[00:00:03] >> IT'S 6:00. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER [Roll Call] AND NOTING THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THANK YOU, AND WELCOME. ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? [Approval of Agenda] >> YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE NUMBER 7, HIRE PART-TIME FIREFIGHTERS OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> THAT IS NUMBER 7. NUMBER 7, YOU WANT TO MOVE THAT TO AFTER 19? >> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER 3, PLEASE, UPCOMING WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, AND ALSO NUMBER 18, PLEASE. >> ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, [Consent Agenda] I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. >> AS AMENDED. >> SECONDED. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. [Public Comments] COULD YOU SCROLL THAT UP A LITTLE BIT? WE DON'T HAVE THE WRITTEN ONE HERE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW-UP OR CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE MEETING. SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING. SPEAKERS SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF TIME AND LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO SPEAK. WE ENCOURAGE SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND KEEP THEIR REMARKS RESPECTFUL AND RELEVANT. PLEASE MAKE NO PERSONAL ATTACKS. CRITICISM OF IDEAS IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT ATTACKS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT TOLERATED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENTS IN A CIVIL MANNER. SIMILARLY, WE ASK EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF SPEAKERS AND REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS SHOUTING, HECKLING, AND MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE. SIR, THE PODIUM IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU. JIM TYSON, 1295 ELMWOOD AVENUE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9. I'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND I KNOW THAT THE INTENT HERE IS FOR PUBLIC CONVERSATION INTO THE FUTURE, BUT I'M TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT COUNSEL AND GIVE MAYBE ADDITIONAL CLARITY WHERE MAYBE TIME NOT PERMITTING WHEN THAT PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION DOES TAKE PLACE. I'VE BEEN BEFORE COUNCIL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DISCUSS OUR OPPOSITION TO THE FORMATION OF LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS IN ORONO. I ALSO SENT AN EMAIL TO ALISA BENSON THAT WAS TO BE FORWARDED TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS BY ADAM EDWARDS. AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 4TH, IT WAS APPARENT BY A QUESTION ALISA ASKED REGARDING WHAT WAS THE BASIS OF OUR OPPOSITION? I WOULD LIKE TO HOPEFULLY MAKE IT CLEAR WITH THREE MAIN POINTS. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE FORMATION OF, AND I CALL IT AN ASSOCIATION. MAKE NO MISTAKE. THIS IS AN ASSOCIATION. IT'S CALLED A LID, ENFORCING OUR NEIGHBORS INTO THE STRUCTURE TO MANAGE A PUBLIC BODY OF WATER. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE LIABILITY PLACED ON US AS RESIDENTS AND THE CITY OF ORONO BY STATE STATUTE 61-15-0980, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO MANAGE A PUBLIC BODY OF WATER. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE WIDESPREAD CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF OUR BAYS AND THESE POTENTIAL HARMFUL FOREVER CHEMICALS. LIDS WERE FIRST CREATED BY LEGISLATION IN 1973. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 54 IN THE STATE WITH TWO THAT EXIST ON LAKE MINNETONKA. WHY AFTER 52 YEARS, SO FEW EXIST? LAKE MINNETONKA ASSOCIATION, LATER REFERRED TO AS LMA, [00:05:04] IS SPEARHEADING THE CREATION OF MULTIPLE NEW LIDS ON LAKE MINNETONKA, FOREST LAKE, CRYSTAL BAY, STUBBS BAY, HARRISON'S BAY. THESE ARE ONLY THE ONES I'M AWARE OF. NORTH ARM EXPRESSED INTEREST IN FORMING A LID AT THE APRIL 4TH MEETING. ERIC EVENSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LMA, PRESENTED AT THE APRIL 4TH MEETING. ERIC WAS PREVIOUSLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNEHAHA WATERSHED DISTRICT. THIS ORGANIZATION PROMOTES A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH OF WATER MANAGEMENT. HE IS NOW ALL IN WITH THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT. THIS IS SHOCKING TO ME GIVING HIS PAST HISTORY. ERIC EVENSON ACCIDENTALLY SENT ME AN EMAIL REGARDING CHEMICAL TREATMENT AROUND BRACKETTS POINT. THIS IS BEING DONE IN ONE OF THE BAYS WITH THE BEST WATER QUALITY ON LAKE MINNETONKA. HE WAS AFFORDED A SEPARATE PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, AND STAFF. WHEN I ASKED ADAM EDWARDS, IF I COULD HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THE MAYOR, I WAS TOLD, NO, I COULD ONLY SUBMIT A LETTER. LMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTS OF NINE MEMBERS. ONE IS LEE HARREN, IS A RESIDENT OF STUBBS BAY, THAT IS PROMOTING THE CREATION OF A LID IN THAT BAY. HE IS ALSO LISTED AS PRINCIPAL OFFICER ON THEIR 501(C) FINANCIAL REPORTING. ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER IS AMANDA WALSH, WIFE OF THE FORMER MAYOR DENNY WELSH, WHO HELPED CREATE THE FIRST LID IN ORONO IN 2017. AND FINALLY WELLS BROSE OF HARRISON'S BAY. THE FOLLOWING IS THE ORGANIZATION'S FILED PURPOSE, OR LET'S CALL IT THEIR MISSION STATEMENT, TO PROMOTE PRESERVATION AND REASONABLE USE OF LAKE MINNETONKA BY BEING AN INFORMATION SOURCE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PUBLIC AND LAKE SHORE OWNERS AND BUSINESSES, AND TO ADMINISTRATE, MONITOR, AND PAY FOR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIE CONTROL PROGRAMS. WE ALL GET AS PROPERTY OWNERS, A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER AND THEIR MISSION STATEMENT IS ON THE FRONT PAGE. CONVENIENTLY, THAT MONITOR AND PAY FOR PORTION HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THAT MISSION STATEMENT. LMA PROMOTES AND CONTRACTS WITH ONLY TWO SERVICE PROVIDERS, FRESHWATER SCIENTIFIC SERVICE FOR WEED SURVEY AND PLM FOR ACTUAL TREATMENT. WITH THE NEW LIDS, THIS INTENDED TO GUARANTEE AN ANNUAL INCOME SOURCE FOR THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS. THEY ALSO CONTEND THAT TREATMENT IMPROVES NATIVE PLANT POPULATION AND DIVERSITY. ORONO HAS ALL THE DATA FROM CARMAN'S BAY DATING BACK TO 2018. WEED SURVEYS, FINANCIAL REPORTS, ANNUAL MEETINGS, ETC. I'VE GONE OVER THE WEED SURVEYS AND FIND THE INFORMATION MISLEADING. THE SPRING REPORT NEVER SHOWS THE NATIVE PLANT NUMBERS, BUT ONLY SHOWS RESULTS AFTER TREATMENT HAS OCCURRED. YEAR OVER YEAR, SEVERAL OF THE NATIVE PLANTS HAVE DECREASED IN POPULATION. HOW MANY ACTUALLY EXISTED PRIOR TO THE TREATMENT THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE CHEMICALS? [INAUDIBLE] A NATIVE PLANT HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE YEARS. STUBBS BAY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING MORE FOR DATA THAN WHAT WAS POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE. HOW HAVE THEY GAINED DNR APPROVAL TO TREAT IN YEARS PAST WITHOUT WEED SURVEYS? EACH TIME I HAVE RESEARCHED VIA HENNEPIN COUNTY TAX MAP, THE ORGANIZERS OF LID IN ANY PARTICULAR BAY ALL HAVE MARGINAL LAKEFRONT PROPERTY. THEY PURCHASE PROPERTY IN HISTORICALLY HIGH WEED AND SILK BASE AND SHORELINE. IT APPEARS THEY NOW WANT ALL OF US TO CONTRIBUTE EQUALLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LAKE SHORE BY YEAR OVER YEAR TREATING THE LAKE. THEY ARE PROMOTING THAT WE ALL BENEFIT EQUALLY, AND THAT THE COST IS MINIMAL. GIVEN THE INHERENT LIABILITY AND CONTINUED USE OF CHEMICALS, WE STRONGLY DISAGREE. WHAT IS LAKE MINNETONKA ASSOCIATION'S END GAME? THEY HAVE FOUND AND ARE PUSHING THE FORMATION OF LIDS TO REDUCE THEIR NEEDS FOR FUND-RAISING TO SATISFY THEIR $250,000 ANNUAL BUDGET? ARE THEY WORKING TOWARDS GUARANTEED SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THEIR TWO SERVICE PROVIDERS? I HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY ABOUT FUND-RAISING FATIGUE FROM STUBBS BAY, HARRISON'S BAY, AND NORTH ARM. IS THIS NOW THE CASE FOR LMA? ORONO CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE PULL BACK THE CURTAINS ON THE TRUTH BEHIND LAKE MINNETONKA ASSOCIATION AND STOP THE FORMATION OF LIDS IN OUR CITY, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT. >> HI, KELLY PERKEL FOR 705 WATERTOWN ROAD. [00:10:02] I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DILIGENT WORK IN BRINGING THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS BACK TOGETHER. REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 19, AS YOU LOOK AT THAT REORGANIZATION AND THE LEADERSHIP REORGANIZATION, I WANTED TO ASK THAT THE COUNCIL, NO MATTER HOW TEMPORARY THIS INTERIM AGREEMENT IS, THAT YOU REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT LEADER TO BRING THOSE DEPARTMENTS BACK TOGETHER. THIS COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS AND TAKING THE RIGHT PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE HASTILY. I THINK ALL THAT ARE INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED TO APPLY FOR THAT POSITION SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE PUT BEFORE YOU. I ALSO STRONGLY WOULD RECOMMEND DETAILED REFERENCE CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY HAS THE LEADERSHIP THAT IT IS NEEDED TO BRING THESE DEPARTMENTS BACK TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS THIS VERY THOROUGH AND CAREFUL PROCESS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M BRUCE LEMKE, 565, OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR OPENING UP THE EXTENDED VOTING HOURS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL SATURDAY, AND EVEN EXTENDED TODAY. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T VOTED YET, PLEASE VOTE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ELECTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HI, JOHN SWINGLER 1550 COUNTY ROAD 6, ORONO. I JUST WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL ELECTION AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT TO VOTE. I WILL SAY I DO HAVE ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT ONE OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING THAT IS VERY UNFAIR IN SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY ARE USING AN ANIMAL, A DOG, AND SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS VERY UNFAIR. [LAUGHTER] BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR A CLEAN CAMPAIGN AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT THERE TO VOTE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] ANYONE ELSE? >> SORRY, I'M USED TO THE OLD WAY WHERE YOU HAVE TO CALL UP THE NEIGHBORING CITIES. I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND THANK THE COUNCIL. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE FIRE FORUM ON THURSDAY, AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, HOW DID IT GO AND WHERE CAN I WATCH IT? I'VE JOKED WITH EVERYBODY. I SAID, WELL, THEY MAY AS WELL HAVE SKIPPED ALL THE FIRE STUFF AND MAYBE JUST DID A GIANT GROUP HUG OR SOMETHING, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUAL. IT FELT LIKE COMING TOGETHER. THAT IS, I WOULD SAY, PROBABLY A FIRST FOR ME IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS, AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED IT. I ALSO JUST ECHO KELLY'S COMMENTS FROM EARLIER ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT A PROCESS, THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT SEEN AS THE END-ALL THAT ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN THAT ROLE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS FOR THAT LARGELY BECAUSE, AGAIN, I JUST THINK THAT I HAVE NO PERSONAL ISSUES AGAINST ANY OF THE CANDIDATES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS ROLE IS A ROLE WHERE SOMEONE IS GOING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. THAT'S GOING TO BE LARGELY WHAT THIS ROLE IS GOING TO BE OUTSIDE OF FIGHTING FIRES AND DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND BEING CAPABLE. BUT HAVING SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS, WORK WITH ALL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, WITH NO PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS, THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT. IF THERE ARE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT ARE INTERESTED, I HOPE THAT THEY'RE BEING CONSIDERED AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? WE PULLED SEVERAL ITEMS OUT OF CONSENT AGENDA. I GUESS WE WILL MOVE TO THE ATTORNEY REPORT FIRST. [3. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule] [00:15:04] ALISA, DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THE WORK SESSION? >> SURE. >> LET'S DO ITEM NUMBER 3. >> SURE. LET'S WAIT FOR ADAM TO PULL IT UP HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK? CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER, PLEASE? THANK YOU. I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE UPCOMING SESSION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE SECOND PART OF MAY OR A SECOND MEETING IN MAY, WHICH IS COUNCIL VISION AND GOAL PLANNING. IT'S A LOT TO TACKLE IN ONE SESSION, AND MY SUGGESTION IS THAT UNLESS PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING SOCIAL MEDIA DISCUSSION ON THE 9TH OF JUNE, THAT WE CONSIDER TWO SESSIONS DEDICATED TO CITY PLANNING. WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER NEW PERSON SEATED AT THAT TIME, AND I THINK THAT SUBJECT OF CITY GOALS AND VISION PLANNING LIKELY DESERVES AT LEAST A COUPLE HOURS. UNLESS SOCIAL MEDIA IS A REAL CONCERN AT THIS TIME, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO MAYBE BUMP THAT TO A DIFFERENT SLOT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. THAT WAS IT. >> ANY OBJECTION TO MAKING THOSE CHANGES? I ASSUME WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS. >> DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT THEN, ADAM OR JUST DIRECTION? >> JUST DIRECTION. DIRECTION IS FINE? >> DIRECTION WOULD BE THEN FOR THE 27TH OF MAY AND THEN IN JUNE 9TH. THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO CITY GOAL VISION TYPE DISCUSSION, AND THEN SOCIAL MEDIA COULD BE PUT IN A LATER TIME. >> ALONG THE LINES. >> AUGUST 11TH WOULD BE FINE. THAT'S THE FIRST BLANK. >> THAT'S ALL I HAD. >> THANK YOU. WE HAD ALSO PULLED OUT NUMBER 18 ON NORTH SHORE DRIVE, [18. LA25-000007, 4745 North Shore Drive, After-the-Fact Conditional Use Permit Amendment - Resolution 7589] AND AFTER THE FACT, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS THAT NOW? >> SURE. >> PLEASE. >> [INAUDIBLE] PULL THAT UP. IS SOMETHING YOU WANT ME TO PRESENT, OR DID YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? >> NO. CERTAINLY, I PULLED IT OFF NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU AND I DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH EARLIER TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THIS IS ONE THAT CAME UP AT OUR LAST SESSION, SO THE MAYOR WASN'T PRESENT FOR THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE RECOMMENDATION HERE. THIS PROCESS DID NOT GO REAL SMOOTHLY AND IN TALKING TO STAFF, MS. CURTIS. I THINK PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS LOOKING BACK. THE CITY MADE A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE, AMENDING THE CODE FOR RETAINING WALLS A FEW YEARS BACK. AND THIS WAS THE ISSUE ON THIS APPLICATION, IS THAT THE APPLICANT, IN THIS CASE, CAME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THESE RETAINING WALLS, AND THEN, THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS, BUILT SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THAT PLAN. IT WAS, IN FACT, MORE MASSING AND LARGER THAN WAS INITIALLY APPROVED FOR THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. IN TRACING IT BACK, THE LANGUAGE IN THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT THE CITY HAD PASSED, IS THAT THESE DESIGNS FOR WALLS IN THESE BLUFF ZONES FOR THESE RETAINING WALLS, MUST BE DESIGNED TO BE THE MINIMUM SIZE NECESSARY TO CONTROL EROSION, AND THAT'S NOT QUANTIFIABLE. >> SO PART OF THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY GRANTED A CUP, THE APPLICANT THEN BUILT SOMETHING THAT IS LARGER. IT'S MORE MASSING IN THE 75-FOOT ZONE, IT'S MORE MASSING IN THE BLUFF. THAT'S NOT TYPICALLY WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO SEE. THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR LAKE SHORE PROTECTION AND OUR COMP PLAN ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO BE ENCOURAGING. IN DISCUSSING WITH STAFF HOW WE GOT HERE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ENGINEER HAS NOW SIGNED OFF ON THESE NEW PLANS, WHICH IS FINE, MY INTEREST IN PULLING THIS AND HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE LOOK AT THIS IS IN REGARD TO NOT THE HARDSCAPE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN, BUT THE LANDSCAPING PLAN, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING IN TALKING TO STAFF. OUR CITY DOES HAVE A GOOD DEGREE OF INFLUENCE OVER WHEN IT COMES TO LAKE SHORE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN BLUFF ZONES WHERE WE'RE DEALING WITH EROSION. THIS LANDSCAPING PLAN THAT'S CURRENTLY HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THIS ITEM MAKES REFERENCE TO NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP WITH EROSION CONTROL. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS THAT THE PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED PREVIOUSLY LAST YEAR MENTIONS CERTAIN SPECIES WHICH ARE NATIVE, THE CURRENT PLAN REFERENCE AND SPECIES THAT ARE, IN ONE CASE, NOT NATIVE, IN A SECOND CASE, AN INVASIVE, WHICH IS ENGLISH IVY. [00:20:01] THAT'S AN INVASIVE SPECIES THAT'S REALLY NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A LAKE SHORE DESIGN. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. IN THE CASE OF AN INVASIVE, IT'S ACTUALLY DAMAGING TO IT. THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS TO CONSIDER THE COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS ON AMENDING THIS RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE THAT THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE, WHO IS ASKING FOR A AMENDMENT TO THE CUP THAT WE'VE ALREADY GRANTED. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE CITY CAN ASK SOMETHING IN RETURN OR REQUIRE, I GUESS, A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT OR DETAILED PLANNING ON THE PART OF THE APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SPECIES, THE PLANTS IN THIS LANDSCAPING PLAN ARE GOING TO BE NATIVE, THEY'RE GOING TO HELP WITH EROSION CONTROL, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO WORK WITH THAT SHORELINE BLUFF ENVIRONMENT AS OPPOSED TO POTENTIALLY AGAINST IT. THE REASON I PULLED IT IS TO ASK OR TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION AND EITHER TABLE IT OR ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME BACK WITH A MORE DETAILED LANDSCAPING PLAN TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SAID. CERTAINLY IF THERE'S OTHER COMMENTS, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS ONE. >> OTHER THOUGHTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF? FEEL FREE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS. >> CERTAINLY, IF THE COUNCIL FEELS THAT THE LANDSCAPING SHOULD BE MORE TUNED TO A NATIVE SPECIES OR SPECIFICALLY PLANT SPECIES THAT WILL HOLD THE SLOPE IN PLACE BETTER AND WANT TO DIRECT THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENT THEIR LANDSCAPE PLAN OR PROVIDE A LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT WOULD BE MORE SUITABLE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. YOU CAN DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. YOU CAN APPROVE IT DIRECTING US TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO HAVE A PLAN THAT REFLECTS THAT, OR YOU COULD SEE IT AGAIN AND THEN APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WHEN YOU SEE THE PLAN, OR LEAVE IT AS IS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. DOES THE CITY ORDINANCE REQUIRE NATIVE PLANTS ONLY? >> NO. BUT THEY ARE ASKING FOR FOR THIS APPROVAL AND THE SLOPE CONDITIONS. THAT IS OUR PREFERENCE, BUT THE SLOPE CONDITIONS REQUIRING MORE STABILITY, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE. I THINK THERE'S A CONNECTION THERE. >> BUT THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T REQUIRE IT. IS THERE ANY SORT OF RATIO OF NATIVE TO OTHER? >> NO. >> PUTTING MYSELF IN THE APPLICANT'S SHOES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MEET REQUIREMENTS THAT AREN'T EXPLICIT. CAN WE HELP THE APPLICANT SOMEHOW TO PROVIDE GUARD RAILS OR FURTHER INSTRUCTION RATHER THAN OUR APPLICANT HAVING TO REPEATEDLY COME BACK HERE WITH ADDITIONAL REQUESTS. IT SERVES NOBODY'S BENEFIT. WE WANT TO GET THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY. WE WANT TO ADHERE TO THE ORDINANCE. WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE A HAPPY CITIZEN. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. >> OTHER THOUGHTS? >> I GUESS I SEE THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM WITH THAT ASKING FOR SPECIAL PLANTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ASKING FOR A VARIANCE ON THE BOULDER WALL THAT THEY BUILT BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT NATIVE PLANTS OR PLANTS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD THE HILL OR THE BLUFF UP. THAT IF THEY DID WANT US TO APPROVE THE BOULDER ROLE AND NOT TAKE IT DOWN, LIKE THE ORIGINAL CUP HAD, THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE OUT OF LINE ASKING THEM TO GO A STEP FURTHER ON THEIR BEHALF AND OURS TO MAKE SURE IT'S WITH NATIVE PLANTS THAT WE KNOW WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE HILL AND TO THE HOMEOWNER. >> AS LONG AS IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE ORDINANCE, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL, BUT I DON'T THINK THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT. WE'RE PUTTING OUR APPLICANTS AND OUR CITIZENS IN A GUESSING GAME. I'M JUST TRYING TO SHORT CIRCUIT THAT AND GET SOME MORE DEFINITIVE GUIDELINES FOR OUR CITIZENS TO NAVIGATE OUR PROCESS. I DON'T DISAGREE. I'M A BIG NATIVE PLANT PERSON. I BELIEVE IN THAT. I'M PUTTING CLOVER IN MY LAWN INSTEAD OF GRASS. I'M GOOD WITH ALL THAT. BUT I'M SEEING A PROCESS THAT FEELS A LITTLE BROKEN TO ME. IF WE CAN BE VERY SPECIFIC IN OUR ASK SO THAT OUR CITIZEN CAN RESPOND SPECIFICALLY RATHER THAN HAVING HIM COME BACK HERE AND THEN THINKING OF ANOTHER THING THAT WE THOUGHT OF. [00:25:04] OUR ORDINANCE DOES NOT COVER THIS SPECIFICALLY. I JUST I'M PUTTING MYSELF IN THEIR SHOES. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. IN CHECKING WITH STAFF, IF WE WERE TO ASK THE APPLICANT TO COME BACK WITH A LANDSCAPING PLAN DEMONSTRATING THIS, WE'RE NOT RUNNING UP AGAINST THE DEADLINE HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S IN AUGUST, IS THAT CORRECT? >> JUNE. >> JUNE? >> 14TH. >> WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE MEETING. THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS, AGAIN, IT'S THE APPLICANT AND OR THE LANDSCAPER THAT THE APPLICANT IS WORKING WITH THAT THEMSELVES OFFERED THAT THE PLANTS WOULD BE NATIVE LAST YEAR WHEN THIS FIRST CAME BEFORE COUNCIL. THIS WHAT I'M DOING IS COMPARING WHAT WAS PRESENTED VERSUS WHAT'S NOW BEING SHOWN, WHICH IS NON-NATIVE SPECIES. AGAIN, IN ONE CASE INVASIVE, THAT ONCE THOSE TAKE HOLD IN A LAKE SHORE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S NOT BENEFICIAL. I'M COMPARING TO WHAT HAS COME BEFORE. ALSO, WHAT I'D SAY, I AGREE COMPLETELY THAT GIVING SOME TYPE OF GUIDANCE IS IMPORTANT, THE DNR, HAS EXTENSIVE RESOURCES ABOUT LAKE SHORE, AND I'M SURE STAFF COULD ASSIST WITH THAT AS WELL. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO NAMING SPECIES BECAUSE I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THESE LISTS EXISTS, AND WE'VE LIKELY REFERENCED THEM BEFORE. THOSE ARE TWO THINGS I WOULD SAY. >> I BELIEVE OUR APPLICANT IS HERE. YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE? >> HOW ARE YOU? MATT JASPER, 4745 NORTH SHORE DRIVE. CLAIRE, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT STUFF. I WAS GOING TO ALL NATIVE PLANTS, BUT LIKE WHAT YOU HAD SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE REQUESTS, MULTIPLE ADD-ONS TO THIS, AND I'LL TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR SOME OF THAT TOO. BUT IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THIS IS GETTING TO BE A LOT. BUT THE IVY WAS ADDED ON THERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO SCREEN SOMETHING FROM THE TOP OF THE WALLS. THAT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS FROM THE GET GO, WE DIDN'T SAY THAT WE WERE ONLY USING NATIVE PLANTS. THAT'S NOT FACTUAL. WE JUST PROVIDED ON THE INITIAL LANDSCAPE PLAN. THERE WAS NATIVE PLANTS IN THERE, BUT WE NEVER SAID THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, SO TO HOLD ME AGAINST THAT WOULD BE IRRELEVANT. BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING RID OF THOSE. THAT'S FINE. LIKE I SAID, THAT WE HAD TALKED THAT THE BOULDER WALLS WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WAS ASKED, SO I WAS GOING TO TRY AND COVER THEM UP. BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF THOSE BOULDER WALLS, THAT HILL HAD ALREADY SLID AND COVERED THEM UP. MR. MAY, I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE, BUT HOW WE GOT TO THIS THING. I'LL SAY IT. WITH THE STAFF OF THE CITY, IT'S NOT A QUICK PROCESS. WHEN I HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF EQUIPMENT OUT THERE, I CAN'T JUST PUT IT ON HOLD FOR EIGHT MONTHS. I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND GET IT DONE. THAT'S WHEN I CHOSE. TO SPEAK ON CLAIRE'S POINT, I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THAT. I'M PAYING THE TAXES. I'M TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I'M NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GROSSLY NEGLIGENT. ALL THE NEIGHBORS AROUND THERE, THEY ENJOY IT. THEY THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. THEY THANK ME. I'VE PUT IN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET THAT'S HAD NEEDLES SITTING OUT THERE, RACCOONS LIVING IN IT. I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE THING ABOUT THAT. BUT YET, I GET PICKED ON FOR THESE RETAINING WALLS. I APOLOGIZE THAT WE GOT THERE, HOW WE DID. I TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. MY ENGINEER'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I HAVE NO PROBLEM COMING BACK AND CHANGING SOME OF THE PLANS. I THINK IT'D BE A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME FOR ME TO COME HERE AGAIN AND SIT IN FRONT OF THIS, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO, I CAN DO THAT. BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WORKING WITH THESE GUYS. I THINK THAT YOU'VE SEEN EVERY TIME YOU ASKED ME FOR SOMETHING, I TRY TO GET IT DONE REAL QUICK. BUT MY FEAR IS THAT IF WE DO THIS AGAIN, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE THAT IS GOING TO KEEP GETTING ASKED, AND IT'S GETTING TO BE A LOT AT THIS POINT. >> THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? >> THE ONLY COMMENT WITH I'LL SHARE IS, I THINK THAT ALLOWING MATT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND POTENTIALLY COMING BACK AND MEETING WHAT YOU DESCRIBED, SECOND, WHICH IS COME BACK WITH THE LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT'S UPDATED AND DEMONSTRATES WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISH HERE. I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT APPROACH AS WELL. >> I WOULD RECOMMEND THEN THAT YOU ALL AND MY QUALIFIED SUCCESSOR WOULD CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC SO THAT CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING TO BE ASKED OF THEM. >> WE CAN TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS, TO SEND IT BACK TO STAFF. [00:30:01] >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT AND SEND IT BACK TO STAFF. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? GO ON. >> COULD I ASK ONE QUESTION? >> YES. >> SENDING IT BACK TO STAFF WITH THE DIRECTION THAT THE LANDSCAPE PLAN INCORPORATE NATIVE SPECIES OR ONLY NATIVE SPECIES. JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER WHAT YOUR GOAL IS. >> MOTION MAKER. >> WE HAVE NATIVE SPECIES AND NON-INVASIVE SPECIES. >> I THINK WE CAN THAT? >> DID YOU SECOND THIS? >> I DID. >> YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT AMENDMENT? >> YES. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES 4-1. THANK YOU. ITEM, LET'S SEE, I THINK WE MOVED NUMBER 7 AFTER 19. IT'S UP TO THE ATTORNEY REPORT, I BELIEVE. [Attorney Report] >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. TWO QUICK ITEMS. ONE, YOU DID GET AN EMAIL FROM ADAM ON FRIDAY, AND I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN IN THE START TRIBUNE AS OF TODAY. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE SUPREME COURT DID UPHOLD THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT THE CITY CHOSE TO HAVE. ON A VOTE OF 4-3, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE ACTUAL OPINION YET, BUT WE DO KNOW IT'S BEEN UPHELD, SO DOES ALL SYSTEMS GO ON THAT. THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE CITY. THE SECOND ITEM IS THAT I WILL NOT BE AT YOU NEXT MEETING AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, I'LL BE ON A VACATION, BUT I WILL BE SENDING SOMEONE. I WILL UPDATE ADAM AND STAFF WHO TO CONTACT IN MY ABSENCE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND ENGINEER REPORT. [19. Orono Fire Department Reorganization] >> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, ITEM NUMBER 19 IS TO CHANGE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT BY ELIMINATING THE FULL TIME FIRE CHIEF POSITION AND LAYING OFF CHIEF VAN EYLL. ALSO IN THE PACKET IS A RECOMMENDATION TO DO A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR CHIEF VAN EYLL'S SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THEN THE THIRD ITEM IS THAT AS A CITY WITH A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A FIRE CHIEF THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CHIEF TO HAVE THE DEPUTY CHIEF STAND UP INTO THAT POSITION, SHEA TO STEP UP AND FILL THAT POSITION IN AN INTERIM CAPACITY. >> THANK YOU. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ON THAT? WE HAVE SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS. FIRST ONE IS 7590. ANYONE CARE TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION? >> I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 7590, TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF FULL TIME ORONO FIRE CHIEF. >> IS THERE A SECOND OF THAT? >> I'LL SECOND. >> FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT RESOLUTION, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. SECOND RESOLUTION IS A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO JAMES VAN EYLL FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S RESOLUTION 7591. ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 7591. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK THE RESOLUTION SAYS IT ALL, BUT WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE SERVICE THAT MR. VAN EYLL HAS PERFORMED FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE ASKED HIM TO STAND UP A FIRE DEPARTMENT ON A SCRATCH, AND THAT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, AND HE DID IT WELL. I HOPE THAT MR. VAN EYLL UNDERSTANDS THE APPRECIATION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE JOB THAT HE DID. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? CALL THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED., SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THE THIRD ACTUALLY ISN'T A RESOLUTION HERE. DO WE NEED A RESOLUTION ON NAMING AN INTERIM CHIEF? >> NO, JUST NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE. [00:35:02] >> ANYONE CARE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO NAME AN INTERIM CHIEF, THAT WOULD BE SHEA CHWIALKOWSKI, I BELIEVE, IS HOW YOU PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME. ANYBODY CARE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? >> I MOVE TO APPOINT SHEA AS THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FOR SELECTION? HOW DID THAT WORK, ADAM? >> THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN INTERIM POSITION. THE NORM IS TO TAKE WHOEVER THE DEPUTY IS AND APPOINT THEM INTO THE POSITION UNTIL SUCH TIME AS EITHER A FULL TIME DECISION OR A PERMANENT PERSON IS NAMED OR WE GET TO THE END OF THIS CONTRACT, AND IT DOESN'T EXIST. >> I SEE. THANK YOU. >> AT ANY TIME, WE CAN OBVIOUSLY NAME A DIFFERENT PERSON TO BE THE CHIEF. THIS IS VERY MUCH AN INTERIM POSITION. >> VERY GOOD. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. WE'VE MOVED ITEM 7 TO FALL AFTER THIS DISCUSSION, [7. Hire Part-Time Firefighters] AND I BELIEVE MR. PERSIAN WAS THE ONE WHO MOVED THAT. >> YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S TAKING PLACE A GREAT DEAL IS DEVELOPING SOME JOINT OPERATIONS PLANS. MY SUGGESTION WE ACTUALLY TABLE THE HIRING OF PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS AT THIS TIME TO LET THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS WORK OUT WHAT THOSE OPERATIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE. >> WHETHER IT'S UTILIZING PAID ON CALL WITH LONG LAKE, CONTINUE WHEN TO USE THE PART TIME TEAM FIREFIGHTERS WITHIN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RUN THE DUTY CREW SO I JUST THINK THAT RIGHT NOW THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME WORK TAKING PLACE BY THE DEPARTMENTS JOINTLY TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT OPERATION MODEL SHOULD LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK THAT THE OPERATION MODEL THAT THEY WANT TO STAND UP AND CREATE, WHETHER IT'S IN THE LONG TERM AND LIKELY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE LONGER TERM NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT, RATHER THAN HAVING A NUMBER OF PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CREATE THE MODEL THEN DETERMINE THE STAFF SIZE NEEDS. ONE OF THE THINGS AS A PART OF THIS DISCUSSION WHEN WE STOOD UP EXHIBIT C WAS TO LOOK AT AND POTENTIALLY MODIFY DUTY CREW HOURS. BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THE PAIN ON CALL TEAM, THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT NOW EXISTS WITHIN LONG LAKE SO WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, PART OF MY CONCERN IS IF WE ADD NEW PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS TO ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT A DUTY CREW MODEL EXISTS OR IS STAFFED WITHIN ORONO AND LONG LAKE, THAT, IN FACT, WE MAY RUN THE RISK OF NOT PROVIDING SHIFT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EXISTING PART TIME CREW. BECAUSE OF THAT, I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY COGNIZANT OF NOT LOSING PART TIME TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY BEING SQUEEZED OUT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A DUTY CREW SHIFT. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR HOW THE OPERATION IS GOING TO ULTIMATELY END, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BRING PEOPLE ON AND THEN NOT NEED THEM OR BRING PEOPLE ON AND THEN TAKE AWAY OPPORTUNITIES OF PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE. IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO HIRE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE NEW DEPARTMENT, IT'S MORE AROUND JUST TRYING TO TABLE IT AND ALLOW THE FIRE LEADERSHIP TO CRAFT THAT PATH GOING FORWARD, AND THEN REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY IS NEEDED FOR THE PART TIME CREW. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PART TIME CAPTAIN. CHRIS CHRIS ADAMS WAS A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER ON THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT I WOULD BE VERY COMFORTABLE IF DEPENDING UPON THE PROCESS OF BRINGING A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER ON, CHRIS TO ME ISN'T IN ADDITION. HE'S SIMPLY SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BECOME MORE OF A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT, SO I WOULD BE VERY COMFORTABLE HAVING CHRIS BECOME A PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS SINCE HE'S ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TODAY, BUT JUST SIMPLY NOT ADD TWO NEW PEOPLE AT THIS TIME. [00:40:03] >> IF I MIGHT, JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A CHIEF TO TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS TO STAFF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING WITH THE DRAW DOWN HOURS. WE'VE HAD THREE RESIGNATIONS AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. WE ALSO KNOW THAT AS WE DRAW DOWN THE HOURS, PARTICULARLY AS WE SHORTEN THE EVENING HOURS OF THE DUTY CREW AND REMOVE SOME OF THE WEEKEND HOURS, THAT THERE ARE SOME OF OUR CURRENT PART TIME MEMBERS THAT WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PULL SHIFTS FOR US BASED ON THEIR OTHER COMMITMENTS AND THEIR LIFE FOR THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY WORK FOR. WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN A STEADY STATE OF PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE CAN DRAW UPON TO FILL THE EXISTING OR WHAT WILL BECOME THE EXISTING THE ASSUMPTION BEING IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH WEEKDAYS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, DUTY CREW SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ENOUGH FOLKS TO DO THAT. WE CURRENTLY ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL ALL THE SHIFTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, EVEN OPENING THEM UP TO EVERYONE. THE OTHER PART I WANTED TO SAY IS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LONG LAKE, AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE HIRING OF PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE DESIRE TO STAND UP A PART TIME HR CAPABILITY WITHIN THAT CITY WHERE THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE ONE, SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO US TO BE BUILDING THE PART TIME BENCH THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO MERGE TOGETHER SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OTHER CONSIDERATIONS I WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF. >> ADAM, IF WE FOLLOW THE MOTION TO TABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIREFIGHTER ADAMS, THAT WOULD THAT HELP OR HINDER THE ABILITY OF THE CURRENT OFD TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES? >> I THINK IT WILL HINDER OUR ABILITY TO FILL EMPTY SHIFTS. WITH THE PART TIME, IT'S ALL ABOUT SHIFT WORKS THAT THEY BID. SOME OF THEM WORK 12 HOURS A WEEK, SOME OF THEM WORK 30, 40 HOURS A WEEK. IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEIR SCHEDULES WORK. THE WAY THAT YOU LIMIT THE BUDGET AND YOU LIMIT THE HOURS WORKED IS BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SHIFTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH. YES, I THINK IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE THREAT. IT JUST MEANS THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WE STILL HAVE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL SHIFTS THAT THEY. >> MORE THAN THEY WANT TO. >> RIGHT AND WE JUST ELIMINATED MR. BANYLE FROM THAT POOL. HE WAS PULLING 20-30 HOURS A WEEK EASY ON SHIFTS IN ADDITION TO HIS CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES. WE DO HAVE SOME OF THESE OPENINGS, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP THOSE FILLED AS WE GO THROUGH THIS TRANSITION PERIOD. >> HAVE WE HAD DIFFICULTY STAFFING THE WEEKDAY BUSINESS HOURS, IF YOU WILL, WORKDAY HOURS? >> WE'VE HAD INSTANCES OF THAT WHERE AN EXAMPLE IS JUST JUST LAST FRIDAY, WHERE I KNOW OUR NEW INTERIM CHIEF HAD TO STEP IN AND FILL AN ENTIRE DAY OF SHIFTS TO MAKE UP FOR A FRIDAY SET OF SHIFTS. IT HAPPENS WE HAVE SOME GUYS THAT ONLY REALLY CAN FIT THAT ARE WORKING FOR SOME OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, EITHER IN FULL TIME OR PART TIME CAPACITY WHO CAN ONLY WORK ON SATURDAY SO ONCE WE REMOVE THOSE, MOST LIKELY, THOSE FOLKS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO WORK FOR US BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IN THEIR SCHEDULE. >> IS IT THE CASE THAT IF THEY DON'T WORK, THEY DON'T GET PAID? >> CORRECT. >> IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL HARM OF HAVING THESE PEOPLE, THERE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR RETIREMENT AND SUCH. BUT I DON'T SEE THE HARM IN BRINGING PEOPLE ON TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND OPTIONS FOR SCHEDULING, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD, AND IT'S UNCERTAIN. FROM A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME TO INCREASE OUR FLEXIBILITY. >> DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD BE VIEWED NEGATIVELY BY OUR EXISTING PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS THAT NOW THEY'RE FIGHTING OVER LIMITED SHIFTS WITH RESPECT TO ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL BEING ADDED? >> NO, OF OUR MORALE ISSUES WITHIN OUR PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS, [00:45:04] HAVING MORE FOLKS JOIN THEM IS PROBABLY THE LEAST OF THE ISSUES. >> MY BIGGEST FEAR WITH THIS IS THAT WE TAKE AWAY OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE EXISTING PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS. MY SENSE IS THAT MOVING TO A MODIFIED OR A DUTY CREW MODEL THAT ELIMINATES UP TO 30% OF THE HOURS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, AND I GUESS THAT'S BASED ON THE CONVERSATION I HAD EARLIER TODAY WITH ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, MY POINT PULLING THIS AND TABLEING, EXCEPT FOR CHRIS ADAMS IS REALLY TO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY OF EXISTING PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS TO BE ABLE TO GET SHIFTS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THESE FOLKS BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SHIFT, AND THEY JUST SIMPLY SAY, WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE ON. I'M JUST VERY FEARFUL OF THAT. >> IF THAT'S A CONCERN, WE CERTAINLY CAN ALSO WORK IN SENIORITY PART FOR BIDDING SHIFTS. THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE THAT BUT THAT'S A CONCERN AS OUR EXISTING FIREFIGHTERS IS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE PRIORITY FOR BIDDING. >> I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, ADAM. BUT THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO DO IS AS THE DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER THAT PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS IN LONG LAKE WOULD ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CHOSE TO WORK ON THE DUTY CREW, AND THAT WAS PART OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT EXHIBIT C SO I THINK THAT THAT ALLOWS US TO HELP CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS WORKING TOGETHER. >> YES, WE'RE OPENING ALL THOSE SLOTS UP TO THEM. THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, I THINK THERE'S SOME ADMIN STUFF OF JUST GETTING THE SOFTWARE STOOD UP, WHICH MAY HAPPEN TODAY. I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T GOT AN UPDATE SINCE FRIDAY. BUT YES, THOSE WILL ALL BE OPEN. WE TALKED WITH CHIEF HIGHLAND AND CREW ABOUT TRYING TO PUSH TO GET A BUNCH OF SATURDAY MORNINGS FILLED THAT WAY. I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER OUR PART OF THE PIE. >> I TEND TO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PERSIAN ON THIS, AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE SHIFTS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE BEING COVERED BY PART TIME DUTY CREW? WHAT ARE THE HOURS AND DAYS A WEEK? THEY ARE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 06:00 AM TO 10:00 PM. >> AND THE CONCERN IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PART TIME DUTY CREW EMPLOYEES TO COVER THESE SHIFTS RIGHT NOW? >> CORRECT. >> WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO PUT IN THEIR RESIGNATIONS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. >> IT'S A COMBINATION OF FOLKS WE'VE LOST THE SCHEDULING OF THE PURPLE THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE TURNOVER TO GETTING MORE OF THE LONG LAKE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TO STAND UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR SOME OF THOSE SHIFTS. WE HAD ANOTHER EIGHT FOLKS WHO WERE ROTATING INTO THAT THAT WERE THE ORONO PAID ON CALL FOLKS, AND THOSE GUYS AREN'T ROTATING IN RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY DOING 6:00 AM TO 6:00 PM OR 4:00 PM DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DATA SAYS FOR DUTY CREW MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT AS WE MAKE THAT TRANSITION. AGAIN, WE'LL LOSE A COUPLE MORE OF OUR CURRENT PART TIME JUST BASED OFF OF ONCE WE SHRINK THOSE HOURS. SOME OF THOSE GUYS AGAIN, ONLY WORK IF ON WEEKENDS OR IF THEY CAN GET A COMPLETE 12 OR 16 HOUR SHIFT. >> ADAM, AGAIN, I JUST GO BACK TO I'D RATHER HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENTS COME UP WITH WHAT THOSE DUTY CREW HOURS SHOULD BE AND THEN BUILD A STAFF THAT ALLOWS US TO FULFILL THAT. TO ME, RIGHT NOW, I'M UNSURE WHY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE 06:00 TO 10:00 DUTY CREW SHIFTS WITH WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A ROBUST PAID ON CALL STAFF THAT'S AVAILABLE TO START PROVIDING COVERAGE PER THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AGAIN, I KNOW THAT'S A PROCESS, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL THINGS THAT WERE LAID OUT IN THE EXHIBIT C, IF YOU WILL, WOULD REALLY START TO BE PUT INTO PLACE FAIRLY QUICKLY AFTER WE HAD APPROVED THAT. [00:50:04] >> I WOULD SAY THAT BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL, BUT IT'S AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IT'S NOT AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS. THERE'S GETTING THE DISPATCH WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY SORTED OUT. THEY STARTED DOING THEIR JOINT TRAINING, WHICH IS GOING WELL. THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK THESE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS TO MAKE THE SCHEDULING AND ALL THAT WORK. ALL THAT STUFF FROM INCEPTION TO EXECUTION JUST TAKES TIME BEFORE YOU KNOW, I KNOW AS OF FRIDAY, WE WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE LIST OF NAMES AND INFORMATION SO WE COULD ADD ALL THE LONG LAKE FOLKS INTO THE SCHEDULING SOFTWARE. THOSE THINGS ARE ALL HAPPENING AND I THINK OUR FOLKS AND LONG LAKE FOLKS ARE ALL WORKING HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. IT'S JUST TAKES A WHILE WE'RE SCHEDULING A MONTH OUT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO SET THE CONDITIONS SO THAT AS WE START SCHEDULING FOR JUNE, WE'RE DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS. BUT WE HAVE TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE. >> WHAT ARE YOUR COUNTERPARTS AT LONG LAKE? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS EXPECTED THAT ORONO FIRE THAT WE WOULD BE HIRING MORE PART TIME EMPLOYEES IN THE INTERIM, OR WAS THERE A DIFFERENT. >> YES, I TALKED TO MY COUNTERPART AT LONG LAKE, WE'VE INSTITUTED A BIWEEKLY MEETING WITH THE TWO CHIEFS AND THE TWO CITY ADMINISTRATORS, AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT OUR MEETING LAST WEEK. THAT WAS THE ONE THING I WANTED TO CONFIRM WITH HIM IS THAT IF YOU'RE STANDING UP A PART TIME CAPABILITY, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW SO WE CAN DECONFLICT THAT, AND THE ANSWER WAS, NO YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE A PART TIME CAPABILITY STOOD UP YOU GUYS BEING ORONO SHOULD FOCUS ON THAT LONG LAKE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE PAID ON CALL PIECE, SO THAT AS WE TRY TO TAKE THESE TWO ENTITIES AND CONVERGE TOGETHER, WE BOTH ARE BRINGING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS TOGETHER AS THE AGREEMENT DIRECTED US TO DO. >> I CAN UNDERSTAND OBVIOUSLY WANTING TO BE STAFFED APPROPRIATELY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, I'M WONDERING IF A TWO WEEK PERIOD TO ALLOW SOME MORE OF THIS TO UNFOLD IS VERY CONCERNING, OR IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU IMAGINE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE BETTER RESOLUTION IN TERMS OF THESE SCHEDULES OR THE OPERATIONAL PIECE BEING WORKED OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO BRING ON TWO NEW EMPLOYEES WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LEAVING GIVEN WHERE WE'RE GOING AS A CITY. >> CERTAINLY IF THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION, THEN WE'LL WAIT TWO WEEKS. I WOULD JUST ALSO POINT OUT THAT COUNCIL ASKED US A MONTH AGO TO POSTPONE THESE HIRINGS SO WE'RE WE'VE POSTPONED THEM ALMOST A MONTH NOW. CERTAINLY WE CAN KEEP POSTPONING THEM, BUT EVENTUALLY PEOPLE WHEN YOU OFFER THEM A POSITION AND THEN DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH, THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE. >> BECAUSE I'D BE IN FAVOR OF A TWO WEEK MORATORIUM, IF YOU WILL, EXCEPT FOR FIRE.. HOPEFULLY, THERE'D BE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY AS TO OUR ACTUAL NEEDS. I DON'T WANT TO OVERHIRE BUT YET, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY STAFFED I WOULD SUPPORT A TWO WEEK MORATORIUM. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? >> HOW IS THE MORALE BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS RIGHT NOW? I KNOW MANY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE GOTTEN UP AND SAID THAT THEY WERE ENCOURAGED THAT THE DEPARTMENTS WERE COMING TOGETHER, BUT IS THAT AFFECTING OUR FILLING SOME OF THESE TIME SLOTS? >> I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THE MORALE OF THE REMAINING ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FAIRLY LOW. FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, LOOK THEY'VE JUST LOST EIGHT OF NINE NOW OF THEIR TEAMMATES TO TERMINATION ACTIONS SO THEY'RE ALL LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER THAT'S WHY I SAY THE WAITING IS NOT A BIG ISSUE. IT'S ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THEM. >> FURTHER COMMENTS? OTHERWISE, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HOLD OFF FOR TWO WEEKS ON HIRING NEW PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS TO THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IN THAT SAME MOTION, I WOULD PROMOTE OR HAVE CHRIS ADAMS BECOME A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER WITH OFD. >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [00:55:02] >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? >> NAY. >> THAT MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR FORMAL BUSINESS. LET ME GET BACK IN HERE. COMMITTEE REPORTS. [Committee Reports] >> I HAVE ONE. IT'S NOT A COMMITTEE PER SE, BUT I DID ATTEND AS THE EX OFFICIAL MEMBER OF COUNCIL LAST WEEK'S ORONO PARK COMMISSION. I JUST WANT TO SHARE OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE. THIS IS THE SECOND PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST WAS IN FEBRUARY. OUR CITY ADOPTED, AND I GAVE A REAL SHORT PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION ON THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE, WHICH IS A NEW INITIATIVE IN THE CITY OF ORONO. WE'RE FOLLOWING A FEW OF OUR LAKES NEIGHBORS, MINNETONKA, AND MINNETONKA BEACH IN THIS PLEDGE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT OUR CITY IS COMMITTING TO ACTION ITEMS, ABOUT I THINK SEVEN OF THEM THIS YEAR, 2025, EDUCATION, AND OTHER ACTIONS WITHIN THE CITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING HABITAT FOR SOME ENDANGERED POLLINATOR SPECIES, THE MONARCH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT ENDANGERED, BUT DOING OUR PART, IN OTHER WORDS, WITH SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES AS OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE DONE BEFORE US. I GIVE A SHORT TALK ON THAT. THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK IT'S MOSTLY GOING TO BE STAFF-DRIVEN, BUT THEY DID BEGIN A SUBCOMMITTEE OR A GROUP OF THREE TO TAKE ON THOSE ACTIONS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR BECAUSE THAT REPORTING WILL BE NEEDED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR ON THAT INITIATIVE. THE COMMISSION SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT THE NEW MEMBERS ARE TAKING ON WITH REGARD TO INDIVIDUAL PARTS THAT THEY WILL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SHARING OUT ON OR MONITORING, IF YOU WILL. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF GOALS CARRY OVER SOME FROM LAST YEAR OR YEARS PRIOR, AS WELL AS THE NEW GOALS OR SOME OF THEM THAT WERE SET IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AT THE FIRST MEETING. THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL BECAUSE MY TAKEAWAY AT A REAL HIGH LEVEL IS I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMISSION AND ALSO FOR STAFF AND THE COUNCIL TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR PARK COMMISSION MEETING AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE COUNCIL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CIP ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IN SOME CASES, TREE REMOVAL PROGRAMS, GRANTS, MASTER PLANS THAT MOST MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE NOT INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH. OUR COUNCIL HAS NOT HAD A HABIT, AT LEAST IN MY TIME OF SETTING STRATEGIC PLANNING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHICH I THINK THAT MAKES IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO HAVE AN ADVISORY COMMISSION TO OUR COUNCIL WHEN WE AS A COUNCIL, AS A GOVERNING BODY, HAVE NOT PROVIDED REALLY ANY GUIDANCE TO OUR COMMISSION. THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE RAISED BOTH WITH STAFF AND WITH THE CHAIR IN THE PAST. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER EITHER ADDING TO OR CONSIDERING AS PART OF OUR PLANNING IN UPCOMING MONTHS, AND ALSO POSSIBLY ASKING THE CHAIR TO SHARE OUT TO COUNCIL ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN PARKS. WE HAD THAT ONE JOINT WORK SESSION THAT BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, WE HAVE MANY PARKS AND SOME HIGH DOLLAR-VALUE PROJECTS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS, AND WITH SO MANY NEW FACES, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO COME TOGETHER AND GET A REAL CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN SEEING OR ANY DIRECTION GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THESE INITIATIVES ARE TAKING STAFF TIME IN REAL TIME. I THINK IT'S QUITE IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE OUR ARMS AROUND EVERYTHING CURRENTLY UNDERWAY OR FUTURE. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. >> THANK YOU. ANY REACTION TO THAT IN TERMS OF THE PARK COMMISSION? >> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ALISA ON THIS. TO ME, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GREAT WORK DONE TO PUT TOGETHER SOME RIGOR AROUND PARK STANDARDS AND WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE DONE. I THINK THAT WHERE I'M A LITTLE BIT UNSURE OF IS HOW WELL WE'VE APPLIED THOSE STANDARDS TO THE PARKS WE HAVE VERSUS STARTING TO TRY AND STAND UP NEW PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO [01:00:05] MAKING SURE THAT THE PARKS WE HAVE REFLECT THE STANDARDS AND THE BRAND THAT WE WANT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN START TO TAKE A LOOK AT, OR AT LEAST IN CONJUNCTION WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT NEW PROJECTS WITHIN THOSE SPACES. >> OTHER THOUGHTS? >> I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT I AGREE. I SHARED THAT I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY JUST COME TO US WITH BIG IDEAS, WHICH ARE GREAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE OUR OTHER PARKS ARE VERY NEGLECTED. WE'VE GOT THE ASH TREE SITUATION, AND WE'VE GOT SOME BACKSTOPS THAT SEEM TO BE LEANING OVER A LITTLE TOO FAR AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I GUESS I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, SPEAKING TO COUNCILMAN PERSIAN'S COMMENT OF BRANDING, WHAT IS THE ORONO PARK SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE? I'D REALLY LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PARKS LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. >> WELL, I KNOW OUR SCHEDULE FOR WORK SESSIONS IS QUITE FULL FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO DEVOTE SOME MORE TIME TO HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PARK COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED ON GOALS. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING IS MAYBE A DISCONNECT. WE'RE A BRAND NEW, FOR THE MOST PART, A BRAND NEW COUNCIL HERE, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND A LOT OF THINGS, AND PARKS IS ONE OF THEM. >> IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, A LOT OF PROJECTS, AND THERE WERE A COUPLE ADDED AT THE MEETING, I THINK IT'S NINE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES NOW THAT ARE EITHER IN PROGRESS OR PROPOSED, WHICH IS A LOT. IT'S JUST A LOT. I THINK WITH NO REAL DIRECTION, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE TIME, AND EFFORT, AND ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN SERVING EITHER GET JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE SCOPE, OR AGAIN, THAT STAFFS TIME IS BEING UTILIZED ON THESE INITIATIVES WHEN COUNCIL REALLY HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SYNC UP. ADAM, I WONDER WHAT A SUGGESTION MIGHT BE, WE'RE REAL FULL ON WORK SESSIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN PARKS HAS A NEXT MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE AT LEAST THE CHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE OF PARKS COME TO A FUTURE MEETING OR PUT AN AGENDA ITEM ON. I KNOW OUR WORK SESSIONS ARE FULL OR ADD A DIFFERENT SESSION. >> CERTAINLY WE CAN ASK THE PARKS CHAIR TO COME, GIVE A PRESENTATION, WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST, EITHER ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC OR ON JUST THE OVERALL PLAN FOR THE YEAR TYPE OF THING. >> A DISCUSSION [INAUDIBLE]. >> NORMALLY, I GUESS I WOULD SEE THAT MORE LIKE IN THE JANUARY TIME FRAME. [OVERLAPPING] >> [INAUDIBLE] THE MIDDLE OF SEASON. >> WE COULD LOOK BUT. >> WE COULD ASK THEM TO COME TO ONE OF THE FUTURE ONES. I THINK THAT THE FIVE OF YOU, AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE MEETING, HAVING TWO WORK SESSIONS SET UP TO JUST TALK ABOUT CITY LEVEL GOALS MAY WANT TO FIGURE OUT AT THE CITY LEVEL WHAT YOUR GOALS, VISION, THAT THING IS, AND THEN THOSE THINGS WOULD THEN NATURALLY TRICKLE DOWN TO THE SUPPORTING COMMISSIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I GUESS JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE IN THE MOMENT, MAYBE WE LOOK TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING AFTER WE'VE HAD THOSE COUPLE OF WORK SESSIONS, AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULING OF HAVING THE CHAIR COME BACK. ALSO, JUST AS PART OF THE NORMAL ANNUAL SEQUENCE OF THINGS, THEY'LL BE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THEIR 2026 HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, AND SO AS WE GET READY TO DO THE BRIEFINGS TO THE COUNCIL AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THOSE THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO PARKS, WE COULD MAKE SURE WE SET MORE TIME ASIDE FOR THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC AS WE GET TO THAT PORTION OF THE YEAR AS WELL, MAYBE HELP DRIVE SOME OF THAT. >> I WOULD SUGGEST IF POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE CHAIR COMING TO A MEETING PRIOR TO US, WELL, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING FOR GOALS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, AND THEN THE ONE AFTER. AGAIN, IT WAS IN THAT MEETING, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THE CURRENT GOALS AS PART OF OUR JOINT SESSION, AND MAYBE IF POSSIBLE, COUNCIL COULD WATCH THE MEETING, THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSION OF THESE, BUT MY CONCERN, I GUESS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING GOALS WITHOUT HAVING ANY UNDERSTANDING ON COUNCIL'S PART ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING IN PARKS RIGHT NOW. [01:05:04] RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SEVEN COMMISSIONERS ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN INITIATIVES THAT COUNCIL'S LARGELY POTENTIALLY UNAWARE OF. I'M JUST VERY MINDFUL OF THE DEDICATION THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE AND HOW MUCH WORK THEY'RE PUTTING IN ON THINGS THAT COUNCIL'S REALLY NOT AWARE OF. I DON'T HAVE A GREAT SOLUTION OTHER THAN MORE INFORMATION BEING GIVEN TO COUNCIL SOONER WOULD BE BETTER. >> WE CAN ALSO, IF IT'S HELPFUL, JUST HAVE A GENERAL PARKS UPDATE FROM STAFF. WE CAN LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THE THINGS THAT HAVE MOVED INTO OUR BASKET OF WORK TO DO AS WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS WE'VE HELD OFF ON THAT WERE PART OF THE PLANS FOR THIS YEAR WAITING TO SEE WHAT WAY THE COUNCIL WAS LEANING ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF INITIATIVES, WE CAN BRING THOSE FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT THEM. >> LET'S SCHEDULE THAT. BOTH I THINK THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AND JOE COME AND GIVE US A PRESENTATION. >> THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I THINK JOSH HAD COME TO SOME MEETINGS BEFORE TO GIVE UPDATES ON THINGS, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO DO AS WELL. AGREED. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THE TOPIC. ON COMMITTEE REPORTS, I DID ATTEND THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON APRIL 21ST, I BELIEVE IT WAS. I THOUGHT THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF SIFTING THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, AND MOST OF WHICH APPEARED ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO GET INTO ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS? WE'LL MOVE ON TO MAYOR COUNCIL REPORTS, [Mayor/Council Reports] AND NORMALLY, I GO LAST HERE, BUT I'D LIKE TO GO FIRST TODAY TO RECOGNIZE CLAIRE BERRETT. THIS IS HER LAST MEETING. SHE'S CHOSEN NOT TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION. I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HER FOR HER WORK ON THE COUNCIL, FOR STEPPING UP AND AGREEING TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. I KNOW IT WASN'T YOUR IDEA. BUT YOU'VE SERVED WELL, AND I'VE ENJOYED SERVING WITH YOU. I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL IN SAYING THAT IT'S BEEN GREAT HAVING YOU ON THE COUNCIL AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING CLAIRE BERRETT. [APPLAUSE] I GUESS I'LL RESERVE A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR LAST COMMENT, BUT WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL-PERSON PERSIAN. >> NO UP DATE. >> I HAVE NOTHING. >> I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYOR AND EVERYBODY. THAT'S LOVELY. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. AS A COUNCIL, WE WERE REMISS, I THINK, MYSELF INCLUDED IN PROPERLY RECOGNIZING THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE RELEASED. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CITY FOR PUTTING OUT A VERY NICE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT AT THE TIME, AND WE DIDN'T, AND I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR CLOSING THAT LOOP. ON MY MOTHER'S DAY, I GOT TO ENJOY THE SUSAN LURTON PARK, WHICH I'M A SUBSCRIBER TO, AND THE NEW PARKING LOT IS LOVELY. I HAVE THREE DOGS, AND WE LOVE IT THERE, AND IT'S REALLY HEAVEN ON EARTH, AND SO JUST A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE BEAUTY OF OUR CITY. I ENJOYED THAT. IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND PRIVILEGE. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD GET EMOTIONAL. IT'S NOT LIKE ME. JUST TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT, AS MAYOR INDICATED, I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M GLAD I HAD IT. I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO SERVE, YOU SHOULD WITH THE BUMPS AND BRUISES THAT COME WITH IT. MARY, YOU ASKED ME SEVERAL TIMES, "WHY WOULD YOU RECONSIDER RUNNING?" JUST THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT TO SPEND MY ENERGY AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, [01:10:03] BUT I'VE ENJOYED EXPENDING IT HERE. I WISH MY QUALIFIED SUCCESSOR WERE THE VERY BEST. EVERYBODY SHOULD GO VOTE. I'VE ENJOYED MY TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. [APPLAUSE] >> COUNCIL-MEMBER RICKS. >> THANK YOU, CLAIRE. I JUST HAVE A SMALL THING. I ATTENDED THE STATE OF THE COUNTY FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY IN MINNEAPOLIS ON MAY 8TH. THAT WAS DOWNTOWN. THEY TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR INITIATIVES AND WHAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE YEAR. IT WAS ATTENDED ALSO BY OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER EDELSON, WE ARE DISTRICT 6, AND GOT TO SPEAK WITH HER FOR A LITTLE BIT. IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING. >> THANK YOU. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE NOON HOUR TODAY TO ATTEND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS. WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING SET OF SPEAKERS. ONE WAS A CLIMATOLOGIST TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT CITIES NEEDED TO BE AWARE OF AS CLIMATE CHANGES AND AS WE HAVE LOTS OF ASH TREES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN DOWN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND JUST WAYS THAT WE CAN MAYBE PREPARE BETTER FOR A BIT OF AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE ON CLIMATE. THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAD THE PRESIDENT OF XCEL ENERGY IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING, AND THAT, AGAIN, WAS VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON CITIES THAT HAVE ITS SERVICE. ANYWAY, IT WAS A REALLY ENLIGHTENING SESSION, AND I WAS PLEASED TO BE THERE. THE OTHER THING, I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT SAYING THANK YOU TO COUNCIL-MEMBER BENSON FOR TAKING THE CHAIR OR THE MAYOR ROLE, MAYOR PRO TEM, I GUESS, ROLE WHEN I WAS GONE FOR THE LAST MEETING. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TRIP TO GREECE WITH OUR CHURCH, BUT I HATED TO BE GONE TO MISS A MEETING, SO FUTURE VACATIONS, WE'LL TRY TO SCHEDULE AROUND IT. THAT WAS SET MUCH AHEAD OF ANY INKLING THAT I HAD OF RUNNING FOR MAYOR. ANYWAY, I'LL TRY TO AVOID THAT IN THE FUTURE, BUT THANK YOU FOR RUNNING A GREAT MEETING IN MY ABSENCE. I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM MY COLLEAGUE WHO TOOK OVER FROM ME. ANYWAY, ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE THE MEETING? OTHERWISE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.