[Roll Call]
[00:00:02]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ARNO TO ORDER.NOTING THAT WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT.
WE'LL BEGIN BY STATING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING.
FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE, WILL BE ENACTED IN ONE MOTION.NO DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS THAT WE REMOVE IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND ACTION.
THOSE ITEMS TONIGHT ARE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, CLAIMS AND BILLS, AMENDING ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS, RESOLUTION 7574, HIRING OF SEASONAL EMPLOYEES, RENTAL HOME LICENSES, AND AN INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR 3245 WISE OF BOULEVARD WEST, RESOLUTION 7565.
ANY COMMENTS OR REQUESTS TO PULL ANY OF THOSE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL SECOND IT.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
MOTION CARRIES. NOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS US.
[Public Comments]
WE'D ASK THAT YOU WOULD LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES IF POSSIBLE.BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO STEP TO THE PODIUM.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO REQUIRE THAT ONO RESIDENTS COME FIRST; WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK, STAND UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND AGAIN, TRY TO HOLD YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, IF YOU COULD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, KELLY GRADY, LONG LAKE.
I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE THE COUNSEL.
I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DAILY TEXTS, EMAILS, CALLS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND ONO RESIDENTS, ASKING FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICE, AND IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TELL PEOPLE TO HANG TIGHT FOR A SUBSTANTIVE UPDATE.
I WILL ADMIT THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT TODAY'S FIRE DISCUSSION WOULD BE A CLOSED SESSION.
IT'S NOT WHAT I AND OTHERS HAD UNDERSTOOD WOULD BE THE PLATFORM WHEN WE WERE AT THE MARCH 10 WORK SESSION.
THAT BEING SAID, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION CAN'T BE DONE OVERNIGHT.
STILL, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE A MORE MEANINGFUL UPDATE ABOUT THAN WE'RE HAVING GOOD TALKS, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
I THINK THAT WE COULD ALL AGREE.
THAT AS IT STANDS TODAY, THE OPERATION OF TWO REDUNDANT FIRE DEPARTMENTS SERVING THE AREA HAS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH, WELFARE, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ONO RESIDENTS.
WE KNOW THAT OFD IS NOT OPERATING OUT OF THE TEMPORARY SHED THAT WAS BUILT AT THE WATER STATION IN NAVAR, COSTING TAXPAYERS $300,000.
IT WAS RETROFITTED AND USED AS A MASK TO JUSTIFY OR JUSTIFY ONO FIRE'S PREPAREDNESS TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THAT AREA WHEN THEY TOOK IT OVER.
ONO FIRE. WE KNOW THEY'RE OPERATING OUT OF THE TWO PUBLIC WORK FACILITIES UP HERE, THAT THEY'RE 10-12 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE NAVAR SERVICE AREA, AND THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AN INTERIM AGREEMENT WOULD ALLOW OUR CREWS TO WORK FROM BOTH DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO FIREFIGHTERS FROM AT ALL STATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY FOR ORONO RESIDENTS, THAT ONO FIRE AS IT EXISTS TODAY COSTS $20,000 A WEEK.
TO SERVE THE NAVAR AREA, WHICH AVERAGES ABOUT TWO CALLS PER WEEK AT $10,000 PER CALL, COMPARED TO ABOUT $2,200 PER CALL WITH THE LLFD COUNTERPARTS, AND STEVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST RELATED TO WITH OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, SUCH AS YZTA, AND SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS AND BETTER SERVICE.
I STILL FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT COST TO OPERATE THE UNNECESSARY AND DUPLICATIVE DEPARTMENT.
[00:05:02]
I FEAR THAT DELAYING VOTES ON ANY INTERIM AGREEMENT, JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR.I'M TALKING ABOUT AN INTERIM AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR TWO CITIES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
THAT ANY DELAY ON A VOTE FOR THAT IS STRESSFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE BEEN USED UNFAIRLY AS LEVERAGE IN THIS POLITICAL BATTLE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
THE LONGER IT TAKES THE MORE CONSTERNATION IT CONTINUES TO CAUSE.
I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MULTIPLE FIREFIGHTERS, AND I'VE SEEN IT ONLINE RECENTLY.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE'RE NOT BEING SWAYED BY THOSE WHO LOST THE ELECTION OR CHAMPIONED LOSING CANDIDATES WHO ARE TRYING TO DERAIL THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THIS COUNCIL, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPRESS CITIZEN VOICES AS WE HEAD INTO A SPECIAL ELECTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR PLATFORM RESONATED WITH VOTERS, WHICH IS WHY YOU WON, AND I CONTINUE TO BE VERY OPTIMISTIC AND ENCOURAGE THEM WHEN I ASKED THAT WE VOTED IN COMMON-SENSE FIRE CANDIDATES.
I KNOW THAT IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND I KNOW THAT THE DELICATE BALANCE OF ALL OF THIS IS NOT LOST ON YOU.
I WOULD STILL ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER PRESENTING AN UPDATE THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR TIMELINE ON VOTING ON A COOPERATIVE INTERIM AGREEMENT.
NOT NECESSARILY THE DETAILS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, BECAUSE I REALLY DO APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THAT BRINGING THOSE TO LIGHT ARE IT CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS, AND IT CAUSES A LOT OF CHATTER THAT CAN BE HARMFUL.
IF THERE WAS EVEN A TIMELINE OR SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL WORKING ON IT, ESPECIALLY STEVE AND BOB.
I CONTINUE TO BE VERY OPTIMISTIC WHEN I ASKED, SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR ADAM ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT.
ADAM, WHEN WE RECEIVE LETTERS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND MEETINGS AND THEN REQUEST THAT THOSE LETTERS, WHATEVER THEY ARE REGARDING ARE INCLUDED IN MINUTES, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS?
>> THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN MINUTES.
>> OKAY. SO THAT IS THE QUESTION.
>> MINUTES OR A RECORD OF THE MEETING AND THE DECISIONS.
>> YES. I THINK THERE MAY NEED TO BE CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE WHEN COUNSEL RECEIVES LETTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTING THAT THOSE LETTERS, AHEAD OF A REGULAR MEETING BE INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. I SUPPOSE THE RECOMMENDATION MAYBE IF THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS INTERESTED IN HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT THEY WOULD NEED SOMEBODY TO COME, READ THAT AHEAD OF TIME.
WOULD THAT BE THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS? I'M TRYING TO ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THIS PROCESS FOR INPUT AHEAD OF A MEETING IF THEY CANNOT ATTEND OR IF THEY'D LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> SO CERTAINLY, PUBLIC COMMENT IS A TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND FOR YOU TO HEAR THEM.
THERE ARE OTHER MEANS FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL ACTIONS THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE YOU, LAND USE, WHAT HAVE YOU.
SOMETIMES WE WILL GET THINGS IN WRITTEN FORM, EMAILS, LETTERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.
THEN THAT PACKET BECOMES PART OF THE PERMANENT RECORD OF THE CITY.
BUT OFTEN, FOLKS HANDING OUT A FLYER OR SOMETHING AS PART OF PUBLIC COMMENTS DOES NOT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OTHERWISE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT. I'M SORRY. COME ON.
>> I WOULD BE AT THE MEETING. SORRY.
>> BUT I AM ABLE TO BE HERE NOW.
SO I'LL JUST READ THIS, AND I SENT THIS TO ALL OF YOU.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO VOL WELL, SPEND YOUR TIME WITH THE CITY.
IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE SOME JOB POSTINGS FOR POSITIONS.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEGOTIATION
[00:10:05]
COMING UP THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE HIRING MORE STAFF IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONSOLIDATION OF THIS.BUT IF THERE'S A REASON, WE'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
BUT ALSO, I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A HIRING FREEZE FOR ALL CITY STAFF UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
THAT'S TO REIN IN SOME OF THE SPENDING THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THIS CITY.
IF YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A REQUIRED NEED TO HIRE STAFF, WELL THEN, BY ALL MEANS DO IT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE SUGGESTION.
THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE TO PUT A MORATORIUM ON ALL CITY SPENDING UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE THIS SPENDING WAS OUT OF CONTROL FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND THAT POSSIBLY BIDS WERE NOT DONE.
THERE SHOULD BE MULTIPLE BIDS FOR BIG SPENDING THAT HAPPENS, RIGHT? IS THAT PART OF THE PROCESS? OF COURSE, MULTIPLE OPTIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE MONEY IS JUST RUBBER-STAMPED AND SENT THROUGH.
ALSO, THIS $20,000 PER WEEK IS THAT WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR NAVAR? IS THAT AN ACCURATE COST?
>> WE CAN FIND INFORMATION PER WEEK.
>> BECAUSE THAT AMOUNTS TO $1,000,000 PER YEAR THAT WE'RE SPENDING FOR THAT.
THAT'S JUST MORE HEMORRHAGING OF FUNDS WITHIN THE CITY.
THEN I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CITY.
IS IT TRUE THAT ADAM, MR. EDWARDS, YOU REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL?
>> OKAY. THEN ALL STAFF REPORTS TO YOU?
>> SO THE CITY COUNCIL ULTIMATELY REPORTS TO THE CITIZENS.
WE ALL VOTED YOU IN, AND WE TRUST THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR US.
I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT THAT WAS THE REPORTING STRUCTURE HERE AND THAT ALL DECISIONS DO GO THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT. MISS EDWARDS.
[7. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule]
>> MAYOR. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
ITEM NUMBER 7 IS UPCOMING WORK SESSION AND CITY COUNCIL TRAINING SCHEDULE.
DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHANGE TO THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE THAT'S GETTING PRETTY PACKED HERE, AT LEAST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
BUT WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR DIFFERENT TRAINING OR IN BRIEFS OR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS FROM COUNSEL, IN PARTICULAR.
COUNCILMEMBER BENSON RECENTLY ASKED FOR SOME STUFF ON HOW OUR CONSERVATION DESIGN ORDINANCE WORKS.
I ADDED TO THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE A SECTION CALLED FOR TRAINING. I PULL IT UP.
ANOTHER SECTION THERE TO SEE IF THERE'S AN INTEREST IN SOME OF THESE TRAINING EVENTS.
IN PARTICULAR, SOMETHING LIKE THE ONO CONSERVATION DESIGN CODE ORIENTATION WE COULD DO IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THROUGH A DATE OF APRIL 4 FROM 10 TO NOON, BUT IT COULD BE REALLY ANY DATE THAT WOULD WORK FOR THE COUNCIL.
BUT WANTED TO TRY TO GET SOME ORGANIZATION AROUND ALL THESE TRAINING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE ARE BEING ASKED FOR SO THAT WE CAN CONSOLIDATE AND GET IT DONE.
>> AM I READING THIS RIGHT THAT APRIL 28, WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT STREET MAINTENANCE, OR IS THAT PART OF APRIL IS THAT ARIE EIGHTH OR MAY.
>> SORRY, THE LINE WHATEVER REASON THE LINES DISAPPEARED ON THE TABLE THIS TIME AROUND.
SO APRIL 14 FOR THE WORK SESSION, WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH PARKS COMMISSION. APRIL 28.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA: STREET MAINTENANCE FOR 2026, AND AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK DISCUSSION.
THEN MAY 12, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP PROCESS SUMMARY AND SO ON.
I'M NOT SURE WHY THESE ARE PRODUCED FROM A WEB APPLICATION, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE LINES DISAPPEARED THIS WEEK. BUT INTO IT.
>> DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS BY ANYTHING FORMAL?
>> I BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION.
[00:15:01]
MORE ALSO FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.AGAIN, I COMMITTED TO COUNCIL MEMBER VENTS, AND I WOULD BRING SOMETHING UP SO THE COUNCIL COULD DISCUSS IT.
>> YOU DID. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WASN'T AWARE AND WE'VE NOT DONE THIS, AT LEAST IN MY TIME HERE.
I HAD A MEETING OR A TRAINING WITH ALL OF COUNSEL APART FROM A WORK SESSION. SO THIS IS NEW.
>> THAT SAID, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT, MAINLY BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE REGARDING WORK SESSIONS, AND THEY GO VERY FAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TWO SUBJECT MATTERS IN THE SAME 50 MINUTES, ESSENTIALLY.
NOW, THAT SAID, WHETHER OR NOT ALL COUNCIL ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING OUTSIDE OF WORK SESSIONS BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANOTHER WAY OF, ADDRESSING SOME OF THIS MATERIAL, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT, AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW COUNCIL.
I DO WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT CONSERVATION DESIGN ORIENTATION.
THAT DISCUSSION OR THAT DESIRE, ON MY PART TO DISCUSS SOMETHING RELATED TO THAT CAME ABOUT FROM LAND USE APPLICATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF INTEREST WHEN THERE'S PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION INVOLVED IN WETLANDS, ETC, AND I SUPPORT THAT.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL IS THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT PRESERVATION PROTECTION, IS THAT SUBJECT MATTER INDICATIVE OF THAT TYPE OF DISCUSSION? OR ARE WE GOING TO BE LIMITED TO A ONE PIECE OF THAT? MY IDEA WAS TO HAVE A BROAD DISCUSSION, AND MAYBE THAT'S PART OF IT AROUND PRESERVATION PROTECTION WHEN IT COMES TO LAND USE OR OTHER DEVELOPMENT.
>> THE THOUGHT HERE WAS WE COULD DO SOME ORIENTATION/TRAINING, OFFER THAT TO EVERYBODY TO GET FAMILIARIZED WITH WHAT DOES THE CURRENT CODE SAY? WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS, LEFT AND RIGHT LIMITS, AS FAR AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS ON THOSE.
THEN CERTAINLY IF THERE'S A DESIRE TO LOOK AT CHANGING THE CODE OR HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO INTERPRET THE CODE AND THOSE THINGS, THEN THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A MEETING LIKE IN THIS FORUM.
BUT THEN WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TWO HOURS AT THE BEGINNING OF A COUNCIL MEETING JUST GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE HISTORY OF WHY THE CONSERVATION CODE READS LIKE IT READS AND HOW IT'S BEEN INTERPRETED IN THE PAST AND ALL THAT MORE ACADEMIC PIECE OF IT, I GUESS.
THIS WAS MY RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND NOT SEEING ANY SPACE ON THE CALENDAR WAS WE COULD PUT MORE THINGS ON THE CALENDAR. THAT WAS THE IDEA.
>> IT NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> YEAH, IF WE HAD A QUORUM, WE WOULD HAVE TO POST IT AS A SPECIAL MEETING WITH THE QUORUM PRESENT.
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD WAY TO HANDLE IT AND I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE RESTRICTED TO THIS ONE TOPIC.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT COUNCIL BENSON HAD TALKED ABOUT.
>> THE OTHER THOUGHT I HAD ABOUT THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, AND IT'S OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY BEFORE THE APRIL 14 MEETING.
IS THAT WE ARE MEETING JOINTLY WITH PARKS COMMISSION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES SCHEDULED WITH PLANNING.
MY THOUGHT WAS THAT IF WE ARE TALKING OR TOUCHING UPON ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO BOTH COMMISSIONS, IT SEEMS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO ALLOW THAT OPPORTUNITY ALSO FOR PLANNING, ESPECIALLY AS WE'VE PASSED A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT APPLIES TO BOTH, AND THAT MAYBE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE SO MANY NEW MEMBERS, BOTH ON COMMISSION AND COUNCIL TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A DISCUSSION OR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE FLOW OF INFORMATION.
WHATEVER THE CASE IS, I JUST THOUGHT THAT MAY BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY ALSO FOR PLANNING IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S BEEN MORE COMMON ACTUALLY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAN HAS NECESSARILY BEEN WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION IN RECENT YEARS TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING.
THEY'VE MORE HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DOING THINGS LIKE THE COMP PLAN, OR WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING CODE REVISIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE STARTED SOME OF THOSE CYCLES OUT WITH SOME JOINT MEETINGS.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, YES, WE CERTAINLY CAN ADD THAT.
JUST SO YOU KNOW WE ARE, LAURA DOES HAVE SOME TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY NEW MEMBERS, VERY SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE TRAINING AND ORIENTATIONS YOU ALL WENT THROUGH AS YOU BECAME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, OBVIOUSLY FOCUSED ON PLANNING. I THINK WHAT NEXT.
>> SHE WILL BE HANDLING A TRAINING EPISODE AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE DOING THE PARKS COMMISSION JOINT TRAINING OR JOINT MEETING.
[00:20:02]
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER?>> WELL, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK COMING UP.
WE'RE DISCUSSING ISSUES AROUND LAND USE, CONSERVATION DESIGN, THESE SEEM RELEVANT.
>> IF THE COUNCIL PREFERS, WE COULD DEFINITELY OPEN IT UP TO INVITE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THAT CONSERVATION DESIGN MEETING OR WE COULD HAVE A SEPARATE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MUCH LIKE YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PARKS.
I GUESS WHATEVER DIRECTIVE YOU GUYS WANT, WE CAN COORDINATE.
>> WELL, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THAT WHAT WE'VE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK TO BE A JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNER.
THERE JUST TOO MUCH TO COVER IN AN HOUR.
>> THAT MEETING, WE'RE ALSO DOING STREET MAINTENANCE DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY TIGHT WORK SESSION.
BUT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO MERGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE CONSERVATION DESIGN ORIENTATION SINCE THAT'S DEVELOPMENT ORIENTED, OR IF THERE'S A SEPARATE MEETING, WE COULD HOLD A WHOLE ANOTHER TIME AND A WHOLE ANOTHER MEETING OF SPECIFICALLY A WORK SESSION JUST WITH THE YOU AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORK SESSION IS GETTING UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW HERE, IT'S GETTING QUITE FULL, AND I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING A JOINT SESSION ON THE APRIL 4TH.
THAT SAID IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS FROM PLANNING MIGHT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT.
IT'S ONE DRAWBACK, BUT IT COULD BE A STARTING PLACE TO AT LEAST SEE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> I COULD ALWAYS INVITE THEM AND WHO COULD POST AND SEE IF WHOEVER'S AVAILABLE TO COME COULD COME.
THEN A FOLLOW UP EMAIL FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
THAT'S MY GOAL TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALL ABLE TO INTERACT, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY NEW MEMBERS AND COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT DIRECTIONALLY WHERE WE'RE INTERESTED IN HEADING.
IT DID OCCUR TO ME ALSO WE PASSED THIS ON CONSENT, BUT, ADAM, DID WE NEED TO HAVE AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF COUNCIL INVOLVED IN BOTH PARK COMMISSION AND PLANNING? WE DID NOT NAME THAT.
WE HAVE TWO BLANKS ON THE ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS SO THE CITY CODE DOES ENVISION A, EX OFFICIO, THAT'S THE WORD I WAS LOOKING FOR.
EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF EACH OF THE COMMISSIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
THAT'S BEEN TACKLED A NUMBER OF WAYS HISTORICALLY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN, AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
YEARS AGO, WHAT THE COUNCIL DID IS CREATED A ROSTER AND ROTATED SO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TOOK A MONTH AND ROTATED LIKE THAT.
THAT DIED OFF HONESTLY ONCE WE STARTED TELEVISING ALL OF THE PARKS AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS.
I THINK THE FUNCTION OF THAT WAS THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNCIL SITTING THROUGH THOSE MEETINGS WHO COULD THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND OR PASS ON INFORMATION TO THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
BUT ONCE THE VIDEOING STARTED HAPPENING, MOST OF YOUR PREDECESSORS CHOSE TO WATCH THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE PARKS COMMISSION VIDEO INSTEAD.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. THE ISSUE AGAIN IS THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONS, BECAUSE I DON'T RECALL THAT WE'VE HAD EITHER THE CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR SHARING OUT TO COUNCIL ON A REGULAR BASIS, ESPECIALLY FROM PARKS MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH.
THAT'S THE ISSUE IS HOW ARE COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONS COMPARING NOTES WITH A SHARE OUT OR NOT THAT I DON'T THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO SIT THROUGH FOR OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THE IDEA IS TO BE ABLE TO EXCHANGE AND CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONS.
>> UP UNTIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, MAYBE, FOR THE PARKS COMMISSION, WE DID HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER OR ACTUALLY TWO APPOINTED.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION THOUGH WAS ON A ROSTER BASIS.
IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO THOSE, WE CAN.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL BEFORE YOU WERE SEATED, I SENT OUT AN EMAIL SAYING, PLEASE TELL ME ANY OF THESE THINGS YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT I WAS STILL LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE OF HOW YOU WANTED TO FILL THAT, NOT FILL IT.
>> I AGREE. I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION PIECE.
[NOISE] NOT NECESSARILY JUST KEEPING UP ON IT, WHICH YOU DO BY VIDEO,
[00:25:01]
BUT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE COUNCIL'S POSITION ON A PARTICULAR WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS, I GUESS.>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HAS TO BE AN EITHER OR.
MAYBE IT'S A BOTH AND WE COULD HAVE A ROTATE.
OFTENTIMES IT'S MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO COME TO PARKS MEETINGS, ETC, AND IT CAN BE A NICE THING, I THINK TO HAVE A ROTATING MEMBER OF COUNCIL IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING PARK OR PLANNING MEETINGS ON OCCASION TO HAVE THAT PRESENCE THERE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE REGULAR REPORTING COMING FROM CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR TO COUNCIL.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THESE COMMUNICATION PIECES THAT I'VE SEEN CAN DISINTEGRATE A BIT, AND IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THESE NEW MEMBERS.
MAYBE A ROTATING MEMBER OF COUNCIL ON PARKS, PLANNING.
IT WOULDN'T BE OVERLY BURDENSOME, AND IF SOMEBODY CAN'T DO IT, THEY CAN'T DO IT, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE MAYBE TO HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY HAVING SOMEONE ON THE COMMISSION OR JUST AN EX OFFICIO THERE?
YEAH, NOT SERVING ON THE COMMISSION, BUT MAYBE IT'S MORE IMPORTANT IN PARKS.
WE HAVE VERY FEW PARKS MEETINGS AT THIS POINT, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE THAT INTERACTION OR THAT DIALOGUE TO INCREASE.
BUT I DON'T HAVE OWNERSHIP OVER THAT POSITION, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TAKE SUGGESTIONS.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE INCREASED COMMUNICATION, HOWEVER WE SEE FIT TO DO THAT.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF ROTATING IT, FRANKLY.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE FACE IS IF THREE OF US HAPPEN TO SHOW UP TO A PARK COMMISSION MEETING, WE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE OPEN MEETING ISSUE.
>> I THINK THAT'S PRETTY EASY. ONE OF US CAN LEAVE.
I KNOW FOR THE PARKS COMMISSION, YOU AND I BOTH SHOWED UP.
BUT IF A THIRD ONE HAD SHOWN UP, ONE OF US HAD TO LEAVE.
>> BUT I'D BE IN FAVOR OF A ROTATING FOR EACH OF THOSE.
>> I WOULD TOO. I LIKE THAT IDEA.
>> IF I DON'T NEED A FORMAL MOTION BECAUSE WE ARE IN A SPECIAL MEETING, SO WE CAN'T DEVIATE, BUT IF THAT'S JUST THE GENERAL GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNCIL, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A ROSTER, WE CAN GENERATE A ROSTER FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
>> IS THERE AN EXPECTATION THAT THE CHAIRS FOR THOSE COMMISSIONS PROVIDES A PERIODIC UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL?
>> THERE'S NOT A POLICY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S BEEN THAT AS A PRACTICE.
PARTICULARLY WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION, MORE SO THAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE VARIOUS PARKS COMMISSION CHAIRS HAVE AT VARIOUS TIMES EITHER COME TO SPEAK AS PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT OR BEEN ON THE AGENDA OR COME TO A WORK SESSION.
THERE'S BEEN VARIOUS WAYS OF THAT HAPPENING.
CERTAINLY IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO FORMALIZE AND TO HAVE A MORE REGULAR TYPE EVENT, WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT.
I GUESS I WOULD SUGGEST THAT'S A GREAT TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION WHEN WE MEET ON THE 14TH IN THAT WORK SESSION IS WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO YOU ALL HAVE OF THE COMMISSION FOR COMING TO TALK TO YOU?
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK JUST IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL GETTING AN UPDATE, THE PUBLIC COULD ALSO GET THAT UPDATE.
THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT IN MY OPINION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST NOTE THAT [NOISE] DURING THAT JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND WHAT'S THAT?
>> THE STATEMENT OF VALUES WITH THEM, ALONG WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS ON THAT.
JUST A NOTE TO MAKE SURE WE COVER THAT WHEN WE MEET, WE ALLOW SOME TIME FOR THAT.
>> ADAM, HOW IS THE AGENDA FOR THAT WORK SESSION BEING SET?
>> WE MET, I GUESS IT WAS A LAST WEEK WITH THE PARKS CHAIR AND THE PARKS SUPERINTENDENT AND MYSELF TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE CONSIDERING STARTING OFF WITH A BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PARKS COMMISSION IS AND WHAT IT DOES AND THEN BRIAN'S READY TO GIVE AN UPDATE OF WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR OBJECTIVES AND GOALS FOR THE YEAR AND THAT THING, AND THEN STAFF WILL BE ON HAND TO PROVIDE ANY RESPONSES ON WHERE WE STAND MAYBE ON PROJECTS OR OTHER INITIATIVES WITHIN THE OVERARCHING PARKS ARENA.
>> IF COUNCIL HAS ANY IDEAS ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THAT WORK SESSION, SHALL WE JUST EMAIL THEM TO YOU AHEAD OF TIME?
>> ONE OF OUR HOPES WAS THAT TO KEEP THE MEETING,
[00:30:03]
WE ONLY HAVE 45 MINUTES REALLY, IS THAT WE'D LOOK TO THE MAYOR TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE CHAIR TO SPEAK FOR THE COMMISSION AS A STARTING POINT AND THEN TRY TO CONTROL THE MEETING.>> YOU DON'T WANT TO MUZZLE ANYBODY ELSE'S THOUGHTS?
>> YEAH. THAT MAKES SENSE. ANYTHING ELSE ON THE WORK SESSION AND TRAINING SCHEDULE?
>> I THINK YOU'RE GETTING NODS FROM UP HERE TO HOST THAT TRAINING SCHEDULE OR TRAINING ORIENTATION ON THE 4TH.
[8. League of Minnesota Cities, Local Zoning Authority Retention - Resolution 7573]
LOCAL ZONING AUTHORITY RETENTION.>> THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY, LORIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING RETENTION OF CITY ZONING AUTHORITY.
AS YOU GUYS MIGHT BE AWARE, THERE ARE SOME PROPOSED BILLS UP AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SENATE, WHICH ARE CONSIDERING TO IMPOSE VERY SPECIFIC STAT STATE FRAMEWORK ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT WILL BE LIMITING TO LOCAL DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY REGARDLESS OF THE CITY'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE LOCAL ZONING IS IMPORTANT PLANNING TOOL THAT ENSURES THE COMMUNITIES CAN RESPONSIBLY PLAN FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADDRESS LOCAL HOUSING NEEDS AND RESIDENTIAL INPUT.
AS PART OF THESE BILLS, THERE'S I THINK THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT BILLS RIGHT NOW.
THEY ALL ARE OVERLAPPING, SAY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT GETTING AT THE SAME WIDENING SINGLE FAMILY ZONING TO BE MORE DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND FOR PLEX FOCUSED, LIMITING THE ABILITY TO DO SOME REQUIRING SOME ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL ON PROJECTS AND LIMITING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THERE ALSO WOULD REQUIRE POTENTIALLY OVERHAULING SOME OF OUR ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND OUR ZONING ORDINANCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND REQUIRING SOME DENSITY, IMPACTS ON MINIMUM PARKING STANDARDS, IMPACTS ON ALLOWING SOME, LIKE TALL HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, LIKE 70 FOOT TALL BUILDING RESTRICTIONS AND STUFF.
VERY LIMITING FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WE'D BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW.
THIS IS A TEMPLATE ORDINANCE THAT WE USED FROM THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES SHOWING THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN OUR LOCAL ZONING AUTHORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE INCLUDED IT IN YOUR PACKET, AND YOU ARE ASKED TO ACT ON THAT TONIGHT.
I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE LATER THIS WEEK, SO WE'D BE SUBMITTING THAT BACK TO THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES AND SENDING IT TO OUR LOCAL REPS IF IT WAS PASSED TONIGHT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> JUST A OBSERVATION THAT THIS IS WOULD BE JUST A STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT BE IT WOULDN'T SUPERSEDE WHATEVER CAME DOWN FROM THE STATE.
>> THIS IS JUST A STATEMENT THAT WE ARE OPPOSING OF SOME OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATURE AND IT'S A FORMAL RESOLUTION TO GIVE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEN THE LEAGUE TO USE TO SHOW WHERE ONO SUPPORTS AND WHAT WE DON'T SUPPORT OF THESE PROPOSED BILLS.
>> IT'S GREAT THAT'S COMING FROM THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES AS A TEMPLATE SO THAT THERE CAN BE A CRITICAL MASS DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT, HOWEVER MANY COUNCILS AGREE TO TAKE IT ON.
>> THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE NORTHWEST HENNEPIN LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT BOB USUALLY ATTENDS, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO.
THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, AND I WILL SAY THAT MET COUNCIL WAS APPALLED.
THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT THIS THROUGH THIS PRETTY MUCH PUTS OUR ZONING AND WHATEVER ANY RESTRICTIONS WE WANT TO PUT PRETTY MUCH WE HAVE NO SAY ANYMORE.
IF YOU READ THROUGH THEM, IT SAYS, I THINK WE HAVE ONE CHANCE TO MEET AND DISCUSS IT.
OTHERWISE, IF THERE IS LAND AVAILABLE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, AND I BELIEVE IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS AS WELL, THAT THEY CAN START PUTTING THESE PIECES OF PROPERTY UP WHEREVER THEY WANT.
ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BROWN ROAD, IN PARTICULAR, WHERE WE GET STATE MONEY, ANYTHING WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF THAT IS NOW FAIR GAME.
AS WELL, BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE TOOK FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
I'M RATHER APPALLED BY THESE BILLS AND FRIGHTENED BY THEM.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE,
[00:35:02]
TALK TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.I KNOW WE'VE SENT SOME EMAILS TO REPRESENTATIVE MAYOR ABOUT IT.
HE TRIED TO PUT AN AMENDMENT IN THAT CITIES UNDER 10,000 PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE AFFECTED BY THAT THAT WAS DENIED.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO TRY TO GET THESE BILLS NOT TO PASS WOULD BE VERY GOOD.
>> I SIGNED A LETTER THIS WEEK THAT WAS SENT TO THE ALL THE AREA MAYORS SIGNED IT, AND I DID, AS WELL, OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT WASN'T OBVIOUSLY AN OFFICIAL ACT OF YOU ALL, BUT AS A MAYOR. MY VOICE.
>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 7573 FOR THE ZONING AUTHORITY RETENTION.
>> I THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.
[9. Council Committee and Board Reports]
COUNCIL COMMITTEE BOARD REPORTS.IT'S TIME WE WILL START WITH MR. BURGAN.
>> MR. MAYOR, THIS FIRST PARTICULAR ITEM IS FOR THE POLICE COMMISSION MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK ON THE POLICE COMMISSION.
>> I CAN DO THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK AND I ATTENDED THE MARCH 12TH POLICE COMMISSION MEETING, AND THERE WAS SOME NEW FACES FROM OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES AS WELL AS THIS ONE ON THE COMMISSION.
WE DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF ITEMS, AND I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW.
WE'LL BE EXPECTING A PRESENTATION IN THE NEAR TERM FROM THE EMBEDDED SOCIAL WORKER THAT OUR CITY SHARES WITH THE OTHER CITIES IN THE AREA WHO DEPEND ON OR NO POLICE FOR THEIR POLICING NEEDS.
THIS ROLE REALLY ASSISTS A GREAT DEAL IN STREAMLINING CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE AND ENSURING THAT OFFICERS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE NOT OVERWHELMED WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF NEEDS.
WILL THEY BE HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER THINGS? THAT IS A REALLY CRITICAL ROLE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM THE EMBEDDED SOCIAL WORKER IN THE NEAR TERM.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE IT ON THE SCHEDULE YET, BUT SHE'S MAKING HER ROUNDS WITH THE CITIES AT THIS TIME.
HER CONTRACT IS ASSURED THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.
I BELIEVE IT'S A YEARLY CONTRACT WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER.
ANYHOW, WE'RE COVERED THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE IS MUCH APPRECIATED AND REALLY HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF REFERRALS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY LOOKING TO FILL ONE POSITION, AND RECRUITING IS VERY COMPETITIVE.
IF ANY FOLKS ARE INTERESTED OR KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN POLICING TO POLICE CONTACT, CHIEF FERNIAC.
HE IS ALWAYS OPEN TO TAKING YOUR CALLS.
WE STILL DO HAVE TWO POLICE CADETS WHO ARE IN THEIR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND SERVING WITH THE ONO POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME AND THEY DO GO ON SOME ROUTINE CALLS AND ARE VERY VITAL TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN FROM THE GROUND UP WITH OUR PD.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND A LOT TO BE PROUD OF THERE.
JUNIOR EXPLORERS ARE STILL ACTIVE.
THOSE ARE 14-18 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN POLICING, AND WE HAVE A VERY NICE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE.
AGAIN, ANY FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY PURSUING THAT FIELD ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH POLICING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CHIEF FERNIAC, BECAUSE THERE ARE REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS OUR K9 ONYX WHO IS CURRENTLY IN TRAINING, VERY INTENSIVE TRAINING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING ONYX SOON.
I BELIEVE HE WILL BE DONE IN JUNE WITH THE INTENSIVE TRAINING.
THIS IS FOR DETECTION AND SEARCH ONLY, THIS IS NOT AN APPREHENSION UNIT.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ON THAT NOTE.
A COUPLE MORE THINGS, THE TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT THAT WE ACQUIRED HAS ALLOWED AN UNMARKED VEHICLE TO PATROL, AND THIS IS PART OF THE GRANT LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR DISTRACTED DRIVERS.
IF ANYONE IS ON THEIR CELL PHONE, THAT IS WHAT THIS VEHICLE IS LOOKING TO DETER BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A PROBLEM, AND I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN IT.
THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING OUT WARNINGS, AND THAT WAS NOW GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING INTO ISSUING CITATIONS.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT SERVICE, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THAT GRANT.
THEN FINALLY, THE DEPARTMENT DOES CONTINUE TO ADDRESS VARIOUS BURGLARY CALLS, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCAMS. THE CHIEF DID REITERATE THAT CALLING 911, IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FEEL THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING
[00:40:01]
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT OR GIVES THEM CONCERN, RATHER THAN WAITING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THOSE EARLY CALLS REALLY DO HELP THE DEPARTMENT IN THEIR WORK.I THINK THAT'S IT UNLESS COUNCILMEMBER RICKS, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT REALLY WELL.
>> THERE'S A NOTE ON HERE ABOUT ONE OF THE CURRENT ISSUES BEING EBIS.
WHAT WAS THE DISCUSSION THERE?
>> THE EBI, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE YOUNG FOLKS WHO RIDE WITHOUT HELMETS, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A CONCERN, AND OUR DEPARTMENT WAS LOOKING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THREE RIVERS ABOUT DOING A BETTER JOB OF SENDING CLEAR MESSAGING AROUND HELMETS, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIVERS PARKS TRAILS.
AT THIS TIME, T RIVERS WAS NOT WANTING TO GO FURTHER WITH ANY MEASURES ALONG THOSE LINES.
OUR DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES AND EDUCATION AROUND THAT, BUT WE WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE SAFE USE OF THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES.
>> I KNOW THEY'VE HAD ISSUES IN SOME AREAS.
I THINK IT WAS MOUND AND CERTAINLY NAVAR WITH SOME GROUPS OF CHILDREN, RIDING THEM AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC, WITHOUT HELMETS, AND IT REALLY DOES IT'S ALARMING, THE TRAILS AS WELL.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN THERE, BUT THERE'S NOT AN EASY FIX FOR THAT.
CERTAINLY BEING SMART ABOUT IT, WEARING A HELMET, OR ENCOURAGING YOUNG FOLKS TO DO SO IS WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
>> THE OTHER PART OF THAT, TOO, JUST TO ADD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHIEF WAS LOOKING FOR IS WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE IS TO HAVE A REGIONAL RESPONSE SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY OUT IN THE WEST METRO EACH PASSING THEIR OWN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ORDINANCE, BUT RATHER WAS LOOKING FOR THREE RIVERS OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR SOMEBODY TAKE A LEAD AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK THE ORDINANCES SHOULD SAY SO THAT YOU CAN BE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOW, WE'LL GO TO MAYOR COUNCIL REPORTS,
[Mayor/Council Report]
AND WE WILL MR. BURGAN.I WAS ASKED A LITTLE BIT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THIS SETTING ABOUT WHAT WAS COVERED AT THE WORK SESSION, A COUPLE ON MARCH 10TH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FIRE COVERAGE AND SOME COST INFORMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH A COUPLE UPDATES BASED ON INCIDENTS HERE.
AT THE MARCH 10TH WORK SESSION, WHAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WAS FIRE COVERAGE.
REALLY THE REASONS FOR THE REVIEW WERE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WHILE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO HAVE THE BEST RESPONSE WE CAN FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN ONO.
WE HAVE GREAT DEPARTMENTS AROUND US, ZETA, MAPLE PLAIN, EXCEL SHIRE MOUND, HAMEL, LORETTO, AND PLYMOUTH, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T MEAN TO MISS OTHER COMMUNITIES.
BUT IN THIS REVIEW, WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IS IN 2002, WHEN I WAS THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPART LONG FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK OVER THE NORTHWEST AREA OF ONO, AND AT THAT TIME, WE RELUCTANTLY DID SO AT THE DIRECTION OF ONO.
IN 2018, AGAIN, THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DIRECTED TO TAKE OVER THE EASTERN AREA OF ONO AND JAMES, AT THE TIME.
ALSO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, RELUCTANTLY DID SO AS WELL TO REMOVE THAT FROM MAPLE PLAIN FROM MOZETA.
ANOTHER COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE IS SINCE 2018, ONO HAS PROVIDED VERY LITTLE CAPITAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ANY CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, AND I'LL COMMENT ON THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT.
BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CURRENT LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ZETA FIRE CHIEF, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TALKED TO MAPLE PLAIN.
WE BOTH AGREED THAT THERE MAY BE AN INTEREST OR A NEED TO AT LEAST HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING YZ TAKE OVER THE EASTERN PART OF ONO AGAIN.
THE INTENT OF THAT WORK SESSION, WHAT WE DISCUSSED AND HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION IS THAT NOT ONLY DO ONO STAFF REACH OUT TO THE CITIES OF BIZETA, BUT ALSO MAPLE PLAIN TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POSSIBLY RESTORING DIFFERENT COVERAGE SERVICES, WHETHER IT BE WITH BIZETA OR MAPLE PLAIN DEPENDING UPON THE AREA.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT CLAIRE MADE AT THE TIME THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE VERIFY DATA AND ENSURE THE PROPER PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSES INSURED AS A PART OF ANY CHANGE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER MAKING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN MAINTAINING OUR PRIORITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
ANOTHER AREA THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE TIME,
[00:45:01]
AND I'LL JUST PROVIDE SOME UPDATED INFORMATION IS AROUND ONO FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT RESPONSE.THIS INCIDENT RESPONSE IS INFORMATION FROM JANUARY 4TH THROUGH MARCH 21ST, WHICH IS 11 CALENDAR WEEKS.
DURING THAT TIME, THE ONO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD 33 TOTAL CALLS.
OF THOSE TOTAL CALLS, 24 OF THOSE WERE HANDLED BY THE DUTY CREW.
FOUR WERE HANDLED BY THE DUTY OFFICER.
>> FIVE WERE HANDLED OR PAID ON-CALL RESPONSE AT THE TIME.
JUST A SIDE NOTE, OVER THE LAST SEVEN WEEKS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PAID ON-CALL INCIDENT RESPONSE OVER THE LAST SEVEN WEEKS AND TWO IN THE LAST 10 WEEKS.
AGAIN, THAT WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED, AND I JUST SIMPLY UPDATED THAT.
IN ADDITION TO SHARING THAT, I ALSO SHARED SOME INFORMATION AROUND FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE COSTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, AND I WANTED TO SHARE THOSE AS WELL.
THESE ARE ACTUALS BUDGETED AND PLANNED WITHIN THE CIP.
IN 2023, THERE'S BEEN $895,393 SPENT IN 2023 ON FIRE SERVICES.
OF THAT, THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS WERE $384,190.
THE OPERATING COSTS WERE 203,462, AND THE CAPITAL COSTS WERE $180,728.
DURING THAT SAME YEAR 2023, THE FIRE SERVICE CONTRACT COST PAID TO LONG LAKE WAS $511,203.
IN 2024, THE TOTAL COST FOR FIRE SERVICE TO ORONO WAS $2,862,874.
OF THAT, $2,233,523 WERE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS.
TO BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, OPERATING COSTS WERE $828,378.
FACILITY COSTS WERE $473,145, AND CAPITAL COSTS WERE $932,000.
IN THAT SAME YEAR, THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS FOR THE SERVICE CONTRACT WERE $629,391.
THERE WILL BE A CREDIT COMING BACK THIS SPRING FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSE WE HAD ASSOCIATED WITH LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, TOTAL IN 2024, THE COSTS WERE $2,862,874.
IN 2025, THE COSTS ARE TWO MILLION PROJECTED, BUDGETED, OR ACTUAL ARE $2,317,343.
OF THAT 2,317,000, THE SPECIFIC ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS ARE $1,554,600.
TO FURTHER BREAK THAT DOWN, THE OPERATING COSTS ARE $1,040,000, AND THE CAPITAL COSTS LOOK TO BE $514,600, ALTHOUGH THE CIP REFLECTS $699,500, DEPENDING UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE.
THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS TO THE CITY OF ORONO ARE A SERVICE CONTRACT FOR $577,849.
THERE IS A CAPITAL NUMBER OF $184,849, WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY APPROVED.
AGAIN, THE GRAND TOTAL FOR 2025 FOR WHAT'S PLANNED OR HAS BEEN SPENT $2,317,343.
FOR THE THREE YEARS, THE CITY OF ORONO FIRES SERVICES, ACTUALS AND PLANNED, HAVE BEEN $6,075,610.
THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT COSTS OF THAT $6 MILLION IS $4,172,312.
THE LONG LAKE COSTS ARE $1,903,297 LESS A PENDING CREDIT THAT'S COMING BASED UPON 2024.
THAT SHOULD BE NOTED BY THE WAY, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT OVER THE PERIOD SINCE 2018, A LOT OF CAPITAL HASN'T BEEN PURCHASED, AND IT'S BEEN ACCUMULATING AND HAS BEEN SPENT.
[00:50:01]
SOME OF THAT CAPITAL HAS BEEN NECESSARY.BUT THE DECISION TO NOT APPROVE IT WHEN YOU WERE IN A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH LONG LAKE WAS SOMETHING THAT PUSHED IT TO COMPACTING WHEN THAT WAS BEING SPENT.
I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THERE'S ANOTHER NINE YEARS OF CAPITAL PLANNING FOR ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT THAT TOTALS $6,270,800.
IN TOTAL, WHAT'S BEEN SPENT OR WHAT'S BEEN PLANNED FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT OPERATIONAL OR FACILITY COSTS, WHICH WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL IS $12,346,410.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT I SHARED AT THE WORKSHOP.
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES OF WHY I SHARED THAT WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE IT FEEDS INTO THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LONG LAKE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY, BUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
WE'VE HAD ONGOING MEETINGS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE MEETING PROCESS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO BRING THE DEPARTMENTS BACK TOGETHER.
TO BE EVEN MORE CLEAR, THE GOAL IS NOT TO GO BACK TO THE PAST OR JAM THINGS TOGETHER.
THE GOAL IS TO CONSOLIDATE THE DEPARTMENTS AND TAKE THE BEST FROM BOTH FORWARD.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING YES TO IS COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING NO TO IS ISOLATION AND INDEPENDENCE.
AS BOB AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, THE TENETS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THIS EVENING, INCLUDE, AS IT RELATES TO FIRE SERVICE, ALONG WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO RESTORE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT COVERAGE TO THE NAVARRO AREA OF ORONO QUICKLY.
AS IT RELATES TO FIRE OPERATIONS, WE WANT ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LEAD TOGETHER, TO TRAIN TOGETHER, TO STAFF TOGETHER, AND TO SHARE RESOURCES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
AS IT RELATES TO FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICES, WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LONG LAKE, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO INITIALLY ESTABLISH A SHORT TERM AGREEMENT FOLLOWED BY A LONGER TERM FIRE SERVICES PLAN FOR NOT ONLY ORONO AND LONG LAKE, BUT ALSO THOSE COMMUNITIES NEARBY THAT MAY LIKE TO JOIN.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT UPDATE.
I PARTICIPATED IN A RIDE ALONG WITH THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
BEING ON THE POLICE COMMISSION, AND EVEN IF I WASN'T, I THINK IT'S REALLY HELPFUL AND IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE DEPARTMENT WORKS OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, AND THIS WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS REALLY VALUABLE TO CRA DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS WHEN IT'S TAKING REPORTS FOR A THEFT OR BURGLARY OR RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY INCIDENT.
ONE IS THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INTEGRAL IN WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES THAT WE SERVE AS WELL AS OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS FROM OTHER CITIES.
WE CERTAINLY HAD ONE CALL WHERE WE ARE ONE OF THREE DEPARTMENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT CITIES RESPONDING TO THAT CALL.
THAT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SECOND, THE RIGHT ALONG IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING, THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE USING, AND HOW OUR BUDGETING PROCESS IS GOING TO AFFECT THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES GOING FORWARD.
AS A COUNCILMEMBER, IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL WHEN I CAN GET THAT KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE AND UNDERSTAND HOW OFFICERS ARE USING THOSE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ON THE JOB.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND VERY ENLIGHTENING.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> I ALSO GOT THE OPPORTUNITY ON FRIDAY TO DO A RIDE ALONG WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MAYBE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A MOM IN THE CAR BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BEING VERY GOOD.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I WILL SAY, I REALLY SAW THE MOTTO OF TO PROTECT AND SERVE BEING FOLLOWED BY OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THAT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR AND OFFICER STRUM FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME FOR 12 HOURS.
I TOO SAW A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
[00:55:04]
WE MET UP WITH AN OFFICER FROM MINNETONKA JUST GOING OVER PORTABLE SCALES AND STUFF, AND THAT WAS REALLY A NICE THING TO SEE.I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT AND CAME AWAY WITH JUST A GREAT FEELING.
I GOT TO MEET, I THINK ANOTHER, LIKE, SIX OFFICERS THAT DAY, TOO, AND I WAS JUST VERY IMPRESSED.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER BENSON AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WAS ON MARCH THE 11TH, WE WERE INVITED TO JOIN A DESIGN MEETING ON THE SALT SHED, WHICH HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS.
ON JANUARY 13TH, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE APPROVED MOVING FORWARD WITH A CONTRACT WITH BOLTON & MENK FOR $32,000 FOR DATA COLLECTION AND SCHEMATIC DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION DOCKS.
YOU ALSO MAY REMEMBER THAT AT COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 10TH, WE APPROVED FOR THE OERTEL, I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW YOU SAID OERTEL ARCHITECTS.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,950 FOR THE REVIEW, THE PREVIOUS DESIGNS, THE CONSTRUCTION DOCKS, AND DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATION FOR BIDDING.
WHILE WE WERE AT THAT MEETING, COUNCILMEMBER BENSON ASKED THE GROUP IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND PAID FOR AS IN DATA OR WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE USED IMMEDIATELY, OR COULD WE PAUSE THIS PROJECT UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS MOVING IT FORWARD.
WE WERE TOLD THAT PROBABLY THE ONLY THING THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE MOVED FORWARD WAS ANY APPROVALS BY THE MINNEHAHA WATERSHED DISTRICT, THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXPIRATION ON THAT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE PROPOSED WAS ASKING FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC WORKS TOUR TO BE OR OPEN HOUSE SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT MORE OF US KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING IS FOR PEOPLE TO GO IN AND TOUR THE BUILDING AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EMAILS FROM PEOPLE, AT LEAST I DO, ASKING US TO PLEASE SELL THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, AND I GUESS WE'D LIKE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE EYES ON THE BUILDING BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
BUT I GUESS WHAT MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY WITH FROM THIS IS THAT WE MAYBE PAUSE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SALT SHED AT THIS TIME.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS LATER, BUT WITH THE FIRE STATION OR FIRE STILL IN FLUX, AND WITH US NOT BEING AWARE OF HOW THE ORIGINAL PUBLIC WORKS WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED.
ADAM, I KNOW THIS WOULD BE A BURDEN ON YOU, BUT MAYBE PUTTING TOGETHER A TIMELINE OF HOW THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING ACTUALLY CAME INTO EFFECT AND HOW THAT WAS ALL PASSED, WOULD BE REALLY INFORMATIVE FOR THE REST OF WELL, FOR ALL OF US AS A COUNCIL, AT LEAST, ESPECIALLY FOR ME.
I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THE EVENTS HAPPENED THAT GOT ALL OF THAT PUSHED THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE HAD FOUND OUT FROM THIS DESIGN MEETING AND WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'D ALSO LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK COUNCILWOMAN RICKS FOR ATTENDING THE NORTHWEST HENNEPIN MAYORS ASSOCIATION MEETING WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER PERSIAN FOR ALL THE TIME THAT HE HAS SPENT ON THIS FIRE ISSUE.
WE'RE NOT DONE YET, BUT WE ARE MAKING, I THINK, VERY GOOD PROGRESS, AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HIS EXPERTISE IN FIRE SERVICES.
PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR NUMBER 1 OBJECTIVE ALL THE WAY ALONG HAS BEEN THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR CITIZENS.
I'VE JOKED WITH PEOPLE THAT I'VE SEEN MORE OF STEVE LATELY THAN MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, BUT IT'S ALL BEEN GOOD, AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALL GOING TO BE WORTHWHILE IN THE END.
THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE PATIENCE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN IN ALLOWING US TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT THAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CITIZENS.
WITH THAT, I THINK IT IS TIME TO MOVE TO OUR CLOSED SESSION.
[Closed Session]
THERE'S SOME MAGIC LANGUAGE I'M SUPPOSED TO READ.CITY COUNCIL MAY CLOSE THE MEETING AS PERMITTED BY MINNESOTA STATUTE SECTION 13D.05 SUBDIVISION 3(C)3 TO HOLD
[01:00:03]
A CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE DISCUSSION OF LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES, POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION AND STRATEGY REGARDING THE LONG LAKE VERSUS ORONO LITIGATION.WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE POSED, SAME SIGN? MOTION CARRIES, AND WE'LL ASK THE PUBLIC TO PLEASE STEP AWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.