[00:00:03]
[Roll Call]
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2024.NOTE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE AND PRESENT.
WE ALWAYS START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO I INVITE YOU TO STAND AND FACE THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NEXT ON THE LIST IS OUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WE'LL DO IN ONE VOTE.
[Approval of Agenda]
AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.SO WITH THAT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT? I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YES. NUMBER SIX AND TEN, PLEASE.
OKAY. I'D MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS REMOVING ITEMS NUMBER SIX AND TEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, SO WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.
[Consent Agenda]
EXCUSE ME, IS NUMBER ONE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES.NUMBER TWO, WORK SESSION SCHEDULE.
NUMBER THREE, CLAIMS AND BILLS.
NUMBER FOUR, WASTE HAULER LICENSE.
NUMBER SEVEN, CONTRACT FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION SERVICES.
NUMBER EIGHT, ACCEPT DONATION RESOLUTION 7512.
NUMBER NINE IS PURCHASE POLICE VEHICLES.
NUMBER 11 IS REPLACE VEHICLE SEWER CLEANING TRUCK.
NUMBER 12 IS FINAL PAY REQUEST 2023 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOX STREET PROJECT 21-040.
NUMBER 13 IS FINAL PAY REQUEST 2024 SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 24-014.
NUMBER 14 IS REPLACE SIDEWALK AND CURB CITY HALL.
NUMBER 15 IS REPAIR STORMWATER DRAINAGE KENOBI POND.
NUMBER 16 IS COMPENSATION INCREASE FOR POLICE CADETS.
NUMBER 18 IS LA24-000044 1335 BRIAR STREET VARIANCE RESOLUTION NUMBER 7515.
19 IS LA24-000045 3660 6TH AVENUE NORTH IUP RESOLUTION NUMBER 7516.
AND NUMBER 20 IS AGREEMENT SEWER LINE RELOCATION AT 4215 FOREST LAKE DRIVE NUMBER 24-043.
ANY OTHER ITEMS ON THERE THAT ANYBODY WANTS TAKEN OFF AND DISCUSSED MORE AT THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, I HAVE A MOTION.
I HAVE A SECOND. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OKAY.
ANY OPPOSED? NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
OKAY, WELL, THAT'LL TAKE US TO THE TWO ITEMS WE TOOK OFF.
NUMBER SIX IS THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, CRYSTAL BAY PARK.
[6. Special Event Permit - Crystal Bay Park]
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON TOOK THAT OFF, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY PARTICULAR QUESTION ON THAT YOU HAD.NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
AND I UNDERSTAND STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF IT.
I REMOVED THIS BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND CONSULTED THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT QUESTIONS REGARDING THE 501C3 STATUS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
AND I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY DIDN'T RUN UP AGAINST ANY TYPE OF LIABILITY FOR GRANTING PERMITS OR ACCEPTING DONATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM A 501C3 THAT SOME IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
SO I CONSULTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND I JUST APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DISCUSSED WITH ME.
SURE. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON DID SEND ME AN EMAIL TODAY ASKING ABOUT THE STATUS OF THIS ORGANIZATION, I THINK, IN CONTEXT OF A FORUM THEY HAD FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES.
I CAN'T REALLY WEIGH IN ON THAT FORUM, I WASN'T PRESENT, DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS A 501C3, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IN GOOD STANDING.
AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON'S QUESTION WAS SIMPLY, HEY, IF I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A OR IF THERE ARE COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION, WHAT AT A CITY LEVEL CAN WE DO? AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF AN ORGANIZATION IS IN GOOD STANDING AND THEY'RE APPLYING FOR A PERMIT, OUR CODE IS WHAT GOVERNS IF THEY MEET THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OUR CODE THEN A PERMIT SHOULD BE ISSUED.
[00:05:06]
SO I DON'T IT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WE DIG INTO ON ANY OTHER APPLICATIONS AND SO ON THIS ONE, IN TERMS OF I THINK THE BROAD QUESTION WAS, DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY LIABILITY FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON? AND I DON'T SEE ANY LIABILITY IN ISSUING THIS PERMIT.SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON. I'LL SECOND IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
OKAY, THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER TEN, OUR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT LEASE APPROVAL.
[10. Capital Equipment Lease Approval]
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON TOOK THAT OFF.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A QUESTION ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
IT WILL OBLIGATE US TO OWNING ANOTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, AND WILL RESULT IN OVER $27,000 OF INTEREST, ON TOP OF THE $225,000 PURCHASE PRICE, BRINGING THIS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE TO $250,000.
AND I DON'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I WOULD SUPPORT A PLAN FOR CAPITAL PURCHASES THAT FOCUSES ON SHARING THE COST BURDEN AND THE EQUIPMENT, RATHER THAN BUYING THEM OUTRIGHT FOR A CITY. BECAUSE OUR CALL AVERAGE IS ABOUT ONE CALL PER DAY, AND I DON'T SEE THIS EXPENSE AS NECESSARY OR JUSTIFIED BECAUSE WE CAN RECEIVE SERVICE FROM A NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT OFF.
ALL RIGHT. I KNOW WE DO HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE PREPARING TO TAKE OVER THE REST OF ORONO IN A YEAR.
AND THIS IS PART OF THE EQUIPMENT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY SERVICE OUR RESIDENTS.
I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES FOUR ONE.
OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR FINANCE REPORT.
[21. Carman Bay Lake Improvement District Levy - Resolution 7513]
WE'VE GOT NUMBER 21, CARMAN BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LEVY RESOLUTION 7513.I KNOW THIS IS UNDER MAGGIE, AND I KNOW THE THE LID PERSON IS HERE.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A LIST, A QUICK FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION TO EXPLAIN THE LID AND AND WHAT IT DOES.
SO TONIGHT WE HAVE THE, THE 2025 ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR THE CARMAN BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND WE HAVE STEVE NIELSON, PAST CHAIRMAN WITH THE CARMAN BAY LID HERE TO PRESENT A BRIEF RECAP.
ALL RIGHT. COME ON UP. THANKS.
IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, IT'D BE GREAT.
SHOULD I PRESENT THIS? YEAH. YEAH. PRESENT THIS WAY.
YEAH. YOU'RE. YOU'RE ON CAMERA.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CARMAN BAY LID.
IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE NOW FOR SEVEN YEARS.
AND SO LET ME BEGIN BY A DEFINITION HERE OF WHAT A LID IS, A LID OR LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND THE AQUATIC INVASIVES THAT WE'VE TREATED FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS REALLY IS IN EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL AND ALSO CURLY PONDWEED.
AND WE'VE HAD VERY SUCCESSFUL SUCCESS OVER THE COURSE OF THAT TIME.
I GUESS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THIS WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE FALL OF 2017. THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE CARMAN BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND THEY'RE CALLING ME, AND I THINK PROBABLY MAYORS AROUND LAKE MINNETONKA, TO TRY TO DO THAT.
BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT, I FEEL.
OKAY, SO TO START OUT WITH THE HISTORY, I GUESS THE REASON THAT WE, WE IN CARMAN BAY CAME TO THIS POINT OR ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN TREATING INVASIVES IN LAKE MINNETONKA REALLY STARTED IN 1987.
THAT'S WHEN EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL WAS FIRST DISCOVERED.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS IN MINNESOTA REALLY UNTIL THAT TIME.
AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AFTER 1987, THE MILFOIL PROLIFERATED AND REALLY TOOK
[00:10:05]
OVER MANY PARTS OF THE LAKE TO THE POINT WHERE THE NATIVE SPECIES, THE PLANTS WERE CHOKED OUT AND IT WAS MILFOIL AND THE MILFOIL, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES.I MEAN, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING.
KIND OF LIKE MOWING YOUR GRASS, THOUGH.
IT WOULD JUST REALLY CAUSE IT TO GROW MORE FASTER AND MORE THICK, MORE ABUNDANT.
SO THAT REALLY WASN'T A GOOD SOLUTION.
BUT THAT'S ALL WE HAD AT THAT TIME.
BUT IN 2007, THERE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM INITIATED IN LAKE MINNETONKA.
AND THE PROGRAM WAS TO SEE IF THE USE OF HERBICIDES COULD CONTROL THE INVASIVE SPECIES AND STILL KEEP A HEALTHY LAKE, WITHOUT THE USE OF HERBICIDES OR CHEMICALS.
SO IN 2007, 2008, I THINK WAS OUR FIRST YEAR OF TREATMENT, AND WE DID THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO 2017. THERE WERE TWO YEARS IN THERE.
I THINK IT WAS MAYBE 2013 AND 2014 WHERE WE DIDN'T TREAT BECAUSE WE HAD A LACK OF FUNDS.
FUNDING AT THAT TIME CAME FROM DONATIONS FROM THOSE OF US THAT LIVED ON THE BAY, AND THAT REALLY BECAME DIFFICULT OVER TIME, BECAUSE IT WAS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GO TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND ASK FOR MONEY EVERY YEAR.
AND WHAT WE WERE ALL GETTING THE BENEFIT OF IT.
SO WE TOOK ON THAT PROCESS, BUT THEN IT TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF TO ACCOMPLISH THE LID BECAUSE IT IS A PROCESS AND THE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED ARE COOPERATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, IN OUR CASE, ORONO.
AND SO YOU NEED THAT AND WE HAD THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MANY OF YOU, SOME OF YOU WERE HERE AT THAT TIME STILL ARE, MAYOR, AND THAT WAS A BIG HELP, THAT WAS WAS CRUCIAL. WE ALSO, AT THE TIME WE WERE FORMING THIS, WE GOT SOME LETTERS.
WE GOT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THE LAKE MINNETONKA ASSOCIATION, THE MINNEHAHA WATERSHED DISTRICT, AND THEN THE MAYOR OF GREENWOOD ALSO WROTE US A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
SHE WAS THE MAYOR OF GREENWOOD, WHICH WAS SAINT ALBANS BAY AT THAT TIME.
AND SO THAT WAS ALSO VERY HELPFUL.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE SUPPORT OF OUR OWN CITY AND THE NEXT STEP BEFORE WE COULD REALLY PROCEED TO SEE IF IT COULD BE ESTABLISHED, IS WE HAVE TO GET THE DNR'S APPROVAL, THE MINNESOTA DNR.
SO THEY WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GIVE THEM DATA.
THEY PERMITTED OUR BAIT MANY TIMES UP TO NOW.
AND THE NEXT STEP AND THIS IS ALSO CRUCIAL, WE HAD TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THOSE OF US IN THE IN THE DISTRICT IN THE LID, WHICH WOULD BE THE SHORE, LAKE SHORE OWNERS ON CARMAN BAY.
AND SO THIS IS A MINNESOTA STATUTE, BY THE WAY, THAT ESTABLISHES A LID.
SO AND IT REQUIRES A MAJORITY.
SO 51% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT HAS TO APPROVE IT OR SIGN THE PETITION.
AND WE GOT OVER 75%, 75% APPROVED, WANTED TO HAVE IT.
SO THAT WAS ALSO OFF TO A GOOD START.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A WE HAD AN OPEN PUBLIC, WELL, I SHOULD BACK UP A SECOND.
[00:15:05]
THAT, SO IT WAS A PROCESS.WE ALSO WENT DOOR TO DOOR ASKING FOR SUPPORT TOO.
THEN WE HAD A OPEN PUBLIC MEETING HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE PRESENTED OUR CASE, I GUESS, IF YOU WILL, OR OUR REQUEST.
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAME AND SPOKE FOR OR AGAINST IT.
AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY SPOKE FAVORABLY FOR ESTABLISHING IT.
BY THEN THEY HAD A LOT OF DATA THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WE'D GIVEN THEM BEFOREHAND.
AND SO THAT WAS THAT WAS ALL GREAT.
AND WE ALL THOSE OF US WERE WORKING ON IT WENT OUT AND CELEBRATED.
THAT WAS GOOD. AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE OTHER BAYS NOW SEEKING THIS DESIGNATION BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN HOW IT WORKS. I GUESS A COUPLE OF THINGS TO POINT OUT THAT ARE IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE THIS BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR THE INVASIVES. IT HAS TO BE CONSISTENT.
AND THAT WAS REALLY REVEALING BECAUSE IN THOSE TWO YEARS, THE MILFOIL CAME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.
AND SO WE KNEW WE GOT TO KEEP AT IT.
SO THAT WAS A LOT OF THE IMPETUS FOR GETTING US TO DO IT.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING TREATMENTS NOW FOR 15 YEARS, AND IT'S IT'S SUCCESSFUL.
WHAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE SURVEYS THAT THE, THE DNR REQUIRES.
SO THEY'LL DO A DELINEATION SURVEY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR APRIL.
AND CURLY PONDWEED STARTS TO COME UP.
AND THEN WE WE GO FROM THERE AND TREAT IT.
THE EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL COMES LATER IN THE SEASON.
SO USUALLY IN ABOUT JUNE, LATE MAY OR JUNE, WE, WE PLOT WHERE THE MILFOIL IS IN THE SAME PROCESS.
WE GET IT APPROVED BY THE THE.
AND THEN THE STUFF GROWS BACK.
AND SO WHAT YOU DID IS GOT 70% TO FORM YOUR OWN TAXING DISTRICT.
RIGHT. THEN YOU 75%, THEN YOU FORMED YOUR OWN BOARD.
BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WERE JUST WONDERING A LITTLE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND THEN NOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE TAXED, THE REASON WHY YOU NEED TO HAVE SUPPORT AND AUTHORIZATIONS FROM THE CITY IS BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY COLLECTING, OR HENNEPIN COUNTY COLLECTS THE MONEY, AND THEN THEY GIVE IT TO US.
AND THEN, LIKE THE RESOLUTION WE HAVE TODAY IS TO CERTIFY THE ROLL OF THE DOLLARS.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TOO THERE, THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FOR THE BUDGET.
WHEN WE DO THAT WE'RE DOING IT A YEAR AHEAD OF TIME.
SO IT ISN'T THE SAME EVERY YEAR.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE AND THROUGH THE THE MONEY THAT WE'VE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS.
WE HAVE A RESERVE FUND, IF YOU WILL.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ONE YEAR, IF THERE'S A NEW INVASIVE, FOR INSTANCE, STARRY STONEWORT, STARRY, STARRY STONEWORT IS ANOTHER INVASIVE THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN LAKE MINNETONKA ONE DAY, IT ISN'T YET.
BUT THAT WILL COST MORE MONEY.
SO WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT TOO.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WORKED WELL.
[00:20:05]
IT TO US LATER THAN, YOU KNOW, LATER IN THE YEAR.SO WE'RE REALLY PAYING OUR EXPENSES ON RESERVES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST.
SO WE'RE VERY FINANCIALLY SOLVENT I GUESS, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU OR WANTING TO SAY, I WANT TO? CAN I PARTICIPATE ON THE BOARD? HOW DOES THAT PROCESS OR HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET AHOLD OF YOU FOR THAT, IF THEY'RE NEW RESIDENTS IN THE IN YOUR BAY? THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE CITY HAS REALLY HELPED US WITH ON YOUR WEB PAGE, YOUR WEBSITE.
AND IN CARMAN BAY, IT'S GOT ALL OF OUR THE MEETING DATES.
IT'S GOT MAPS OF DELINEATION SURVEYS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
ANOTHER THING, TOO, THAT THE CITY HELPS US WITH IS THAT NOTIFY ME PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE.
SO ANYBODY CAN SIGN UP FOR THE NOTIFY ME ANYTHING FOR CARMAN BAY.
THEY GET NOTICE OF IT WHEN MEETING MEETINGS ARE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO THOSE ARE SOME GOOD WAYS AND THAT'S PRIMARILY HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY.
DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS? SORRY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR ME FOR LEARNING ABOUT IT.
I WAS TALKING TO SOME RESIDENTS AND THEY HAD SOME CONCERNS THAT THIS WAS VOTED ON SEVEN YEARS AGO.
IS IT CONTINUALLY VOTED ON OR JUST ONCE IT PASSES, IT'S ALWAYS IN.
THE WAY ESTABLISHED BY THE MINNESOTA STATUTE, WE'RE AN ENTITY AND IT CAN BE THE WAY IT COULD BE RESCINDED IS THAT YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A PETITION AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S HOW YOU HOW YOU GET THAT.
SO IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE TALKED ABOUT AGAIN AT THE BOARD LEVEL.
WE HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING EVERY YEAR.
I MEAN, AND THAT'S WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THERE ARE THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO NEGATIVITY BECAUSE WHY WE'RE WE'RE DOING WE'RE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. IT'S THE BAY IS HEALTHIER.
YOU KNOW, THE INVASIVES ARE UNDER CONTROL, AND THE COST IS REALLY I DON'T KNOW, MINIMAL IS A GOOD WORD MAYBE, BUT IT'S 2 TO $300 A YEAR PER RESIDENT.
THERE'S 112 RESIDENTS IN OUR IN OUR DISTRICT, IN OUR ON THE SHORELINE.
SO FOR 200, 2 TO $300, THAT'S IF IT'S 300.
THE ASSESSMENT THIS YEAR IS FOR 300.
SO THAT'S $150 ON MAY 15TH AND $150 ON OCTOBER 15TH.
THAT'S WHAT GOES ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX.
NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE COST.
WE HAVE A LAKE WIDE TREATMENT.
BUT IS THERE ANY GRANT PROGRAM FOR SOMEONE THAT COULDN'T AFFORD IT THAT'S ON A FIXED INCOME THAT MAYBE HASN'T INVESTED IN THEIR LAND? AND OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE PROPERTY, THEY OWN THE PROPERTY? NO, THIS ANYBODY WHO IS ON IN THE DISTRICT PAY PROPERTY TAXES.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY GRANT PROGRAMS FOR, FOR TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES THAT I'M AWARE OF.
NOW, THERE ARE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE APPLY FOR EVERY YEAR TO REDUCE OUR COSTS.
AND WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, I BET WE'VE GOTTEN, I DON'T KNOW, UP TO $15,000 ONE YEAR.
I KNOW WE GOT FOR FOR A GRANT FROM THE DNR.
AND WE CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR THOSE EVERY YEAR.
BUT THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE HARDER TO GET BECAUSE THERE'S MORE APPLICANTS, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR THAT MONEY TO BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE ARE TREATING FOR INVASIVE SPECIES.
SO I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE NOT RELYING ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CERTAINLY APPLY FOR WITH THE ASSISTANCE ACTUALLY, OF THE LMA.
THE LMA HELPS US WRITE THOSE GRANTS EVERY YEAR TO GRANT APPLICATIONS.
AND I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, THE 300 FOR MAYBE THE MAJORITY, MAYBE THAT 75% ISN'T MUCH, BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT MAYBE THAT IS WHAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH YOUR.
WELL, LET'S LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR POPULATION THAT'S PAYING IT.
REALLY. I MEAN, IT'S THREE YOU KNOW, $300 IS NOT IT'S NOT WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT COLLECTING MONEY FROM THE WHOLE ORONO POPULATION OR IT'S JUST THE LAKESHORE OWNERS. SO ACTUALLY IT'S I LOOK AT IT TOO, AS A PLUS.
REALTORS TELL ME IT'S INCREASED HOME VALUES ON CARMAN BAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS LID.
[00:25:04]
WE'RE ONLY ONE, LIKE I SAID, TWO THAT HAVE IT.WHAT'S THE PLATFORM? I GUESS THAT WE DO. THEY'RE DOING IT BY VOLUNTARILY FUNDING.
AGAIN, I DON'T I DON'T I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SOMEONE THAT'S MAYBE LIVED THERE 20 OR 30 YEARS, THAT'S NOT LOOKING TO MOVE THAT THE THE VALUE OF THEIR HOME HAS SIGNIFICANTLY GONE UP OVER THE YEARS.
THAT COULD BE A VERY LARGE NUMBER.
AND YES, THEY'RE LOOKING TO YOU KNOW I WOULD.
I THINK THAT UNLESS ANYBODY'S GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I UNDERSTAND, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
I THINK IT'S I'VE PARTICIPATED ON THE ON CRYSTAL BAY WHERE THERE WASN'T A LID, YOU KNOW, AND SO, YOU KNOW, INEVITABLY WHAT HAPPENS IS A FEW PAY FOR THE MANY AND THE LID IS KIND OF THE EQUALIZER TO DO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND IT'S YOU'RE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR BAY, YOU KNOW, THAT MUCH MORE USABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
SO BUT THANKS FOR HELPING OTHERS ALONG THE WAY, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ALL OF YOU.
ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 7513 CERTIFYING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF THE CARMAN BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. I'LL SECOND IT.
[INAUDIBLE] ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
ANY OTHER FINANCE REPORT FROM MAGGIE TONIGHT? NOPE. THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
[22. LA24-000043, 1760 Shadywood Rd, Variances]
SHADYWOOD ROAD VARIANCES.A SECOND STORY ADDITION IS PROPOSED TO BE CONSTRUCTED OVER THE NEW EXPANDED FOOTPRINT.
ON THE NORTH SIDE IT WILL BE 5.3FT FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, AND IT WILL EXTEND APPROXIMATELY 2.5FT LAKEWARD OF THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE AND 75 FOOT SETBACK ON THE LAKE SIDE.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING VARIANCES IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THE MAJOR REMODEL OF THE HOME.
THE SIDE YARD SETBACK VARIANCE PERMITTING THE SECOND STORY 5.3FT FROM THE SIDE PROPERTY LINE.
AVERAGE LAKESHORE AND LAKE SETBACK VARIANCES 2.5FT LAKEWARD OF THE SETBACK, AND A HARDCOVER VARIANCE RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN HARDCOVER FROM TO 27.7%, WHERE 29 EXISTS TODAY AND 25 IS ALLOWED.
I'VE GOT SOME SKETCHES HERE OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING, AND ONE OF THE SKETCHES SHOWS AN EGRESS WALL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOME, AND IT WAS UNCLEAR TO STAFF IF THAT WAS AN EXISTING EGRESS OR IF IT WAS NEW.
AT THE SEPTEMBER PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AND NEIGHBORS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY PROVIDED COMMENTS AT THE MEETING AND IN WRITING.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE SIDE SETBACK VARIANCE TO ALLOW EXPANSION OF THE MASS OF THE HOME WITHIN FOR THE SECOND STORY, WITHIN 5.3FT OF THE NEIGHBORS PROPERTY LINE.
WE DO SUPPORT THE HARDCOVER VARIANCE, NOTING THAT THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE THE REQUIRED TURNAROUND ON THE COUNTY ROAD, OR THE APPLICANT SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT, AS DESIGNED, THE DRIVEWAY WILL ALLOW THE SPACE REQUIRED TO MANEUVER VEHICLES TO FRONT OUT ONTO SHADYWOOD.
YOU SHOULD MAKE A MOTION REGARDING DIRECTING STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION REFLECTING YOUR DECISION.
I CAN I CAN SHOW THE THE APPLICANT'S SUBMITTED PLANS, THE EXISTING CONDITION SURVEY WAS PROVIDED.
THEY DID DO SKETCH OVER THAT TO DEPICT THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS.
[00:30:04]
THERE'S YOU KNOW, SOME FLOOR PLANS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.AND THE ELEVATION VIEWS IN PARTICULAR, CAN DEMONSTRATE THE EXPANSION UPWARD.
THE YELLOW LINE IS DEPICTING THE RIDGELINE OF THE EXISTING HOME.
THIS IS THIS IS THE NORTH ELEVATION OF THE HOME THAT WILL FACE THE THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SETBACK VARIANCE.
I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO PRESENT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MELANIE? YEAH.
GO AHEAD. I SAW A CONCERN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT FROM ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS.
I GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT THAT QUESTION MEANS, LIKE SEWER.
I WAS HOPING THAT MAYBE I, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THEY MEANT, BUT I WOULD GUESS SEWER.
IT'S SERVED WITH SEWER CURRENTLY.
THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THE NORMAL PROCESS FOR IF THEY I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE TO DISCONNECT, IF THEY'RE NOT DEMOING THE HOME OR IF THEY JUST HAVE TO DO AT THE POINT OF SALE, THEY HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO CHECK THE SEWER LINE GOING INTO THE HOME TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CRACKS.
SO THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, YES, IS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT SEWER WATER.
COUNTY ROAD IS THERE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE.
YEAH. WHAT WHAT THE WHAT THE HOMEOWNER WOULD HAVE TO DO AS FAR AS ESTABLISHING THERE OR REESTABLISHING THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT PROCESS.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT OF THAT STREET IN GENERAL HAD A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION ALONG IT, AND THEY WERE QUESTIONING THE SIZE OF THE HOMES, THE SIZE OF THE KITCHENS.
I THINK THEY SAID IN THAT EMAIL AND THE SIZE OF THE BATHROOMS, AND THEY WERE CURIOUS IF THE CITY WAS KEEPING UP WITH WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND? IN REGARDS TO OUR PIPE SIZES AND WHAT HAVE YOU ON THE WATER AND THE SEWER? YES. THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR FOR THIS.
OKAY. SO MELANIE, MY QUESTIONS ARE OKAY WITH AND I'M LOOKING AT THEIR PROPOSED CONDITIONS.
OKAY. THE SKETCH DRAWING THERE.
OKAY. SO IS THIS A CONFORMING TURNAROUND? I'M NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM A MANEUVERABILITY STANDPOINT, I'M SURE THAT YOU COULD MAKE SEVERAL MOTIONS TO FRONT, YOU KNOW, REVERSE AND FORWARD TO [INAUDIBLE] AROUND AND COME OUT FACING SHADYWOOD ROAD.
I THINK IT'S A TWO CAR GARAGE.
THE DRIVEWAY IS NOT THAT MUCH WIDER AS IT STARTS TO BECOME SIDEWALK ON NEXT TO THE APRON.
IT WOULD JUST NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT WORK.
AND SO WHERE WHERE IT SAYS ADDITION ON THAT ONE.
YES. THAT SHOWS A BEDROOMS AND ONE.
BUT IS THAT THE GARAGE? IT'S THE GARAGE ON THE GROUND LEVEL.
THERE'S THE GARAGE LEVEL, THE FIRST FLOOR.
ABOVE THAT WILL BE TWO BEDROOMS ABOVE THE GARAGE AND THEN THIS LARGE EXERCISE OPEN SPACE HERE, AND THEN A PRINCIPAL PRIMARY BEDROOM ON THE LAKE SIDE.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE WHAT I'D LIKE TO AVOID IS WHAT WE HAD TO DO ON CASCO TO GIVE A VARIANCE TO A NEW CONSTRUCTION HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BACKING UP INTO CASCO.
SO WE WORKED WITH THEM TO REMEDY THAT.
IT'S REQUIRED THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT TO BEGIN WITH.
SO THAT CAN BE PART OF THE MOTION TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY MEET THAT REQUIREMENT FOR SURE.
AND THEN YOU HAD MENTIONED IS THAT THE STAIR GOING BACK TO THE PROPOSED.
IS THAT THE STAIR THAT'S A NEW CONDITION.
SEE WHERE IT'S LABELED STAIR THERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE.
[00:35:03]
YEAH. THAT'S THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME QUESTION THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW THE THE ARCHITECT PROVIDED A SKETCH.IT'S NOT THEY'RE NOT FULL CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
THIS ISN'T A SURVEY. A SURVEY WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR PERMIT.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL ON THAT.
THE THE STAIR THAT YOU'RE IDENTIFYING IS RELATING TO THIS DOORWAY HERE.
THEY'RE ALSO SHOWING THAT THERE'S A DOOR, A SERVICE DOOR COMING OUT OF THE LAKE SIDE OF THE GARAGE THAT I'M NOT QUITE SURE DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH THE, THE STAIR HERE.
SO THERE'S SOME EGRESS WALL QUESTIONS.
IS THAT THE SOUTH SIDE OR IS THAT THE LAKE SIDE? PARDON? IT'S THE SOUTH SIDE RIGHT.
SO THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE LAKESIDE.
SO THEN WHAT KIND OF CONFIDENCE CAN WE HAVE IN THESE HARDCOVER CALCULATIONS THEN? BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT'S BEING PROPOSED AS A REDUCTION IN HARDCOVER, BUT IT DOESN'T DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS IS COMPLETE ENOUGH TO REALLY HAVE THAT GOOD OF A CALCULATION.
YEP. I HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE ARCHITECT ABOUT THE THE THE SITE PLAN SKETCH TO BE USED FOR THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT WOULD BE THEIR RISK IF YOU APPROVE A SQUARE FOOTAGE OR A PERCENTAGE AMOUNT, THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD BE HELD TO.
OKAY. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS ARE THEY CONNECTING THEN WITH A NEW FOUNDATION.
SO YOU HAVE THE FOUNDATION THAT WAS EXTENDING OVER TO THE GARAGE.
YEP. SO IS THERE A NEW PORTION OF FOUNDATION GOING IN? THAT ADDITION WILL BE THEY'LL HAVE A BASEMENT UNDER THAT ADDITION AS WELL AS THE GARAGE.
OKAY. SO THAT WOULD ALL BE NEW.
OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR NOW.
THANKS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MELANIE? I DON'T THE APPLICANT HERE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PROPOSAL.
IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
YES. MIKE ECKERT, ARCHITECT FROM SAINT PAUL, 1039 NEBRASKA AVENUE WEST.
YES. WHAT WE'RE REALLY APPLYING FOR IS TO BUILD OVER THE NORTH SETBACK PORTION.
AND AT THE LAKESIDE, LAKESIDE SETBACK.
THE HOME WAS PLACED ORIGINALLY FOR DIFFERENT SETBACK CONDITIONS.
SETBACK CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BUILD OVER THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT.
ANY NEW AND THE ORIGINAL BUILDING THAT WAS PURCHASED JUST RECENTLY, HAS A GARAGE THAT IS SEMI ATTACHED TO THE HOME THAT PROTRUDES INTO THE SETBACK SEVERELY.
PROBABLY 15FT INTO THE FRONT SETBACK.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TAKE THAT OFF, REBUILD IT SO WE COULD BUILD OVER THE TOP OF IT.
I THINK WHEN THE NEW OWNER, BILL TURNER, PURCHASED THE THE LOT, HE HAD HOPED THAT HE COULD BUILD OVER THAT EXISTING GARAGE. BUT ONCE WE REALIZED WHAT THE SETBACKS WERE, HE WAS KIND OF STUCK.
AND SO THE IDEA IS, WELL, LET'S BUILD A NEW GARAGE.
WE CAN BUILD OVER IT, CONFORM WITH ALL THE SETBACKS.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN STILL BUILD OVER THE EXISTING EXTERIOR WALL TO THE NORTH, WHICH AT ITS WORST CASE SCENARIO IS FIVE FEET OFF THE PROPERTY LINE, BUT THEN STEPS IN ANOTHER ONE FOOT IN.
SO IT'S ABOUT SIX FEET AT THAT PORTION.
AND THEN THERE'S A TINY SLIVER TO THE NORTHEAST THAT EXISTS THAT IS CUT OFF BY THE LAKESHORE SETBACK. SO BECAUSE THAT IS THERE AND IT ALREADY INFRINGES ON THE SETBACK, WE WERE HOPING WE COULD BUILD ABOVE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? OKAY. CAN I CALL YOU BACK IF NEEDED, BUT THAT THE ONE GARAGE IS GOING AWAY THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE ROAD? YEAH. YEAH. THAT'S GETTING DEMOED OFF.
THE EXISTING SIDE SETBACKS ARE FIVE FEET.
IS THAT CORRECT? AT THE NORTH, IT IS FIVE FEET.
OKAY. AND AT THE SOUTH? AT THE SOUTH, THE REQUIRED SETBACK IS SEVEN FOOT SIX, BUT THE EXISTING HOUSE IS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR THAT IS OFF THE SETBACK, BUT THEY'RE MEETING.
[00:40:01]
IT COMPELS. THEY'RE MEETING THE SOUTH SETBACK.AND THE ADDITION THAT WE WOULD ADD WOULD COMPLY TO THE SETBACK.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THE SETBACKS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
THEY'VE GONE FROM TEN FEET TO SEVEN AND A HALF NOW.
YEAH. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT THEN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT BUILT THERE.
YEAH, RIGHT. SO THE SETBACKS WERE DIFFERENT THEN? YEAH, YEAH DID YOU ADDRESS, I'M SORRY, THE STAIR THAT'S SHOWING UP ON THE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO USE THE LAKE.
THE BASEMENT WOULD BE AN ENTERTAINMENT TYPE SPACE.
SO BASICALLY IT'S JUST AN EXTERIOR DOOR OUT AND THAT GETS YOU TO THE LAKE FROM THE BASEMENT.
YEAH, THAT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WELL WITHIN THE SETBACKS.
BUT IT'S HARD COVER THAT'S NOT CALCULATED INTO YOUR CALCULATIONS.
NO. IT WOULD BE PART OF OUR CALCULATIONS.
YES. IT JUST ISN'T RIGHT NOW THOUGH.
WELL, LIKE MELANIE SAID, IF WE APPROVE SOMETHING, IT'LL BE VERY SPECIFIC.
YES. AND SO TO CHANGE THAT, YOU'D HAVE TO THEN GO THROUGH THE VARIANCE PROCESS AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEFY THE RULES.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE MY CLIENTS.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, BECAUSE THE ONLY OTHER POSSIBILITY IS IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU HAVE IT ALL PUT TOGETHER YET, WE COULD DELAY IT AND YOU COULD BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS WITH ALL THE CORRECT NUMBERS.
SO YOU HAVE ALL THE CORRECT NUMBERS FOR MELANIE VERSUS WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS.
SO I'M JUST GIVING YOU THAT OPTION AS A POSSIBILITY.
YEAH, I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.
SURE. SO SO BASICALLY, THE HOUSE AS IT SITS COVERS THE BUILDING COVERAGE THAT'S ALLOWED.
SO WE'RE TAKING THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE AND JUST ADJUSTING IT.
WE'RE PUTTING IT ALL WITHIN THE SETBACK.
WE'RE BUILDING ABOVE THAT TO MAXIMIZE THE SECOND FLOOR SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THE DRIVEWAY IS ACTUALLY IN THE SAME POSITION AS THE CURRENT DRIVEWAY.
WE JUST ARE ADDING SOME SPACE IN FRONT OF THE DOORS SO THAT YOU CAN TURN AROUND, GO IN YOUR GARAGE, GET IN YOUR GARAGE, TURN AROUND. YES. YOU MAY HAVE TO MANEUVER.
SO IF YOU COMPARE THIS SORT OF SKETCH TO THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HARD COVER IN FRONT OF THE CURRENT GARAGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF HARD COVER THERE, RIGHT? THERE'S ALSO A LONG SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT ENTRY.
SO WE'RE WE'RE REDUCING THAT HARD COVER WITH THE DECK WITH SOME OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AT THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN THE WALKWAY INTO THE HOUSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE DESIGNING THESE THINGS TO MEET THESE SQUARE FOOTAGES, YOU MAY TAKE INCHES OUT OF SOME OF YOUR PIECES TO GET THOSE SQUARE FOOTAGE TO CONFORM.
AND IT'S SORT OF A MASSAGING OF THE DESIGN.
ANYTHING ELSE? IS IT GOING TO BE A PAVER DRIVEWAY? DO YOU KNOW LIKE A.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE AN ASPHALT DRIVEWAY.
IT MAY BE A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY.
ARE YOU THINKING THEY WILL HAVE AMPLE ROOM TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE AND MANEUVER AND THEN GO? YES. THE CURRENT HOUSE IS VERY TIGHT.
RIGHT NOW THEY BARELY HAVE THE ROOM TO DO IT.
YEAH. YEAH. IT LOOKS CHALLENGING.
IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET IN.
[00:45:02]
SO THIS WILL OPEN UP THE HOUSE TO THE STREET.SO IT WILL BE MORE PRESENTABLE FROM THE STREET AND HAVE MORE TURNING ABILITY TO GET INTO THE GARAGE.
ANYTHING ELSE? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NO. ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
I KNOW THE NEIGHBOR IS HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AS WELL.
DO YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP? SO WHAT WAS THE DECISION? THERE IS NO DECISION. I WAS ASKING IF YOU WANTED TO COME UP AND SPEAK BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT IT AT THE COUNCIL.
OKAY. I'M GRETCHEN [INAUDIBLE] WE LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE THE SET BACK WAS COMPROMISED, ACCORDING TO THE CODE.
I ALSO LOOKED AT THE DRAWING THE OTHER DAY, AND I HADN'T REALIZED BEFORE THERE IS ONE EGRESS WINDOW ON THAT NORTH SIDE, TOO WHICH I GUESS THAT DOESN'T REALLY COUNT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY SEVEN AND A HALF FT AND NOW YOU HAVE AN EGRESS WINDOW WITH THE WINDOW, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT FURTHER EATS INTO THE SPACE ON THAT SIDE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
I JUST NOTICED THAT MYSELF THE OTHER DAY.
I MEAN, WE'RE HAPPY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOVELY NEW HOUSE NEXT DOOR.
IT'S GOOD THAT THE HARDCOVER IS MORE IN COMPLIANCE.
OUR MAIN CONCERN REALLY IS THE SIDE YARD SETBACK.
AND I KNOW THAT THE ISSUE WITH TRYING TO OBSERVE THE SEVEN AND A HALF FT, APPARENTLY, IS NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE EXISTING FOUNDATION.
I'M IN NO POSITION TO JUDGE WHETHER THAT FOUNDATION IS WORTHY OF BUILDING ON IT.
THAT'S BASICALLY, I THINK, PRETTY MUCH ALL I SAID AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, TOO.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO COUNCIL.
ANY ANY ANY THOUGHTS? I CAN GO FIRST IF YOU WANT.
I READ YOUR LETTER OF QUESTIONING AND OPPOSITION.
IT WAS A VERY NICE LETTER THAT YOU WROTE.
IT WAS PRESENTED IN A NICE WAY, AND I THANK YOU FOR IT.
THANK YOU. SO WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THIS APPLICATION, I, YOU KNOW, MY FEELING ON IT WAS SIMPLY THAT IF PEOPLE UTILIZE THE EXISTING FOUNDATION, WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF LETTING THEM BUILD UP ON THEM AS LONG AS THEY CONFORMED WITH YOU KNOW, OUR BUILDING HEIGHTS AND NOT EXCEEDING THAT.
WHAT I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS TO GET AN APPROVAL TO USE IT, BECAUSE I READ ALSO IN THE IN STAFF'S NOTES THAT TECHNICALLY, IF ONCE WE APPROVE THIS, IF THEY GET IN THERE AND THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO DO A NEW FOUNDATION IN THERE, THEN THIS WOULD GIVE THEM APPROVAL TO DO THAT.
AND AND SO WE WOULDN'T WANT SOMEBODY TO USE THE EXISTING FOUNDATION TO GET WHAT THEY WANT AND THEN GET THE APPROVAL AND THEN DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY, JUST JUST TO DO IT.
SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN OF MINE.
I'M NOT CERTAIN HOW TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT IF.
WELL, LET ME CAN I DOVETAIL ON THAT SAME POINT, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE HAD NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURES IN THE SETBACKS THAT WANTED TO GO UP, AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE APPROVED ANY WHERE WE'VE SAID THAT WE WILL TAKE THE NONCONFORMING AND LET IT GO HIGHER SO YOU CAN DO AS YOU'VE GOT TODAY UP TO THE HEIGHT THAT YOU'VE GOT IN THE NONCONFORMING, WHICH WOULD BE FIVE FEET.
BUT FROM THERE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEVEN AND A HALF TO WHAT THE CODE IS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE THEN EXPANDING THE NONCONFORMING, WHICH WE WHICH WE HAVE NOT DONE. WE'VE HAD THAT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND SO THAT GOES TO THE POINT OF THEM BEING ABLE TO JUST JUST GO ALL THE WAY UP AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THE NONCONFORMING WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE WITH THAT, WHERE THAT ONE GARAGE WHERE YOU HAD YOU HAD THE WHOLE ISSUE OF YOU HAD TO REDO THE ROOF OR THE WHOLE IT TOOK THE WHOLE ROOF OFF.
BUT BECAUSE OF CODE, YOU HAD TO HAVE A COUPLE INCHES.
SO IT GAVE HIM A COUPLE INCHES.
BUT THEN WE SAID, THEN YOU GOT TO COME BACK NOW.
[00:50:01]
NOW WE'RE AT SEVEN AND A HALF TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN SOME OF THE SMALLER LOTS.SO WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF COME BACK.
AND BASICALLY IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE SAY YOU CAN TAKE THE NONCONFORMING AT FIVE, WE BASICALLY JUST CHANGED SEVEN AND A HALF TO FIVE, WHICH WOULD NOT BE GOOD MOVING FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME. SO SO I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HARDCOVER.
THEY'D HAVE TO BE CONFORMING ON ANYTHING ABOVE WHERE THE FIVE FEET IS.
NOW THEY CAN BUILD TO THAT HEIGHT.
AND THEN HOW ABOUT THEIR ADDITION THEN? WELL, THE ADDITION IS IT MEETS A, IT MEETS EVERYTHING BUT THE, THE ROOF LINE.
CAN YOU SHOW US THE SIDE ELEVATION UP ON TOP OF THE GARAGE? WELL THEY CAN THEY CAN GO UP ON TOP OF THE GARAGE.
WHICH THEY CAN. I'M JUST SAYING THEY HAVE TO MOVE BACK TO SEVEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THOUGH.
THEY HAVE 14. CORRECT? NO, THEY HAVE EIGHT, EIGHT FEET OR SOMETHING ON THE SOUTH SIDE? WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE SIDE SETBACK ON THE SOUTH SIDE? THE REQUIRED SETBACK IS.
NO. WHAT IS IT NOW? WHAT DO THEY HAVE NOW? WITH THE EXISTING HOUSES? PROBABLY 15 OR 20.
SO SO THEY'RE COMPLIANT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
RIGHT. AND WHAT'S ON THE PROPOSAL? HOW FAR ARE THEY? IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL BECAUSE IT'S JUST A SKETCH, BUT HE'S GOT IT.
SO, LIKE EIGHT FEET. EIGHT FEET.
YES. BUT WHERE DOES THE THE NEW AND THE OLD STOP.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE WHERE CAN THEY GO HIGHER THAN AND WHERE CAN'T THEY.
WHERE DOES THE NORTH SIDE WHATEVER THE.
TO ME, IT'S WHATEVER THE EXISTING HEIGHT THAT THEY HAVE.
HOWEVER THAT IS MEASURED AT THAT FIVE FEET, THEY CAN GO UP TO THAT POINT JUST ON THE NORTH SIDE AND THEN UNTIL THEY UNTIL THEY GET INTO THE 7.5FT SETBACK.
AND THEN THEY CAN GO UP FROM THERE.
YEAH. SO THIS IS THE ROOF OF THE EXISTING ON THE FACING, LOOKING AT THE LAKE OR FROM THE LAKE.
SO THIS YELLOW I KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED THE EXISTING HOUSE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING TO GO UP.
YEAH. I MEAN WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE MADE OTHER PEOPLE DO THE SAME THING.
THEY'D HAVE TO STEP IN THEN TO GO TO BE CONFORMING FOR ANYTHING THAT'S NEW.
SO SO WE'RE NOT JUST TAKING THE NONCONFORMITY AND JUST EXPANDING IT ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I MEAN, THAT GOES INTO PART OF THE PARTIAL, RIGHT.
THE PARTIAL APPROVAL THAT STAFF WAS LEANING TOWARDS TOO.
YEAH. I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY STAFF IS JUST RECOMMENDING A REDESIGN AT THAT POINT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S PRUDENT TO DO THAT.
AND IF THEY WANT TO TABLE IT TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TO NEXT TWO WEEKS, THEY COULD JUST TAKE OUR GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT COULD BE APPROVED VERSUS JUST HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT APPROVED.
YES. THAT THAT'S THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
I THINK REALLY YOU WANT TO COME UP.
SURE. IT IT'S IT'S SORT OF SEEMS LIKE THE NORTH SIDE SETBACK IS, IS A PRIORITY FOR WHAT HAS POTENTIALLY HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
IF YOU WOULD DECLINE THAT, THAT'S FINE.
THEN WE JUST BUILD AN ADDITION ABOVE IT AND SET IT BACK.
THE OTHER ONE THAT IS A BIGGER ONE IS THE LAKESHORE.
DO YOU ACCEPT THAT SORT OF SETBACK? IT'S ALREADY BEING COVERED AND INFRINGES ON THE LAKESHORE.
DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE OF BUILDING OVER THAT PIECE ALSO? I HAVEN'T GIVEN MY THOUGHTS, SO I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS AS IT STANDS, I'M IN SUPPORT OF STAFF'S ASSESSMENT AS THIS STANDS BECAUSE OF THIS DOESN'T MEET CRITERIA, AS STAFF'S REPORT HAD SAID, FOR PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY, THESE CRITERIA DOES NOT MET FOR PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.
[00:55:03]
CONFORMING DESIGN.YEAH. BASICALLY WHAT I'M WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A VARIANCE.
AND TYPICALLY WHEN YOU GO FOR A VARIANCE, IT'S ALL OR NOTHING.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY STAFF.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE APPLYING FOR.
WELL, WE COULD CONVENE FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND YOU COULD TAKE GUIDANCE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY BENEFITS US IN ANY WAY.
IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE THE SETBACK ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THEN WE DON'T NEED ANY VARIANCES.
YOU NEED A HARDCOVER. WE NEED A HARD COVER VARIANCE.
TABLE IT AND COME BACK WITH A SECOND STORY THAT CONFORMS. AND I GUESS I'M REALLY TRYING TO GET THE FEEL OF WHAT'S GOING ON IS THE THE HARD COVER IS, IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE TO GET TO THE 25%.
RIGHT. WHERE WHERE 5% ALMOST 5% RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE JUST SWAPPING SOME SQUARE FOOTAGE.
WELL, I THINK THAT YOU'VE DONE FINE.
AND THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR.
IF YOU DO THAT, I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS TYPICALLY GOING TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND YOU'D GET OKAY ON THE VARIANCE ON THE HARDCOVER POTENTIALLY.
SURE. AND YOU'D HAVE TO JUST REDESIGN THAT MOVING FORWARD.
CORRECT? YOU DO. THEN YOU'RE STUCK GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING.
YES. I WOULD SORT OF PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON HARDSHIPS.
WE BELIEVE THERE ARE HARDSHIPS.
IS THAT YOU JUST DON'T AGREE THAT THEY ARE HARDSHIPS.
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY. YES, YES.
I'M GOING OFF OF WHAT IS THE CRITERIA THAT NEEDS TO BE MET AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND I CAN SEE ALL THESE IS THAT THEY'VE NOT BEEN MET.
THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, POTENTIALLY TO THE NORTHERN NEIGHBORS WITH SHADOWING, WITH MASSING WITH BEING OUT OF CHARACTER, CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN AND WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OF CONCERNS, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THIS ALREADY.
SO SO IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT US TO VOTE ON IT WITH THAT GUIDANCE.
OR YOU COULD I THINK WE WE BECAUSE OF THE HARDCOVER ISSUE, WE WOULD HAVE TO.
SURE. COULDN'T COULDN'T YOU BRING MORE OF THE VOLUME OF THE HOUSE IN COMPLIANCE ON THE NORTH SETBACK BRING SOME OF THE VOLUME DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS THE SOUTH AND ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT.
THAT WOULD JUST THAT WOULD JUST BE A REDESIGN.
I KNOW HE'D BE REDESIGNING IT, BUT TO ME, YOU KNOW, I GET IT.
THE LADY BRINGS OUT A FAIR POINT.
IF THIS HOUSE HAS A BASEMENT, YOU'VE GOT AN EGRESS WINDOW.
THAT EGRESS WINDOW IS GOING TO COME INTO THAT SETBACK EVEN MORE SO.
I PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, IF IF YOUR HARDCOVER ISN'T REALLY INCREASING AND YOU'RE STAYING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES AND EVEN REDUCING IT A LITTLE BIT, I'M OKAY WITH THE HARDCOVER, ME PERSONALLY.
YEAH, SURE. BUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO BRING MORE OF THE VOLUME TO THE SOUTH PART OF THE HOME TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, WE COULD TALK ABOUT WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO THE SECOND STORY AND MORE NON-COMPLIANT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I WOULD ASSUME MAYBE I SHOULDN'T.
THE SECOND STORY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO YOU IN THIS PROJECT.
SO TO HELP THAT GET ACCOMPLISHED, YOU CAN BRING MORE OF THE VOLUME OF THE HOUSE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO REDESIGN.
I KNOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU THE GUIDANCE OF COVERAGE TO ADD MORE FOOTPRINT.
[01:00:03]
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PROCEED? YOU MAKE THE CALL.TEARING DOWN THE FOUNDATION IS BASICALLY TEARING DOWN THE ENTIRE HOUSE AND REBUILDING IT.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE, RIGHT? WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE LIKE I SAID, THAT THE NORTH SETBACK IS A BIG DEAL.
SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULDN'T BE VOTED ON POSITIVELY.
BUT THE HARDCOVER IS SOMETHING POTENTIAL.
SO WE WOULD WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT FOR THE HARDCOVER.
OKAY. WE'LL MAKE WE'LL DECIDE BASED ON THAT BASIS.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. ANY MORE THOUGHTS UP HERE? DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT THAT MOTION, MATT, OR I'D BE GLAD TO GIVE IT A GO.
YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A GO? SURE.
OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND PARTIAL APPROVAL OF THE HARDCOVER PROPOSED TO SERVE THE TWO CAR GARAGE TO BE MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE TURNAROUND SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE ROAD PER CODE.
THAT'S IT. AND DENY THE VARIANCE AND DENY THE REST AND DENY THE REST.
DOES THAT COVER EVERYTHING MELANIE FOR YOU? YES. SO YOU'RE EXPECTING THEM TO COME BACK WITH A REVISED PLAN THAT SHOWS COMPLIANCE WITH THE SETBACKS AND ONCE WE HAVE, ONCE WE VOTE ON THE APPROVAL, WE'RE JUST GIVING THE GUIDANCE.
YEAH, WE'RE TO BRING A RESOLUTION FOR.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BRING A NEW PLAN BACK AS LONG AS THEY MEET WHAT WE'VE DENIED.
IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH A LEVEL THAT YOU'RE THE 27, WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT, RIGHT? AS LONG AS THEY STICK TO THAT NUMBER, THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT'S ON HERE.
SO THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT'S BEEN APPROVED OR MADE THE MOTION TO MAKE A RESOLUTION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S WHAT STAFF WAS IN SUPPORT OF.
YEAH. SO THAT'S THE VARIANCE THAT STAFF WAS THAT'S THE VARIANCE.
SO YOU COULD EITHER TABLE IT AND HAVE THEM REDESIGN AND COME BACK.
OR YOU CAN DIRECT WANT TO DO THAT.
OKAY. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THE MOTION IS TO ACCEPT THE HARDCOVER AS PRESENTED AND DENY THE OTHER VARIANCES FOR GOING UP IN THE, IN THE SETBACKS.
AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WHO WAS THE SECOND ON THAT? MATT. MATT I THINK.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT? I'VE GOT A SLIDE FOR US.
[INAUDIBLE] YES, I HAVE A PERMIT SLIDE HERE.
HERE WE GO. WE HAVE THE PERMIT SLIDE.
LET'S SEE HERE. SO THIS IS THE 2024 SEPTEMBER PERMIT REVENUE SLIDE.
WE HAD ABOUT JUST OVER $46,000 IN PERMIT REVENUE FOR SEPTEMBER.
LAST YEAR WE HAD $36,000, SO SLIGHTLY MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
I HAVE A SECOND SLIDE HERE AS WELL THAT SHOWS IT IN COMPARISON TO THE BUDGET.
AS WE KIND OF MOVE ALONG HERE, WE ARE INCHING CLOSER TO MEETING THAT BUDGET GOAL.
AND WITH THREE MONTHS LEFT OF THE YEAR AND LAST YEAR WE WERE FAIRLY BUSY IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL MEET THAT BUDGET LINE THIS YEAR.
AT THIS POINT. YEAH. YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON TREND TO DO THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, THINGS GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT.
MELANIE AND I WILL BE WORKING ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE A HANDFUL. WHAT WAS THAT? APPLICATIONS WILL BE PUBLISHING.
WHAT WAS THAT? OH. WAS SHE WORKING ON? A PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET? OH, PLANNING. WE BOTH HAVE A HANDFUL OF APPLICANTS AND THINGS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH FOR THE NEXT WEEKS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND THEN AS WELL AS TRAINING IN A NEW PLANNER THAT WILL START TOMORROW.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED. I SENT THE CONGRATULATIONS EMAIL RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO TAKE ON A NEW PLANNER IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WITH THAT I'M STAND FOR QUESTIONS.
[01:05:01]
JUST COMMENT. GOOD JOB GETTING THROUGH BEING ONE PERSON DOWN IT'S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND I THINK WE APPRECIATE YOU.SO IT'S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR, BUT WE'RE WE'RE TRUCKING THROUGH IT, SO.
THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.
[Public Safety Report]
NO PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT TODAY.[INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A SWORN REPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.
I THOUGHT IT'D BE GOOD TO JUST BRING UP PERHAPS A HOLIDAY REPORT.
THE YOUR NOT NECESSARILY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER YOUR NOVEMBER, YOUR SCHEDULED.
YOUR NORMAL MEETING WOULD HAVE BEEN NOVEMBER 11TH.
SO I BELIEVE YOU'VE MOVED YOUR COUNCIL MEETING TO NOVEMBER 12TH.
AND THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION TODAY IS LISTED AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DAY.
THE SECOND MONDAY OF OCTOBER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S LIST OF HOLIDAYS.
HOWEVER, THE STATUTE DOES INDICATE THAT LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE STATE, CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO OBSERVE IT AND CONDUCT BUSINESS ON THAT, AS WELL AS THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.
SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME SOME QUESTION ON THAT.
BUT IN MY OPINION, ANY AND ALL BUSINESS OR THIS MEETING CONDUCTED ARE LAWFUL AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU. SO IF WE EVER DID CONSIDER THAT, WHEN WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS.
SO I BELIEVE AT YOUR FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY, YOU USUALLY SET YOUR YOUR SCHEDULE AND YOUR CALENDAR.
TO ME, THAT WOULD BE AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN HOLIDAYS THAT ARE TYPICALLY A MONDAY WHICH INDIGENOUS IS.
SO THAT CAN COME INTO CONFLICT, CONFLICT WITH MEETINGS AS WELL AS PRESIDENTS AND MLK AND SOME OF YOUR OTHER FLOATING HOLIDAYS THAT MAY LAND ON A MONDAY, BUT IT'S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THANK YOU. YES. THE OTHER PLACE WHERE THAT DOES COME INTO INTO PLAY IS IF THERE WAS A NEW HOLIDAY THAT WAS GOING TO BE A NON-WORK DAY, WE'D HAVE TO ADJUST THE CITY'S PERSONNEL POLICY, WHICH OUTLINES WHICH WHICH HOLIDAYS WORK IS CONDUCTED AND NOT CONDUCTED.
WE'RE AT THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.
[23. Accept Donation - Resolution 7514]
ENGINEER REPORT NUMBER 23, ACCEPT DONATION RESOLUTION 7514.MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PUT THIS.
THE JOHNSON FAMILY HAS DONATED SOME MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LARGE AMERICAN FLAG TO BE USED AND DISPLAYED BY OUR STAFF ON CERTAIN SELECT HOLIDAYS, LIKE A 30 BY 50 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHERE'S DJ? HOW BIG IS THAT FLAG THAT WE GOT? 20 BY 30. 20 BY 30.
YEAH. THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
YEAH. THERE WAS A LITTLE CONFLICT WITH THE WITH THE FLAGS IN THE AREA, SO THIS SOLVED THAT.
YEP. ALL RIGHT. SO WE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION.
ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
THANK YOU MATT. APPRECIATE THAT.
MR. MAYOR, THAT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE].
[24. Fox Street Sewer Main Extension (24-044)]
THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 24, WHICH IS THE FOX STREET SEWER MAIN EXTENSION, 24-044.MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO AUTHORIZE AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SOME PROPERTY OWNERS TO TO CONSTRUCT A SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN EXTENSION FROM THE END OF FOX STREET, THE WESTERN TERMINUS OF FOX STREET TO CONNECT THOSE PROPERTIES OR POTENTIALLY ALL THOSE PROPERTIES.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S TWO PROPERTIES INITIALLY INTO THE REST OF THE SEWER SYSTEM.
THE PROPERTIES IN QUESTION ARE ALREADY IN THE METROPOLITAN URBAN SERVICE AREA OR THE MUSA.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE PROVISION OF SANITARY SEWER SERVICES.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS ALL OF OUR LAKESHORE PROPERTIES HAVE.
IN THIS CASE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD AND INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT SEWER MAIN, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION, THEN THAT THAT THAT SEWER MAIN WOULD WOULD COME UNDER THE CITY'S OWNERSHIP AND THEN MAINTENANCE FROM THERE ON. AS PART OF THE OF THE AGREEMENT, THE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE INITIALLY FRONTING THEM, FRONTING THE FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE,
[01:10:10]
HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE A REIMBURSEMENT PLAN IN PLACE IN CASE ANY OF THE OTHER POTENTIAL OR PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE SERVED BY THIS SEWER MAIN WOULD CONNECT, THAT THEY WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR A PORTION OF OF THE EXPENSES THAT THEY PUT FORWARD.THE ONE DIFFERENCE THAT WE, BASED ON SOME LESSONS LEARNED IN THAT IS THAT WE DID WE DID PUT A 15 YEAR TIME LIMIT ON THAT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME WE HAVE SOME EXISTING AGREEMENTS FROM 20, 30 YEARS AGO THAT THAT ARE REALLY HARD TO MANAGE AFTER THAT MUCH TIME GOES BY.
SO WE DID PUT THE 15 YEARS INTO THE AGREEMENT AND THE THE FOLKS WERE WILLING TO TO TO AGREE TO THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD A RESIDENT FUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, IS THE CITY HAS WAIVED THE CONNECTION FEES FOR THOSE TWO PROPERTIES. SO IN THIS CASE, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE IMPROVEMENT IS $121,200.
AND SO AS PART OF THIS COUNCIL ACTION, WE AS STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE $6,000 EACH FOR EACH OF THOSE TWO PROPERTIES, FOR A TOTAL OF $12,000, WOULD BE WAIVED. IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY WOULD BE PUTTING INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
HOW LONG IS THAT SECTION OF SEWER? WELL, THIS WOULD BE BRAND NEW.
TOP OF MY HEAD, I THINK THAT'S 1980S 90S SEWER.
THIS WOULD BE A LOW PRESSURE GRAVITY MAIN THAT WOULD CONNECT INTO OUR LOW PRESSURE HAVE FEES BEEN WAIVED IN THE PAST? THEY HAVE FOR THIS KIND OF THING YES.
IF COUNCIL APPROVES THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT.
AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME GENERAL EASEMENTS FOR THE CITY'S BENEFIT IN THERE, BUT THE, THE APPLICANTS OR THE HOMEOWNERS HAVE ASKED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC EASEMENT OR TO GRANT A SPECIFIC EASEMENT FOR THE SEWER, WHICH THEY WILL DO.
THE THE OTHER THING THAT THIS THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THIS IS STILL CONTINGENT UPON ANY OTHER ANY OTHER AGENCIES PERMITS THERE HAS WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A PERMIT BACK FROM THE MPCA.
AND THAT'S A PERMIT THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE MET COUNCIL.
THERE'S ONE DRAWBACK TO APPROVAL OF THIS THAT WE NOTE IS THAT THESE ARE LARGER LOTS IN OUR CITY, AND THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OR IT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR SEWER DENSITY NUMBERS WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? RIGHT NOW, OUR DENSITY REQUIREMENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY IS THREE UNITS PER ACRE FOR SEWER PROPERTIES.
BOTH IN OUR URBAN AREA AS WELL AS OUR LAKESHORE AREAS, WE'VE BEEN IN A LONGER TERM DISCUSSION WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ABOUT HOW THAT NUMBER DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE IN ALL CASES.
AND THE LAKESHORE AREA IS ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE WE DO HAVE LARGER LOTS.
WITH THE THE, THE IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE REPORTS FROM BACK THEN, THE REASON THOSE WERE ADDED WAS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF THE LAKE AND THE LAKESHORE FROM HAVING A WHOLE SERIES OF SEPTIC SITES ALONG THE LAKE.
SO THAT'S THE REASON THOSE THINGS ARE IN THERE.
WE'RE WE'RE STILL PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF, OF COORDINATION WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON, YOU KNOW, CONVINCING THEM THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES OF CONNECTING THESE PROPERTIES OUTWEIGHS THE, THE, THE SEWER DENSITY NUMBER.
WHAT DOES IT DO TO OUR SEWER? WHAT WHAT DOES IT DO? WHAT DOES IT DO TO OUR NUMBER? IT WILL DRIVE IT BELOW THE BELOW THREE.
SO DO WE DO WE THINK WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER BACK ABOVE THREE IN THE IN THE FUTURE? ABSOLUTELY. IF WITH SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINES AS FAR AS FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AT SOME HIGHER DENSITIES, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT NUMBER BACK UP.
BUT IT WILL IT WILL COME DOWN BELOW THREE.
DOES THAT TRIGGER ANYTHING WITH THEM? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG DEAL TO TO DO THAT.
IN THE PAST WE WOULD NOT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANY EXPANSIONS APPROVED.
[01:15:09]
PROCESS, WHICH WE'RE NOT YET THAT'S A FEW YEARS OUT OF REDOING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.WE WOULD NOT GET A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WAS APPROVABLE UNTIL WE MET THOSE DENSITY NUMBERS.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO WAIT ON THE APPROVAL OF THIS UNTIL WE FINALIZE OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING? WE COULD, I WOULD SAY, THE ONE DRAWBACK OF OF WELL, A COUPLE DRAWBACKS OF HOLDING BACK.
ONE IS WE CAN APPROVE THIS TODAY BECAUSE IT'S STILL CONTINGENT UPON GETTING THAT PERMIT.
SO IF THAT PERMIT IS DENIED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THERE'S THERE'S NO RISK TO THE CITY.
THE OTHER DRAWBACK IS CURRENTLY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS DEVELOPING THEIR GUIDANCE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF COMP PLANS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT IMPOSING A NUMBER FOUR ON US. SO INSTEAD OF THREE UNITS PER ACRE, THAT NUMBER WOULD GO TO FOUR UNITS PER ACRE, WHICH WOULD BE EVEN A HIGHER THRESHOLD TO TRY TO ACHIEVE WHICH IS WHICH IS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY DRIVING SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH WITH THEM ABOUT DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN OUR URBAN AREA AND OUR, OUR LAKESHORE AREA, THAT, THAT, THAT THAT NUMBER DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR US.
AND AGAIN, IT'S BUILT INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT IT'S CONTINGENT UPON ALL PERMITS BEING ACHIEVED.
SO DO WE WANT TO ALSO WAIT FOR COUNCIL'S NEXT RULING ON IF WE'RE GOING FROM 3 TO 4 AS A CONTINGENT FACTOR? I WOULD NOT. I WOULD NOT.
FRIDAY UPDATE THAT YOU GUYS SAW.
BUT IN THE CURRENT TIME, WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TO BOTH OUR NUMBER AND THEN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO ADDRESS IT IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER THAT'S A IMMEDIATE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT OR A COMP, OR AMENDING IT WHEN WE'RE DOING AN OVERALL COMP PLAN UPDATE AND ADDRESSING BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE MUSA, ESPECIALLY ON THE LAKE, JUST FROM A PRODUCTION STANDPOINT.
SO FROM A HISTORY STANDPOINT, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO.
WE WANT PEOPLE ON THE LAKE, ON THE MUSA, IF POSSIBLE, GET THEM OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] JUST TO BE SAFE.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING US IS WE HAVE A LOT BIGGER LAKE LOTS THAN WE HAVE INTERIOR LOTS.
WE SHOULD HAVE A LAKE DENSITY BECAUSE THE BECAUSE THE PARCELS OF LAND ARE MUCH BIGGER ON THE LAKE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY TINY STUFF, INTERIOR TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME NUMBER THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.
WHEN THE MAJORITY OF EVERYBODY ELSE HAS INTERIOR STUFF.
WE'VE GOT ALL THIS LAKE STUFF.
SO AT THAT POINT, I MEAN, WE DO WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE ON THE MUSA CLOSE TO THE LAKE.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE ENCOURAGED THAT TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE HAVE A BALANCING ACT TO WORK.
I WOULD ALSO MENTION IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE IF WE WERE TO WAIT ANY LONGER, THEN THOSE, THOSE PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE AND THESE TWO PROPERTIES ARE AT THE VERY END. SO RIGHT NOW IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT THAT YOU WOULD GET THE SEWER MAIN ALL THE WAY TO THE VERY END THAT WOULD COMPLETE THE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THAT, THAT AREA OF OUR LAKESHORE.
SO THE, THE, THE THE RISK IS IF WE CAN'T GET THIS MOVING FORWARD, THEN THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE GOING TO GO AND INSTALL SEPTIC, WHICH THEY CURRENTLY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO.
IS THIS THE ORDER? WE WANT TO APPROVE THIS.
YOU CAN. YOU CAN APPROVE BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
YEAH. I'D RATHER PUT THEM TOGETHER THAN YEAH, WITH A CONTINGENCY.
WHAT'S THAT? A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE A AND B, RIGHT.
[INAUDIBLE] IS THE CONTINGENCY ALREADY BUILT INTO THE APPROVAL FOR THE PERMIT?
[01:20:05]
CORRECT? YES.THEY CAN'T BUILD WITHOUT A PERMIT ANYWAY.
EXTENSIONS AND TO WAIVE THE CONNECTION FEES.
APPROVE THE SEWER EXTENSION AGREEMENT AT EXHIBIT B, RIGHT.
ANY OTHER CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT TONIGHT? NO. I THINK LAURA ALREADY MENTIONED THE BIGGEST THING IN THE CITY IS WE'RE NOW FULLY STAFFED, OR AS OF TOMORROW, WILL BE FULLY STAFFED AGAIN IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, AS YOU MENTIONED.
AND THEN EARLIER TODAY, YOU DID YOU DID APPROVE A FEW PROJECT CLOSEOUTS.
AND THEN, THEN THE STREET PROJECT FROM LAST YEAR.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 25, OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[25. Council Committee Reports]
AND WE HAD A BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER VEACH.AND I GUESS I'LL GO ON THAT ONE.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS IF FOR FOR YOU WHO HAVE COME TO OUR OUR WORK SESSION EARLIER, WE STARTED GOING OVER OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR, YOU KNOW, STREET WATER, SEWER STORMWATER, PARKS AND EQUIPMENT.
AND WHAT IT SHOWS YOU IS, IS THAT BECAUSE OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING AND COLLECTING FUNDS, AS YOU SHOULD BE, FOR RESERVES FOR REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COSTS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE FOR A CITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WHETHER IT'S VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT, ETC., THAT YOU CAN SIT HERE AND PLAN ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR AND FIVE YEARS OUT FOR ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE OUR PUBLIC WORKS, OUR FIRE, OUR POLICE, ETC.
SO NOW WE GET TO SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN ORDER, ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO BE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL BEST PRACTICES CITY THAT ALL OUR ORONO RESIDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, IS MAKE SURE ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN ORDER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
SO THAT'S OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORT AND BUDGET TONIGHT.
IN OTHER WORDS, ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PERMITTED TO SIT IN ON THOSE OR NO? THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES, MOSTLY.
THANK YOU. BUT WE BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN A COMMITTEE, IT'S NOT A QUORUM.
SO IT'S NOT A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL.
THERE ARE OPINIONS OUT THERE REGARDING STANDING COMMITTEES AND THEM STILL BEING SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETING LAW DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY'RE STANDING COMMITTEES OR AD HOC COMMITTEES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, CERTAINLY PERSONNEL COMMITTEES WHERE YOU'RE DISCUSSING PERSONNEL ITEMS, IN MY OPINION, STACK UP DIFFERENTLY.
OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR.
THANK YOU. THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES A PERSON.
[Public Comments]
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTIONS ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION IN A FUTURE MEETING.
SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.
ANNA IS OUR TIMEKEEPER OVER HERE AND IT SHOULD BE UP ON THE SCREEN WHILE YOU'RE AT THE LECTERN.
SO IS THERE ANY ORONO RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? AND IF YOU CAN, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO START.
JANIE DELANEY, 1315 WOODHILL AVENUE.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND I'M HOPING THAT EITHER YOU DISSOLVE IT AND BRING THE COMMENTS IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS TO THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN ALL BE PRIVY TO THAT, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I'VE NOTICED THE IT COULD BE A BUDGETARY ITEM OR YOU'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING AND IT ENDS UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO ANY OF THE DISCUSSION THAT'S BEEN HAD IN THE COMMITTEE.
[01:25:04]
SO EITHER WE CAN SIT IN ON IT OR YOU CAN BRING, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE THOSE PRIVATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SESSIONS AND LET AND TALK ABOUT IT AT THE MEETING.I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S WAY MORE APPROPRIATE.
[INAUDIBLE], CAN WE GO TO THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS? ARE WE DOING Q&A DURING? NO, NO, WE DON'T HAVE Q&A.
NO WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE Q&A.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO HARD.
AND YEAH, I THINK THAT'S MOSTLY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT WHEN I THINK IT WAS YOU, DANNY TALKED IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT DECISIONS GET MADE BECAUSE THEY'RE REFERRED FROM STAFF AND THEN GO TO THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN IT CAN GO TO THE COUNCIL OR CAN GO RIGHT, STRAIGHT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANKS. SANDY WHISTLER, 2683 NORTH SHORE DRIVE.
I'M HERE TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT CORRECTION TO SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR SAID AT COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR IN OCTOBER'S COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR, AND TO EXPRESS A CONCERN I HAVE ABOUT THE TREND OF ORONO FINANCIAL POSITION.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TAKEN FROM WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER TO PAY FOR PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, THE MAYOR STATED, QUOTE, NO, WE DIDN'T TAKE NOW THAT AS COMPLETELY FALSE.
NOBODY TOOK MONEY FROM ANY FUND.
YOU ARE MISCONSTRUING THAT IS NOT TRUE.
NOBODY IS TAKING MONEY FROM ANY FUND.
END QUOTE. HOWEVER, THE JUNE 10TH COUNCIL MEETING, A COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED ORONO FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.
QUOTE I AM LOOKING AT THE TRANSFERS THAT WERE ON THE AGENDA.
ARE THESE CONSIDERED LOANS THAT WILL BE PAID BACK OR NOT? END QUOTE.
THE JUNE 24TH COUNCIL MEETING.
A PRESENTATION BY TYLER C WITH ABDO, THE CITY'S AUDITOR, TO CONFIRM.
SEWER FUND REALLY THE SAME HERE AS WATER FUND.
SEWER TRANSFERRED THE PROJECT TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND ONE MORE TIME HERE.
THE SAME THING FOR STORMWATER FUND.
ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND.
THIS IS FROM AN UNBIASED CITY AUDITORS FIRM.
NOW, MY CONCERN ABOUT THE TREND OF ORONO FINANCIAL POSITION FROM 2014 TO 2022, THE CITY'S RESERVE FUND WAS BETWEEN 46.1 AND 55.1%.
LAST YEAR, THE CITY'S RESERVE FUND FELL TO 36.4%.
THIS IS EVEN BELOW THE ORONO'S RECENTLY PASSED 40% RESERVE THRESHOLD.
LASTLY, ALSO CONCERNING IS ORONO'S OUTSTANDING BOND DEBT.
FROM 2017 TO LAST YEAR, IT ROSE 128%.
I HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS HELPFUL TO CITIZENS OF ORONO IN UNDERSTANDING THE DECLINING FINANCIAL POSITION OF OUR CITY, AND WILL MAKE IT MORE MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ON NOVEMBER 5TH.
THANK YOU. KELLY PIRKLE 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FISCAL TRANSPARENCY TONIGHT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SOME EXPENSE PRACTICES AND FEAR THERE'S A SHELL GAME HIDING SPECIFIC CAPITAL EXPENSES UNDER THE PARKS BUDGET INSTEAD OF ALLOCATING THEM DIRECTLY TO ORONO FIRE AS A WAY TO DOWNPLAY SPENDING ON FIRE RELATED COSTS.
THE AGENDA CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS PURCHASE COULD BE A SHARED TRUCK WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE TRUCK WAS $411,598, AND THE DOCUMENT SAYS THE PURCHASE WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FIRE CAPITAL FUND, THE SEWER CAPITAL FUND AND THE STORMWATER FUND.
[01:30:02]
FUND. APPEARS TO ME TO ALLOCATE ONLY 60% OF THIS COST OF THE ITEM RELATED TO FIRE, THOUGH I WOULD CERTAINLY BET MONEY THAT IT WILL BE LETTERED OFD AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS 2,000 GALLON FREIGHTLINER TANKER PURCHASED FROM FIRE SAFETY USA, INC.WILL BE FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT USE.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF LAND IN ORONO DOES NOT HAVE FIRE HYDRANTS.
A BOAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PURCHASE LIST FOR 2026.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOUND WAS COVERING OUR NAVARRE LAKE SHORE UNTIL THEN.
SO WHY ARE WE IN A HURRY TO BUY A BOAT NOW IN 2024? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THAT ARRANGEMENT WITH MOUND? A FEAR THAT I AND MANY RESIDENTS HAVE, AND CONTINUE TO SHARE, IS THAT THE DISPARAGEMENT OF NEIGHBORING CITIES COULD BE HARMFUL TO IMPORTANT COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
HAS THIS COME TO FRUITION WITH OUR LAKESHORE FIRE COVERAGE IN NAVARRE? I'D ALSO LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT FUND, WHICH YOU APPEAR TO BE MOVING NEARLY $333,000 OUT OF IN 2026, TRANSFERRING THAT FUND TO FIRE FACILITIES TO CLOSE OUT THAT FUND.
IS LEASING A WAY THAT THE COUNCIL IS SPREADING OUT PAYMENTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO KEEP THE APPEARANCE OF START UP COSTS FOR OFD LOW? I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR, AS THE MAYOR KEEPS ASSURING US IN ALL HIS VIDEOS, AS RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE TRUE COST OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY AND WE DESERVE THE TRUTH.
WE DESERVE A GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN TRUST.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FROM ORONO TONIGHT? MY NAME IS LYLE SHAW.
I DON'T HAVE ANY NOTES, AND I WASN'T INTENDING TO SPEAK.
I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR UPCOMING EVENTS, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
YOU GO TO A LOT OF PLACES AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I SEE THAT YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH THE GILLESPIE CENTER.
RECENTLY I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME PROJECTS AT GILLESPIE, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE CITY DOES SUPPORT THEM NOW.
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE THE SENIORS ARE 25 TO 30% OF THE OF THE YOUR CONSTITUENCY.
AND I'M GOING TO THROW IN SOME ADS HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
SOME OF THAT, I PARTICIPATED WITH A GROUP AT GILLESPIE WORKING ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
AND THERE'S A MODEL TRAIN PROJECT AT LMS. YOU SHOULD ALL GO AND SEE, WHEREAS YOU BRING THE THE SENIORS IN FROM LMS AND IT'S REALLY NICE.
THEY EVEN HAVE CLASSES IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
THE GROUP HAS ALSO BUILT A MOBILE LIBRARY AND WORKED WITH THE FOOD SHELF ON SOME THINGS.
SO YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT AND COME.
AND ALSO I GUESS I SHOULD TALK SLOWER.
I GOT A MINUTE. THE OTHER THING THAT THE GROUP IS PUSHING, AND ACTUALLY I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT SITTING HERE WHERE MAYBE I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU, IS TRYING TO GET A PROJECT GOING IN THE WEST TONKA AREA, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE VOYAGER AND LEARNING TO BUILD A BOAT AND USE WOOD AND OFFERING SOME TRAINING IN THAT ASPECT.
I THINK IT'S I THINK YOU SHOULD CONTINUE AND MAYBE EVEN INCREASE YOUR PARTICIPATION AT GILLESPIE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ORONO TONIGHT? SEEING NOBODY ELSE FROM ORONO.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT?
[01:35:10]
KELLY GRADY, LONG LAKE.HIS COMMENTS STATE MR. WALSH AND THE COUNCIL WERE DESPERATE TO BE ABLE TO TELL TAXPAYERS THAT THEY HAD A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION ANYWHERE NEAR THE ACTUAL SERVICE AREA, AFTER THE COURT SHUT THEM DOWN FROM USING ANY PART OF STATION TWO.
HE CONTINUES, THIS IS A VERY OLD POLE SHED, WHICH ORONO SPENT NEARLY $300,000, PUTTING AN APPROXIMATE 14 BY 30 32 FOOT ADDITION ON IT ABSOLUTELY WAS REPRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION AND FIRE CREWS WOULD BE DISPATCHED TO NAVARRE SERVICE AREA STARTING JULY 1ST, 2024. MR. WALSH AND THE CITY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY ABANDONED ITS USE, REVERTING TO CALLING IT A STORAGE GARAGE.
THIS IS WHY ORONO FIRE'S RESPONSE TIMES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY IN MINUTES SLOWER THAN LONG LAKE FIRE.
LONG, LONG HISTORY OF SERVING ORONO RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
WORSE, ORONO FIRE IS DOWN TO 8 OR 9 PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AS A RESULT OF THESE STAFFING ISSUES CHIEF VAN EYLL REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY CALL MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF TWO NON PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT LONG LAKE WOULD HAVE 11 TO 14 FIREFIGHTERS TURN OUT FOR CALLS BASED ON STAFFING, EQUIPMENT, LOCATION AND OTHER EVIDENCE, IT APPEARS ORONO HAS QUESTIONABLE ABILITY TO TIMELY RESPOND TO ANYTHING BUT THE MOST BASIC INCIDENTS, AND LITTLE OR NO ABILITY TO RESPOND TO MULTIPLE CALLS.
THIS BAIT AND SWITCH, AND THE FRIVOLOUS EXPENDITURE OF $300,000 ON THIS, NOT A FIRE STATION SOLELY FOR APPEARANCES, IS TESTAMENT TO EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MR. WALSH AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS SUPPORT FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
THESE FAILURES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AND AND REAL WORLD REPERCUSSIONS.
ORONO FIRE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WERE LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, AND A CARDIAC CALL THAT WAITED 14 MINUTES TO RESPOND DURING PAID ON CALL STAFFED DUTY HOURS.
THIS MAN SAYS THAT IT'S INEXCUSABLE.
THIS CALLOUS BEHAVIOR IS TRULY UNBELIEVABLE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? OKAY. SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND WE WILL HAVE OUR MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT.
[Mayor/Council Report]
COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE TWO ITEMS TONIGHT.
THE FIRST RELATES TO MEETING DECORUM.
THIS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AT OUR LAST MEETING.
NEITHER HE NOR ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL IS ALLOWED TO ARGUE WITH OR OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO UNDULY INFLUENCE ANOTHER'S VOTE, CRITICIZING OR DRAWING NEGATIVE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT ANOTHER'S POSITION VIOLATES MEETING DECORUM.
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER ADDRESSES THIS IN SECTION 43, PARAGRAPH 21 MEMBERS CAN SPEAK STRONGLY ABOUT A PROPOSED MEASURE, BUT CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTACK OR QUESTION THE MOTIVES OF ANOTHER MEMBER.
THIS OCCURS WITH REGULARITY ON THIS COUNCIL, WITH JUST ONE MEMBER SUBJECTED TO THIS OVERREACH.
WHEN MEMBERS TRY TO MANEUVER ACROSS THE BOUNDARY OF THEIR OWN LANE AND INTO THAT OF ANOTHER, THE PROCESS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND THE PUBLIC DOES NOT RECEIVE FAIR AND BALANCED REPRESENTATION.
RULES OF DECORUM DON'T JUST EXIST SO THAT WE'RE RESPECTFUL.
[01:40:04]
OUR ABILITY TO THINK AND TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY.THE RULES OF DECORUM PROVIDE CLEAR LIMITS FOR COUNCIL BEHAVIOR, ALL MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POSITION, THEIR TENURE, OR THEIR CONVICTION, ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THEM.
THE SECOND MATTER I HAVE CONCERNS CLARIFICATION ON A RECENT COMMUNICATION THAT I HAD WITH STAFF.
THEY PERTAIN TO WHAT I DEFINED AS THE MOBILE MODEL OF FIRE SERVICE DELIVERY, WHERE DUTY CREWS DRIVE AROUND THE CITY, SOMETIMES OUTSIDE THE SERVICE AREA, WHEN NOT RESPONDING TO CALLS.
THE CHIEF REPLIED TO MY QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL LAST WEEK.
THE NO CONTEXT WAS PROVIDED IN THE POSTING AND THE CONTENT.
THE CONTENT WAS PRESENTED AS A PROMOTION OF FIRE SERVICE ALONGSIDE CAMPAIGN VERBIAGE.
MY EMAIL WAS NOT INTENDED FOR THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, SINCE IT HAS BEEN WIDELY PUBLICIZED IN A MANNER THAT IS MISLEADING AND INCOMPLETE, I WANT TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A FEW NOTES ON WHAT'S COMING UP.
IT STARTS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, HAS THE MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 8 A.M.
TO 4:30 AT CITY HALL, PLUS SOME EXTENDED HOURS.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LINK TO FINDING OUT WHAT'S ON YOUR BALLOT AT MYBALLOTMN.SOS.MN.GOV.
THAT'S LOCATED AT THE ORONO GOLF COURSE.
THERE'S FOOD AND DRINKS AND MERRIMENT.
AND I ATTENDED THE ORONO ORCHARD OKTOBERFEST GOLF TOURNAMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, IF YOU'RE READY.
I'M ALL SET. I GUESS I'D LIKE TO START OUT TONIGHT BY REFLECTING ON THE HURRICANES THAT WE'VE HAD RECENTLY DOWN SOUTH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
A LOT OF FLOODING AND SO FORTH.
SO IF YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR HEART, PLEASE DONATE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS DOWN SOUTH, RED CROSS, SALVATION ARMY, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF TO ASSIST SOME OF THESE FAMILIES.
TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS LATELY, TAXES AND SO FORTH HAVE BEEN ON THEIR MIND.
REALLY GOOD PIECE CAME OUT COMPARING TAX INCREASES WITH LEVIES THAT GET VOTED IN AND SO FORTH.
YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE BALANCE THE BUDGET HERE IN ORONO HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO CITY OF LONG LAKE, ORONO'S TAXES WENT UP BY 2.9%.
WHERE LONG LAKES HAVE GONE UP BY 10.65%.
THE COST OF PERSONNEL, SALARIES, FOOD, FUEL, ALL THAT STUFF HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY.
YOU CAN WALK IN THE GROCERY STORE, YOU COULD SEE THAT.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE FUNDED.
AND I THINK AS A CITY, WE'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING STANDING JOB.
[01:45:02]
LONG LAKE AND RENEWING THE CONTRACT AND SO FORTH.IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO PAY FOR 90% OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUDGET.
THIS CONTRACT 20 PLUS YEARS AGO SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WRITTEN.
AT THE TIME ORONO SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OVER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S INTERESTING NOBODY EVER GOES TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AND ASKS THEM, ARE THEY UPSET ABOUT THE 10.65% INCREASE THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED IN LONG LAKE BECAUSE IT'S GOING HIGHER LATER AND YOU KNOW THAT.
IF I WASN'T DOING IT, PLEASE ASK ME THE QUESTIONS OF WHY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS, COME ON.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? THEY'RE LOOKING AT INCREASES OF OVER 10%.
ORONO HAS HAD A MINOR INCREASE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WAY UNDER THE INFLATION NUMBERS.
AND WE'VE IMPROVED THE ROADS AND WE'VE IMPROVED THE PARKS.
WE'VE KEPT THE CITY FUNCTIONING 100% AND WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF PERSONNEL.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS POLICE AND FIRE IN THE CITY OF ORONO.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE A DEBATE ON THIS STUFF.
WE'RE VOTED IN HERE TO HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR PARKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS OUR VISION THAT CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE AND ARE MORE ACTIVE.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE PARTISAN ISSUES.
HAVING PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAST FOUR YEARS IT HAS BECOME ONE AND THAT'S SAD WHEN WE HAVE TO SIT THERE AND YOU'VE GOT CERTAIN CITIES DISCUSSING DEFUNDING THE POLICE, ORONO WENT THE OTHER WAY.
WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS ARE SAFE.
THOSE ARE GOOD, POSITIVE THINGS.
BUT IT'S OKAY TO QUESTION IF SOMEBODY VOTES NO ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO SAY WHY.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED.
IT'S OKAY TO SUPPLY THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE EQUIPMENT IT NEEDS.
WE BALANCE THE BUDGETS REALLY WELL.
YES. INFLATION HAS BEEN STIFLING TO EVERYBODY.
GOD WILLING, THOSE THINGS WILL TURN AROUND.
BUT THIS CITY IS EXTREMELY WELL RUN, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE.
THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MOUNTAIN BIKING CLUB.
THEY HAD THEIR FIRST VARSITY WIN [INAUDIBLE] WHICH IS WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.
AND THEY WERE ENJOYING SOME GREAT SUCCESS AS A TEAM.
SO THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS AT THE WORK SESSION TODAY ABOUT SEEING WHAT MORE TRAILS WE CAN ADD TO THE AREA TO HELP SUPPORT THAT GROWING SPORT, WHICH IS GREAT.
ALSO, ADAM, I GUESS WE CAN HAVE THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
BUT I DID RECEIVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE DOING SOME DEVELOPMENT WORK THAT ARE WONDERING ABOUT HOW DO THEY FACT CHECK FOR ACCURACY SOME OF OUR THIRD PARTY VENDOR BILLS.
SO THAT COULD BE ENGINEERING OR THESE OTHER ONES AND THEY GET THE BILLS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE WORK SESSION TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW AS A CITY, WE INTERACT AND ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF OUR THIRD PARTY VENDORS THAT WE USE IN A, IN A GENERAL CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL LEARN MORE ABOUT.
SO AND THEN THE OTHER THING WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR HOMECOMING GAME ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, WHO WAS, YOU KNOW, ORONO AGAINST MOUNT WESTONKA AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE SERVED BY THE GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MOUNT WESTONKA.
AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS KIND OF A BATTLE OF BOTH OF THE CONSTITUENTS WE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT.
[01:50:06]
AND ALSO WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN ORONO.SO THEY'RE BOTH IMPORTANT TO US.
AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
I GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS. I KNOW MARIA HAS BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, BUT IN THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES, IT DOES SAY ONCE A COUNCIL HAS MADE A DIRECTION, YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THAT DIRECTION AND NOT CONSTANTLY GO AGAINST WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY MADE.
ANOTHER GOOD POSITIVE IS OUR INTERNET PROVIDER, MIDCO, WHO'S GOING TO BE NEW TO THE CITY WHO IS ACTUALLY WORKING IN MINNETRISTA TO LAY FIBER IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT KIND OF IN PLACE.
AND THAT'S A IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING TO FIND THAT AND PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN PLACE.
I HAVE ALSO WAS AT THE HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER EDELSON HAD HER ANNUAL, I GUESS, HER FIRST ANNUAL, BECAUSE SHE'S ONLY BEEN IN THE JOB THIS YEAR, WHICH WE USED TO HAVE WITH JAN [INAUDIBLE] OVER THE YEARS IF EVERYBODY REMEMBERS JAN IN THIS ROOM.
BUT ONE INTERESTING THING THAT DID COME UP THAT KIND OF CAUGHT MY EAR WAS FROM A MOUND OR MOUND.
THE MOUND MAYOR WAS THERE WITH THE MOUND CITY MANAGER, AND THEY HAD THEY WERE LAMENTING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL CALLS THAT THEY ARE GETTING FOR THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID SOMETIMES THEY HAVE 6 TO 9 IN A DAY AND THAT AND THAT'S A LOT.
SO THAT TO ME, WHAT THAT DID IS CONFIRM THAT WE ARE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH HAVING A DUTY CREW OUT IN THE AREA ALL THE TIME THAT CAN BE RESPOND IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE. AND, AND SO THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHTFUL, INFORMATIVE EMAILS ON FIRE SERVICE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE SEEN A FEW QUESTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHY ARE THE FIRE TRUCKS DRIVING AROUND OR JUST WASTING GAS? WHAT ARE THEY EVEN DOING? AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT I'M GOING TO READ IT TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S WORTH WORTH HEARING.
SAYS I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS QUESTION AND THE OTHERS THAT FOLLOW ARE BORN FROM A GENERAL MISCONCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF A MODERN DAY DUTY CREW FIREFIGHTER. ON DUTY FIREFIGHTERS MOVING FREELY THROUGHOUT THEIR SERVICE AREA IS NOT ONLY THE NORM, IT IS THE EXPECTATION AMONG THE AMERICAN FIRE SERVICE.
EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY WHO HAS FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY ALLOWS, ENCOURAGES AND REQUIRES THAT THOSE FIREFIGHTERS TRAVEL FREELY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. FIREFIGHTERS WORKSPACES ARE THEIR FIRE ENGINE AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT A STATION, A COMPUTER, A DESK, OR AN OFFICE.
THIS MOBILITY IS NECESSARY ON AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL.
FIREFIGHTERS MOVE THROUGHOUT THE AREA TO REFUEL VEHICLES, GET SUPPLIES FOR FIRE STATIONS, GET ITEMS FOR DEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS, DELIVER SUPPLIES AND ITEMS BETWEEN STATIONS, TRAIN OR SIMPLY GET FOOD FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT ON DUTY FIREFIGHTERS DO NOT WORK BUSINESS HOURS.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ENCOURAGE THEIR FIREFIGHTERS TO CANVASS THEIR COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND INCREASE THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL AND VALUABLE AVENUES FOR TRAINING IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
DURING THESE RECONNAISSANCE DRIVES, FIREFIGHTERS IDENTIFY FIRE PROTECTION FEATURES OF BUILDINGS, BUILDING LAYOUTS, ACCESS POINTS, FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND CONDITION, POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES, DIFFICULT TO REACH AREAS, AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEATURES THAT MAY POSE A CHALLENGE TO THEM DURING EMERGENCY INCIDENTS.
THEY MAY EVEN ATTEMPT TO SIMULATE THE PLAN TO VERIFY ITS VIABILITY.
THIS IS REFERRED TO AS PRE-PLANNING, AND IT IS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF ANY FUNCTIONAL, RELIABLE STRATEGIC FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRE CREWS ARE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY AND PROFESSIONALLY DELIVER LIFE SAVING AND PROPERTY PROTECTION SERVICES DURING AN EMERGENCY INCIDENT.
[01:55:01]
FIREFIGHTERS MOVING AROUND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY PROMOTES NATURAL INTERACTION WITH THE CITIZENS OUR FIREFIGHTERS SERVE AND PROTECT.AS I WAS IN EXCELSIOR THE OTHER NIGHT, WALKING DOWN THEIR MAIN STREET, AND I SAW A YOUNG COUPLE AND THEIR CHILD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE FIRE TRUCK TO COME DOWN THE STREET, AND THE LITTLE GIRL WANTED TO WAVE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS AND SEE IF THEY COULD HONK THEIR HORN.
THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON SHIFT AND COULD HAVE JUST COME FROM HAVING DINNER.
I'VE SEEN THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I'M IN EXCELSIOR.
WE NEED OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THE VERY NATURE OF THEIR SERVICE DEMANDS THAT THEY ESTABLISH AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THOSE THAT THEY SERVE. THIS IS WHY EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS ON DUTY FIREFIGHTERS TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY PUTS THOSE FIREFIGHTERS OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT. NO MODERN OR PROGRESSIVE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY DICTATES THAT THEIR FIREFIGHTERS REMAIN HIDDEN IN A WAY, IN A BUILDING OR FIRE STATION WAITING FOR A CALL, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE ROLE OF A FIREFIGHTER AND ANY CITY THAT ATTEMPTED TO IMPOSE THIS WOULD FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT FIREFIGHTERS.
SECOND QUESTION WAS IN WHAT WAYS DOES FIRE SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE CURRENT CAD ZONES IMPROVE THROUGH THE USE OF THE MOBILE MODEL? AT FIRST IT SAID, SEE ABOVE WHAT I JUST READ.
ADDITIONALLY, THE DUTY CREW MODEL WE'VE ADOPTED HAS RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING.
MOST NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS ON DUTY PERCENTAGE IS LESS THAN 50% OF THE TIME.
IT IS EXECUTED BY PERSONNEL WITH MORE TRAINING AND MORE EXPERIENCE.
ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT SERVICE MODEL IS DEVOID OF THE VARIABILITY THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE 100% VOLUNTEER PAID ON CALL MODEL AND IS AN INTENTIONAL STRATEGIC DEPARTURE FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL, WHICH IS BECOMING NEAR OBSOLESCENCE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF OUR SIZE.
SO THAT'S THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMAIL, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND WAS REALLY GOOD.
SO WITH THAT, I LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF QUOTES AND THESE ARE KIND OF FOOTBALL AND FALL QUOTES.
THE FIRST ONE IS BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS MORE FOOTBALL RELATED BY DARIUS RUCKER, SINCE WE'RE IN FOOTBALL SEASON.
SAYS THERE'S TWO TIMES A YEAR FOR ME FOOTBALL SEASON AND WAITING FOR FOOTBALL SEASON.
SO WITH THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.