[00:00:01] >> WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, [Roll Call] 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN ORONO. NOW WHAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON TONIGHT. WE DO ALWAYS START OUT WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO I INVITE YOU TO STAND UP AND FACE THE PLAGUE. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT STOP IS [Approval of Agenda] THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME, AND BEFORE WE VOTE ON WHAT WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'LL GO OVER EACH ITEM. IF ANYBODY WANTS IT TAKEN OFF, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT OFF AND DISCUSS IT MORE IF NEEDED. SOMEBODY WHO'D LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT. >> TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING. I'D MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7 ON CONSENT AS IS. >> I'D LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER 7, PLEASE. [Consent Agenda] >> IN CONSENT TONIGHT IS NUMBER 1, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, NUMBER 2, CLAIMS AND BILLS, NUMBER 3, THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, NUMBER 4, ELECTION RECAP, NUMBER 5, PROJECT CLOSE OUT THE NAVARRRE FIRE GARAGE EDITION 24-34, NUMBER 6, LA 24-39, 1480 BRACKETS POINT ROAD, PRELIMINARY PLAT AND EASEMENT VACATION, BRACKETS POINT THIRD EDITION, RESOLUTION NUMBER 7507, AND NUMBER 7, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE, AND WE'LL DO UNDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT RIGHT FOLLOWING THIS. WITH THAT, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT ANY OF THOSE ITEMS OFF THAT WOULD LIKE TO COUNSEL TO DISCUSS MORE? I CAN SEE NO OTHER OBJECTIONS. I HAVE A MOTION, AND I GOT REMOVAL OF NUMBER 7. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> I'LL MAKE A SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSE. THAT PASSES 4-0. WE WILL GO TO NUMBER 7 WHICH IS PROMOTING THE FIREFIGHTER. IS CHIEF HERE? [7. Promote Firefighter] >> YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL ACTUAL ITEM IS TO PROMOTE ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO A CAPTAIN. THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BACK IN AUGUST OF '23. THE FIRE OFFICERS ARE GIVING MORE COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND EXTRA DUTIES. A RECOMMENDED CANDIDATE FOR CAPTAIN IS CHRIS ADAMS. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHRIS ADAMS PROMOTED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024, AT A COMPENSATION RATE OF $22 AN HOUR. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW COUNCILMAN BRINSON PULLED THAT OFF. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THAT ONE? >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED THE VOTE SEPARATELY. THANK YOU. >> SOMEONE WOULD MAKE A MOTION. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE COMPENSATION RATE FOR CHRIS ADAMS TO CAPTAIN AT $22 AN HOUR. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> SECOND BY CROSBY. ALL IN FAVOR OF AYE. >> I'LL JUST SAY, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE POINT OF DISCUSSION THAT I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROMOTION BECAUSE IT INVOLVES INCREASED SPENDING ON THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT AND CREATE IT WITHOUT ANY PLAN OR INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITIZENS. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. >> I GUESS I WILL CHALLENGE THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR EIGHT YEARS AFTER TALKING TO LONG LAKE, WITH NO DISCUSSION FROM THEM AND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE STEPS TO CREATE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY DOING THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO SUPPORT THE FABULOUS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED CORRECTLY, WHICH IS THE STEPS THAT WE ARE TAKING TO DO BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE DECISIONS FOR THE CITIZENS OF ORONO, NOT ANY OTHER CITIES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE AND THE FABULOUS PEOPLE THAT ARE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN TONIGHT, CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT WE'RE DOING HERE AS A CITY. >> I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE THING. WHEN I WAS ON LONG LAKE FIRE, I WORKED WITH CHRIS ADAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS, AND CHRIS WAS ON ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AFTER I GOT ON, AND HIS GROWTH AS A LEADER AND A FIREFIGHTER WAS OUTSTANDING. CHRIS IS A TERRIFIC LEADER. I'M PROUD THAT HE'S GOING TO BE A CAPTAIN HERE AT ORONO, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND IT'S GREAT THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE HAS GREAT LEADERSHIP, AND THAT COMES FROM THE TOP DOWN CHIEF, SO I'M EXCITED. >> ANY THOUGHTS, MARIA? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. [00:05:02] >> AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? >> NO. >> NOTE THAT PASSES 3-1. THAT WILL MOVE US TO NUMBER 8, [8. Promote Firefighter] WHICH IS PROMOTING A FIREFIGHTER ALSO. >> CORRECT. THAT'S JUST A MONDAY TEST, I BELIEVE. [LAUGHTER] SORRY ABOUT THAT. A LITTLE LATE. SUPPOSED TO BE AT SIX O'CLOCK, SO THEY'RE ONLY A FEW MINUTES OFF. PURPOSE OF THIS COUNCIL ACTION ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE PROMOTION OF ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO FIRE OFFICER, AGAIN, AS THE SAME BACKGROUND AS BEFORE. THIS CANDIDATE, BEN VEACH, WE'RE LOOKING TO PROMOTE TO A LIEUTENANT EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024, AND BEN'S COMPENSATION RATE WOULD BE $21 PER HOUR. >> AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU, BEN, ALSO FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WELL DESERVED, UP TO LIEUTENANT AND LIEUTENANT PAY AND ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS FOR ORONO. OBVIOUSLY, BETWEEN MOST OF US UP HERE, WE HAVE SUPPORT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPLETELY, AND THE RESIDENTS SHOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND VERY LUCKY TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE OF SUCH GREAT SERVICE QUALITY THAT AROUND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT LIKE YOURSELF AND CHRIS, SO THANK YOU. >> I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM THIS ONE. I'VE CONSULTED WITH LEGAL AND BECAUSE OF THE COMPENSATION INVOLVED, I WILL RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE. >> I'LL BE PROUD TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF LIEUTENANT FOR BEN VEACH OF $21 AN HOUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, BEN. >> THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY, AND I WILL SECOND THAT AS THE MAYOR. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT HERE AGAIN THAT I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROMOTION BECAUSE IT INVOLVES INCREASED SPENDING ON THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT DECISION TO CREATE AND FUND THE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE WITHOUT CITIZEN INPUT. >> IT'S INTERESTING TOO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INCREASED SPENDING. WE FOUND OUT THAT GOING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, THAT WE'VE HAD SOME RESPONSE TIMES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT PROBABLY WEREN'T ADEQUATE IN THE NAVARRE AREA, WHICH IS THE AREA THAT WE'VE NOW TAKEN OVER. ALSO, BUT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT. PEOPLE ARE OUT WORKING, AND WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE ARE WORKING, AND YOU MIGHT BE COACHING SOCCER, OR COACHING BASEBALL OR OUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE PLUMBERS, TAKING CARE OF A PLUMBING JOB, YOU MIGHT BE IN PLYMOUTH, YOU MIGHT BE IN MINNEAPOLIS. WE KNOW THAT 70% OF OUR CALLS BEING MEDICAL CALLS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE RESPONSE TIMES, AND THAT CHANGES THE MODEL TO WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MODEL OF BASICALLY FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS DOING ABOUT 75% OF THE DAY. ON THE EVENING HOURS MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER, AS WELL AS A DUTY CREW STATION PERSON AT THEIR HOUSE READY TO GO ON THE MOMENT'S NOTICE AS WELL. AS TIMES EVOLVE, AND THE ONE THING CONSTANT IN THIS WORLD IS CHANGE, AND WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE HERE IN ORONO ON THIS CITY COUNCIL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT CHANGE, AND WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS ARE THE SAFEST THAT THEY CAN BE. WITH THAT, COMES A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA COST, OBVIOUSLY, TO MANAGE CORRECTLY OR [INAUDIBLE] CORRECTLY WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS COULD DO THE JOB THAT HAVE MEDICAL RESPONSE, TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE HAVE DONE IT WELL, AND WE HAVE THE BEST SERVICE PROVIDE THAT THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL. WITH THAT, I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? >> NO. >> NOTE THAT PASSES 2-1. THANK YOU, BEN FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANKS BEN. [APPLAUSE] NEXT [9. Swearing in Ceremony - Firefighters] ON OUR LIST IS OUR PRESENTATIONS, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE TONIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO START OUT WITH OUR SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CEREMONIES TONIGHT. ADAM. >> DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WELCOME TO THE CITY OF ORONO FIREFIGHTER SWEARING IN CEREMONY. TODAY, WE WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE AND PRESENTATION OF BADGES TO OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTER AND PROMOTEES. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE THREE FIREFIGHTERS WHO REPRESENT FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE SERVICE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO PROVIDE DEDICATED, HONORABLE, AND BRAVE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. FIREFIGHTING HAS A RICHER HISTORY, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE FIREFIGHTER BADGE. BADGE PINNING IS A PROUD TRADITION WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS SIGNIFYING THE INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT MEMBERS TO THEIR NEW DUTIES. WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH A SPECIAL WELCOME AND THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. [00:10:01] YOU ARE ALL PART OF THE ORONO FIRE SERVICE TEAM. OPEN TO YOU NOW IS A SUPPORT NETWORK OF FIRE SERVICE FAMILY MEMBERS, NOT JUST HERE IN ORONO, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, EACH FAMILY WILL BE PRESENTED A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS, COURTESY OF THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB. TONIGHT, WE WILL MINISTER AN OATH OF OFFICE. THE OATH IS AN IMPORTANT CEREMONIAL GESTURE, SIGNIFYING THE OFFICIAL START TO A TERM OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THE OATH IS A PUBLIC PLEDGE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION AND WILL WORK TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES TO FULFILL THOSE DUTIES. IT IS A COMMITMENT TO SERVE WITH EXCELLENCE AND TO STRIVE TO BE A GREAT FIREFIGHTER. A GREAT FIREFIGHTER IS ONE WHO WORKS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE AND FLAWLESS EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES, COMMITS TO A LIFE OF LEARNING, IS AN OUTSTANDING STEWARD OF THE PUBLIC TRUST, IS PROUD OF THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND PLAYS THAT ROLE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HUMILITY, DOES THEIR JOBS AT ALL TIMES IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES THAT YOU AND THE FIREFIGHTERS AROUND YOU ARE SAFE AND THAT EVERYONE GOES HOME AT THE END OF THE SHIFT OR CALL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FIRE CHIEF JAMES VAN EYLL, NOW SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS. >> I'LL JUST TRY AND BE AS LOUD AS I CAN. THANK YOU, ADAM. I'M VERY EXCITED WITH THE PROMOTIONS OF TWO OF OUR PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TONIGHT, CHRIS ADAMS AND BEN VEACH. THEY EMBODY EVERYTHING WE WANT. OUR FIREFIGHTER FAMILY, THEY PUT SERVICE BEFORE SELF. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEWEST PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER OLIVER KENNEDY, AS HE STARTS HIS FIRE SERVICE CAREER WITH US TONIGHT, AND TONIGHT'S YOUR FIRST CLASS OF VMT. ONCE HE'S DONE HERE, HE GETS TO RUN AND DO A EMT CLASS FOR THE NEXT FOUR HOURS. THANKS ADAM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR DENNY WALSH WILL NOW SAY A FEW WORDS. >> I'M GOING TO SWEAR IN EVERYBODY HERE [INAUDIBLE] INVITE ALL THE FAMILIES UP TO DO THE PINNING AND GET SOME PICTURES UP HERE, AND UNTIL YOU'RE DONE TAKING PICTURES OF WHATEVER THE TIME WE NEED, WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE, WE'LL ALL GET SOME PICTURES BACK HERE WITH EVERYBODY, ALL THREE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS. ARE YOU NERVOUS? I FEEL VERY HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR WHO SWEAR IN SOME OF THESE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE INAUGURAL ORONO FIREFIGHTING TEAM. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CELEBRATE WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO COME AND RISK THEIR LIVES, AND SPEND SOME TIME [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS HARD TIME AND THAT WE SHOULD [INAUDIBLE] GIVE TIME AND ENERGY TO SAVE US AND TAKE CARE OF [INAUDIBLE]. WITH THAT SAID WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR FIRST. >> ACTUALLY, COULD WE HAVE ALL THREE FIREFIGHTERS COME FORWARD? WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU IN A LINE. THE FIRST OATH WILL BE TAKEN BY CHRIS ADAMS, WHO IS BEING PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN. >> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME? >> I CHRIS ADAMS. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> I SOLEMNLY. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS. >> OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT? >> AND THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CAPTAIN. >> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CAPTAIN. >> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES. >> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT, WILL BE BEN VEACH, WHO IS BEING PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT. >> BEN RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME. >> I, BEN VEACH. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY ORONO. >> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT. >> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE LIEUTENANT. >> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES. >> TO THE BEST OF JUDGMENT ABILITIES. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE] >> [APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO [00:15:03] THE CITY'S NEWEST FIREFIGHTER, OLIVER KENNEDY. >> I, STATE YOUR NAME. >> I OLIVER KENNEDY. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO. >> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE. >> THE DUTIES OF A FIREFIGHTER. >> THE DUTIES OF A FIREFIGHTER. >> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES. >> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES. >> SO HELP ME, GOD. >> SO HELP ME, GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> NOW WE WILL ASK EACH FIREFIGHTER IN TURN TO STEP FORWARD AND FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN THEM TO PIN ON THEIR BADGE. FLOWERS ARE BEING PROVIDED BY THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB. THE BADGE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SYMBOLS IN THE FIRE SERVICE. IT GOES BACK CENTURIES TO THE TIME OF THE CRUSADES. THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN WHO TOOK UPON THEMSELVES TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR INJURIES AND EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES DURING BATTLES. AFTER THE CRUSADES, THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN ESTABLISHED A BASE ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA, HENCE THE ORIGINS OF THE MALTESE CROSS THAT IS ON OUR PATCH. THE MALTESE CROSS IS A SYMBOL OF PROTECTION AND A BADGE OF HONOR. IT MEANS THAT A FIREFIGHTER IS WILLING TO GO INTO HARM'S WAY TO ASSIST OTHERS. FIRST, WE HAVE CAPTAIN CHRIS ADAMS. CHRIS WILL BE JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS SIGNIFICANT OTHER MARLEY RICE. CHRIS JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024. CHRIS HAS BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 17 YEARS. HE IS A CERTIFIED FIRE INSTRUCTOR, FIRE INVESTIGATOR, FIRE OFFICER, AND BLUE CARD INCIDENT COMMANDER. DURING HIS CAREER, CHRIS HAS HELD VARIOUS RANKS, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTER, LIEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, BATTALION CHIEF, AND INTERIM ASSISTANT CHIEF. CHRIS BRINGS HIS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN BOTH OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES. CHRIS ENJOYS THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS THE RESPONSIVE RULES. >> HE'S ALSO A WASHINGTON REDSKIN FAN. >> GRAB HIS FLOWERS FOR HIM. >> NEXT, WE HAVE LIEUTENANT BEN VEACH. BEN IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, MARIA, DAUGHTER REGINA, AND SON ELIJAH. BEN JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. BEN HAS BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. BEN IS A CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTER AND BLUE CARD INCIDENT COMMANDER. BEN PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM FIREFIGHTER TO LIEUTENANT. BEN WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. WHEN BEN AND MARIA'S KIDS STARTED SCHOOL AT ORONO, THEY BEGAN SEEKING OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED. BEN FOUND THE FIRE SERVICE IN 2017, AND JOINING REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS HE'S EVER MADE. HE'S EXCITED TO BE PART OF BUILDING THE ORONO FIRE AND IS THRILLED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY HE LOVES. >> THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> ONE MORE. >> NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER OLIVER KENNEDY. OLIVER IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS FIANCE, SHELTON BORNE, AND HER DAUGHTER ARIA. OLIVER JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN MAY OF 2024. OLIVER WANTED TO BECOME AN ORONO FIREFIGHTER BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HELP OTHERS AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT HE LIVES IN. OLIVER IS EXCITED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING [00:20:03] THAT IS BEING BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP AT THIS NEW DEPARTMENT. AS A COAST GUARD VETERAN, NOW IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HE SAYS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME HE HAS HAD THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. >> ONE MORE. >> ONE MORE. >> SORRY. >> THANK YOU. >> AWESOME. >> YOU CAN ALL COME UP HERE, ALL THREE OF THEM. >> CAN I GET SOME PICTURES? >> ARE WE DONE? ALL RIGHT. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY TO OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTER AND PROMOTES. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WE DO HAVE CAKE AND COFFEE OVER AT THE FIRE STATION, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WE CAN GO OVER THERE NOW. >> WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE. >> THAT FACE SAID, I WOULD. >> THANKS ARE COMING, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. >> WELL, THAT'LL GET US GOING TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION BY THE GILLESPIE CENTER. WELCOME. [10. Gillespie Center] >> THANK YOU. I SENT OVER SOME SLIDES, DO YOU GUYS HAVE? >> YES. >> GREAT. WELL, THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. VERY AMAZING, THOUGH. I HAVE A NEPHEW WHO IS ON A FIRE DEPARTMENT IN WISCONSIN, AND I DID NOT GET TO GO TO HIS CEREMONY, SO THIS IS NICE. I'M RHONDA NELSON. THANK YOU GUYS FIRST FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND MAYOR WALSH AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I WON'T TAKE TOO MUCH. I HAVE ABOUT MAYBE 10 OR 15 MINUTES DEPENDING ON IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TODAY ON THE GILLESPIE CENTER AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO AND THE EXCITING FUTURE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. OF COURSE, THERE PROBABLY WILL BE AN ASK AT THE END. I STARTED AT THE GILLESPIE CENTER EARLIER THIS YEAR, LATE JANUARY, AND I CAME ON AS A CONSULTANT. WE WERE GOING IN A DOWNWARD TREND AND OPERATING IN THE RED. IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED A NEW REFRESH, A REBRANDING, AND A NEW START, SO I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TODAY. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THERE WE GO. I CAME IN AND I HELD A STRATEGY SESSION, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OUR EMPLOYEES. WENT REALLY WELL. WE CAME OUT OF THAT STRATEGY SESSION WITH A NEW VISION, A NEW MISSION AND VALUES. OUR VISION IS SIMPLY THAT WE ENVISION A THRIVING COMMUNITY, AND THAT COMMUNITY REALLY IS BROAD. IT IS THE WEST TONKA AREA COMMUNITIES. OUR MISSION IS SOMEWHAT LIKE YOURS, BUT IT'S DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A PROSPEROUS AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, CULTURE, AND SPACE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEN WE CAME UP WITH A SET OF VALUES. WE HAVE FIVE CORE VALUES. WE COULD HAVE HAD 20. IT'S TOUGH TO GET DOWN, BUT WE THOUGHT THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FIVE. OF COURSE, DIGNITY WITH EVERYONE WE INTERACT WITH BE VERY INCLUSIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. REALLY A NEW ONE THAT WE'RE REALLY POPPING INNOVATION. WE HAD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HONORING BILL GILLESPIE'S VISION, BUT THEN ALSO INNOVATING ON THAT AND GETTING PROPELLING US INTO THE FUTURE, [00:25:01] SO WE WANT TO LEARN FROM OUR PAST, BUT CREATE A BETTER FUTURE. THEN, OF COURSE, SUSTAINABILITY. AS I SAID, WHEN I CAME ABOARD, WE'RE OPERATING IN THE RED, WE STILL REALLY ARE. BUT WE'RE ON TRACK TO SLOWLY MOVE OURSELVES OUT OF THAT AND BECOME MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, PROBABLY, WE'RE A 5013C. UNLIKE MOST OF OUR SENIOR CENTERS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THERE'S ABOUT 90% OF THEM ARE OPERATED AND FUNDED BY THE CITY. WE ARE NOT. WE ARE SOLELY AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT. THEN, OF COURSE, TRUST, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, WITH OUR MEMBERS, AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. FROM THAT, WE SAID, WELL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT? WE CREATED A SET OF GOALS. WE CREATED FOUR CORE GOALS TO HOLD OURSELF ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE FULFILLING OUR MISSION AND VISION. I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS IN DETAIL, BUT THE FOUR GOALS ARE RIGHT INCREASING MEMBERSHIP. OUR MEMBERS, PEOPLE LIKE TO BE MEMBERS. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT USE OUR FACILITY AND OUR SERVICES, BUT THEY ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR SUPPORTERS, SO WE DO WANT TO INCREASE THAT BASE. SINCE WE STARTED, WE'VE ALREADY INCREASED IT 9%. WE ALSO CREATED SHORT TERM GOALS FOR A YEAR AND THEN LONGER RANGE FIVE YEAR GOALS. THE NEXT ONE, OF COURSE, AGAIN, IS INCREASING PROFIT. THIS ONE, WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE YEARLY, IT MAKES MORE SENSE. BUT OUR GOAL AT THE ONE YEAR MARK IS TO BREAK EVEN, AND THEN OUR FIVE YEAR GOAL IS TO BECOME 10% PROFITABLE. WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR PROGRAMMING USAGE. THE USAGE OF OUR SERVICES AND OUR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, AND HERE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT, AGAIN, WE'RE UP 14% AT THIS TIME, AND OUR GOAL IS TO BE AT 20% BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THEN LASTLY, WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE NPS, WHICH IS NET PROMOTER SCORE, WHICH IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HAD A SURVEY FROM A SERVICE OR PRODUCT OF VIEWS THAT ASKED YOU TO RATE ON A 1-10 SCALE HOW LIKELY YOU'D BE TO RECOMMEND. WE DID THAT AND WE BASELINED AT A 44, SO OUR GOAL IS CERTAINLY TO INCREASE THAT BY 20% THIS YEAR AND 90% OVER FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE A BIG RUNWAY TO GO. THEN FROM THERE, AFTER WE CREATED OUR GOALS, WE WANTED TO ALIGN REALLY EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO THE VISION MISSION AND OUR GOALS. STARTING WITH OUR PROGRAMMING, AGAIN, I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS LIST. IT'S AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. A LOT OF THESE THINGS WE WERE DOING, SOME OF THESE THINGS WERE NEW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN. BUT REALLY, AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SERVICES AND OUR PROGRAMMING ARE AVAILABLE TO SENIORS. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE SENIORS, BUT ALSO TRYING TO THEN DIVERSIFY AND MAKE IT OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REPLACE OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS OR ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON IN THE CITIES AROUND MOUNT, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE OPEN AND INCLUSIVE. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE. SOME OF THE NEW PROGRAMMING WE'VE ADDED SINCE SITTING IN EIGHT YEAR. I'VE PARTNERED WITH A LOT OF THE LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN TOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, RIDGEVIEW MEDICAL AND BRINGING IN FREE SEMINARS, GEARED TOWARDS ALL DIFFERENT HEALTH RELATED INTERESTS. WE HAVE ONE. WE JUST HAD THEM HERE A WEEK AGO, AND THEY DID A SERIES ON BRAIN HEALTH AND HOW TO AVOID DEMENTIA AND THINGS. THEN THIS MONTH, WE HAVE ONE ON DIABETES. WE DID A WHOLE SERIES FOUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ON DEMENTIA EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH A NEW VENDOR CALLED CAREINSIGHT PARTNERS THAT ARE MORE FOCUSED BROADLY. THEY'RE GOING TO DO A SLEEP AND A MINDFULNESS, MINDFULNESS IN THE AGE OF DISTRACTION. I THINK WE CAN ALL USE THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ONE. THEN I PARTNERED WITH EDWARD JONES IN TOWN, AND THEY'RE DOING SOME FREE FINANCIAL TYPE SEMINARS, STATE PLANNING TO HOW TO READ THE MARKET, HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKET. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CD AND AN ANNUITY AND THAT. THEN COMING UP HERE STARTING THIS MONTH, OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MONTHLY MEDICARE SESSION ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE MEDICARE CHANGES COMING IN 2025? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PLAN OPTIONS, AND JUST EDUCATIONAL FROM A NON-BIASED PERSON? THIS ONE'S EXCITING. COMMUNITY TALKS. I'M HOPING TO GET THE ORONO POLICE CHIEF OR ONE OF THE REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO COME OUT AND DO A TALK WITH OUR MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE MOUNT FIRE CHIEF COMING AND THE MOUNT MAYOR, SO CERTAINLY MR. WALSH YOU'RE WELCOME ANYTIME. >> ANYTIME YOU NEED ME, I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE. >> AWESOME. GOOD. WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT IN SOME SPECIAL INTEREST THINGS TOO, [00:30:02] AGAIN, TRYING TO GET TO ALL AGES. WE'VE DONE A SERIES FROM A AUCTION COMPANY THAT DID A REALLY INTERESTING SEMINAR ON AMERICAN JEWELRY. WE HAVE A MINNESOTA AUTHOR COMING IN, DOUG OHMAN, TO DO TALK ON THE VANISHING LANDMARKS IN MINNESOTA. >> THEN WE'VE HAD A REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE COME IN AND TALK ABOUT REAL ESTATE ISSUES AND FRAUD AND WHATNOT. LOTS OF THINGS THERE, AND WE ALWAYS OPEN UP. I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO GET FEEDBACK. NEXT MONTH, I'M GOING TO START A COFFEE CLASH WHERE ANYONE CAN COME IN AND TALK TO THE DIRECTOR AND GIVE ME IDEAS ON WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR AND SEE AND, GET OUT OF THE GILLESPIE. OTHER NEW PROGRAMMING COMING IS FITNESS. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CURRENT FITNESS PROGRAMS THAT WERE ON THE FIRST SLIDE, BUT WE'VE ADDED TAI CHI, WE'VE ADDED YOGA. WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING THIS MONTH ZUMBA, OR THEY'RE CALLING IT DANCE PARTY WORKOUT, HOPING TO GET YOUNGER AGES. WHAT WE'RE SEEING TOO IS I'M SEEING A LOT OF SENIORS BRINGING IN THEIR DAUGHTERS OR THEIR GRANDDAUGHTERS TO CLASS, SO THAT'S EXCITING. THEN RIDGEVIEW IS GOING TO DO A BALANCED CLASS FOR US OVER, A FOUR WEEKS SERIES. THEN WE'RE LOOKING DUE TO A WALKING OUR HIKING CLUB AS WELL. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH MEALS ON WHEELS TO DO A CAMPAIGN WITH THEM SO THAT MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AND CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT SERVICE. NOW WE STARTED OFFERING EYE CARE SERVICES AS WELL. THE GILLESPIE YEARS AGO, I GUESS, USED TO DO EXCURSIONS, BUT THEN THEY STOPPED. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY. WE BROUGHT THAT BACK, AND I'M PARTNERING WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES TO HELP GET THEM THERE. BUT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF FUN THINGS, AND THESE HAVE BEEN REALLY WELL ATTENDED. AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES COME. THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR KIDS AND THEIR GRANDKIDS, WHICH IS FUN. WE HAD A COUPLE TWINS GAMES AND CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATER, COUPLE GUTHRIE THEATER, WE'LL BE EXPANDING THAT NEXT YEAR TOO BASED ON DEMAND. THEY STARTED UP A NEW RUMMIKUB CLUB. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF DIFFERENT CARD CLUBS AND GAME CLUBS. TALKED ABOUT WALKING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO COOKING AND RECIPE CONTESTS. FUND RAISING, NONPROFIT. WE DO DO A LOT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR FUND RAISING. WE'RE TRYING TO ALSO FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES THE MOST MONEY. LIKE, WHAT'S THE BEST VALUE? HOW MUCH WORK DO YOU PUT IN VERSUS HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU GET OUT OF IT? WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS WITH OUR BAKERY. WE HAVE A BAKERY PROGRAM WHERE WE WORKED WITH CUB FOODS TO GET THEIR FOOD RESCUE THEY CALLED. THEN WE TURN AROUND AND ASK FOR DONATIONS FOR HALF OFF. THEN WHEN THE NEW MARKETS [INAUDIBLE] OPENED IN [INAUDIBLE], I WENT THERE AND TALKED TO THEIR MANAGER AND WAS ABLE TO BROKER THAT PARTNERSHIP AS WELL. NOW WE HAVE TWO BAKERIES COMING. IT'S A PRETTY BIG REGULAR FUND RAISER WE HAVE ONGOING. WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE SPAGHETTI DINNERS, WE'VE DONE BINGO, WE'VE DONE A PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, AGAIN, TO TRY TO GET THOSE FAMILIES IN. WE DO AL & ALMA'S CRUISES, AND THEY SET ASIDE SIX CRUISES A SUMMER, TWO IN EACH MONTH, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST. THIS YEAR, WE HAD A RECORD YEAR. IT DIDN'T REALLY TAKE MUCH. IT REALLY WAS ME MARKETING TO DIFFERENT SENIOR CENTERS, BECAUSE THEY ALL LIKE TO GO IN. ALSO DIFFERENT ASSISTED LIVING TYPE PLACES, AND THEN THEY BUS THEM IN, AND WE HAD RECORD SALES AND ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH SCOTTY B, WHO HAD A RESTAURANT IN MOUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND GOSH, PEOPLE LOVE SCOTTY B, AND THEY MISS HIM. THAT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND SO HE'S AGREED TO NOW DO A QUARTERLY LUNCHEON WITH US, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. WE DO LIKE TEA EVENTS AND BRUNCH. THEN THERE'S A HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE EVERY YEAR THAT'S, I GUESS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING. THEN THIS YEAR, WE DID A FIRST EVER EVENT WITH OUR SPIRIT OF THE LAKES AND TRIED TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT. IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND PLAN PERSPECTIVE. BUT THE TIMING WASN'T RIGHT, AND WE HAD A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS. I THINK WHEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LAKES STARTED, THERE HAD MANY YEARS. IT TOOK THEM MANY YEARS RIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LEARNING AND TWEAKING AND MAKE THIS EVEN BETTER. THEN WE DO COMMUNITY NIGHTS WITH CULVER'S, NAVAR AND BACKCHANNEL BREWERY IN SPRING PARK. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE A LOT OF THAT IN 2025. BUT AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE FUNDRAISERS. THEN WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE NEXT YEAR IS OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY. WE'RE DEFINITELY PLANNING A BIG CELEBRATION GALA AROUND THAT. WATCH FOR THAT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE TARGETING NOVEMBER OF 2025. [00:35:01] SO 25 AND 25. >> THAT'S REALLY COOL. >> LET'S SEE. YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE? WE GOT OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR FUND RAISING ALIGN, SO MARKETING SUPER IMPORTANT. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY IT, DRIVE BY IT SOMETIME, IT'S A WHOLE NEW LOOK. IT USED TO BE BROWN CEDAR, AND IT HAD BEEN RESTAINED A FEW TIMES, AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, AT THE END OF LIFE OF GETTING RESTAINED. WE CONTRACTED WITH A PAINTER, AND THEY PAINTED BLUE TO BE MORE NAUTICAL, MORE IN LINE WITH THE LAKE MANATAKA AREA. THEN WITH THAT, WE CREATED A NEW LOGO. FROM THERE, WE'RE REBRANDING EVERYTHING FROM BUSINESS CARDS TO THE WEBSITE, TO FACEBOOK, ALL OF THAT AND TRYING TO REALLY INCREASE OUR PRESENCE ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FRONTS AND GET OUR WORD OUT THERE. WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER. WE ALSO STARTED OFFERING A SPONSORSHIP, AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF OUR SPONSORS IS, I FORGET THIS STONEBAY OF ORONO. >> STONEBAY. >> STONEBAY >> STONEBAY OF ORONO. THANK YOU. THAT'S BEEN GOOD, AND THAT HELPS THEM PAY FOR THE PRINTING COSTS AND MAILING COSTS FOR THE NEWSLETTER. WE WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE. THEN LASTLY, RIGHT, WE WANTED TO ALIGN OUR OPERATIONS TO THE NEW STRATEGY, AND REALLY THAT FOCUS ON MULTIGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY. I WAS HIRED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. I THINK THAT'LL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE PRIOR TO ME JOINING, WE CONTRACTED WITH A SENIOR SERVICES COMPANY THAT PROVIDED THE DIRECTOR, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON JUST SENIOR PROGRAMS. WE ALSO ADDED TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A SENIOR OR HE WAS A JUNIOR LAST YEAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. WE'RE EXCITED HE'S GOING TO A SECOND YEAR NOW AND HE'S GOING TO BE A SENIOR, AND THAT'S HELP. THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH LIKE, LET'S SAY, THE ROBOTICS TEAM TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND DO TECH SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY TO BRING IN AND DO PROJECTS FOR THE GILLESPIE. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. GOING FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK TO EXPAND THAT, ADDING MAYBE A SECOND YOUTH DIRECTOR, AND EVEN BRINGING ON SOMEBODY. A YOUNGER PERSON, OUR BOARD IS GENERALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, SO THEY'RE MORE IN THE SENIOR RANGE. WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING IN SOMEBODY LIKE FRESH IN THE WORKFORCE THAT CAN BRING THAT FRESH PERSPECTIVE AND NEW IDEAS. THEN SO WE GET TO START AGAIN. WE ARE A NONPROFIT. WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES AT LARGE. EVEN WITH THE FUND RAISING EFFORTS, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE REALLY DO NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP FULFILL OUR VISION AND OUR MISSION. I'M HOPING THAT TODAY, YOU WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND PUTTING US IN YOUR BUDGET. I KNOW IN THE PAST, WE'VE RECEIVED MONEY FROM YOU FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I THINK IT WAS AROUND 9,000 A YEAR. I'M ASKING TODAY FOR 12,000. IT'S $1,000 A MONTH. I DID PRESENT AT MOUND CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY, AND WE ASKED A MUCH BIGGER ASK BECAUSE IT'S MOUND, AND THEY'RE IN OUR BACKYARD. THEIR CONTRACT HAD JUST ENDED IN 2021, AS WELL. THEY HAVE, PROBABLY, NOT RIGHT, A BIG WATER PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR A LOT MORE. THEY'RE CONSIDERING THE 12,000. I'M ASKING ALL CITIES, NEXT WEEKEND, I'M GOING TO SPRING PARK AS WELL, AND THEN I'LL HIT THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES AROUND OUR AREA AS WELL. BUT TODAY, I'M THINKING 1,000 A MONTH, 12,000 TOTAL. I'M HOPING WOULD BE A REASONABLE ASK. ANY QUESTIONS [LAUGHTER] >> YOU HAVE BEEN OVER THERE MANY TIMES AND YOU HOSTED EVENTS, SO YOU GUYS DO A FABULOUS SERVICE. I REMEMBER BACK IN THE YEARS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PROGRAM OF CITIES AND SERVICES AND WHAT CITIES PROVIDE, NORMAN, BECAUSE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, YOU WERE RIGHT, CITIES OWN THE FACILITIES OR MANAGE OR HAVE THEIR OWN IN HOUSE, ESSENTIALLY SENIOR SERVICES. BASICALLY, THE CITIES AROUND HERE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT AROUND. WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE YOU. YOU DO A GREAT SERVICE, I MEAN, YOU MIGHT BE LOCATED IN MOUND, BUT YOU'RE DOING THE SERVICE REALLY FOR ALL THE SURROUNDED COMMUNITIES FOR ALL YOUR MEMBERS, AND I LOVE YOUR GREAT BREAD PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT AND ALL THAT STUFF AS WELL. IT'S A FABULOUS PROGRAM. >> IT DOES. IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM. I ATTENDED A A CONFERENCE CALLED MASS MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR SERVICES IN MAY, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, IT WAS DIRECTORS FROM SENIOR CENTERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. LARGELY 80% OF THEM WERE FROM THE METRO AREA. MOST OF THEM WERE CONNECTED TO THEIR CITY. [00:40:02] THERE WERE A FEW THAT WEREN'T, AND, OF COURSE, ASKED A LOT ABOUT THEIR MEMBERSHIP MODELS AND WHATNOT, BECAUSE OUR MEMBERSHIP MODEL IS WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET MOST OF OUR MONEY, BUT IT'S ONLY $40 A YEAR TO BE A MEMBER. WE ASKED THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS. MOST PEOPLE ARE $40. IF IT'S A FAMILY, IT'S $50. IT COSTS ACTUALLY $280,000 A YEAR TO RUN THE CENTER. THAT'S WHAT THE COST IS. OUR BUDGET, WE BUDGETED FOR A LITTLE MORE. IT'S AGING. WE'VE JUST HAD A HVAC MAINTENANCE CONTACT CREATED BECAUSE OUR BOILERS ARE GOING DOWN. WE HAD A HEAT EXCHANGER JUST INSTALLED. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAINTAIN THE BUILDING AND BUILD FOR THE FUTURE. >> WELL, DEFINITELY, WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON, SO WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE AT OUR WORK SESSION, SO IT'S TIMELY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT GILLESPIE THE FABULOUS THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, SO. >> MY FORMER NEIGHBOR, BETTY REES, SHE LOVED TO GO THERE. >> GOOD. >> HE REALLY ENJOYED IT AND THOUGHT THAT THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY IS OUTSTANDING. >> THANK YOU. THE OTHER WAY YOU CAN HELP TOO IS JUST TO GET THE WORD OUT. WHEN I STARTED AND I TALKED TO PEOPLE, MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE GILLESPIE CENTER IS OR WHAT THEY DO. SOME PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THEY DID, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE LIKE, PEOPLE LIVE THERE. IT'S LIKE THAT'S PART OF OUR CHALLENGE AND OUR REBRANDING EFFORT. I KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE I HAD KIDS, AND WE WOULD PARK THERE FOR THE PARADE [LAUGHTER]. WELL, ACTUALLY, MY HUSBAND, ACTUALLY WHEN HE WAS HE WAS A STAY HOME DAD FOR A WHILE, AND HE WAS LIKE A PERSONAL ATTENDANT OR HELPED AN OLDER GENTLEMAN, AND HE WOULD TAKE HIM TO PLACES HIS APPOINTMENTS, THE BANK, WHATEVER, AND HE'D TAKE HIM TO GILLESPIE EVERY DAY. THAT'S HOW I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, I KNEW ABOUT IT, BUT THAT WAS PRE COVID. AT THAT TIME, OUR DINING ROOM WAS FULL, EVERYONE CAME FOR COFFEE, EVERYONE CAME FOR LUNCHES. THEY HAD LUNCHES FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THEN COVID HIT, AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT. THEN IT JUST NEVER CAME UP. WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE THE WEDNESDAY LUNCH PROGRAM. WE WENT DOWN TO ONE DAY A WEEK, INSTEAD OF FIVE DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THE DEMAND ISN'T THERE. WE CAN'T LOSE MONEY, SO BUT WE WANT TO OFFER IT, WE WANT PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING. WE HAD SCOTTY B THERE, LAST MONTH, JULY 31ST, WE HAD 90 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. >> THAT'S GREAT. >> THAT WAS EXCITING. >> THEN WE DID OTHER THINGS. >> HIS RESTAURANT. >> I WENT TO SURFSIDE, I ASKED HIM FOR GIFT CERTIFICATES. WE HAD A BASKETS AND WE DID A [INAUDIBLE]. THEN I DID A RAFFLE WITH THE GIFT CRIFATE. WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY, PUT THINGS AROUND THE EVENT TO BRING IN MONEY MULTIPLE WAYS. BUT IT'S STILL, 280,000. >> ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TONIGHT AND KEEPING US AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> THANK YOU. AWESOME. IS THERE SOMEBODY I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEN AFTER THE BUDGET? ADAM. >> [INAUDIBLE] ADAM, OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR. >> AWESOME. GREAT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOU HELP. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MUCH. >> THANKS. >> WELL, I'LL BRING THIS TO A NUMBER 11, [11. Public Hearing - Vacate Easements - Honey Hill #LA24-000030, 3465 6th Ave N & 3515 6th Ave N, including PIDs 29-118-23-43-0013, 29-118-23-44-0004 & 29-118-23-44-0006] PUBLIC HEARING VACATING EASEMENTS, HONEY GALL, LA 24-303465 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH, 35 15, SIXTH AVENUE NORTH, PIDS 291182340013, 2911823440004, AND 209118203440006. MELANIE. >> THANK YOU. A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED FOR THE PROPOSED VACATION OF EXISTING DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS. IN JULY, THE COUNCIL GRANTED PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL FOR THE PLAT OF HONEY HILL ON LAKE LASSEN, A SIX LOT SUBDIVISION. SOME OF THE EXISTING EASEMENTS OVER THE PROPERTIES TO BE SUBDIVIDED WILL BECOME OBSOLETE OR WILL INTERFERE WITH THE NEWLY PLATTED LOTS. THE APPLICANT REQUESTS APPROVAL TO VACATE THE UNNECESSARY EASEMENTS. AS PART OF THE FINAL PLAT APPROVAL, NEW PERIMETER DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS WILL BE DEDICATED AROUND EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL LOTS. ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE EASEMENTS WILL BE DEDICATED OVER WETLANDS, WETLAND BUFFERS, AND STORM WATER DRAINAGE SPILLS. FINAL PLAT APPROVAL IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 23RD. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION OR EXPRESSING CONCERNS FROM ANY OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT COMMENTS UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE A MOTION REGARDING THE VACATION REQUEST. TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE EASEMENT VACATION AND RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. AFTER ALL INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE PROVIDED COMMENTS, COUNCIL SHOULD CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT [00:45:01] STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE VACATION FOR CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NEXT MEETING. THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT. I HAVE THE EXHIBITS OF THE TWO PLATS THAT ARE UNDERLYING THE NEW PLAT WHERE THE EASEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE VACATED, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. >> BUT THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> QUESTIONS FOR MELANIE BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM L24-30. IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT IT, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. HEY, SEEING NOBODY, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL. EVERYTHING SEEMED PRETTY STANDARD, PART OF THE COURSE WITH THIS PLATE GETTING DONE. IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE ANYBODY'S DONE ANYTHING ON THIS LAND, BESIDES HAVING IT AS A HOME. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU GUYS DID WITH THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR WITH THE LOT LINE AND THE TREES THAT WERE FARTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT. THOSE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISES. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THEM AGAIN TO GET THAT STUFF. THAT WAS VERY NICE OF YOU AND HELPFUL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, AND IT SEEMS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION. >> WHAT'S THE MOTION ON THIS? >> DIRECT STAFF. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE VACATION AND CONSIDERATION FOR OUR SEPTEMBER 23 MEETING. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH, YOU HAVE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND IT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSED, THAT PASSES 4 0. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MEETING. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR ATTORNEY REPORT. [Attorney Report] >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M HERE SUBSTITUTING FOR SON, AND HE WILL BE BACK NEXT MEETING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> SOUNDS GOOD. THANKS. >> YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. [Additional Item] >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FROM OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO UPDATE AT ALL? >> PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS. >> JUST GENERAL UPDATES FOR THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF APPLICANTS FOR OUR OPEN PLANNING POSITION SO WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING THOSE. THE APPLICATION IS STILL OPEN, SO WE'RE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THIS WEEK, WE'LL BE PREPARING AND PUBLISHING OUR PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET, WHICH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS NEXT WEEK. WE'VE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF MEETINGS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT POTENTIAL EITHER DEVELOPMENTS OR BUSINESSES, SO IT ALWAYS INTERESTING THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF THOSE PROJECT MEETINGS, BUT BEEN DOING A LOT OF THOSE THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THEN JUST TRYING TO STAY CAUGHT UP ON THE DAY TO DAY TASKS WHEN WE'RE DOWN A PLANNER. PERMITS AND PHONE CALLS AND EVERYTHING, SO TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF IT. BUT BUSY TIME OF YEAR, I DO HAVE A PERMIT SLIDE AS WELL I CAN SHOW. AS YOU CAN SEE, AUGUST WAS ON TRACK, THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. OVERALL, WE'RE INCHING TOWARDS MEETING OUR BUDGET HERE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE BELIEVE. IT'S BEEN BUSY IN OUR PERMIT RECORDS, LOTS OF BACK AND FORTH, LOTS OF DISCUSSION. SO WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION AND BELIEVE WE'LL BE MEETING THAT BUDGET BY THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT BUSY AS ALWAYS. >> GOOD TO HEAR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT. [City Administrator/Engineer Report] >> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. JUST A COUPLE UPDATES ON JUST SOME GENERAL THINGS GOING ON ACROSS STAFF. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE STONE BAY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. WE DID LEARN VIA THEM THAT ONE OF THEIR OUTLOTS IN THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS GONE TAX FORFEIT AND IS CURRENTLY BEING PLANNED TO GO OUT FOR AUCTION THROUGH THE COUNTY REAL ESTATE OFFICE. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON HOW TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THAT LOT. SOMETHING WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD TO EITHER THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING OR THE ONE AFTER THAT AS A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT WE WERE HAVING TALKS WITH BOTH THEM AND THE COUNTY WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THEN THE OTHER ONE, I KNOW THAT COME ACROSS A COUPLE OF PROBABLY YOUR EMAILS OR PHONES, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH RESIDENTS OUT ON HILLSIDE PLACE, WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE], WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR AMENDMENTS TO A RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENT AND [00:50:02] ALSO ADDRESSING SOME UNPERMITTED WORK AND ENCROACHMENTS IN THAT CURRENT RIGHT OF WAY. THAT ONE'S TAKEN A BIT LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT [INAUDIBLE] ASKS RECEIVED. WORKING WITH THOSE FOLKS ON THAT, AND THEN AGAIN, HOPE TO HAVE SOME CONSIDERATION THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETINGS. OTHER THAN THAT LAURA INDICATED, WE'RE BUSY WITH THE REGULAR OPERATIONS OF THE CITY HALL [INAUDIBLE] >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADAM? THANK YOU. >> ADAM, I KNOW WE HAVE THE FALL CLEANUP IS? >> YES. THE FALL CLEANUP RUN BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ON 14. >> 14TH. >> GOOD EIGHT TO NOON. >> EIGHT TO NOON. GOOD JOB. THANKS. >> WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS, [Council Committee Reports] AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD ONE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. WAS ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH WITH ADAM AND MAGGIE AND ANN. TAKE AWAY? >> SURE. I THINK THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS, WE JUST WENT OVER A LOT OF IT AT THE WORK SESSION BEFORE THIS. THE TAX RATE REMAINING STABLE AT 16.35%. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, I BELIEVE THE FIFTH LOWEST AND KEEPING IT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. MAGGIE ALSO DISPLAYED A PRUDENT USE OF THE BONDING AUTHORITY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR LARGE INVESTMENTS TO BE SPREAD OUT OVER THE LENGTH OF TIME IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER. THE LEVY INCREASE OF THE 2.29% BASED ON PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH IS ESTABLISHED BY HENNEPIN COUNTY. IN A DIFFERENT MEETING, MAYBE JUST TO RECAP THOUGH HENNEPIN COUNTY HAS INDICATED THAT TAXABLE VALUES SHOULD STABILIZE IN THE FUTURE. JUST TONIGHT, TO ADD ON TO THAT, MAGGIE ADDED THAT THE MEDIUM HOME INCREASE WITH THE MEDIAN HOME BEING VALUED AT ROUGHLY A MILLION DOLLARS. WE'LL SEE ABOUT $65 INCREASE IN THE YEAR. >> GOOD JOB. THAT'LL TAKE US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, [Public Comments ] WHICH IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DECISION OR TAKE ACTION AND 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 CITY OF ORONO RESIDENTS BEFORE OPENING THE PODIUM TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. ADAMS OUR TIME RIGHT THERE. IS THERE ANYBODY FROM ORONO WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? >> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS JAMES ELDER 195 SOUTH BROWN ROAD TO ORONO. I WANTED TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO CHRIS ADAMS AND BEN FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE TWO VERY OUTSTANDING FIREFIGHTERS AND LEADERS. I DON'T KNOW OLIVER, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL FOLLOW IN THEIR PATH. I ATTENDED THE BUDGET MEETING PRIOR TO THIS AND WHILE I'M PLEASED THAT THE INCREASE IN TAXES IS NOT WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, IT'S STILL HIGH, BUT IT HASN'T GONE UP A GREAT DEAL, BUT I AM STILL CONCERNED AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM ME ABOUT THE INORDINATE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING ON A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT. TO PARAPHRASE, MAYOR WALSH, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST PRACTICES, YOU NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO DO IT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC RECORD, ORONO WAS, IN FACT, ALREADY RECEIVING OUTSTANDING FIRE SERVICE FROM LONG LAKE AT A REASONABLE PRICE. AS FAR AS BEST PRACTICES FOR FIRE SERVICE IS CONCERNED, IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE BEST PRACTICE FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS IS NOW A FIRE DISTRICT, NOT GOING A SINGLE CITY, GO IT ALONE MODEL. FURTHER, THE COST OF ORONO'S SINGULAR CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH. UNREASONABLY HIGH. ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET FIGURES THIS EVENING, THE TOTAL FOR ORONO ALONE IS 173% HIGHER THAN WHAT LONG LAKE IS CURRENTLY COSTING. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN DEFEND THAT. [00:55:05] I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT YOU'VE GOT A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, AND I THINK IT'S UNNECESSARY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT. >> HI. MY NAME IS SANDY WHISTLER, 2683 NORTH SHORE DRIVE. I ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR THEME TO THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SAY WHAT I BELIEVE WAS AN IRRESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL DECISION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS VEACH, JOHNSON, CROSBY, AND MAYOR WALSH. THIS DECISION TO CREATE A STANDALONE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT. THERE ARE THREE BUDGET COMPONENTS TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS GENTLEMAN UNDERESTIMATED THE INCREASE IN COST. THE THREE COMPONENTS ARE FIRE OPERATING COST, A FIRE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND A FIRE FACILITIES PLAN. THESE LAST TWO AREN'T ALWAYS AS OBVIOUS TO BE INCLUDED IN, BUT THEY ARE VERY REAL NUMBERS THAT ADD TO THE TOTAL COST. I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS, OPERATING COST, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND FIRE FACILITIES PLAN FROM CHIEF VINYL, LAST WEEK, AND I GOT A RESPONSE LAST FRIDAY. THE CITY OF ORONO IS SPENDING ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MUCH, ACTUALLY, 2.96 TIMES AS MUCH MORE IN 2024 FOR FIRE SERVICES THAN IN 2022. NEXT YEAR'S 2025, OVERALL COST IS NOT YET FINALIZED. HOWEVER, IT'S CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO BE WITH THOSE THREE ITEMS TO BE 3.7 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN 2022. NOTABLE FOR 2025 IS THAT NUMBER COULD EVEN BE HIGHER. A QUOTE FROM CHIEF HANOA FROM LAST FRIDAY'S EMAIL. ''THE FACILITIES PLAN DEPENDS ON THE OUTCOME OF THE WILLOW DRIVE STATION. CURRENTLY, FOR 2025, $928,200 IS ALLOCATED IN THE FACILITIES FUND.'' THE DECISION TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE AGAINST STATE AND NATIONAL TRENDS WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT. IF THE 2024 FIRE CALLS ARE THE SAME AS 2023, THERE WILL BE LESS THAN ONE CALL PER DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER OF EACH IS RUNNING FOR ELECTION. SHE WAS APPOINTED LAST YEAR. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN ELECTED. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AND MAYOR WALSH ARE RUNNING FOR A RE-ELECTION. THERE ARE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES. COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR IS IN TWO DAYS THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 AT 9:00 AM IN THIS ROOM. ON OCTOBER 1, 7:00 PM AT ORONO HIGH SCHOOL THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ARE HOSTING A FORUM FOR THE MAYOR CANDIDATES AND THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WEBSITE, WAYZATA, PLYMOUTH TO SEE HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES. THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION IS TO VOTE. OBVIOUSLY, NOVEMBER 5, BUT EARLY VOTING BEGINS SEPTEMBER 20TH. I THINK IT'S APPALLING. MAYOR WALSH, THAT YOU SAID, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE TONIGHT. FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE COST, IS WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY? >> THANK YOU. >> [INAUDIBLE] HIS A LITTLE BIT MORE COST. >> DOES ANYBODY ELSE LIKE COME UP FROM ORONO TONIGHT? >> YERSON 2160 WEBBER HILLS ROAD, AND IT'S NOT ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT, MR. MAYOR, IF IN YOUR NEXT LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY, AND EVEN FROM WHERE YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW, IS YOU REMIND THE CITIZENS OF ORONO THAT REMOVING POLITICAL SIGNS IS AGAINST THE LAW. CITIES CAN DO IT IF THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, BUT IT'S ILLEGAL. HASEN POINT, ALL THE TUNHEIM SIGNS ARE GONE FROM WILLOW ROAD TO ORCHARD ROAD. THEY'RE GONE. IT'S A LITTLE INTERESTING IN THE FACT THAT ALL THE ONES THAT ARE GONE ARE THE ONES THAT I PROVIDED. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU AS A COUNCIL, AND YOU AND YOUR LETTER WOULD REMIND THE CITIZENS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SOME REALLY UNHAPPY RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO I'D LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT, CLAIRE. I SEE YOU RAISING YOUR HAND. COME UP, CLAIRE, YEAH. >> DID THEY [01:00:07] PUT HIM ON THE SCREEN? >> NO. I CAN'T PUT HIM ON SCREEN. >> CAN'T PUT HIM ON THE SCREEN? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> HILLSIDE PLACE IS IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY OF ORONO, AN UNDEVELOPED PUBLIC ROAD RIGHT AWAY, DEDICATED ON THE PLATTE OF WALLACE'S ADDITION TO THE VILLAGE OF MINNETONKA BEACH, SOME TIME AGO. HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE IT IS A PLATTED DEVELOPMENT. HILLSIDE PLACE IS 565 FEET LONG, 25 FEET WIDE, AND IT COMPOSED OF 14,000 SQUARE FEET. WHY HAS THE CITY OF ORONO ALLOWED THESE BORDERS TO BE HIJACKED AND CHANGED JUST TO FIT THE IDEOLOGY OF TWO RESIDENTS WHO LAY CLAIM TO HILLSIDE PLACE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CITY OF ORONO ALLOWED THESE TWO RESIDENTS TO LOCATE THEIR DRIVEWAYS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HILLSIDE PLACE 30 YEARS AGO? WHY HAS THE CITY OF ORONO SURRENDERED 25% OF THE PUBLIC PROPERTY TO THESE TWO INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY CHANGED THE BORDERLINES TO FIT THEIR OWN IMPRACTICAL VISION? LET ME ASK YOU. IF SOME RESIDENTS WERE TO COME [NOISE] OUT HERE IN THE PARKING LOT AND BUILD A LARGE BOULDER PLANTER OUT FRONT OF THE CITY HALL WITHOUT ANY AUTHORIZATION AND WITHOUT ANY PERMIT, WOULD NOT THE CITY'S PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AT LEAST SEND THE PERPETRATORS A LETTER TELLING THEM TO REMOVE THE BOULDERS FROM THE PUBLIC PROPERTY? AGAIN, I ASK, WHY HAS THE CITY OF ORONO SURRENDERED 25% OF THE PUBLIC PROPERTY KNOWN AS HILLSIDE PLACE TO INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS. THIS GOES BEYOND THE OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY. THIS IS TAKING AN UNAUTHORIZED CHANGING OF A DEDICATED PUBLIC ROAD RIGHT OF WAY? PLEASE, DEAR ORONO CITY MANAGERS, HAVE THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SEND THESE PERPETRATORS A LETTER DEMANDING THAT THEY REMOVE THE BOULDERS. HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE BOULDERS RIGHT HERE. THEY'RE ARE FIVE FEET INTO THE ROAD. WHO WOULD EVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHO WOULD DO IT? I ASK YOU, WHO WOULD DO IT? IT IS PATHETIC IT'S REALLY IS. IT'S GOT TO BE AGAINST ORDINANCES? WE HAVE ORDINANCES. THERE'S MORE OF THEM. >> I'VE SEEN IT, BUT YES. [INAUDIBLE] SURE. ABSOLUTELY. >> LET ME BRING IT OVER THERE. >> THANKS. APPRECIATE THAT. >> HEY, CLEARY, [NOISE] I APPRECIATE THE TIME. I KNOW THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR HAS GOT SOME STUFF COMING TO US IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO DEAL WITH, AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN OUT THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. >> I KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. IS ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? I SEE NOBODY ELSE FROM ORONO. IS ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? >> KELLY GRADY 271 GREEN HILL LANE LONG LAKE. THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS WHY THE CITY OF ORONO'S DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ESTABLISHED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS A BAD IDEA. THE STEEPLY DECLINING VOLUNTEER FIRE APPLICANT POOL IS AT THE TOP OF THIS LIST. THE NUMBER OF YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAS BEEN STEADILY DECREASING NATIONWIDE. EVEN LARGER DEPARTMENTS LIKE ST. PAUL AND WOODBURY HAVE SEEN A BIG DROP IN APPLICANTS, WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE STAR TRIBUNE. ORONO FIRE WILL CONTINUE TO EXACERBATE THE RECRUITING LIMITATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CREATE RETENTION PROBLEMS WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE. ORONO HAS AN ADDITIONAL RECRUITING PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO TRY TO HIRE IN AN AREA WHERE VOLUNTEER FIRE RESOURCE IS LARGELY TAPPED, AND A COURT ORDER PREVENTS YOU FROM HIRING ANY LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS UNTIL AT LEAST 2026. ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN FIRE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, YOU NEED 15 TO 16 FIREFIGHTERS TO RESPOND TO A FIRE, 13 FOR A CAR ACCIDENT AND FOUR FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. ORONO'S BEST CASE SCENARIOS. IF THERE'S A CALL AT NOON, [01:05:02] THE TWO DUTY CREW FIREFIGHTERS ON SHIFT WILL RESPOND, ASSUMING THAT YOU CAN FULLY STAFF ALL OF THESE SHIFTS, AND I'VE HEARD THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO DO SO, PLUS PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS. SINCE AN AVERAGE OF A THIRD OF PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO CALLS, THAT MEANS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE FIVE TO SIX RESPONDERS FOR A CALL AT THAT TIME. IF THERE'S A CALL AT MIDNIGHT, WHEN THERE ARE TEN PAID ON CALLS FIREFIGHTERS COVERING THE AREA, SINCE, AGAIN, ONLY A THIRD PAID ON CALL RESPOND TO CALLS, THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THREE OR FOUR PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS OR RESPOND TO CALLS BETWEEN 10:00 P.M AND 6:00 A.M. AS WE KNOW ON 724 ON JULY 24 AT 2:26 8:00 A.M, THE RESPONSE TIME WAS 33 MINUTES AND 27 SECONDS. WHO PICKS UP THE SLACK? ORONO FIRE WILL BE HEAVILY RELIANT ON OUTSIDE RESOURCES, MUTUAL AID FROM NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS, AND SPEAKING TO BUDGET, ORONO WILL PAY THE BILL FOR THOSE SERVICES. ALL OF THESE DECISIONS ARE PUTTING UNDUE STRESS ON THE FIREFIGHTERS, ESPECIALLY FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE SERVING ON BOTH LONG LAKE AND ORONO FIRE, AND IT IS JUST WRONG. AT THE EVIDENTIARY HEARING, THE EXPERT WITNESS STATED THAT DESPITE THEIR DRIVE, THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE CHOOSING TO SERVE ON BOTH DEPARTMENTS CANNOT EQUALLY SERVE ON BOTH FIRE DEPARTMENTS IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE. HE SAID, "I'VE SEEN FIREFIGHTERS BURN OUT A WHOLE LOT QUICKER THAN THOSE OTHERWISE THAT WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN FOCUSED ON SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF ONE ORGANIZATION. I'VE SEEN FIREFIGHTERS MOVE TO BE MORE MINIMALIST IF THEIR CALL VOLUME REQUIRES IS 30%. THEY DO THE MATH AND FIGURE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO 30%. IN THOSE SITUATION, IN MY EXPERIENCES, THOSE FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO SATISFY THOSE REQUIREMENTS JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOURS IN THEIR LIFE TO GIVE TO TWO ORGANIZATIONS." >> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? I SEE NONE. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND BRING IT BACK HERE FOR MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT. [Mayor/Council Report] COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THAN I WOULD NORMALLY, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I NEED TO GET THROUGH HERE TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR, BECAUSE THIS MONTHLY EVENT NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED. IT WAS IMPLEMENTED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO BY THE MAYOR. IT WAS NOT PART OF A COUNCIL PLAN OR OR A STAFF PLAN ON ENGAGEMENT OR OUTREACH. BUT THESE ARE OFFICIAL EVENTS, AND THEY'RE HELD HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THEY USE CITY FUNDS, WHICH ARE TAX DOLLARS FOR REFRESHMENTS. IN THE JULY-AUGUST NEWSLETTER, THIS EVENT WAS DESCRIBED AS A GREAT WAY TO NETWORK, CONNECT, HAVE AN EASY CONVERSATION ON ANY TOPIC THAT MAY BE ON YOUR MIND. PLEASE JOIN US. THESE ARE PROMOTED AS FRIENDLY SOCIAL EVENTS, AND NORMALLY, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE, BECAUSE I THINK ACCESSIBILITY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S A GOOD THING, IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT, AND IT'S CREATING UNNECESSARY LIABILITY FOR OUR CITY. WHAT OCCURRED AT THAT LAST COFFEE ON AUGUST 14 HIGHLIGHTS A NUMBER OF RISKS. THE EVENT WAS VIDEOTAPED. IT WAS POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT WAS WIDELY SHARED. OUR CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS. AND BY THE WAY, THEY'RE TAKING PLACE HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THESE EVENTS. OUR CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT OCCURS AT THESE COFFEES. THEY'RE OFFICIAL EVENTS, WHICH IS WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP IN MY REPORT TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THREE AREAS OF RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AUGUST 14 MEETING. ONE IS INADEQUATE OVERSIGHT. TWO IS VERBAL ABUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S A STRONG TERM, AND I DON'T USE IT LIGHTLY. AND NUMBER THREE IS PROVIDING INACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT CITY BUSINESS TO THE PUBLIC. I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS EACH OF THESE AND PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS RISK GOING FORWARD. THE FIRST ISSUE AT THE COFFEE WAS INADEQUATE OVERSIGHT. THE EVENTS, ACCORDING TO THE NEWSLETTER, ARE COFFEE AT THE MAYOR. ON AUGUST 14, ABOUT 35 MINUTES IN, THE MAYOR LEFT THE ROOM TO MEET WITH SOMEBODY, AND HE DIDN'T END THE EVENT, AND HE ALSO DIDN'T RETURN. THERE WAS NO STAFF IN ATTENDANCE, AND IN FACT, STAFF HAVE NEVER ATTENDED THESE EVENTS. AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WAS IN ATTENDANCE AS WAS A NUMBER OF CITIZENS. AFTER THE MAYOR LEFT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENT, WHICH WAS LONGER THAN THE MAYOR HAD ATTENDED, IT WAS 45 MINUTES MORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER BEGAN TO ACT AS SOMEWHAT OF A PROXY HOST. IT WAS UNCLEAR TO ME WATCHING THE VIDEO IF HE WAS ACTING AS AN APPOINTED CITY OFFICIAL, OR IF HE WAS ATTENDING AS A CITIZEN OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. HE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF HIS PLANNING COMMISSION HAT WHILE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, WHICH REALLY UNDERSCORES THE CONFUSION AND HOW UNCLEAR HIS ROLE WAS AT THAT COFFEE. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER MAY HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HELP GIVEN THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE BECAUSE HE DID REFERENCE [01:10:01] HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF CITY BUSINESS. HOWEVER, ABOUT AN HOUR IN TO THE COFFEE, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER MENTIONED THAT HE WAS PRIVY TO INFORMATION ABOUT ORONO'S CONTRACT FOR FIRE SERVICE WITH LONG LAKE. HE WENT ON TO SAY TO A CITIZEN THAT UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM AND NOT WIDELY DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC WAS, "IT WAS ALREADY NEGOTIATED AND DISCUSSED PREEMPTIVELY A LONG TIME AGO THAT ORONO WOULD BE BUILDING THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT." MY TAKEAWAY FROM THE LAST 45 MINUTES OF THAT COFFEE AND THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER'S INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, [NOISE] WAS THAT MORE QUESTIONS WERE CREATED THAN ANSWERED. WHY WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER PRIVY TO FIRE SERVICE MATTERS THAT WERE NOT WIDELY KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC? THE SITUATION WAS EVEN MORE TROUBLESOME, GIVEN THAT ORONO IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A LAWSUIT ABOUT FIRE SERVICE, SO WHAT IS SAID ABOUT THIS ISSUE MATTERS. THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER ALSO HAD A VERY LENGTHY AND CONTENTIOUS EXCHANGE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE MAKING IMPLICATIONS ABOUT THEIR MOTIVATION FOR COMING TO THE COFFEE, AND ALSO WHY THEY WERE ASKING THE QUESTIONS THEY WERE, WHICH AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE NEWSLETTER IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO DO. THIS RESULTED IN A GREAT DEAL OF UPSET AND FRUSTRATION. THE MAYOR LEFT HIS EVENT, AND RATHER THAN ENDING IT, A PLANNING COMMISSIONER, ACTED AS SOMEWHAT OF AUTHORITY FOR THE REST OF THE COFFEE, GIVEN THAT HE DID HAVE EXPERIENCE, AND HE ANSWERED A WIDE RANGE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TAXES, HOME ASSESSMENTS, AND FIRE SERVICE. THAT'S WHAT CREATES RISK BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT THE EVENT WAS PROMOTED AS. AND THIS INDIVIDUAL, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER IS NEITHER AN ELECTED OFFICIAL NOR A MEMBER OF STAFF. SECOND AREA OF RISK IS VERBAL ABUSE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A STRONG TERM, AND IT'S ALSO AN ACCURATE ONE. AT THE COFFEE, THE MAYOR USED HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE WITH CITIZENS IN A MANNER THAT WAS ABUSIVE. THE HALLMARK OF VERBAL ABUSE IS USING LANGUAGE THAT HUMILIATES, DEMEANS, AND BELITTLES A PERSON. IT CAN INCLUDE INSULTS AND NAME CALLING, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I WATCHED THE ENTIRE VIDEO, AND FOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO HAVE NOT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU DO SO AS WELL. FOLKS FROM OUR COMMUNITY WERE INVITED TO ATTEND AND TO HAVE AN EASY CONVERSATION ON ANY TOPIC ON THEIR MINDS. THERE WERE NO QUALIFIERS ABOUT WHAT SUBJECTS WOULD BE TOLERATED, WHAT QUESTIONS COULD BE ASKED OF THE MAYOR. I TOOK NOTES ON THE ENTIRE COFFEE, ALL OF THE EXCHANGES WITH THE CITIZENS. BUT SIMPLY QUOTING WHAT THE MAYOR SAID CANNOT CONVEY HIS TONE, DELIVERY, BODY LANGUAGE. THOSE FACTORS ARE ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF VERBAL ABUSE, AND THE VIDEO ALREADY SHOWS IT ALL. I WILL SAY THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO THE COFFEE. AFTER 10 MINUTES A CITIZEN IN RESPONSE TO ONE OF THE MAYOR'S VERBAL ATTACKS, SAID, "I DON'T THINK YOU'RE BEING AS PROFESSIONAL AS YOU SHOULD BE." WELL, WHAT THE MAYOR CHOSE TO DO AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT DAY WAS NOT JUST UNPROFESSIONAL, IT WAS ABUSIVE. IN ADDITION TO THE EXAMPLES I'VE ALREADY GIVEN, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ABUSE, VERBAL ABUSE IS MAKING PEOPLE QUESTION THEIR OWN PERCEPTION. THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES PEOPLE MADE STATEMENTS, AND THE MAYOR DIDN'T JUST DISCOUNT. HE INCORRECTLY ASSERTED THAT THEY WERE WRONG. THIS MAKES SOMEONE QUESTION THEIR OWN PERCEPTION, WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF VERBAL ABUSE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO THE COFFEE, ONE PERSON ASKED WHY OUR CITY DID NOT HOLD PUBLIC FORUMS BEFORE DECIDING TO CREATE A FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S A REASONABLE QUESTION. THE MAYOR TOLD THIS PERSON THEY WERE WRONG. SAYING THAT THE MATTER HAD COME UP IN COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE LOCAL PAPER. WELL, THOSE VENUES ARE NOT PUBLIC FORUMS OR HEARINGS, AND TELLING FOLKS THAT THEY'RE WRONG WHEN THEY'RE NOT, AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN A POSITION TO QUESTION THEIR REALITY CAUSES CONFUSION. ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE, TO EXPLAIN, TO INFORM, NOT TO MISLEAD. HIS WORDS WERE DEGRADING, CONDESCENDING, AND HE INTERRUPTED AND TALKED OVER PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO BE HEARD. IT WAS NOT A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION THAT THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE ADVERTISES IN OUR CITY NEWSLETTERS, AND HIS BEHAVIOR WAS A CHOICE. AS COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE], WE DON'T NEED TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID TO US OR EVERY QUESTION THAT'S ASKED, BUT WE MUST BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY MANAGE OUR OWN BEHAVIOR BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO DO THIS, WE PUT OUR CITY AT RISK. THE THIRD AND FINAL ASPECT OF THE RISK FROM THE COFFEE IS PROVIDING INACCURATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. I SAID EARLIER THAT THE MAYOR TOLD SEVERAL CITIZENS THEY WERE WRONG WHEN INSTEAD, THEY WERE CORRECT, ORONO DID NOT PLAN, ADVERTISE OR HOST ANY PUBLIC FORUM [01:15:01] OR HEARING BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION TO CREATE A FIRE DEPARTMENT. MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, ESPECIALLY AS THE FIGUREHEAD FOR OUR CITY IS A BIG RISK BECAUSE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO FIND ACCURATE DATA. ALSO, MAKING THE PEOPLE WHO'VE PUT TRUST IN YOU, QUESTION THEIR PERCEPTIONS, CAUSES DISTRESS AND DISTRUST. THIS ULTIMATELY UNDERMINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR ENTIRE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC THAT WE SERVE. >> EVERYONE IS AFFECTED ONCE TRUST IS BROKEN. BROKEN TRUST IS A RISK BECAUSE IT CAN BE COSTLY FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE TO REPAIR IT. AND THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THAT CITIZENS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO FACT CHECK WHAT OUR MAYOR SAYS. AT THE AUGUST 20, LONG LAKE COUNCIL MEETING, STATEMENTS MADE BY OUR MAYOR ABOUT FIRE SERVICE OF THE COFFEE WERE REVIEWED IN DETAIL. STATEMENTS THE MAYOR MADE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES WERE FOUND TO BE FALSE BY THE COUNCIL AND ADDRESSED POINT BY POINT ON RECORD. ORONO IS CURRENTLY THE DEFENDANT IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY THE CITY OF LONG LAKE. WHAT OUR MAYOR SAYS, WHETHER IT'S AT THE DAYES COFFEE MATTERS. ON THE NOTE OF LEGAL LIABILITY, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE LMCIT, THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES INSURANCE TRUST, THAT COVERS ORONO'S LIABILITY ALSO COVERS THE LIABILITY OF MANY OTHER CITIES THAT ARE MEMBERS. WHEN OUR CITY TAKES ON UNNECESSARY RISK AND REQUIRES LEGAL REPRESENTATION BY THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES INSURANCE TRUST, ALL OTHER CITIES WHO PAY INTO THIS INSURANCE CAN BE AFFECTED. WHEN THE MAYOR HOSTS COFFEE EVENTS AND CHOOSES TO MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT PUBLIC FORUMS, FIRE SERVICE CONTRACTS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS NOT ACCURATE, OUR CITY TAKES ON INCREASED LIABILITY. ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTEGRITY AND CULTURE OF OUR CITY, AND I'M CALLING ATTENTION TO THIS BEHAVIOR BECAUSE AS A FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER, I DO NOT CONDONE IT, AND IT FORCES OUR CITY TO SHOULDER UNNECESSARY LIABILITY. IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE EXPERIENCED BY CITIZENS. NOW THAT I'VE LAID OUT THESE ISSUES, I'LL OFFER A FEW SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD BE DOING DIFFERENTLY GOING FORWARD. TWO QUESTIONS OUR COUNCIL SHOULD ASK ARE WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE COFFEES, AND ARE THEY ACCOMPLISHING THIS PURPOSE? THE LAST COFFEE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO INVOLVE HEATED EXCHANGES AND POOR BEHAVIOR ON THE MAYOR'S PART. I'LL POINT OUT THAT WHILE RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR ON EVERYONE'S PART IS PREFERRED, THE MAYOR, NOT THE CITIZENS SETS THE TONE FOR HIS EVENTS. IF HE CANNOT OR WILL NOT ADHERE TO BASIC PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, OUR CITY WILL CONTINUE TO FACE RISK. IT'S MY OPINION THAT BY AND LARGE, MAYOR COFFEE EVENTS ARE NOT SERVING OUR CITIZENS OR OUR CITY AND SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED AND AT MINIMUM, I SUGGEST THAT A STAFF MEMBER ATTEND SO THAT SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE OR SOME TYPES OF GUARD RAILS ARE IN PLACE DURING THESE SOCIAL HOURS. STAFF CAN ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THE MAYOR IS NOT ABLE TO LIKE DETAILS ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHICH DID COME UP FREQUENTLY AT THIS LAST COFFEE EVENT. IN CLOSING, MY GOAL ON REPORTING ON THIS TONIGHT IS TO INFORM THE FULL COUNCIL, THE STAFF, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE MAYOR COFFEE EVENTS ARE HAVING A SERIOUS AND NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITY, AND THAT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO MINIMIZE FURTHER RISK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> WELL, I GOT TO SAY [APPLAUSE] THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL DAYA TRIBE, I HAVE PROBABLY EVER HEARD. BECAUSE EVERYTHING I'M TALKING NOW. EVERYTHING I SAID AT THAT COFFEE WAS TRUE, ACTUALLY. WHETHER LONG LAKE AGREES WITH IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT TRUE. BUT WHEN ACTIVISTS COME AND SCREAM AND YELL, WHEN I SAY UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, THAT WAS ABOUT AS UNPROFESSIONAL AS IT GETS. THE PROFESSIONAL OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME. [BACKGROUND] I'M TALKING. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WERE AS ABOUT AS UNPROFESSIONAL AS THEY GET, LIKE YOU. THAT'S UNPROFESSIONAL, TOO. I WILL JUST SAY THAT WAS ABOUT AS UNPROFESSIONAL AS I'VE EVER SEEN UP AT THIS DAYES, AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. ABSOLUTELY ASHAMED BECAUSE EVERYTHING I SAID IS TRUE, AND EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THIS CITY IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS. THE BUDGET IS GREAT. EVERYTHING IS GREAT. THAT WAS BELOW ANYTHING I COULD IMAGINE I WOULD HAVE EVER SEEN UP HERE, BUT THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. >> WELL, THAT WAS INTERESTING. I THINK YOUR WORDS WOULD HOLD A LOT MORE. >> THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF WE HAVE TO PUT UP WHEN I TALK ABOUT UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR. >> LET ME YOU FINISH. >> YOU'RE SHOWING IT. [01:20:01] >> YOUR WORDS WOULD HOLD MORE WATER IF YOU ACTUALLY MEANT IT. MEANING THAT YOU WOULD CALL OUT POOR BEHAVIOR THAT'S HAPPENED IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS BEFORE, WHICH YOU HAVE NOT. THEY DON'T HOLD WATER HERE. YOU WERE BASICALLY GETTING YOURSELF DOWN TO SAYING, THE CITY OF ORONO NEEDS TO BE SUBSERVIENT TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE. WE NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THAT DISCUSSION HAS PASSED. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, AGAIN, 85% OF THAT BUDGET IS FUNDED BY THE CITY OF ORONO. WE HAVE NOT RAISED OUR TAX LEVY AT ALL. WE HAVE FUNDED THE PARKS. WE HAVE FUNDED THE ROADS, WE HAVE FUNDED THE POLICE AND FIRE. FULLY. OF COURSE, AGAIN, [BACKGROUND] IT'S FALLING ON FALSE NARRATIVE HERE, BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT DECORUM AND QUALITY AND KINDNESS, YOU WOULD CALL IT OUT, BUT YOU DON'T. BECAUSE HER EXACT WORDS, WHEN SHE RAN FOR OFFICE, SHE WANTS TO MAKE ORONO MORE LIKE MINNEAPOLIS OR ST. LOUIS PARK. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, FOLKS, YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE DON'T WANT ORONO LIKE MINNEAPOLIS OR ST. LOUIS PARK, BECAUSE WE'RE DIFFERENT. WE STAND UP FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS HERE. WE FLY THE BLUE LINE FLAG. WE SUPPORT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE ONE THING IS, WE SUPPORT OUR CITIZENS. WE LISTEN TO OUR CITIZENS. BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL AND YOU CAME HERE. YOU HAD TO COME HERE AND ADDRESS SOMEBODY. IT WAS ALWAYS VERY FORMAL. YOU COULDN'T SAY, HI, RICHARD. HI, DENNIS. WHEN I FIRST MET THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER AND I SAID, HI, ALYSSA, CONGRATULATIONS. SHE SAID, IT'S MS. BENSON. I WANT YOU TO ADDRESS ME BY MY TITLE. GOOD LUCK IN GETTING BACK TO THE OLD WAYS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHERE IT'S ORONO NO. THEN AGAIN, YOU GOT MORE OF THIS BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF YOUR GROUP. YOU'RE SEEING IT. THAT'S PART OF YOUR GROUP, RIGHT THERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,. >> I SAW YOUR FACE. >> HE'S NOT AN ORONO RESIDENT. HE'S NOT. >> NO I'M NOT. >> WE BROUGHT THE COUNCIL BACK TO SUPPORTING ORONO CITIZENS. TO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WE PAID WE PAID DOWN DEBT. WE BUILT A BRAND NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AND WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THIS CITY. IT'S ALL BEEN UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DENNIS WALSH. DENNY HAS BEEN THE BEST MAYOR THAT THIS CITY HAS HAD IN OVER 30 YEARS, BAR NONE. [APPLAUSE] I WANT TO MAKE IT BRING SOMETHING TOGETHER HERE, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE BEING YELLED AT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR STEPPING UP AND CALLING FOR DECORUM THERE, WHEN, OF COURSE, YOU DIDN'T. THOUGH THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. PEOPLE COULD SEE IT. THEY'RE GOING TO SEE IT ON THE AIR. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DISRUPTIVE TO YOU THAT YOU WERE FINE WITH HIM DOING IT TO ME. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD. I WASN'T CALLING ANYBODY ELSE OUT HERE. I WAS TRYING TO DISCUSS THINGS IN A POLITE, REASONABLE MANNER. IT'S UPSETTING TO YOU. I GET IT. BUT IF IT IS, SAY SOMETHING. DON'T JUST DO IT WHEN IT FITS YOUR NARRATIVE, BECAUSE THEN, AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER. [BACKGROUND] THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, IT WAS A GREAT EVENING WITH THE SWEARING IN OF ALL THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS TONIGHT AND GETTING THEIR PROMOTIONS. SEEING THAT NEW YOUNG MAN JOIN THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. CHRIS ADAMS AND BEN VEACH ARE TWO TERRIFIC INDIVIDUALS, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE THEM SUPPORTING THE CITY OF ORONO. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH.. >> WELL, I WROTE ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY TO TALK ABOUT, BUT QUITE HONESTLY, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED BY HOW TONIGHT PANNED OUT. I THINK EVERYBODY THAT TAKES THEIR TIME TO [01:25:04] VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICE FOR THIS CITY WANTS THE SAME THING. I AGREE. I THINK THERE'S MORE THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON THAN WE DON'T AND APPROACH MATTERS. IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME, AS I'M SURE IT IS FOR ANYBODY SITTING HERE TO SIT AND LISTEN, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOOD, PEOPLE LIKE TO BE LIKED AND PEOPLE LIKE TO BE GOOD AT THEIR JOBS AND TO KNOW THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO GO ABOUT THAT. THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO HAVE COMMUNICATION AND CONVERSATION, AND EVERY CONVERSATION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DEBATE. IT CAN BE JUST THAT A CONVERSATION. THERE'S APPROACHES THAT COULD BE DONE WANTING THE SAME THING FOR OUR CITY, WHICH I THINK WE ALL DO, WE ALL SIT HERE, AND WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY. WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF. WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT WAS I FEEL LIKE THE PROOF OF THERE'S STILL TOOLS THAT ARE NEEDED IN OUR TOOLBOX TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SO WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB BECAUSE THIS IS A DISTRACTION. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE WORK OF THE CITY IS. >> THAT'S WHAT ELECTIONS ARE FOR. CLEANING THE TOOL BOX GET SOME NEW ONES. SOME SMART ONES. HOW ABOUT THAT? WE GOT A COUPLE OF IDIOTS OUT HERE. THAT GUY WAS OUT [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] OUT OF THE DOCTOR'S MANSION HOPING OFF. >> I'M SORRY, BRAD. >> CAN YOU LET HER TALK? IS THIS YOUR TIME? [OVERLAPPING] WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? >> HERE'S THE THE THING. >> WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? >> [INAUDIBLE] GOING AFTER FOR WHAT? >> BRAD, I'M NOT GOING AFTER ANYONE. I'M REALLY NOT I'M TRYING TO SAY IF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING. WHY DO WE KEEP DOING IT? I'M TRYING TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> YOU ARE PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE. >> WELL, IF THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, I APOLOGIZE FOR WASTING YOUR TIME ON THAT CONVERSATION, IF THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS. BUT I THINK THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE, AND I THINK IT TAKES EVERYONE LOOKING FOR DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT'S NOT ONE PERSON. I KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING A MEETING LIES ON THE MAYOR. I WOULDN'T WANT THAT JOB RIGHT NOW. I'M JUST TELLING YOU. I THINK THE JOB THAT I'M SITTING IN RIGHT NOW IS HARD ENOUGH AND RUNNING THE MEETINGS WHEN WE CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS IS VERY TOUGH. I WILL GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT NOW. BUT IF ANYBODY DOES WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATION, I AM AVAILABLE. I THINK THIS IS A POOR DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT IT COULD BE, AND I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'D LIKE IT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING AND WATER QUALITY FROM THE LONG LAKE WATERS ASSOCIATION THAT'S SEPTEMBER 12 AT THE RED ROOSTER 5:00-7:00. THERE'S A COMPOSTING WEBINAR, SEPTEMBER 13, NOON TO 1:00 OR SEPTEMBER 24, 7:00-8:00. THE FALL CLEANUP DAY AS MENTIONED EARLIER, STOLE MY THUNDER THERE IS SEPTEMBER 14, 8:00 AM TO NOON. THERE'S A HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION SEPTEMBER 20TH AND 21ST, 9:00-3:00 AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT IN THE ORONO NEWSLETTER FOR MORE INFORMATION. THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO SAY I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION GOING ON A REMINDER. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON THE OLD CRYSTAL BAY AND COUNTY ROAD 6 INTERSECTION, YOU CAN SEND YOUR COMMENTS INTO TRANSPORTATION@HENNEPIN.US WHERE THEY'RE COLLECTING INFORMATION. THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN FIND THAT. THANKS. >> THANKS. >> THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. WE HAD GREAT FOOTBALL. WE HAD THE HOME OPENER WITH ORONO, WHO PLAYED ZIMMERMAN, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB IN THAT, AND THEY WON THIS LAST WEEK. WE HAVE ANOTHER FRIDAY HOME GAME FOR FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. THEY'RE PLAYING SMBS, SO COME AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOTBALL KIDS, CRANKING THEM, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BACK IN SCHOOL, COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL. EVERYBODY'S GETTING BACK ON THE CALENDAR AND BACK ON THE SCHEDULE. IT'S NICE. WE'VE GOT SUMMER HEAT COMING BACK THIS WEEK. SUMMER IS COMING TO VISIT US AGAIN. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE '80S THE NEXT WEEK. EVERYBODY SHOULD GET OUT AND ENJOY IT WHILE WE CAN TILL IT GOES COLD, 'CAUSE WE KNOW ONCE IT GOES COLD, IT DOESN'T COME BACK. IT'S GETTING DARKER EARLIER, THREE MINUTES EVERY SINGLE DAY, SO IT'S GETTING DARKER A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, SO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE AS LONG AS YOU CAN WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE AS WELL. WE DID HAVE A GREAT NIGHT TONIGHT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE OPINION AND SWEARING IN CEREMONY. I FEEL VERY HONORED TO BE TO BE THE MAYOR AT TIMES. TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S FABULOUS FOR THE FAMILIES TO COME AND ENJOY THAT. IT'S FABULOUS FOR THE PEOPLE UP HERE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN ORONO ARE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. WE HAVE A GREAT RESOURCE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. [01:30:02] IT WILL BECOME BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER. SUMMER'S HERE, SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH TWO QUOTES FOR SUMMERTIME. I'M SORRY. SINCE THAT SUMMER EDUCATION HAS STARTED. SCHOOL WHEN PEOPLE IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL SO B. B. KING IS MY FIRST EDUCATION QUOTE. HE SAYS, "THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT LEARNING IS THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU." IT'S FABULOUS WHAT WE'RE LEARNING THESE DAYS. THE LAST ONES BY DR. SEUSS BECAUSE I KNOW JOHN LOVES DR. SEUSS SO MUCH. HE SAYS, "THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, THE MORE THAT YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU'LL GO." WITH THAT, MOTION TO ADJOURN SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE >> WHERE ADJOURNED. HAVE A GREAT EVENING, EVERYBODY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.