>> THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT ON HERE.
[00:00:02]
WELCOME TO THE MONDAY JULY 22ND,[Roll Call]
2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN ORONO.I NOTE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE AND PRESENT.
WE ALWAYS START WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO I INVITE YOU TO STAND AND FACE THE FLAG.
[Approval of Agenda]
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL AND CONSENT AGENDA WHERE WE VOTE ON ALL THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE JUST PASSED ON ONE VOTE.
I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE ITEMS BEFORE WE VOTE ON TO SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS ANYTHING TAKEN OFF FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS LONGER.
WITH THAT SAID, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING.
I'D MOVE TO ACCEPT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9 AS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I'D LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER 7, PLEASE.
>> NUMBER 7. WHAT I'VE GOT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA,
[Consent Agenda]
EXCUSE ME, IS AT NUMBER 1, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, NUMBER 2, WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, NUMBER 3, CLAIMS AND BILLS, NUMBER 4, STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS, 24-22, FIVE, WATER TREATMENT PLAN IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT 22-22, SIX, HIRE A SUPERINTENDENT, PARKS AND FACILITIES.WE'LL BRING THAT DOWN TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.
AT NUMBER 8 IS PURCHASE POLICE VEHICLE.
NUMBER 9 IS 2710 CASCO POINT ROAD ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT ANYTHING OFF FOR THE COUNCIL TO TALK MORE ABOUT? SEEING NONE, I'VE GOT A MOTION, AND THEN MOVING NUMBER 7 TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> COUNCILMAN JOHNSON. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED? NOW THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
[10. Second Quarter Financial Update]
THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR FINANCE REPORT, WHICH IS NUMBER 10, OUR SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL UPDATE, MAGGIE.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TODAY, WE HAVE THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024 FINANCIAL UPDATE.
WE WILL START WITH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
>> MY APOLOGIES. TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE 2024 SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL UPDATE.
WE WILL START WITH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
UP ON THE SCREEN, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER BUDGET FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE.
SOME OF THIS REVENUE IS RECEIVED OR THIS REVENUE LINE ITEM IS RECEIVED LATER IN THE YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE STATE AID WON'T BE RECEIVED UNTIL OCTOBER.
THEN INTEREST IS NOT ALLOCATED UNTIL YEAR-END WITH THE AUDIT PROCESS, SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO INTEREST AT THIS POINT.
THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED WHEN AUDIT IS UNDERWAY.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE LOOKING GOOD WITH REVENUE AT 57.56%.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 50% DONE WITH THE YEAR, SO THAT'S A GOOD POSITION FOR A CITY TO BE IN.
THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE UP THERE CHARGES FOR SERVICE, WE ARE 77.56%.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAD COLLECTED OUR SECOND PORTION, THE SECOND-HALF OF 2024 POLICE SERVICE FEE FROM CITY OF MOUNT ALREADY FOR POLICE SERVICE.
NEXT SLIDE IS A COMPARISON OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS, QUARTER 2 REVENUE COLLECTION, WE ARE IN LINE.
THEN NEXT SLIDE. UP ON THE SCREEN, WE SEE A BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE.
WE ARE IN JUNE CURRENTLY, AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE IN LINE WITH EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WE COLLECTED LAST YEAR FOR BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE.
THEN YEAR-TO-DATE, WE ARE LOOKING GOOD, EXPECTED TO COLLECT BUDGET OF 565 OR EVEN MORE BASED ON OUR TREND FROM LAST YEAR AS WELL, FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S TREND, SO ANTICIPATED TO BE OVER BUDGET WITH OUR BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE AGAIN.
THEN OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE, THERE ARE THREE LINE ITEMS THAT ARE OVER THE 50% MARK OF THE YEAR.
ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER OR BELOW BUDGET, WHICH IS LOOKING AT FIRST ONE, THAT'S OVER BUDGET.
OVER THAT 50% THRESHOLD RIGHT NOW IS PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT'S DUE TO STREET MAINTENANCE, PURCHASING MORE IN THE FRONT-END, SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT OVER THAT 50%.
THEN PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAD SOME WAGE ALLOCATION AS WELL,
[00:05:01]
AND THAT'S WHY THAT LINE ITEM IS OVER BUDGETED, AND THAT LINE ITEM IS REIMBURSABLE BY THE CITY OF SPRING PARK.THEN SPECIAL SERVICES AS WELL, THAT'S BILLS THEIR INVOICES THAT THE CITY PAYS FOR, AND THEN WE COLLECT FROM THE DEVELOPERS AND ANYONE WHO APPLIES FOR THE BUILDING PERMITS.
THEN 2024 INTEREST EARNED, WE'RE AT 181,000, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD AMOUNT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALMOST AT BUDGET BASED ON OUR REVENUE BUDGET, AND THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED AT YEAR-END AS WELL BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AND THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE OTHER FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.
BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE OTHER FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED.
THEN THAT REALLY ENDS MY QUARTER 2 FINANCIAL UPDATE, SO VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
>> LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING'S GOOD, ESPECIALLY ON THE REVENUE SIDE WITH BUILDING PERMITS GOING WELL AND ALL THAT STUFF. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL BE AT A POSITIVE NET INCOME AT THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MAGGIE?
>> THANKS, MAGGIE. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU BRING US TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PART, LAURA.
[Community Development Report]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FORMAL ON THE AGENDA, JUST GENERALLY, AS AN UPDATE, OUR DEPARTMENT'S BEEN WORKING ON.
WE HAD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK, AND THEN WE HAD OUR DEADLINE FOR NEW LAND USE APPLICATIONS, SO WORKING WITH SOME NEW PROJECTS COMING UP.
I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH OR THEY HELD A FORUM, I SHOULD SAY, WITH MY COUNCIL IN METRO CITIES ABOUT POTENTIAL DENSITY DISCUSSIONS IN THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE STARTING TO PUT ALL THEIR PLANS AND SYSTEM STATEMENTS IN PLACE FOR COMP PLAN SEASON, WHICH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IT FEELS LIKE, SO THEY'RE GETTING ALL THEIR INFORMATION TOGETHER WITH THAT, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT ROLL OUT SOME NEW GUIDELINES REGARDING DENSITY, SO I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED WITH UPDATES.
THEN ALSO WORKING ON AN UPCOMING WORK SESSION ITEMS, INCLUDING AVERAGE TO SETBACK, AND CANNABIS, AND DIFFERENT TOPICS LIKE THAT THAT ARE COMING YOUR WAY HERE AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.
BUSY WORKING MEETING WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS AND DEVELOPERS AND THINGS.
OTHERWISE, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FORMAL.
>> I KNOW WE DID VERY GOOD IN MAY AND JUNE FROM OUR PERMIT STUFF WHICH MEANT YOU GUYS WERE VERY BUSY.
I'M ASSUMING THAT PIPELINE IS STILL STAYING PRETTY STEADY LIKE THAT.
>> [LAUGHTER] SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.
MAYBE IT'S JUST THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION I KEEP SEEING, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR LAURA?
>> THANKS, LAURA. THAT BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT, AND NUMBER 7.
[7. Promote Firefighters]
I KNOW COUNCIL-MEMBER BENSON WANTED THAT REMOVED.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ONE.
>> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED IT REMOVED FOR A SEPARATE VOTE.
>> THANKS, MR. MAYOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL ACTION ITEM IS TO PROVE THE PROMOTION OF THREE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIRE OFFICERS AND ONE FIREFIGHTER TO A FIRE PREVENTION SPECIALIST.
ORONO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE AUGUST 28, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING.
FIRE OFFICERS ARE GIVEN MORE COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND EXTRA DUTIES.
IT'S A LITTLE OVERSIGHT ON MY PART.
I THOUGHT WE HAD APPROVED THE PAY RATES FOR THOSE OFFICERS AT THAT MEETING, WHEN WE WENT BACK AND TOOK A LOOK, WHEN ANN AND I DID, WE DID NOT, SO THERE WERE JOB DESCRIPTIONS APPROVED AT THAT MEETING, BUT NO COMPENSATIONS FOR THOSE JOBS, SO THIS IS TO CORRECT THAT.
AS OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF TRAINING, THE PAY RATE WOULD BE $25 AN HOUR, CAPTAIN WOULD BE $22 AN HOUR, LIEUTENANT WOULD BE 21, AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER WOULD BE 22.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE COMPENSATION RATES.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE MUST HAVE MISSED THAT, AND THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT NIGHT ANYWAYS.
PROBABLY COULD HAVE MISSED A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
WITH THAT GOING ON, I THINK THAT WE HAD THREE OR FOUR OFFICERS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TIME WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND WE WILL SWEAR THEIR MEN, AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE AN ORGANIZED DATE FOR THOSE?
>> I DON'T YET. I'M STILL TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM TO COORDINATE ALL THEIR SCHEDULES TO BE HERE AT THE SAME TIME.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'LL BE JUST ANOTHER FUN EVENT FOR PINNING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM OR DO I HEAR A MOTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION RATES OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF TRAINING TO $25 AN HOUR, CAPTAIN TO 22, LIEUTENANT TO 21, AND FIRE PREVENTION SPECIALIST TO 22.
THEN I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THESE EXPENDITURES FOR ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THE POLICY DECISION TO CREATE AND FUND THE DEPARTMENT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CITY MISSION AND PARTS OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
[00:10:03]
BECAUSE IT HAS NOT INVOLVED A PROCESS FOR CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.>> THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK PART OF OUR DUTY AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SAFETY AS PROBABLY THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY.
I THINK I'VE TOLD ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER ASKED ME, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'VE DONE THAT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY, AND WE KNOW WHEN WE HAVE ALL THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE ONE OR TWO, WE HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THAT'S BUDGETED.
WE HAVE FLEET MAINTENANCE NOW THAT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A LEAKY TRANSMISSION, THEY CAN BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY AND GET IT BACK IN SERVICE RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.
WE FULLY FUND THOSE THINGS AND BUDGET THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW BEST PRACTICES IS WHAT WE MOVE ALONG THE ENTIRE WAY.
I THINK WE'VE DONE THE SAME THING FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH BEST PRACTICES THROUGH THE YEARS OF CHIEF VAN EYLL PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE WORK SESSION, WHERE THE DUTY CREW MODELS IS THE MODEL THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING DURING THE DAY WHEN THE VOLUNTEER PEOPLE GET CALLED, SO WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IMPROVED RESPONSE TIMES TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN NAVA AREA AND THE CASCO POINT AREA BECAUSE THAT IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS ARE SAFE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY, WE DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY TO GOVERN.
THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT, IS IT GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE ON OUR WATCH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S NOT BEING DONE WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY WITH THAT.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC.
BRING THE PEOPLE UP HERE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE GOOD LONG TERM DECISIONS, WHETHER IT IS THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE NOW, THAT IT WILL BRING US OUT PROBABLY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY FOR SURE, OR IF IT WAS MERGING WITH THE MOUNT POLICE DEPARTMENT, 15 YEARS AGO, 14 YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY WERE GOING DOWN, AND THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THEM ANYMORE, AND WE'VE TAKEN THAT OVER AND DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH THAT, WITH THE PRIORITY BEING PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER 1.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB, AND I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT.
I DO HAVE A MOTION. I DO HAVE A SECOND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THE POINT OF ORDER.
WE HAD A SECOND WITH AN AMENDMENT AFTER IT THEN BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUT BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE GONE SECONDED THEN ANY DISCUSSION, BUT SHOULD WE JUST TAKE THAT SECONDED AS ALSO INTRODUCING DISCUSSION WITHOUT WAITING FOR IT? BECAUSE YOU SECONDED THE MOTION, BUT THEN SAID BUT AFTER THAT.
>> NO AMENDMENT, JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY POINT BEFORE THE VOTE.
>> I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT IT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> I NOTE THAT PASSES FOUR TO ONE WITH A DISSENT BY COUNCIL-MEMBER BENSON. [OVERLAPPING]
SHE SECONDED THE MOTION, BUT THEN VOTED AGAINST IT.
>> YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE FOR A MOTION THAT YOU'VE SECONDED?
>> YOU DON'T VOTE FOR A MOTION THAT YOU'VE MADE.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE OF THAT?
>> YEAH, I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT.
>> IF YOU'RE READY FOR DISCUSSION?
>> ON LEGISLATE, THEY'VE GOT THE NUMBERS MIXED UP HERE A LITTLE BIT.
[11. Correspondence with City of Long Lake Fire Service from Orono Fire Department.]
WE HAVE A NUMBER 11 IS THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AND WHAT THIS IS REFERENCING TO IS WE HAD PUT AN OFFER OUT TO LONG LAKE TO GIVE THEM, I THINK 20 YEARS OF FREE FIRE SERVICE WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES.THEY SENT A LETTER BACK, SAYING THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED AND THAT THEY'D BE GLAD TO HELP US ON THE WATER SITUATION, ETC.
WE HAVE A DRAFT LETTER TO LONG LAKE, AND LET'S SEE IF I CAN PULL THAT UP HERE, AND I THINK IT SAYS, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER DATED JULY 18TH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE.
WHILE WE WERE DISAPPOINTED BY YOUR REFUSAL OF OUR OFFER AND THE GENERAL TONE AND TENOR OF YOUR LETTER, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR BOTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.
WITH RESPECT TO COVERAGE ON LAKE MANATAKA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER, BUT AFTER YOUR EARLIER LETTERS CALLING INTO QUESTION YOUR WILLINGNESS OR ABILITY TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SERVICE, WE COORDINATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE EMERGENCY RESPONSES DELIVERED ON NORTH ARM AND FOREST LAKE DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD.
WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN THE FUTURE EMERGENCY SERVICES ENDEAVORS AND STAND BY READY TO ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
RESPECT BE THE COUNCIL." I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONS OR PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT JUST BASICALLY A THANK YOU LETTER, BUT WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE SERVICE AREA THAT WE NEED WITH EITHER OURSELVES OR ADDITIONAL AGENCIES.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF NOTES, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT, AND I KNOW IT'S LONG.
[00:15:02]
LAURA, I CAN PUT IT IN WRITING LATER FOR YOU AS WELL.WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE ARE A RESULT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OUR BUSINESS MODEL.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS ENHANCEMENT DOES NOT REFLECT THE CAPABILITIES OF THE DEDICATED DEPARTMENT MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED US IN THE PAST, WHO HAVE ALWAYS PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE PREVIOUS FRAMEWORK.
INSTEAD, IT CELEBRATES OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABILITY TO THRIVE WITH UTILIZING A NEW HYBRID MODEL.
WHEN WE TALK OF SUCCESS, IT IS NOT A SUBJECTIVE APPROACH, RATHER, AN OBJECTIVE REPORTING ON OUR STANDARD SERVICE BENCH-MARKING TO MEET OUR NEW GOALS, WHICH IMPROVE TO AIM THE RESPONSE TIMES BY HALF, DROPPING THEM FROM TWO MINUTES TO ONE MINUTE IN SERVICE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY.
AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF DISCUSSION, MANY CYCLES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND COUNTLESS MEETINGS TRYING TO RESOLVE AND REALIGN, WE, LIKE YOU, ARE READY TO MOVE ON AND FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE FUTURE.
AS OUR CONTRACT COMES TO A CLOSE, WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND DEDICATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED OVER THE YEARS.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE, AND WE HAVE GREATLY APPRECIATED YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
AS WE MOVE IN A NEW DIRECTION, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN ALL YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS WILL MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WHERE YOU SERVE, AS WILL OURS.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING, AND WE SEND YOU WARMEST WISHES AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?
>> I HAVE A THOUGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE PROPOSING COVERS THESE AREAS, IF NOT LONG LAKE FIRE.
>> I THINK THE CHIEF CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I REACHED OUT TO THE MOUND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE EXCELSIOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT WAS BACK AT THE END OF JUNE ABOUT SERVICING THESE AREAS.
I DID RECEIVE A MEETING WITH ASSISTANT CHIEF FARLEY, AND HE STATED THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS WOULD STILL LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COVER IT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TOO.
>> BASICALLY, MOUND IS THE SECOND CALL, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WILL COVER IT, AND THEN EXCELSIOR WILL BE THEIR BACKUP.
SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT THAT AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
>> SO MOUND WILL BE COVERING THIS PRIMARILY, AND THEN EXCELSIOR IS A BACKUP?
>> YES, CORRECT. RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD GET PAGE TO THOSE AREAS WOULD BE THE MOUND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEN IF WE WOULD NEED ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE EXCELSIOR HAS OFFERED OUT TO BE PAGE SECOND.
>> WHAT IS THE REASON THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE IF LONG LAKE IS OFFERING TO DO THIS? WHAT IS THE REASON WE NOT HAVE THEM DO THIS AREA?
THAT CAME UP AT OUR FIRE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS AND CITY COUNCILS, AND IT GAVE THEM ANGST.
I SAID I DON'T MEAN TO PUT THEM OUT, AND AS A PARTNER, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK FOR OPTIONS.
>> LONG LAKE FIRE COVERING THE LAKE AREAS GAVE THEM ANGST?
>> CORRECT. YEAH. THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.
>> THEIR LETTER, THOUGH, SAYS THAT THEY WOULD DO THIS.
>> YEAH. AND THEY SAID FOR A FEE, AND THAT'S WHEN IT CAME UP, AND IT ACTUALLY CAME DOWN TOO.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FEE, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT'S A SMALL NUMBER OF CALLS, MEANING THE FEE, OF COURSE, THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT EVEN TRYING TO CHANGE THOSE WORDS TO SAY THAT WHEN JAMES BROUGHT UP, IT WAS A SMALL NUMBER OF CALLS, MEANING WE CAN NEGOTIATE A FEE FOR THOSE FEW CALLS A YEAR.
IT WAS MINIMIZED TOO, THAT'S HIS TAKE ON THE FEW CALLS, WHERE THAT'S NOT.
IT WAS A PRIORITY, AND I ASKED THAT WE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO OPTIONS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYONE OUT.
>> WELL, I THINK ALSO THEY ALSO EVEN PUT IN THEIR LETTER TO US THAT THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY CAN COME TO ANY AGREEMENT WITH US BASED ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I THINK THAT BEHOOVES US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, AS WELL.
THAT WOULD ASSIST WITH US, AND WE'VE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF, SO IT'S KIND OF BEHIND US AT THIS POINT.
SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LETTER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LETTER?
>> WELL, WHAT IS BEHIND US AT THIS POINT? I'M NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU?
>> WE ALREADY HAVE THAT SERVICE THAT SERVICE AREA TAKEN CARE OF.
>> AT THIS TIME, IF THERE WERE TO BE A CALL RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT ON THE LAKE, WHO WOULD BE SERVING THAT AREA, MOUND?
>> MOUND WOULD BE PAGED, AND WE WOULD BE PAGE SECOND, YES. CORRECT.
>> THE CALL SERVICE HAS ALREADY BEEN CHANGED FROM LONG LAKE TO MOUND.
>> YEAH, WE DID IT BACK AT THE END OF JUNE BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THIS ISSUE ORIGINALLY REARED ITS HEAD AT ONE OF THE COUNT OR ONE OF THE FAB MEETINGS.
>> THEY SAID THAT THEY EXPECTED US TO BE ABLE TO COVER THAT AREA.
SO WE REACHED OUT TO SOME SURROUNDING MUTUAL AID PARTNERS AND ASKED THAT QUESTION OF THEM IF THEY COULD HELP US OUT IN THE SHORT TERM.
THEN I HAD A MEETING WITH CHIEF PETERSON OVER AT MOUND ON THURSDAY.
HE HAD SOME BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT HE HAD TO GO TO,
[00:20:02]
SO WE'RE TRYING TO RESCHEDULE THAT MEETING AGAIN FOR MORE OF A LONG TERM SOLUTION.>> I REMEMBER AND I DO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE ISSUE WITH THAT CALL FOR SERVICE BEING TAKEN OUT.
MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN THAT LONG LAKE'S POSITION IS THAT THE CONTRACT SIMPLY NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT THEY ARE SERVICING THOSE AREAS OR THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR SERVICE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, ESSENTIALLY.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'VE TALKED TO MOUND AND WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM, SO WE'RE PAST THAT.
>> NO, THIS IS JUST THE TERRITORY, THE NAVARRE TERRITORY, THE ONES THAT FALL IN THE NAVARRE TERRITORY.
>> THE WATER AREA IN THAT TERRITORY?
>> IN THAT TERRITORY. LONG LAKE STILL HAS COVERAGE OF THE OTHER PORTIONS OF THE LAKE.
>> THIS IS JUST NOT THE NAVARRE.
THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, HEY, YOU DON'T.
>> YES, JUST THOSE THREE, I THINK THERE WERE THREE OF THEM, THE DIFFERENT BAYS.
I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME AREAS.
MY ISSUE IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME DEGREE OF CONFUSION ABOUT THOSE CALL AREAS BEING SEPARATED FROM THE LAND MASS.
HOWEVER, MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON LETTERS AND WATCHING COUNCIL MEETINGS OF LONG LAKE IS THAT IT'S NOT THAT THERE WAS AN UNWILLINGNESS TO DO IT, IT WAS THAT THE CONTRACT SHOULD REFLECT THAT THEY'RE DOING IT AND THE PAYMENT SHOULD BE HAPPENING FOR THOSE AREAS WHEN THEY ARE SERVICED.
>> I THINK, LIKE CHIEF AND LEADERSHIP AT OUR FAB MEETING KIND OF ALLUDED TO CAD ZONES ARE COVERED BY CHIEFS.
COUNCIL TYPICALLY DOESN'T PICK A CAD ZONE OR ANY COVERAGE, AND TO GET IN THE WEEDS LIKE THAT, AND HE BROUGHT UP AT THAT FAB MEETING THOSE THAT NEED TO KNOW, KNOW.
I THINK IT'S THAT SAME SENTIMENT UNLESS WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER.
>> NO, MY FEELING ON THAT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IS THAT CONTINUITY OF SERVICE OR CONTINUING SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN A CERTAIN WAY SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PRUDENT THING TO DO FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND TO NOT START PAGING OUT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IF LONG LAKE IS WILLING TO SERVICE THOSE AREAS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT CORRECT BECAUSE, AGAIN, REMEMBER, WE'VE TAKEN OVER THE NAVARRE AREA.
SO ALL THE NAVARRE AREA IS NOW BEING CALLED ORONO.
IN THAT SAME AREA WHERE THE WATER STUFF IS, ORONO WAS STILL GETTING CALLED, AND MOUND IS GETTING CALLED.
MOUND WAS GETTING CALLED BEFORE TWO.
THEY WERE ALWAYS THE SECOND PERSON BEING CALLED.
THEY ARE STILL BEING CALLED, BUT IT'S OUR AREA NOW.
AND SO WE HAVE IT, AND WE'VE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF.
SO AS YOUR ISSUE IS THAT YOU WANT US TO GIVE THAT TO MOUND OR TO LONG LAKE?
YOU SAID, I HAVE AN ISSUE ABOUT THIS.
>> AGAIN, THE IDEA IS TO MAKE THIS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HAVING THE SAME SERVICE PROVIDER BEING LONG LAKE COVERING THAT AREA, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, WOULD MAKE SENSE.
NOW, IF THESE CALLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, AND THIS IS SIMPLY A INDICATION OF THAT.
WHEN I READ THE LETTER FROM LONG LAKE, IT SEEMED TO INDICATE TO ME THAT THEY WOULD SERVICE THE AREA.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING BASED ON WHAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> WELL, WE HAD TO HAVE EVERYTHING COVERED JULY 1, AND WE DO HAVE A COVERAGE JULY 1.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT THAT IN PLACE WITH THE DISPATCH AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> I CAN GIVE AN UPDATE, BUT IT DIDN'T COME UP AT THE LAST FIRE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT THAT MEETING?
>> SO THE UNDERSTANDING FROM LONG LAKE IS THAT ORONO WAS GOING TO FIND ALTERNATE COVERAGE?
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT IS BEST THAT WE CLARIFY HOW IT'S BEING DONE IN THIS LETTER.
>> IT SAYS IN THE LETTER THAT THE DRAFT LETTER THAT ADAM HAD PUT TOGETHER THAT WE'VE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT'S A FACT TODAY.
WE'RE JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE GOT THEIR LETTER THAT JUST SAID THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN OUR OFFER, AND THAT WE ARE JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'VE GOT THAT OTHER SITUATION WITH THE WATER TAKEN CARE OF.
>> IN THE SECOND TO LAST PARAGRAPH, WHAT IT SAYS, AND THIS IS DATED JULY 18, AT THIS POINT, THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL AGREE TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THE WATER RESPONSE AREAS AND THE ABOVE NAMED PID TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS MAINTAINED.
LONG LAKE WILL SEPARATELY INVOICE ORONO FOR ANY COSTS RELATED TO THIS COVERAGE SINCE THE AREAS ARE NO LONGER WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE AREAS SUBJECT TO THE CONTRACT.
SO TO ME, THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD ALREADY HAPPENED, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY'RE OFFERING TO PROVIDE SERVICE ON AN ONGOING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, WE ALREADY HAD TOLD THEM THAT WE HAD THIS TAKEN CARE OF.
TO ME, THESE WERE MORE POLITICAL STATEMENTS IN THEIR LETTER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE IF YOU READ THE PARAGRAPH BEFORE THAT,
[00:25:01]
THEY SEEM TO SAY SOME STUFF THAT IS NOT VERY NICE ABOUT US.BUT WE'VE GOT THIS TAKEN CARE OF.
UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE FIRE SERVICE IN THAT AREA TO LONG LAKE? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE'VE GOT THEIR LETTER, WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE WATER STUFF TAKEN CARE OF, UNLESS YOU WANT IT TO SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND CHIEF VAN EYLL, THIS QUESTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FIRE CHIEF.
THE ISSUE IS, WITH THESE AREAS OF COVERAGE THAT INVOLVE THOSE LAKES IN THAT NAVARRE AREA, ARE YOU SAYING THAT AS OF JUNE, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PAGED OUT TO MOUND?
>> WE'VE HAD NO CALLS THOSE LOCATIONS.
>> IF A CALL WERE TO COME RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD BE PAGED TO THE LAKE AREAS?
>> IN FOREST LAKE AND NORTH ARM, AND DEERING ISLAND, MOUND FIRE WOULD BE PAGED FIRST, AND WE WOULD BE PAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY AT BASICALLY SECOND.
>> WHEN DID THAT DECISION OCCUR TO PAGE MOUND FIRST?
>> BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD AT THE FAB MEETING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH LONG LAKE COVERING THAT AREA, CONSIDERING THAT WE HAD TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE BOTH CAD ZONES AWAY.
THEIR POINT WAS THAT IN THOSE SUB-CAD ZONES WERE THE WATER, OUR POINT WAS WE WERE NEVER GOING TO COVER ANY WATER UNTIL 26.
SO THERE WAS A DISAGREEMENT AS TO WHO WAS COVERING IT.
WE FOUND ALTERNATE COVERAGE AT THAT TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD COVERAGE STARTING JULY 1 WHEN WE WENT LIVE.
>> WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT, I SHOULD ASK THIS OF THE COUNCIL OR WHAT ARE WE AGREEING TO IN TERMS OF A FEE FOR SERVICE FOR COVERING THAT AREA OR WHAT IS MOUND EXPECTING TO BE PAID FOR THIS AREA?
>> RIGHT NOW, GREG AND I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED ANY FINANCIAL TERMS. HE AGREED TO COVER IT IN THE SHORT TERM, AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO WORK OUT A LONGER TERM AGREEMENT.
>> THEY'RE COVERING THIS WITH NO CONTRACT WITH OUR CITY?
>> KEEP IN MIND THEY WERE ALREADY COVERING IT.
>> NO. THEY WERE PAGED AT THE SAME TIME FOR THOSE LOCATIONS.
>> WITH LONG LAKE AT THE SAME TIME.
THEIR BOAT ACTUALLY, I THINK, IS CLOSER THAN LONG LAKES BOAT TO THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANYWAY LET'S GET BACK TO THE LETTER.
>> YES. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LETTER.
I HAVE THOUGHTS ON IT AS WELL.
BUT GIVEN BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND, COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH, YOU HAVE SOME EDITS, I GUESS IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE WANTING TO EDIT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE GOT?
>> YEAH. THOSE ARE THE EDITS THAT WE'RE WANTING TO APPROVE TONIGHT? CORRECT. YES. UNLESS THERE'S A REASON THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF US, ALL OF THOSE EDITS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.
>> WELL, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON SOMETHING, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TIME TO REVIEW IT.
NOT SEEING THAT IN FRONT OF ME AND HAVING ALL THOSE EDITS.
I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO VOTE ON THAT TONIGHT.
>> WELL, I FEEL THAT[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S A PRETTY BASIC LETTER.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD WANT TO ADD IS I WOULD WANT TO ADD THE FIRST TWO PARAGRAPHS OF THE LETTER THAT ADAM PUT TOGETHER.
THAT STARTS OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER JULY 18, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THIS SAYS WITH RESPECT TO COVERAGE.
I'D ADD THOSE TWO TO MARIA'S AND THEN GET THAT TYPED UP FOR SIGNAL SURE.
>> MINE WAS JUST TO PUT IN SOME KIND WORDS.
>> THAT'S WHY I SAID I WANTED THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO SAY THEM PERSONALLY.
IF YOU'D PREFER NOT TO PUT THEM IN WRITING?
>> NO. I JUST THINK THAT MY OPINION IS THAT IF THIS IS A DRAFT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKED TO VOTE ON A LETTER THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON SENDING TO ANOTHER CITY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT LETTER IN FRONT OF US OR SHOULD HAVE BEFORE TONIGHT BEFORE WE'RE VOTING ON THAT.
>> TRUE. I CAN REMOVE THAT. THAT'S FINE.
>> I MEAN, THE OTHER THING WE COULD DO IS, BECAUSE THEIRS ACTUALLY DIDN'T COME FROM THEIR COUNCIL.
THEIRS JUST CAME FROM THEIR MAYOR.
WHAT SAID THE MAYOR ON THE BEHALF OF LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL?
>> THEIRS DIDN'T. THEIRS WASN'T.
>> THEIRS WAS SIGN, JUST SAYING.
>> I THINK THE LETTER SOUNDS FINE.
IT'S NOT THAT BIG DEAL OF A LETTER.
>> LET'S DO THIS. WHY DON'T WE ACCEPT THE LETTER THE WAY IT IS, AND MARIA, YOU CAN VERBALIZE YOUR I SEND MINE SEPARATELY.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO COMPLICATE IT.
>> THAT'S FINE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE LETTER AS OUR DRAFT LETTER TO SEND TO LONG LAKE
>> WE DIDN'T ASK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION UP TO THE SECOND.
>> BECAUSE I DIDN'T ASK FOR DISCUSSION.
>> WELL, ARE WE GOING TO BE ALLOWED DISCUSSION AFTER THE SECOND?
>> WE ALREADY VOTED. SO ALL IN FAVOR.
[00:30:01]
WE HAD FOUR. YOU VOTED [OVERLAPPING]>> THEN I VOTE AGAINST IT. THEN NO.
>> NOTE THAT PASSES 4-1 WITH BENSON AS THE DESCENT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT BEYOND THAT?
[Additional Item]
>> WE DO. YES. AS WE MOVE INTO OUR THIRD OR FOURTH WEEK NOW, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO IMPROVE UPON.
ON THIS ONE, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT HAS CHANGED TO THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE JUST YET.
AN UPDATE, COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON, YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT THE TANKER.
SEE TRIP DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE SHOULD SEE THE EQUIPMENT AND PANELS AND EVERYTHING TO ROCHESTER NEXT WEEK.
WE SHOULD SEE THE TANKER SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
THE COMPANY, FIRE SAFETY USA HAS AGREED TO REIMBURSE US OR CREDIT US THE COST OF TWO MONTHS WORTH OF RENTAL UPPER TANKER, WHICH AMOUNTS TO $4,000 DUE TO THEIR BEING LATE ON THE TANKER.
THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY UPDATE ON THIS ONE.
WE DID SOME NORTH EMS TRAINING WITH OUR GUYS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THAT WAS THROUGH THE NORTH MEMORIAL EMS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER UPDATES AND STUFF FOR THEIR EMS PROGRAM.
WE HAD GREAT ATTENDANCE THERE.
THEN AS WE LOOK AT OUR CALLS FROM JULY 8TH TO JULY 14TH.
WE WERE AT 15 CALLS FOR THE TIME PERIOD, OR FOR SINCE JULY 1ST, I SHOULD SAY, YOU CAN SEE OUR ALARM DATE AND TIME, KIND OF OUR ENROUTE TIMES, OUR SCENE TIMES ARE THERE.
OUR ONSCENE TIMES ARE BETTER THAN WHAT I KIND OF EXPECTED, BUT OUR ENROUTE TIMES ARE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN I EXPECTED, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS TO IMPROVE ON US GETTING OUT THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT QUICKER THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, HAS BEEN UNEXPECTED OR SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT OR ANY POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES IN THE PLAN OR EXECUTION THAT YOU'VE SEEN THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT?
>> I REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY WEAKNESSES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED A FEW MORE CALLS THAN I EXPECTED OUT OF THIS AREA, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, BUT BAD FOR THE PEOPLE.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT, SO THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GO ON THEIR NEXT CALL, AND THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT DOING THAT.
THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN UNEXPECTED WAS THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE'RE GENERATING RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW HAS STAFFING BEEN WHEN YOU'VE RECEIVED CALLS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER OR BACK TO BACK?
>> STAFFING HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.
WE HAD A STORM STANDBY, THOSE WIRE DOWN CALLS THAT YOU SEE THAT ARE BACK TO BACK, WITHIN SO MANY MINUTES OF EACH OTHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD RESPONSE TO THE STORM STANDBY THAT EVENING AS THE STORM ROLLED THROUGH, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, WE ENDED UP WITH A COUPLE OF MORE WIRE CALLS WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THAT STORM.
BUT YEAH, MOST OF OUR CALLS HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY OUR DUTY CREWS OR OUR DUTY OFFICER, EXCEPT FOR THAT STORM STANDBY NIGHT.
>> HAVE THEY FELT WELL EQUIPPED TO HANDLE EVERYTHING THAT'S COME THEIR WAY? DO THEY HAVE?
>> THERE'S ALWAYS A FEW THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING IS SOME MORE TRAFFIC VESTS, THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
>> EXCUSE ME, CHIEF. ALL RIGHT, CHIEF.
THANK YOU. THANKS. THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY REPORT, SOREN.
[Attorney Report]
>> THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I DO HAVE A QUICK REPORT.
THE PARTIES HAVE MET, AND IN THE MR. ERICKSON VERSUS CITY LAWSUIT, THAT HAS BEEN DISMISSED MUTUALLY THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE COURT AND SIGNED AT THIS POINT.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME BRIEFS ABOUT UPCOMING TRIALS.
I BELIEVE ADAM DID SEND OUT THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COURT ON THAT.
SO THAT MATTER AT THIS POINT IS FINAL AND HAS BEEN DISMISSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE THE PLAINTIFF, IT WAS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT BY BOTH PARTIES.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER REPORT.
[12. Council Committee Reports]
THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD TWO COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE 11TH AND LONG LAKE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD ON THE 17TH.
MARIA, COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE.
>> GREAT. IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, WE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE AND MAKE CITY COUNCIL,
[00:35:03]
WHICH IS OUR CITY BUSINESS MEETINGS MORE APPROACHABLE.IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
IT GIVES YOU POINTS ON WHAT TO EXPECT IN A MEETING.
WHO TO REACH OUT TO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
I HOPE IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THEN I THINK I'VE SAID TOO, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED GOING FORWARD TO FIND ROOM IN OUR BUDGET TO HAVE A FULL-TIME COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MEET THAT NEED.
>> IT'S A NEED IN OUR CITY TOO, AT CITY HALL.
MOST CITIES HAVE THAT, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S COBBLED TOGETHER BY OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND ALL THE DIFFERENT DIRECT REPORTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND MAGGIE, TRYING TO GET ALL THESE PIECES, AND IT'S NOT THEIR FORTE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME WHERE IT IS THEIR FORTE AND WILL BE THEIR JOB AGAIN TO PUT THAT STUFF TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY ALL THE TIME A LITTLE BETTER.
I THINK YOU GUYS WERE BOTH AT THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> I'LL START. THE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD, IT WAS OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE BUDGETS.
SOME REQUESTS THAT WE MADE WERE TO INCLUDE THE 2023 PROPOSED BUDGET AND ACTUAL BUDGET SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
IT JUST GIVES US A LITTLE MORE FRAMEWORK GOING FORWARD.
WE TALKED ABOUT REWORKING DUTY CREW CALCULATIONS TO REPORTING IN THE REPORTING, SO IT'S CONSISTENTLY MEASURED THROUGHOUT AND BENCHMARKING FROM THE START OF THE YEAR.
THEN WE LOOK TO INCLUDE GOALS OF PAID ON CALL COMPARED TO THE DUTY CREWS.
THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST FOR STATION 1 AND STATION 2 BREAKDOWNS AS CHIEF HAD MENTIONED DURING HIS JUNE LONG LAKE COUNCIL MEETING THAT THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
I THINK FINALLY, MADINA HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CALL HOUR INCREASES, WHICH I THINK WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED DURING OUR MEETING ABOUT CULTURE.
AS THAT CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT TO US IN THE COMMUNITY, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND OUR LEADERS AND OUR COUNCIL THAT WORDS MATTER.
IT AFFECTS OUR TEAM, AND OUR TEAM IS OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK I WILL ALSO ASK FOR THE SAME IN RETURN FROM LONG LAKE, AS WE ALL CHOOSE THE BEST OR TRY TO CHOOSE THE WORDS BEST IN A WAY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I WILL REQUEST THAT CITY COUNCIL LEADERS OF ORONO AND LONG LAKE AND MEMBERS OF LEADERSHIP BOTH TAKE THIS INTO FOCUS AND CONSIDER IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S TIME WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
I WOULD ALSO TAKE THIS TIME TO REQUEST THAT MEMBERS OF LONG LAKE LEADERSHIP NO LONGER DO THE UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO THE ORONO FIRE STATIONS, AS I'M SURE IT'S NOT MEANT THAT WAY, BUT IT IS FELT AS INTIMIDATION, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT THAT DISCONTINUES AS WELL.
>> AS GOING OVER THE BUDGET, I THINK WE ASKED FOR THE 2023 ACTUALS, DIDN'T WE?
>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET NUMBERS, COMPARING WHEN THE STATION 2 CALL AREA GOT PULLED OUT.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WASN'T REFLECTIVE IN THEIR BUDGET ENOUGH, IN MY VIEW, PERCENTAGE WISE BECAUSE STATION 2 COMPROMISED 25-30% OF THE CALLS BALL PARKIS, AND IT'S NOT A 25-30% FINANCIAL CONSIDERATE.
>> IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE BUDGET DID DECREASE.
I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ACTUALS FROM THE '23.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I FELT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING.
>> WELL, THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Public Comments]
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL? THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF OR FOLLOW-UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.
THE COUNCIL WILL FIRST OPEN THE PODIUM TO ORONO RESIDENTS BEFORE OPENING THE PODIUM TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
LAURA IS OUR TIMEKEEPER OVER HERE AT THREE MINUTES.
IS THERE ANYBODY FROM ORONO WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?
>> HI, MY NAME IS SANDY WHISTLER, 2683 NORTH SHORE DRIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THIS IS ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN THE WORLD.
I'VE JUST LONG BEEN PUZZLED ON HOW MUCH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS COST, IS COSTING, AND WILL COST.
THAT MAYOR, WHEN I WENT TO THE COFFEE IN MAY, YOU HAD SAID THAT THE FLYER WOULD HAVE THE BUDGET IN IT, WHICH IT DID NOT.
THE SAFETY, THE CALLS SEEM NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE ORONO FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
[00:40:04]
AS WE ALL KNOW THE PAGE 54, THE FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, HAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH A DUTY CREW.THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WITH THE CIP WAS TO BE 1,634,000.
HOWEVER, THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET THAT IS APPROVED IS PAGE 32 OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET, 1,437,450.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OF 2024, PAGE 7, TABLE 4 HAS THAT AS $1,021,200.
THAT COST TOTAL IS $2,458,650.
THAT'S 825,000 ESSENTIALLY MORE THAN THE ESTIMATE.
THE OPERATING COSTS FOR 2023 SEEM TO BE OUT 787,000.
I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THE CALL TIMES.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THESE ESTIMATES WERE REALLY DONE IN GOOD FAITH.
THE OVER 2.4 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FOR 2024 DOES NOT INCLUDE HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO SERVICE THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE COVERED THE WHOLE BOAT THING THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP TODAY WITH THE LONG MOUND IN EXCEL HERE.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LEGAL COSTS FOR THESE LAWSUITS PLURAL, FOR THE CONTEMPT COURTS.
IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING TO BE A RESIDENT WITH A CITY COUNCIL THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO VALUE PUBLIC INPUT.
I HOPE MY FELLOW VOTERS ARE LISTENING AND PAYING ATTENTION IN NOVEMBER.
COUNCILWOMAN BENSON, I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FROM ORONO TONIGHT?
>> HELLO, I'M STACY ROYAL, AT 3135 JAMESTOWN ROAD, ORONO, MINNESOTA.
I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF DIGGING MYSELF AND TALKED TO A LOT OF LONG LAKE, A LOT OF ORONO PEOPLE.
I WENT BACK AND I WATCHED THE LONG LAKE MEETING THAT THEY HAD AT CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.
IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY WANTED ORONO AND LONG LAKE TO WORK TOGETHER.
I WAS AT THE JUNE 24TH, ORONO COUNCIL MEETING, AND I BELIEVE MARIA BROUGHT UP SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO LONG LAKE THAT DID TALK ABOUT DOING SOME JOINT.
EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE. I THINK IT'S LIKE JOINT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.
I DID FOLLOW-UP WITH A FEW PEOPLE.
I DIDN'T HEAR BACK ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT AMENDMENT WAS GOING TO BE ADDED TO THE LETTER.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WASN'T ADDED TO THE LETTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE TO GET THAT.
WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WITH THE LETTER THAT LONG LAKE SENT.
THE RESPONSE FROM ORONO, THAT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE ORONO AND LONG LAKE WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID IN MY COMMENTS ON JUNE 24TH.
AGAIN, I'LL REPEAT, I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WERE DONE WRONG FROM ORONO AND FROM LONG LAKE.
I JUST HOPE THAT SOME OF THOSE PERSONAL ISSUES THAT ARE CLEARLY PERSONAL ISSUES AT THIS POINT CAN BE RESOLVED.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO MAKE THAT WORK, BUT AS AN ORONO RESIDENT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ORONO AND LONG LAKE WORK TOGETHER.
MANY PEOPLE, IF YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THOSE COMMENTS, KELLY GRADY, CODY FARLEY EVEN SAID WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AT JPA TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET PUT IN PLACE.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 FROM BOTH COMMUNITIES TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT? WE SEE NONE. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?
>> CODY FARLEY, 328 DUPONT STREET, LONG LAKE, LONG LAKE FIRE ASSISTANT CHIEF.
I'M HERE TO CORRECT THE NARRATIVE THAT WAS EXTREMELY MISLEADING REGARDING THE LETTER THAT YOU JUST VOTED TO SEND TO LONG LAKE ABOUT CALL RESPONSE AREA.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO HOW THIS ALL GOT STARTED.
JAMES VAN EYLL PROPOSED PULLING CAD ZONES 200 AND 210 FOR THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GIVING THEM TO THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN HE DID THAT, HE, I BELIEVE, MISTAKENLY CIRCLED THE ENTIRE CAD ZONE.
HE FORGOT TO EXCLUDE THE LAKE AREAS, WHICH LATER IN CONVERSATION, WAS NOT THE INTENTION.
HE EVEN SAID TO ME IN AN EMAIL THAT HE DID NOT INTEND TO REMOVE ANY LAKE RESPONSE AREA FROM THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT UNDERSTANDING ONLY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE DISPATCH REACHED OUT TO ME FOR CLARIFICATION ON RESPONSE TO THOSE TWO LAKE AREAS, AND I SAID, YOU SEEM TO HAVE IT INCORRECT.
THAT IS NOT CHANGING TO ORONO.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO TALK TO JAMES TO GET THAT SORTED OUT.
THEY KEPT IT FOR LONG LAKE FIRE.
SO LONG LAKE FIRE WAS MAINTAINED AS THE PRIMARY RESPONSE, MOUND AS THE SECONDARY RESPONSE, AND THAT WAS HOW IT WAS INTENDED TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT.
UNTIL THE CITY COUNCILS GOT INVOLVED AND REALIZED THE OVERSIGHT THAT JAMES VAN EYLL MADE, AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY ONE.
[00:45:01]
THERE ARE ALSO TWO ADDITIONAL SUB-CAD ZONES ON THE EAST SIDE OF ARCOLA BRIDGE THAT WERE LEFT OUT OF THAT MAP THAT LATER GOT INTERJECTED BY JAMES AND DISPATCH NOW HAS ORONO FIRE RESPONDING TO THOSE AS WELL.BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS EVER ADDRESSED BY EITHER COUNCIL.
BUT ONCE THE TWO COUNCIL STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH, I BELIEVE THE LETTER FROM LONG LAKE, AND NOW THE LETTER FROM ORONO TO LONG LAKE DOES NOTHING BUT SPITE THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AND THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY UNNECESSARILY REMOVING MORE CALL AREA FROM THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS NO NET GAIN FOR THE CITIZENS OF ORONO.
THERE IS A NET, I BELIEVE, LOSS FOR EXCEL HERE, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE MORE BURDEN, MORE AREA TO COVER AS A SECONDARY RESPONDER, WHERE BEFORE THEY HAD NONE, THEY STILL HAVE ALL THEIR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, MOUNDS A WASH.
THEY WERE MUTUAL AID, AUTOMATIC AID TO THAT AREA ANYWAY.
BUT LONG LAKE FIRE, WHO STILL HAS A LOT OF CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO SERVICE THAT CALL AREA, NOW HAS IT STRIPPED FOR THEM FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, TO SPITE.
SO THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDS HERE STILL PREPARED AND WILLING, AND AS OF EARLIER TODAY, ASSUMING THAT WE WERE GOING TO STILL COVER THAT AREA BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PLAN.
THAT WAS THE PLAN, EVEN UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE LONG LAKE FIRE COVER THAT AREA UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT.
WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY WAS UNNECESSARY.
IT WAS NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD COMMUNITY, TEAMWORK, WORKING TOGETHER, NONE OF THAT.
IT WAS A MISTAKE, AND I GENUINELY HOPE THAT YOU REPEAL AND RETRACT AND GO BACK TO HAVING THAT CALL AREA SERVICED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF LONG LAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?
>> KELLY GRADY, 271 GREENHILL LANE, LONG LAKE, AND I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT CODY JUST SAID.
I AM ALSO COMING UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT LANGUAGE, WHICH I HEARD MARIA SPEAKING ABOUT A MINUTE AGO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURACY.
THE CITY UP UNTIL TODAY, THE CITY OF ORONO HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THEIR ERRORS WITHIN THEIR NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT RELATED TO THE SERVICE AREA, THE WATERFRONT SERVICE AREA OF ORONO.
ACCORDING TO THE LETTER THAT YOU ARE APPROVING TONIGHT, THAT YOU SAY, THE CITY OF LONG LAKE HAS REPEATEDLY MADE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE, URGING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED LETTERS MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND OTHER ATTEMPTS TO DIVERT ATTENTION RELATED TO UNRELATED ITEMS. LONG LAKE ALSO WROTE THAT THEY'RE BAFFLED AND DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR LETTER ABOUT ORONO'S REFUSAL TO TAKE ACTION RELATED TO THE COVERAGE AREA, NORTH ARM BAY AND FOREST LAKE.
ACCORDING TO THE AGENDA PACKET TONIGHT AND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT ACTUALLY AT IT'S COUNCIL MEETING, YOU DID DISCUSS, BUT IN THAT LETTER, YOU USED THE WORDS ABOUT UNWILLINGNESS AND INABILITY TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SERVICE FOR THOSE AREAS, AND THAT CLAIM IS OUTRIGHT AND DEMONSTRABLY FALSE.
IN THE LETTER FROM LONG LAKE, THEY CLEARLY COMMUNICATED THEIR DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NOT JUST COVERAGE AREA FOR THE WATERFRONT, BUT FULL COVERAGE FOR THE AREA OF NAVARRE CONTRACT THROUGH DECEMBER 2025.
THE LETTER THAT YOU'RE APPROVING HIGHLIGHT THAT YOU'RE RESPONDING TO HIGHLIGHTS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT.
LONG LAKE SAYS THEY WILL AGREE TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE WATER RESPONSE AREAS AND THE ABOVE NAMED PID TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IS MAINTAINED.
LONG LAKE WILL SEPARATELY INVOICE ORONO, AND THEY GO ON AND ON AND ON.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT THIS AREA HAS BEEN IN LIMBO SINCE THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION AT THE END OF MAY.
DUE TO YOUR LACK OF RESPONSE, THIS HAS BEEN COVERED BY LONG LAKE FIRE WITHOUT A PROPER CONTRACT IN PLACE, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT IN GOOD FAITH BECAUSE THEY ARE A PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST ORGANIZATION WHO CARES ABOUT ORONO RESIDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AND THE SAME BE ASKED ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WHO ALLOWS THESE LIES TO BE APPROVED IN LETTERS AND WHO CANNOT EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR NEARLY A MONTH.
ORONO CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER.
THEY DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
I HEARD YOUR RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT IT HERE TONIGHT.
THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AND ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THAT ARE BEING CHANGED IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND YOU REPEATEDLY DO NOT ALLOW IT.
THE ONLY DATA THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED, YOU IGNORE COMPLETELY.
THEN YOU SIT UP HERE AT THE DAYS AND LIE AND LIE IN DOCUMENTED LETTERS, WHILE YOU'RE HEADED TO TRIAL, PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR WORDING AND DO BETTER.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?
>> BRAD ERICKSON, 21150 HORSESHOE TRAIL.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS MAKES.
WE WERE OUT MAYBE A MONTH AGO.
[00:50:02]
I'VE GOT A BODY CAM FOOTAGE FROM SERGEANT SPENCER OVER HERE OF AN INTERACTION WITH MR. CROSBY AND I, AND IT WAS PRETTY UGLY.IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DECORUM AND LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
IT WAS PRETTY UGLY, I THOUGHT.
MR. CROSBY USING SOME LANGUAGE THAT I DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE TO BE USING.
WELL, FIRSTLY, HE ADMITS ON HERE, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, MR. EDWARDS OR MR. MATTICK OR WHATEVER ON VIDEO, THAT HE WAS AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6, 2021, AND THAT'S NOT NEWS.
IT MUST BE NEWS TO YOU BECAUSE YOU WENT ON NEXT DOOR AND SAID, YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT WAS OUT THERE ON JANUARY 6, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
IT'S RIGHT HERE IF YOU WANT IT.
IT'S FROM YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S FROM THAT FINE OFFICER RIGHT THERE, SERGEANT SPENCER.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, HE CALLED ME A PUSSY A COUPLE OF TIMES.
WHO WOULD YOU BET ON BETWEEN HIM AND ME? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> REALLY. YEAH. NO SHIT. YEAH, GROW UP.
YOU WERE THERE. DID YOU SHIT AT PELOSI'S DESK? IS THAT WHAT YOU DID? IF YOU'RE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACTIONS, MR. BIG SHOT, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND JUST FILL US IN ON WHAT WENT ON OUT THERE? BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING HERE IN THE LEAD UP TO THAT.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO HATE GROUPS.
LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON IN NASHVILLE NOW.
DO WE WANT THAT HERE? IF YOU THINK A BLUE LINE FLAG PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY, LINE FUCKING MAIN STREET WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
GROW THE FUCK UP, GET A GRIP AND DO BETTER.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT'S BEEN SAID FOR A LONG TIME TO YOU.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR HEADS ARE SO FAR UP YOUR ASS, YOU CAN'T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
IT'S VERY CIRCULAR REASONING, YOU GUYS, AND YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR ACTIONS ARE.
BECAUSE IF TRUMP DON'T WIN THIS TIME, AND THAT SHIT GOES DOWN AGAIN, GUESS WHAT? THE EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON YOU GUYS.
GROW UP. THANKS FOR THE APOLOGY, BRICK.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? SAY NONE, I'M GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS,
[Mayor/Council Report]
AND WE'LL COME TO THE MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT. COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.>> THANK YOU. THE CONCEPT OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP HAS SURFACED RECENTLY IN WEEKS PASSED, BOTH IN TRAININGS WITH THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES AND ALSO IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.
TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO REPORT ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR CITY ON POLICYMAKING.
THIS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES ENDORSES THE SERVANT LEADERSHIP MODEL FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
IT'S AN APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE THAT EMBRACES VALUES OF INTEGRITY, ETHICS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S A MODEL FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP THAT USES STRATEGIC PLANNING AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE CREATION OF CITY POLICY ON OUR FIRE SERVICE.
AN APPROACH TO SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
THIS APPROACH IS REALLY WOVEN INTO OUR ORONO CITY'S MISSION, AS WELL AS TO OUR ORONO 2040 COMP PLAN.
I'M GOING TO ADDRESS EACH OF THESE SEPARATELY.
OUR CITY MISSION READS, THE CITY OF ORONO WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE GUIDANCE THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY ESTABLISHED FROM CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.
OUR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR COMP PLAN WAS CREATED THROUGH A PROCESS THAT INVOLVED NOT ONLY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, BUT DOZENS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT PLANNING AND POLICY MAKING IS A PROCESS THAT INVOLVES BOTH CITY LEADERS AND THOSE THEY SERVE.
THE COMP PLAN ISN'T MEANT TO BE WRITTEN AND THEN PUT ON A SHELF.
ITEM NUMBER 4 IN PART 2 OF THE PLAN, PAGE 19 STATES, THE COMP PLAN IS INTENDED TO BE A LIVING DOCUMENT TO BE USED ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
IT WAS CREATED COLLABORATIVELY, AND WE AS SERVANT LEADERS ARE TASKED WITH USING IT IN DAILY DECISION MAKING.
HOWEVER, THE POLICY DECISIONS MADE DECREE AND FUND A CITY OWNED FIRE DEPARTMENT,
[00:55:03]
CONFLICT WITH THIS PLAN IN MULTIPLE WAYS.PART 2, PAGE 7 OF THE PLAN STATES THAT ANNUAL POPULATION IN ORONO OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS HAS AVERAGED LESS THAN 1% GROWTH PER YEAR.
PAGE 2, PART 2, PAGE 11, AGAIN, MENTIONS ORONO'S HISTORIC SLOW POPULATION GROWTH, WHICH ALLOWS FOR "GRADUAL SERVICE INCREASE AND FISCAL SECURITY." PAGE 13 INCLUDES THE GOAL OF PROTECTING "THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE CITY AND PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF SERVICES AT EFFICIENT COST TO THE TAXPAYER." THE PLANNING POLICIES CONTINUE IN PART 2, PAGE 15.
GOAL NUMBER 12 READS THAT IN ADDITION TO OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, "ORONO WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE COORDINATED SERVICES WITH ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CONSISTENT HIGH QUALITY SERVICES AT AFFORDABLE COST TO THE TAXPAYER." GOLF 14 STATES THAT, "ORONO WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE ACTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN POLICY FORMATION AND POLICY ADMINISTRATION." IT GOES ON, "COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY POLICY OF THE PLAN AND OF THE CITY.
EDUCATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF CITY POLICIES.
FINALLY, PART 4D OF THE COMP PLAN FOCUSES ON PUBLIC SERVICES.
PAGE 4 STATES, "FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES AND ORONO, ARE CONTRACTED WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT." POLICY 4 ON PAGE 5 READS, ORONO EXPECTS TO CONTRIBUTE ITS FAIR SHARE OF FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES", AND CONTINUED ON PAGE 5, THE PLAN READS, "ORONO INTENDS TO CONTINUE CONTRACTING FOR FIRE SERVICES FROM LONG LAKE." THIS IS IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CITY POLICY IS NOT DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE PEOPLE ON COUNCIL.
THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR POLICY THAT CREATED AND NOW FUNDS A FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THAT IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY MISALIGNED WITH OUR OWN PLAN.
THE CITY PLAN WAS CREATED, KNOWING WE ARE NOT INCREASING MUCH IN POPULATION, AND THAT LARGE EXPENSES WILL BE SHOULDERED BY OUR RESIDENTS NOW AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
SHARED FIRE SERVICE IS SAFE AND COST EFFECTIVE, WHICH IS PERHAPS WHY WE DIDN'T PLAN NEW STRATEGY FOR THIS AREA WHEN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WAS CREATED A FEW YEARS AGO.
IF WE, AS LEADERS WANT TO CHANGE POLICY FROM WHAT OUR PLAN OUTLINES, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REMEMBER THAT OUR COMP PLAN IS A LIVING DOCUMENT AND THAT CHANGING IT IS A PROCESS THAT SHOULD INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
IS IT ZINN. DID I SAY THAT, RIGHT? WHO IS THE NEW PARK SUPERINTENDENT.
HE'S GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.
BUT THEN NICE TO HAVE THAT STAFF POSITION FILLED.
IT'S EXCITING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAVING THEM GOING.
SEEING THOSE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BEING TAKEN OVER BY THOSE FIREFIGHTERS.
YOU HAVE A WHOLE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE, TOO.
WE'RE FINDING LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR SOME OF OUR NEWER FIREFIGHTERS, TOO, WHICH I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE ALL THE LOOSE ENDS THE TRANSITION INTO OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WITH IT IS LIVING DOCUMENT, TOO.
IT'S WHEN WE FIND MISTAKES THAT WE MAKE, WE FIX THEM AS SOON AS WE CAN.
WE CAN'T BE PERFECT, BUT WE CAN STRIVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.
THAT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION.
I'M GLAD WHEN WE'RE FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE, WE'RE FINDING SOLUTIONS, AND INCLUDING REACHING OUT TO OTHER PARTNERS TO COVER PORTIONS OF OUR TERRITORY WHERE WE NEED IT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU BEFORE, BUT IT CAME UP AGAIN TONIGHT ABOUT THE LAWSUITS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. WE ARE COVERED BY THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES.
THEY'RE INSURER AND THAT INCLUDES THE FINES.
[01:00:07]
IS THAT THE RIGHT TERMS, HORN.>> LEGAL FEES THAT THE COURTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND AND VERY CLEARLY UNDERSTAND, IS WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LEGAL GUIDANCE OF THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITY'S APPOINTED ATTORNEY.
WE'RE FOLLOWING THEIR GUIDANCE.
IF THE COURT FINDS ISSUE WITH THAT GUIDANCE, THEN IT'S A PROCESS.
BUT THE FINES THAT HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY ANYWAY AWARDED TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE WILL BE CONTESTED.
BUT THOSE FINES WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITY.
IT'S NOT THE CITY OF ORONO TAXPAYERS.
I'VE SEEN THAT COME UP SEVERAL TIMES, AND DESPITE MY EFFORTS OF GETTING THE WORD OUT, IT KEEPS COMING UP.
HOPEFULLY, THAT HELPS PROVIDE SOME CLARITY, SO WE CAN CHANGE THAT RHETORIC OR SURROUNDING THAT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> LET ME GO LAST. OR DO YOU WANT ME TO GO NOW.
SOMETHING I WANTED TO READ FOR EVERYBODY.
THIS IS SOMETHING I READ AT MY DINNER TABLE TO MY WIFE AND MY GIRLS AND MY SONS IN LAW REGARDING THE TRAGIC DAY OF JULY 13TH.
THIS IS BY A YOUNG LADY NAMED ALLISON COPTUARY.
WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN, MY FAMILY AND I STARTED LIVING A REAL LIFE NIGHTMARE.
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXCITING DAY THAT WE HAD ALL LOOKED FORWARD TO, ESPECIALLY MY DAD, TURNED INTO THE MOST TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE SOMEONE COULD IMAGINE.
I KNOW THE MEDIA WILL COVER THIS EVENT.
I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO STAY AWAY FROM LOOKING AT EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SEEN AND LIVED THROUGH IT IN REAL TIME.
BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT THE MEDIA WILL NOT COVER AND WILL NOT SAY ABOUT HIM.
HE WAS THE BEST DAD A GIRL COULD EVER ASK FOR.
MY SISTER AND I NEVER NEEDED FOR ANYTHING.
HE WOULD DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEEDED.
IF HE COULDN'T KNOW HOW, HE WOULD FIGURE OUT HOW.
HE COULD TALK AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH ANYONE WHICH HE WAS DOING ALL DAY YESTERDAY AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
LOVED JESUS FIERCELY, AND ALSO LOOKED AFTER OUR CHURCH AND OUR MEMBERS AS A FAMILY.
THE MEDIA WILL NOT TELL YOU THAT HE DIED A REAL LIFE SUPERHERO.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW QUICKLY HE THREW MY MOM AND I TO THE GROUND.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT HE SHIELDED MY BODY FROM THE BULLET THAT CAME AT US.
HE TRULY LOVED US ENOUGH TO TAKE A REAL BULLET FOR US.
I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO CRY ON HIM AND TELL HIM, THANK YOU.
I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO WAKE UP AND THIS FOR NOT TO BE REALITY OF MY FAMILY.
WE LOST A SELFLESS, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, AND BROTHER.
THAT WAS WRITTEN FROM HIS DAUGHTER.
HE WAS A FIRE CHIEF THERE FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
THIS GENTLEMAN SELFLESSLY RISKED HIS LIFE FOR HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER, WHICH I WOULD DO IN A HEARTBEAT.
BUT MY THOUGHTS TODAY ARE WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
THE KIND OF MAN THAT COREY SOUNDS LIKE HE WAS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE IS IN JESUS' LOVING ARMS RIGHT NOW.
I PRAY EVERY DAY FOR HIS FAMILY THAT THEY ARE COMFORTED, THAT THE COMMUNITY NEVER FORGETS THEM AND THE VICTIMS THAT ARE STILL HEALING.
I THINK IN THIS COUNTRY, WE CAN HAVE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES.
WE DON'T NEED TO ATTACK EACH OTHER.
WE DON'T NEED TO ATTACK PERSONALITIES.
WE CAN DISCUSS DIFFERENCES AND OPINIONS AND IDEAS.
[01:05:03]
THAT'S I THINK HOW WE COME TOGETHER AS A BETTER COUNTRY.I HAVE NOT HIDDEN MY PATRIOTISM TO ANYBODY.
I THINK THE COUNTRY WAS BETTER OFF.
BUT THIS ISN'T EVEN ABOUT HIM.
THIS IS ABOUT THAT DAY WHERE THAT MAN DIED, AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, NOT IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE DON'T LOOK TO ASSASSINATE OUR LEADERS.
WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM, VOTED FOR THEM OR NOT, NONE OF THAT IS RELEVANT.
WE CAN POLITELY DISAGREE, DEBATE THE ISSUES. THAT'S OKAY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE HATRED AND THE SPEECH AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THIS MAN IS GONE FOREVER.
THE DAUGHTER, THE MOTHER, THE WIFE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY LOST A SUPERHERO. THEY DID.
>> YOU WANT ME FOLLOW THAT? I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF DATES THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE.
ONE IS THIS WEEKEND IS THE LONG LAKE RED HOT RUN.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE RUNNING OR FEEL LIKE SPECTATING PEOPLE WHO LIKE RUNNING.
IT'S A FUN EVENT. THAT'S JULY 27TH, CORN DAYS IS AUGUST 10TH.
THAT'S A FUN COMMUNITY GATHERING AND DRAWS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEN THE FOLLOWING DAY IS AUGUST 11TH.
THE ORONO SPARTAN FOOTBALL HAS THEIR CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AT CARBONIS IN TOWN.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO, LOTS OF FUN ACTIVITIES IN THE WEEKENDS COMING UP.
THEN I'D LIKE TO ALSO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.
>> WELL, WE HAD JULY 10TH WAS THE LAST COFFEE AT THE MAYOR.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR YARDS AND HOW IT WORKS AND VARIANCES.
I WENT OVER TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
SPENT MOST OF THE MORNING AT THEIR HOUSES TRYING TO GET THEM FIGURED OUT.
THAT WAS ALWAYS ENJOYABLE, BUT PUT FEET IN THE GROUND.
OUR NEXT COFFEE AT THE MAYOR IS AUGUST 14TH.
A COUPLE OF OTHER DATES THAT ARE COMING UP.
AUGUST 9TH, IT'S MY 60TH BIRTHDAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE FUN.
I'VE RENTED OUT THE NARROWS FOR A BUNCH OF FRIENDS OF MINE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A PARTY. AUGUST 10TH IS THE CORN DAYS PARADE.
I WILL BE IN THAT PARADE AS WELL WITH ABOUT 4,000 PEOPLE THAT WILL BE WITH ME.
I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I'M EMPTY NESTER NOW.
I'VE GOT TO FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER'S AT THE UFM ALREADY, WHICH I THINK I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE KNOW SHE'S ON THE GYMNASTICS TEAM, BUT MY OLDER DAUGHTER LOVES TRACK.
THE LAST TWO WEEKS, YOU'VE SPENT THEM IN CROSS COUNTRY CAMPS AND THE UFM AND MADISON, WISCONSIN, WITH THE UFM TRACK TEAM OR UW TRACK TEAM.
I'VE GOT TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME IN WISCONSIN, TAKING A LITTLE MINI VACATIONS WITH THE WIFE, SO THAT WAS ALWAYS FUN.
OTHERWISE, LIKE MY PARTNER IN CRIME OVER HERE, I WILL BE PUTTING IN MY NAME NEXT TUESDAY AS ALSO TO CONTINUE AS YOUR MAYOR IN THE NEXT ELECTION, PUTTING MY EIGHT YEARS UP TO SHOW WHAT WE'VE DONE.
THAT'LL BE ENJOYABLE. I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF QUOTES.
IT SAYS A PERFECT SUMMER DAY IS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, THE BREEZE IS BLOWING.
THE BIRDS ARE SINGING, AND THE LAWN MOWER IS BROKEN.
THEN VAN MORRISON, HE'S GOT SOME GREAT MUSIC, TOO.
SAYS, SMELL THE SEA AND FEEL THE SKY.
>> ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.