF THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, INCLUDING THE NEED TO CONFER WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON LITIGATION STRATEGY, AGAINST THE PURPOSES OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING?

>> SO MOVED.

>> HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR THE PLACE OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND OPEN UP THE CLOSED. WE'RE JUST GOING TO ADJOURN.

>> YEAH. BUT THEY CAN LET THEM IN IF THEY WANT.

>> MIKE'S IN.

>> A MOTION TO OPEN THE MEETING.

>> SO MOVED.

>> YOU GOT A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> MEETING IS OPEN. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>>AYE.

>> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND?

>> SECOND.