Aug 11, 2025 City Council

>> ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE REST OF

[Approval of Agenda]

THE AGENDA OR THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING.

ANY ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA?

>> I'D LIKE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM ON A LID LIAISON DISCUSSION.

>> LID LIAISON.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE A POLL THE NUMBER 21, THE CLOSED SESSION, ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS ALONG SEVERAL MEETINGS, HOPING TO GET A FULL COUNCIL, AND WE AGAIN, DO NOT HAVE A FULL COUNCIL SEEING MR. [INAUDIBLE].

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING WHEN WE HOPEFULLY DO HAVE ATTENDANCE LESS PEOPLE HAVE OPPOSITION TO THAT.

>> I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT WE TALK ABOUT PARKS COMMISSION LEADERSHIP.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? NEXT,

[Consent Agenda]

WE'LL CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE, BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION, AND NO DISCUSSION, UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OF STAFF REQUESTS THE ITEM TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND ACTION.

TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.

CLAIMS AND BILLS, ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS,

[00:05:04]

RESOLUTION 7603, A FIREWORKS DISPLAY TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 20TH, APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER WITH THE WESTONKA SCHOOL DISTRICT, RESIGNATION OF A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER, HIRING TWO PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS, ALCOHOL SALES COMPLIANCE REVIEW, REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ON HEALTH INSURANCE, AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ON RECYCLING COLLECTION, AND THEN CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 2545 DUNWOODIE AVENUE, VARIANCES AT 1390 WEST POINT ROAD, A FINAL PLAT APPROVAL FOR 2306TH AVENUE NORTH GREENHAVEN FARM.

SEVERAL VARIANCES AT 1080 FERNDALE ROAD, WEST, A DONATION FOR PARK SIGNS, AND HIRING A SEASONAL EMPLOYEE.

ANY OF THOSE THAT COUNSEL OR STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PULL OUT FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION? I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> A SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> ALL OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO A PRESENTATION ON THE GILLESPIE CENTER.

[17. Gillespie Center Update]

I BELIEVE WE HAVE GUESTS HERE FOR THAT PURPOSE? WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE SOME TIME ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT. I'M RHONDA NELSON.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE GILLESPIE CENTER. DO WE HAVE SLIDES? WILL THEY BE SHOWN? NO. I SENT A SLIDE.

>> PLEASE. I BELIEVE THEY ARE PART OF THE PACKET.

>> YOU HAVE IN THE PACKET?

>> I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CALL THEM. WHILE YOU GET SET UP.

I'VE BEEN AT THE GILLESPIE CENTER FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

I PRESENTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO HERE.

I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT COUNSEL.

I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START OFF THE UPDATE WITH GRATITUDE.

I WANT TO FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE CAME BEFORE YOU GUYS A YEAR AGO AND WE'RE GRANTED $12,000 IN 2025.

I WANT TO START WITH THAT. THANK YOU.

THIS IS A QUICK COLLAGE OF THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HELP SUPPORT AT OUR CENTER.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY CENTER, A 5013C UNIQUE IN THAT WAY, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW.

MOST SENIOR CENTERS ARE RUN AND MANAGED AND FUNDED BY THE CITIES AND WE'RE UNIQUE IN THAT WAY.

YOU SEE THAT A LOT IN SMALLER TOWNS, AND OF COURSE, WE'RE A CONGLOMERATE OF SMALL TOWNS AROUND HERE.

WE WORK HARD TO FUND RAISE AND GET DONATIONS AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THE CITIES.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK UPDATE OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE LAST YEAR.

WHEN I WAS HERE LAST YEAR, WE JUST ROLLED THIS OUT.

I WANTED TO BRING IT BACK JUST BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE NEW.

BUT I CAME IN AS ACTUALLY A CONSULTANT AT THE TIME AND HELPED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THROUGH A STRATEGY SESSION TO CREATE A NEW VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES.

OUR VISION, MUCH LIKE YOUR CITY OF ORONO'S VISION, I THINK IT ALIGNS THAT WE WANT A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

OUR MISSION IS THAT WE'RE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A PROSPEROUS AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, SPACE, AND CULTURE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES, AND THEN WE DEFINE VALUES.

FROM THERE, WE CREATED GOALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELD OUR SELF ACCOUNTABLE AND WE'RE LIVING OUR STRATEGY AND OUR VISION AND MISSION.

WE HAVE FOUR GOALS, AND THIS IS A HUGE UPDATE FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.

OUR GOALS ARE TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP.

MEMBERSHIP IS A TRICKY WORD BECAUSE SOME OF OUR OLDER SENIORS LOVE TO BECOME MEMBERS.

IT'S NOT REALLY A MEMBERSHIP LIKE AT A FITNESS CLUB.

ANYONE CAN USE OUR FACILITY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER.

IT'S REALLY WHAT I LIKE TO CALL A SUPPORTER AND I'VE TRIED TO CHANGE THAT WORD.

I'M NOT GETTING A LOT OF ALIGNMENT THERE, BUT AS THE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT THAT MIGHT CHANGE.

BUT WE DO HAVE MEMBERS, AND OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THEM BY 25%.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET. HOWEVER, WE HAVE INCREASED MEMBERSHIP.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS ROLL OFF.

[00:10:03]

LET'S SAY. IT'S A CHALLENGE.

PEOPLE VIEW IN THIS TIME, SENIOR CENTERS DIFFERENTLY.

WE HAVE A BIG POPULATION OF THE OLDER SENIOR GENERATION, AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK HARD TO ATTRACT THE YOUNGER SENIORS, SUCH AS MYSELF, TO COME IN THE '50S AND '60S AND EARLY '70S TO USE THE FACILITY.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, JUST NOT WHERE WE WANTED TO BE. INCREASING PROFIT.

THIS WAS A HUGE ONE. WHEN I CAME IN THE CENTER HAD BEEN OPERATING IN THE RED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY WERE BORROWING AGAINST THE ENDOWMENT. THAT WAS SET UP.

OUR GOAL FOR ENDOWMENT IS FOUR MILLION, WE'RE AT ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION RIGHT NOW, SO WE STILL HAVE WAYS TO GO.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE'VE STREAMLINED OPERATIONS AND WE'VE INCREASED FUND RAISING AND MARKETING, AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVEN'T BORROWED FROM THE ENDOWMENT.

WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE WAYS TO GO TO HIT OUR GOAL.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CHALLENGED WITH, OF COURSE, THE MARKET, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT ALSO THE AGE OF OUR BUILDING.

WE'RE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS AWESOME.

BUT IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE AN OLD BUILDING, AND WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPAIR IT AND PUT MONEY INTO IT.

OUR THIRD GOAL IS INCREASING THE PROGRAMMING USAGE, SO REALLY NOT JUST MEMBERSHIP, BUT WHO'S UTILIZING THE BUILDING.

HERE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT WE'RE AT A BIG INCREASE ALMOST 40% OVER A YEAR AGO.

THEN OUR LAST GOAL IS NPS.

NET PROMOTER SCORE, WHICH IS BASICALLY HOW LIKELY ARE YOU TO REFER THIS TO A FRIEND.

I STARTED OFF WITH A SURVEY TO MEMBERS, BUT I ALSO TRIED TO COMMUNICATE THAT WIDER.

IT WAS MOSTLY MEMBERS THAT REPLIED TO THE SURVEY.

BUT AGAIN, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE WENT FROM A SCORE OF 44-86, SO ALMOST 100% INCREASE.

SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

PEOPLE LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CENTER.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE IN DETAIL, BUT I HAVE LISTED FOR YOU ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. I KNOW THIS IS ALSO LISTED IN OUR CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH YOU, BUT I HAVE CONTINUALLY LOOKED TO REFRESH THIS AND PROVIDE TIMELY SERVICES AND THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE NEEDING.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE NEW THINGS WE ADDED IS DEMENTIA SCREENING.

WE PARTNER CLOSELY WITH RIDGEVIEW MEDICAL.

THEY DO A LOT OF SERVICES AND FREE SEMINARS FOR US, BUT THEY ALSO DO THE FLU SHOTS AND NOW DEMENTIA SCREENING.

ANOTHER COUPLE BIG ONES ARE THE FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION AND THE FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING.

ANYONE CAN COME IN AND DO THAT.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A SENIOR TO DO THAT.

IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEN ON THE RIGHT IS JUST THE REGULAR PROGRAMS. AGAIN, TRYING TO REFRESH THAT AND ATTRACT MORE ACTIVE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ADDED THERE WAS A WALKING CLUB.

WE'VE ADDED A FEW MORE GAME AND CARD CLUBS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE OLDER GENERATIONS.

THEN THE NEXT SLIDE REALLY IS A DEEP DIVE ON OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THIS IS WHERE I TRY TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TO REALLY PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, PARTNERING WITH RIDGEVIEW MEDICAL, BUT OTHER COMPANIES LIKE CARE INSIGHT PARTNERS THAT DO WELLNESS SERIES, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER COMPANY THAT DOES MEDICARE EDUCATION AND SEMINARS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A THREE PART SERIES COMING UP STARTING NEXT MONTH ON THE CHANGES TO MEDICARE AND HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE THAT.

ALSO, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OUR MENTIA, WHICH I KNOW I HAVE A PERSON HERE.

THEY'RE DOING A VIDEO AND DISCUSSION SERIES TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED.

IT'S ALL ON DIFFERENT AGING TOPICS, BUT THAT'S BEEN PICKING UP STEAM AND GETTING POPULARITY.

IT'S A WAY TO HELP REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION.

OF COURSE, WE DO THINGS LIKE TECH SUPPORT AND TECH TALK SEMINARS.

THE OTHER THING I'VE ADDED IN IS EXCURSIONS.

AGAIN, FOR THAT SOCIAL ASPECT, WE DON'T HAVE A BUS, BUT WE PARTNER WITH A COMPANY IN NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND DO EXCURSIONS TO DIFFERENT PLAYS AND THEATERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEN SPECIAL INTEREST, OF COURSE.

WE DID JUST RECENTLY HAVE INVESTIGATOR KYLE KIRSCHNER FROM THE ORONO PD OUT THAT HELPED EDUCATE OUR SENIORS ON LIKE FRAUDS AND SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.

WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] IN OCTOBER 1ST.

HAPPY TO HAVE THE ORONO MAYOR IN AS WELL.

YOU'RE WELCOME ANY TIME TO GIVE UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE FARE CHIEF IS ALSO COMING BACK AS WELL.

[00:15:02]

MARKETING. WE'VE DONE A LOT, LIKE I SAID, IN THIS LAST YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE IS WE CREATED A NEW LOGO.

WE HAD A LOCAL GRAPHICS DESIGNER DONATE HER TIME TO HELP US CREATE THIS NEW LOGO, AND THEN WE WORKED WITH A LOCAL PAINTING COMPANY TO PAINT THE BUILDING AND GIVE IT A WHOLE NEW REFRESHED LOOK.

HOPEFULLY, IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY CENTER VERSUS IT WAS BROWN AND FADED INTO THE BACKGROUND BEFORE.

I THINK THAT'S HELPED. WE'VE ALSO CREATED A NEW WEBSITE, SO THAT WAS SORELY NEEDED.

NOW WE HAVE A VERY USER FRIENDLY, EASY TO USE WEBSITE THAT I CAN MANAGE AND UPDATE VERY EASILY AND AT LOW COST TO HOPEFULLY REACH MORE PEOPLE.

WE'VE ALSO EXPANDED SOCIAL MEDIA.

I DID HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FREE INTERN IN FOR THE SUMMER, WHO HAPPENS TO BE RELATED TO ME, GOING TO SCHOOL IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR MARKETING.

SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP US A LOT IN THAT ASPECT.

NOW WE HAVE A NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S GOING TO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM. BUT PLEASE DO.

I WROTE SOMETHING ELSE DOWN HERE.

ONE THING THAT'S NOT UP HERE THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR AGAIN TO ORONO IS EXPANSION OF MARKETING THROUGH CITY NEWSLETTERS AND WEBSITES.

I'M WORKING WITH RACHEL CARTER AND SHE'S HELPING TO PROMOTE SOME OF OUR EVENTS AND FUND RAISERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UPDATE ON FUND RAISING AGAIN, WE DEPEND ON THIS BECAUSE WE'RE A 5013C.

FUND RAISING IS CHALLENGING FOR US BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR FUNDRAISERS, LARGELY ARE MEMBERS AND LARGELY OUR LOWER INCOME.

THERE'S A MIX, SO NONE OF THEM ARE REALLY BIG FUNDRAISERS LIKE YOU MIGHT THINK OF.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO WHAT I CALL FRIEND RAISERS.

THEY HELP GET PEOPLE IN THE CENTER.

ONCE YOU SEE ONE ASPECT OF THE CENTER, THEN THEY'RE LIKELY TO COME BACK.

ONE COMING UP THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A SUMMER CONCERT.

IT'S A '50S AND '60S ROCK AND ROLL BAND CALLED THE ARCADES.

I'M VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE I HAD A GUY WALK INTO THE CENTER AND ASK, WE SHOULD HAVE SUMMER CONCERTS HERE, WE SHOULD DO THIS, AND HE WAS GOING ABOUT IT AND I SAID, WELL, THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENING CONCERT, PEOPLE EXPECT ALCOHOL, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE LIQUOR LICENSE.

HE ENDED UP DONATING THE BAND.

IT WAS WONDERFUL, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY THIS OUT AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL STILL RAISE MONEY THAT WAY BY HIM DONATING THE BAND.

I WON'T EXHAUST THIS. OUR DISCOUNT BAKERY IS ONGOING. IT'S ALL THE TIME.

WE WORK WITH CUB FOODS AND THEN MACKENTHUN'S IN MINNETRISTA AND THEY PROVIDE US THEIR SAME DAY BAKERY GOODS AND WE TRY TO ASK FOR HALF PRICE OF THE VALUE.

>> LET'S SEE. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE HAVE COMING UP IS THE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE THAT PROBABLY RAISES THE MOST MONEY ABOUT 10 GRAND FOR THE YEAR.

THEN THE BIG ONE COMING UP AND I'LL HAVE YOU FLIP TO THE NEXT SIDE IS OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

I AM TRYING TO MAKE THIS VERY IMPACTFUL.

ALTHOUGH IT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE CENTER AND THE HISTORY AND BILL GILLESPIE, WHO WAS OUR FOUNDER.

WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY WITH IT.

BY DOING A VERY LARGE AUCTION, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ONLINE.

I HAVE SPONSORSHIPS.

WE DID A LARGE MAILING.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT A FUNDRAISER FOR US.

PLEASE ATTEND.

IT'S OCTOBER 25TH.

IT'S ONLY $25 FOR 25 YEARS.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS, I GOT FOUR QUOTES FROM FOUR DIFFERENT CATERERS, AND THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD MAKE IT WORK FOR LESS THAN $60 A TICKET.

IN THIS CASE, TO THE BAND IS ALSO DONATED, BECAUSE CATERING IS SO EXPENSIVE.

BUT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS TALK TO THE SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION AND THEY'RE DONATING THEIR TIME AND THEN GIVING US THE FOOD AT COST TO DO A PER CHOP DINNER.

WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

LET'S SEE WHAT'S NEXT.

BASICALLY, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY.

IN THE PAST, WE WERE IN A FIVE, SIX YEAR CONTRACT. LAST YEAR, I CAME BACK.

THERE WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS OFF THERE, AND I CAME BACK AND YOU GUYS APPROVED THE ONE TIME $12,000 COST.

I'M HERE BACK AGAIN, ASKING FOR ANOTHER 12,000 FOR NEXT YEAR OR MORE IF YOUR HEART SO DESIRE.

JUST TO HELP ON THE RIGHT PATH AND HOPEFULLY ALSO REACH OUR GOALS OF BEING SELF SUSTAINABLE.

THE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP US IS PERSONALLY, LIKE I SAID, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK,

[00:20:01]

YOU'RE HELPING US ALREADY WITH YOUR CITY COMMUNICATION, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

FEEL FREE TO COME IN. I'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU A TOUR.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A TOUR, I BELIEVE, AND SIGN UP TO BE MEMBERS, LIKE I SAID, SUPPORTERS AND CERTAINLY ATTEND OUR EVENTS AND OUR FUNDRAISERS.

I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. WHAT'S YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET? WHAT DO YOU [OVERLAPPING] SPENDING FOR THE YEAR?

>> LAST YEAR, IT TOOK ABOUT $330,000 TO MANAGE THE CENTER.

WE'VE DONE SOME DEEP DIVE INTO THAT AS WELL, AND I'M A PART OF IT'S CALLED MASS MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR SERVICES, IT'S AN ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECTORS LIKE ME FROM SENIOR CENTERS.

MOST OF LIKE I SAID, OUR STATE RUN OR CITY RUN.

I CAN TELL YOU SIMILAR SIZE TO US AS DELANO AND THAT'S RUN BY THEIR CITY AND THEIR BUDGET IS OVER 500,000.

>> THAT'S ENTIRELY FUNDED BY THE CITY?

>> DO YOU HAVE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING YOU?

>> YEAH. I'M DOING THE TOUR.

I WAS JUST AT MINNESOTA LAST WEEK AND THEY DONATED.

I MET [INAUDIBLE] EARLY OCTOBER.

I'M GOING TO SAINT BONNIE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. MAPLE PLAIN.

>> QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I TOURED I WAS OVER A YEAR AGO, PROBABLY, AND I JUST SO APPRECIATED SEEING I THINK THE TAX HELP WAS IN THE DAY THAT I CAME.

FREE TAX ASSISTANCE, AND THERE WAS A LINE FOR THAT.

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS WELL USED SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I KNOW THAT THE SERVICES ARE WELL USED AND WELL NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I THINK I MENTIONED ONCE MEETING AFTER I HAD BEEN TO YOUR MEETING WHEN YOU GUYS HAD TALKED ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] YOU WERE GOING TO.

>> I THINK IT WAS OUR ANNUAL MEETING.

>> THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE IN THE BLACK THIS YEAR AND SHARED THAT WITH EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC.

YOU'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB, AND I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS BECAUSE.

>> I LIKE YOU WAS THERE DURING TAX SEASON AND THE LINE WAS.

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS VERY POPULAR.

THAT'S A GREAT SERVICE TO OFFER.

>> THAT'S GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YES, YOU'RE WELCOME.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO UPDATE US AND KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING.

>> THANKS. CAN I COUNT ON YOUR FOR SUPPORT IN '26 THEN?

>> WELL, WE'RE BUILDING OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW, SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE APPROVED ANYTHING YET, BUT I THINK THE SENTIMENT IS THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE.

>> AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> I APPRECIATE AGAIN.

>> PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[Public Comments - (limit 3 minutes per person)]

WE WON'T ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, WE MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.

SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING AND 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 TO KEEP THEIR REMARKS RESPECTFUL AND RELEVANT.

PLEASE NO PERSONAL ATTACKS.

CRITICISM OF IDEAS IS CERTAINLY ACCEPTABLE, BUT ATTACKS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT TOLERATED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENTS IN A CIVIL MANNER.

WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT? YES, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS KELLY KAISER, AND I LIVE AT 3043 TUXEDO BOULEVARD.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE APPROVAL OF MY REQUEST FOR A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION AFTER I WAS HERE IN JANUARY BRIEFLY EXPLAINING THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT AGAINST THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ON JULY 2ND, I FOLLOWED UP WITH ISAAC KAUFFMAN, WHO CONDUCTED THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, AND HE RESPONDED HE HAD COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION, TURNED IN HIS REPORT, AND FURTHER REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE CITY.

I THEN SENT AN EMAIL TO ADAM EDWARDS, MY CITY ADMINISTRATOR, REQUESTING THE REPORT, AND ON 73, HE RESPONDED, OUTLINED THE PROCESS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND THAT IT HAD RESULTED FROM MY COMPLAINT AND ENDED STATING, THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE OFFICERS WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY AND POLICE POLICIES RELATED TO THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND THE INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE.

[00:25:02]

FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK, I WAS BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CITY CLERK VIA EMAIL AND A PHONE CALL REQUESTING THE REPORT, BUT I WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED.

I REQUESTED THE INVESTIGATION AS A RESULT OF MY LOSS OF TRUST WITH THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE WAY THEY HANDLED MY CASE, THEN TO NOT TRUSTING THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE HANDLING OF MY COMPLAINT, TO THEN NOT TRUSTING THE CITY OF ORONO AS A RESULT OF THEM WITHHOLDING THIS REPORT.

CONSIDERING THIS REPORT IS ABOUT MY CASE.

I FILED THE COMPLAINT AND I REQUESTED THE INVESTIGATION, I NATURALLY ASSUMED THAT I WOULD RECEIVE THE REPORT.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I FILED A VERY LENGTHY, DETAILED COMPLAINT, WHICH DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE VAGUE RESPONSE, THE ONLY RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

I'M LEFT QUESTIONING WHAT IS IN THAT REPORT THAT THEY DO NOT WANT KNOWN? WHY IS THIS REPORT NOT ONLY BEING HELD FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO FOR ME? IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME, FOLLOWING UP, WOULD I HAVE EVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETED? I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RELEASE THE INVESTIGATION REPORT TO ME IN ITS ENTIRETY.

IF MY REQUEST WILL NOT BE HONORED, THEN I WILL BE GOING TO THE MOUND CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW TO REQUEST THEIR HELP WITH OBTAINING THIS REPORT. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO, I'M KAHLER NYGARD, AND I'M AT 5658 JUDITH ROAD IN BOKEELIA, FLORIDA, IN 1386 WEST POINT ROAD IN ORONO.

KELLY IS A GOOD FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY, AND SHE HAS AUTHORIZED ME TO IN ITS ENTIRETY PROVIDE THE EMAIL THAT ADAM SENT TO HER ON JULY 3.

THE EXTERNAL AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS IS COMPLETE.

THE CITY ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF MR. ISAAC KAUFFMAN OF RED CEDAR CONSULTING, LLC TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION.

THIS INVESTIGATION ORIGINATED FROM A COMPLAINT MADE BY YOU THAT MEMBERS OF THE OPD DID NOT CONDUCT THEMSELVES APPROPRIATELY IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH YOU.

THAT THE OPD MISHANDLES EVIDENCE AND INVESTIGATION INTO A MARCH 2021 SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION, AND THAT THE OPD MISHANDLED AN ALLEGATION IN AUGUST OF 2022 OF STALKING AND INVASION OF PRIVACY.

THE ALLEGATIONS, IF SUFFICIENTLY PROVEN, COULD AMOUNT TO VIOLATIONS OF CITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES, INCLUDING THE POLICIES PERTAINING TO PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF POLICE OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEWED YOURSELF AND THE OFFICERS NAMED BY YOU IN THE ALLEGATIONS.

HE ALSO REVIEWED THE CORRESPONDENCE, CASE FILES, AND RELEVANT POLICE POLICIES.

THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE OFFICERS WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY AND POLICE POLICIES RELATED TO THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND THE INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS.

THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE.

KELLY RECEIVED THIS ON JULY 3RD.

THIS WAS HER SECOND REQUEST TO FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS OF THE REPORT WAS.

AGAIN, KELLY IS SIMPLY ASKING FOR A REPORT.

SHE PROVIDED VOLUMES OF INFORMATION AND DATA RELATED TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING ALLEGATIONS THAT THERE IS A PERPETRATOR WHO ENDED UP IN PRISON BECAUSE OF HER BACKBREAKING EFFORTS TO FIND JUSTICE FOR HERSELF.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN FINDING JUSTICE FOR KELLY IN THE OPD IN THE ORONO CITY ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU.

>> JAY NYGARD, 1386 WEST POINT ROAD, ORONO.

AS MY WIFE JUST SAID, KELLY CAME TO US LOOKING FOR HELP A WHILE AGO.

BEING THROUGH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH.

BASICALLY, WHAT I FOUND WAS A CIRCLE THE WAGONS MENTALITY AT ORONO CITY HALL AND A COMPLETE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING WITH RESIDENTS.

WE DECIDED TO HELP HER, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR STEPPING UP IN JANUARY AND GETTING HER AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD THAT IS TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS CITY TO GET AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THE RESPONSE JUST MAKES YOU WONDER.

[00:30:02]

IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG, WHY AREN'T THEY RELEASING THE REPORT? IF NOTHING BAD HAPPENED, WHY CAN'T KELLY GET A HOLD OF IT TO SEE EVERYTHING FALLS INTO PLACE? IT SEEMS LIKE THE ATTITUDE OR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED QUITE WELL WITH THE LAST REGIME IS STILL IN FULL FORCE HERE.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

I DID MY OWN LITTLE DATA REQUEST, AND YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT IT YOURSELF.

THIS IS BASICALLY COMPLAINTS AGAINST ORONO POLICE AND OUTCOMES.

NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S ONE BIG BLACKED OUT AREA IN THE MIDDLE AND DOING LITTLE RESEARCH FOR THE STATUTES THEY USED, IT SOUNDED LIKE SOME UNDERCOVER OFFICER WAS INVOLVED.

IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BLACK THAT OUT.

THEN YOU GO THROUGH AND THEN THERE'S SEVEN OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT DAMAGE OR VIOLATION OR PURSUIT POLICY.

THESE ARE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT ORONO CAN FOLLOW UP ON REALLY EASILY, AND MY GUESS IS NO CITIZEN REALLY MADE THESE COMPLAINTS.

THEY WERE JUST DEALT WITH WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT WHAT'S TROUBLING TO ME IS THERE'S 24 ON THIS PAGE, AND FIVE ON THIS PAGE, COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE OPD, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS UNFOUNDED.

EVERY ONE. TWENTY NINE TIMES, RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY MADE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND FOR SOME REASON, EVERY SINGLE TIME, THE OPD IS RIGHT AND THE RESIDENTS ARE WRONG.

THIS IS STATISTICALLY IMPROBABLE.

FOR 29 OF THEM, DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES.

I THINK EVEN MR. EDWARDS WOULD AGREE TO THAT IMPROBABILITY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHIEF FARNA HIMSELF HAD EIGHT COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIM OVER TIME, ALL OF THOSE WERE UNFOUNDED TOO.

WELL, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU INVESTIGATE YOURSELF AND WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I WOULD THINK.

NOW, I USED TO SIT UP THERE WITH YOU GUYS, AND IF SOMEONE HAD COME TO ME WITH WHAT MISS KAISER IS SAYING AND WITH STATISTICS LIKE THIS, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW.

IS THAT REALLY TRUE? WAS THERE REALLY NOTHING WRONG? WHY CAN'T WE SEE THE REPORT TO FIND OUT? WE'VE TALKED WITH MISS KAISER AND SHE'S THINKING OF GOING TO THE MOUND COUNCIL TOO, AND I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE MOUND COUNCIL WHO DON'T REALLY WANT TO STICK WITH THE OPD OR LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO THINK WHEN MISS KAISER GOES THERE AND SAYS, LOOK, I'M A RESIDENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AFTER ALL THIS STUFF THAT HAPPENED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, THEY SAY, I'M WRONG, AND THEY'RE ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK THE MOUND COUNCIL ITSELF IS GOING TO WANT TO GET AHOLD OF THAT REPORT AND REALLY SEE.

ARE THEY TRYING TO COVER IT UP OR ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING? I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS WITH YOU ONE LAST TIME.

IF THERE REALLY IS NOTHING WRONG, THE OPD DID NOTHING WRONG, WHY ISN'T THAT A REPORT BEING RELEASED? I'M NOT SAYING PUBLICLY.

I'M SAYING TO MISS KAISER, THE LADY WHO FILED THE COMPLAINT. THANK YOU.

I LIVE ON SHADYWOOD, ORONO.

>> WHO ELSE? YES, SIR.

>> MY NAME IS LYLE SHAW.

I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT RHONDA.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE STARTED GOING TO THE GILLESPIE AND I'D GO FOR COFFEE AND A DONUT AND COME BACK THE NEXT WEEK, AND GO TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN OTHER SENIOR CENTERS.

ONCE RHONDA HAS BECOME THE MANAGER, IF YOU LOOK, THE ACTIVITIES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE OTHER SENIOR CENTERS, AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

I THINK SHE MENTIONED IT.

THE PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SENIORS CAN BE 20-25%.

I THINK SHE ASKED FOR WAS IT 12,500.

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DOUBLE IT.

THAT'S JUST MY REQUEST. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

[00:35:12]

>> I'M BILL JOE HANDER, 2540, SANDSTONE LANE.

MINE IS VERY MUCH LOWER LEVEN, WHAT YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR TONIGHT.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SEWER RATES.

WHY ARE THE ONO SEWER RATES SO HIGH COMPARED TO LAKE PLYMOUTH? BASE RATE $73.21 A MONTH.

PLYMOUTH IS $9.33 A MONTH PLUS $5.48 FOR 1,000 GALLONS.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE GALLONS OF SEWER? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? I'M JUST WONDERING ON THAT AND THE RESIDENTIAL WATER RATES, $17 FOR ONO A MONTH, PLYMOUTH 579, TIER 1 IN ONO IS 826 PLYMOUTH 208.

WHY ARE THE RATES SO HIGH? MY QUESTION. DO I GET AN ANSWER OR?

>> IF YOU LIKE CONTACT ME [INAUDIBLE].

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, ADAM, AND THANK YOU, BILL.

I BELIEVE WE ARE DOING A STUDY ON THAT AS WELL.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'LL SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT. ANYBODY ELSE? WE'LL MOVE ON THEN TO ITEM 18,

[18. LA25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place, Variance]

WHICH IS A VARIANCE REQUEST FOR 1530 ORCHARD BEACH PLACE.

>> ONE MOMENT.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MATTHEW CARNEY WITH PLANNING, JUST WALKING THROUGH A PRESENTATION FOR THIS VARIANCE AT 15:30 ORCHARD BEACH PLACE.

ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK VARIANCE FOR A PROPOSED ACCESSORY BUILDING LAKEWOOD OF THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

THIS IS TO BE USED ALMOST AS A POOL BUILDING OR A POOL CABANA LOCATED ON A PATIO THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

JUST NOTING THAT WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROPERTY, SO THERE IS ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON THERE AS WE SPEAK.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S A LAKE SHORE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO 25% HARD COVER ABOUT AN ACRE AND A QUARTER ACRE AND A THIRD ROUGHLY.

I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK REGULATION.

THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION, I'D SAY, FROM THE TYPES OF VARIANCES YOU MIGHT SEE AT THE TABLE HERE.

ULTIMATELY, THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK IS A MEASUREMENT THAT IS DERIVED FROM THE MOST LAKEWOOD PROTRUSION OF YOUR ADJACENT LOTS NEXT TO YOU, DRAWING A LINE WHERE IF YOU GO LAKEWOOD OF IT, YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY NEED RELIEF FROM THAT REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO DO SO.

OTHERWISE, THE ENCOURAGEMENT IS TO BE LOCATED BEHIND THAT LINE.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I HAVE IT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE YELLOW THERE.

WHEN ADJACENT TO A VACANT LOT OR RIGHT OF WAY, THIS MEASUREMENT IS INSTEAD A FLAT NUMBER BASED ON THE DISTANCE FROM THE ADJACENT PRIMARY RESIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER LEVEL.

THIS WILL END UP BEING A BLANKET SETBACK, COULD BE TEN FEET, COULD BE 150 FEET, WHATEVER THAT DISTANCE IS BETWEEN THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND THE HIGH WATER LEVEL.

THAT IS THE SETBACK THAT IS APPLIED TO YOUR PROPERTY.

TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS BUILDING THAT WE HAVE HERE, RELATIVELY AROUND 250 SQUARE FEET GIVE OR TAKE.

ONE PORTION OF IT IS A BUILDING.

WE'D QUALIFY IT AS A BUILDING, IT'S ENCLOSED, HAS WALLS ON EITHER SIDE, BUT A PORTION OF WHICH IS A PERGOLA.

OPEN AIR FROM THE TOP AND FROM THE SIDES AS WELL WOULD BE QUALIFIED AS A STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH OUR CITY CODE, WHEREAS THE OTHER PORTION WOULD BE A BUILDING.

I HAVE IT HIGHLIGHTED WITH THAT RED BOX ON THE SITE THERE AS WELL.

IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS, GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER VIEW HERE.

[00:40:01]

THE BUILDING PORTION IS OUTLINED IN BLACK.

IT LOOKS LIKE MY HIGHLIGHT HAS DRIFTED A LITTLE BIT ON THE BIG SCREEN, BUT WHERE WE'RE SEEING THIS 12.6 OR 12.5 ROUGHLY, THIS IS THE LOCATION OF THE CABANA, MEETING THE 20 FOOT SIDE SETBACK THAT WE HAVE FROM RIGHT AWAY, AS WELL AS TEN FEET OF BUILDING SEPARATION.

ULTIMATELY, WHEN THIS IS APPLIED FOR, WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT SEVEN FEET FROM THE HOUSE.

OUR CITY CODE REQUIRES 10 FEET OF SEPARATION BETWEEN ACCESSORY AND PRIMARY BUILDINGS.

ULTIMATELY, THE MOTION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE WAS A REQUEST TO MODIFY THE PLAN TO MEET THIS BUILDING SEPARATION.

THE ONLY ASK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK.

TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED ON A 40 VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION.

THEIR ARGUMENTS AND DISCUSSION WAS ALONG THE LINES OF THIS FLAT MEASUREMENT WHERE YOU'RE ADJACENT TO RIGHT OF WAY.

WHICH IN THIS CASE, GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE LAKESHORE.

WE'RE TAKING THE MEASUREMENT OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH DOES HAVE THE DEEPER LAKESHORE.

THEY ARTICULATED THAT THE APPLICATION OF THIS ALTERNATIVE MEASUREMENT WHERE WE ARE ONLY TAKING THAT FLAT NUMBER FROM THE ONE ADJACENT PROPERTY CONSTITUTED A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY ON THE APPLICANT.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS WAS NEW INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING, BUT THE NEIGHBOR THAT WE HAVE HERE AT 4215 NORTH SHORE HAD SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT, WHICH WAS READ INTO THE RECORD AT THAT TIME.

RECEIVED THIS MORNING IN AN E MAIL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPLICATION FROM 4209 NORTH SHORE.

THE ONE THING I WILL QUALIFY HERE IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN TERMS OF AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING THOSE MEASUREMENTS FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

I THINK A LITTLE LESS WEIGHT IS GIVEN TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE FURTHER OUT IN TERMS OF THE LAKE SHORE VIEW, BUT NONETHELESS, THIS IS A FAIRLY UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE DO HAVE THE LAKE SHORE TAPERING LIKE THIS WHERE THE IMPACTS CAN BE FELT POTENTIALLY BY MORE HOMES DOWN THE ROAD.

IN TERMS OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED DENIAL ON THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION FROM MANY OF THE VARIANCES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD OVER TIME.

ULTIMATELY, THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK IS TO A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY WOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN A SITUATION WHERE A PRIMARY USE HASN'T BEEN ESTABLISHED.

THIS WOULD BE IN YOUR CASE WHERE IT MIGHT BE A TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD ON A CHALLENGING LOT OR PERHAPS A LOT THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DEVELOPED ON BEFORE.

THAT'S WHERE A STAFF TENDS TO FIND THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.

THERE IS NOT A BENEFICIAL USE THAT A HOMEOWNER OR AN APPLICANT WOULD BE GETTING IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

REALLY, I'D LIKE TO DIAL INTO OUR 12TH CRITERION THAT ULTIMATELY THE APPROVAL OF A VARIANCE HERE WOULD SERVE AS A CONVENIENCE ONLY TO THE APPLICANT.

ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO ARGUE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF LAND ON THIS PROPERTY.

I THINK THIS PICTURE DOES IT WELL.

MULTIPLE AREAS ON THE PROPERTY, ALTHOUGH NOT IDEAL FOR THE APPLICANT, STILL A DECENT AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THE PROPERTY WHERE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER ZONING STANDARDS COULD BE MET.

WITH THAT IN MIND AND A HANDFUL OF THE OTHER CRITERIA THAT HAD NOT BEEN MET AS WELL, AND ESPECIALLY IN CONTRAST TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE IS AN ARTICULATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE PROPERTY WERE SPECIAL OR UNIQUE BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THIS RIGHT AWAY, BUT THE POINT THAT I REALLY WANT TO DRIVE HOME HERE IS THAT THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE, AND THAT REPRESENTS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERMITS AND DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY SEES.

ON MY DESK ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD OR MULTIPLE ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT A VACANT PROPERTY OR POTENTIALLY RIGHT AWAY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, BUT WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

IN THE EYES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE MEETING, AND JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS POINT UP.

WE AS STAFF, DON'T FIND THIS AS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE DO SEE THIS FAIRLY OFTEN, WHERE WE DO HAVE TO USE THIS SECONDARY APPLICATION, WHERE WE ARE USING THIS FLAT MEASUREMENT.

YES, IT IS AN ADDITIONAL 54 FEET BEYOND THE 75 FOOT LAKE SHORE, BUT THE WAY THAT THE REGULATION IS BEING APPLIED HERE, WE DON'T FEEL THAT THE BURDEN HAS BEEN MET BY THE APPLICANT TO ARTICULATE WHY SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE PROPERTY,

[00:45:03]

WHERE THIS STRUCTURE COULD BE LOCATED ULTIMATELY.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

OTHERWISE, I DO BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT TO COVER THE BASE AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN YOU ARTICULATE IF THERE ARE OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY THAT HAVE THIS RIGHT OF WAY SITUATION ON ONE SIDE AND A HOME WHERE YOU'RE DRAWING THAT LINE BETWEEN THE TWO.

ARE THERE OTHER PLACES THAT EXIST IN THE CITY?

>> THERE'S MULTIPLE WITHIN A MILE OVER THERE.

I THINK WEST POINT IS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST ONE THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, FOREST LAKE, NORTH OF THERE, WHERE WE DO HAVE A VERY UNIQUE PLATTING SITUATION, PERHAPS I CAN PULL IT UP FOR YOU HERE? THAT'S TO SAY THAT THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF PROPERTY AND RIGHT OF WAY.

VACANCIES DON'T NECESSARILY COUNT FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE ON OUR MAPS AND OUR AERIALS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT IS AN EVER CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, BUT TRYING TO FIND A GOOD EXAMPLE.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE AN APPLICATION WHERE THERE'S A RIGHT OF WAY ON ONE SIDE AND WHETHER WE'RE DRAWING THAT LINE THEN, IN THIS CASE, BASED ON THAT RIGHT OF WAY ANOTHER HOME.

>> I AGREE. REALLY, YOU CAN SCROLL ALMOST ANYWHERE ON THE LAKE SHORE WITHIN THE CITY AND FIND THESE UNIQUE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WERE ROADS OR RIGHTS OF WAY CONTEMPLATED AT ONE TIME, WHETHER THAT BE TO PROVIDE A SECONDARY BUT A FIRE TURNAROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT NEVER CAME TO BE, STAFF DOES NOT FIND THAT TO BE A UNIQUE CONDITION.

IT'S IT'S PREVALENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE EMAIL WE RECEIVED TODAY ABOUT THEM BEING ABLE TO SEE IT FROM THEIR BEDROOM WINDOW.

YOU SAID THAT THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY TWO DOWN?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE.

I DON'T HAVE A BUILDING PLAN OFFHAND THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THE UPSTAIRS OR ANYWHERE ON THE MAIN LEVEL WOULD BE THE BEDROOM, BUT IT IS LOCATED CLOSER TO THE LAKE THAN PERHAPS THIS HOUSE AND EVEN THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WHERE THE CABANA WOULD BE LOCATED.

I DO THINK IT'S REASONABLE THAT WHEN HE DOES SAY THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN HIS VIEW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A LAKEWOOD VIEW EITHER.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK, THE WAY IT'S MEASURED AND THINGS LIKE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ABILITY TO SEE THE WAKE, NOT YOUR NEIGHBOR, TWO HOUSES OVER.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE LAKE VIEW.

WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU ULTIMATELY? THE LAKE.

>> WITH THE CITY BEING IN DENIAL, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT FACTORS BESIDES JUST BASED ON CODE AND STUFF THAT THEY DON'T MEET THE CRITERIA.

IS THAT THE MAIN REASON THAT THE CITY'S IN DENIAL? IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WERE MANY REASONS WHY FROM THE CITY THAT IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.

>> JUST ULTIMATELY, THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY WASN'T ESTABLISHED BY THE APPLICANT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PROPERTY, WHY AN ACCESSORY BUILDING CAN'T BE LOCATED ON IT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF GOOD DEVELOPMENT AND POSITIVITY COMING TO THE PROPERTY.

THERE'S A GOOD PATIO GOING IN, BUT TO HAVE AN ACCESSORY BUILDING ON TOP OF THAT WITHIN THE AVERAGE LAKE SHORE SETBACK, STAFF DOESN'T FEEL THAT BURDEN HAS BEEN MET.

IF YOU DO WANT AN ACCESSORY BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY, THERE'S AMPLE SPACE WHERE THAT STRUCTURE WOULD FIT, ALTHOUGH IT WOULDN'T BE AT ANY GREAT BENEFIT TO THE APPLICANT OR THE HOMEOWNER.

THAT'S WHERE STAFF HAS TO LOOK.

IN TERMS OF SOMEBODY WANTING THAT ACCESSORY BUILDING, LOCATING IT WITHIN A SETBACK LIKE THAT WHEN THERE'S AMPLE SPACE FOR THAT, DOESN'T SPEAK TO SOMETHING WITH THE LAND THAT IS A CHALLENGE WHERE THE OWNER DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE, ULTIMATELY, THAN TO GO BEYOND THE REQUIREMENT.

>> YOU READY TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT AHEAD?

>> I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO PICTURE IT TOO BECAUSE THIS IS A BEFORE PICTURE, OBVIOUSLY.

NOW THERE IS A POOL BEING BUILT OR MAYBE IT'S ALREADY BEEN BUILT, AND A PATIO GOING AROUND THE POOL AS WELL?

>> YEAH. THE PERMITS WERE ISSUED AT THE END OF JUNE, SO THEY'VE BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

I HAVEN'T BEEN UP TO DATE WITH THE INSPECTIONS ON THEM.

[00:50:05]

>> APPLICANTS WELCOME TO ADDRESS AS WELL.

>> JOSH KELLER WITH SELFIE DESIGNED.

I'M THE DESIGNER, AND WE'RE DOING THE INSTALL.

THE HOMEOWNERS UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.

THEY HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

THEY WERE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THIS IS IN STARK CONTRAST FROM THE WAY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WENT.

THEY FELT THAT THERE WAS MORE THAN A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY, AND I THINK WE'RE DIVING IN JUST OF THE NUANCES OF HOW EXACTLY THE CODE IS WRITTEN.

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE LAKESHORE SETBACK IS TO NOT PUT ANYTHING, WE DEAL WITH THIS ALL OVER THE LAKE EVERYWHERE.

IT'S NOT PUT ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ANOTHER HOUSE SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE LAKE, THAT'S BASICALLY THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE CODE, AND THE CITY WOULD AGREE WITH THAT WHEN WE TALKED TO THEM.

IN FACT, ORIGINALLY, WHEN I PRESENTED THIS PERMIT, WE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WITH ANYTHING, AND THEN THE LAKESHORE SETBACK WAS BROUGHT UP LAST MINUTE TO US.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR EVEN DOING THIS STRUCTURE IS BECAUSE, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST THE ONE WITH, I CAN'T REALLY SEE IT HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY, YOU CAN SEE THE SHORELINE FOR MY CLIENTS KICKS AWAY IN RIGHT THERE.

THEY'RE CONSIDERING THIS THE CORNER LOT.

BUT THE ROAD THAT IS RIGHT THERE IS BASICALLY A SERVICE ROAD TO THE OTHER HOUSES THAT JUST HAVE DRIVEWAYS RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S A HOUSE ABOUT, IT'S REALLY SKINNY TALL HOUSE THAT'S ABOUT 30 FEET IN DIRECT VIEW OF MY CLIENT'S VIEW THAT GOT A VARIANCE AND WAS APPROVED.

IT'S THAT EXISTING, IF YOU SEE WHERE IT SAYS EXISTING DRIVE RIGHT THERE.

I HAD MY DESIGN ASSISTANT DRAW A LINE FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, NOT EVEN THEIR DECK THAT'S ELEVATED TO THAT CORNER HOUSE.

YOU CAN SEE WE ARE SO FAR REMOVED FROM THAT.

IF THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE IS TO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN FRONT OF OR TO BLOCK ANYONE'S VIEW OF THE LAKE, EVEN CONSIDERING WHERE THE FURTHEST, IF WE'RE THE CORNER LOT, OUR BUILDING STRUCTURE IS SO FAR BACK THAT YOU HAVE TO NO MATTER WHAT, I WENT ON THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES DECK.

I WOULD HAVE TO STAND ON THE DECK, LOOK THROUGH THE TREES, AND LOOK BACKWARDS TO SEE THIS STRUCTURE.

IF THE OTHER NEIGHBOR, WHICH IS EVEN FARTHER, CLOSER TOWARDS THE LAKE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO EVEN LOOK BACK FARTHER.

THAT COMPLAINT THEN BASICALLY IS JUST SAYING, I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO BUILD A STRUCTURE, THAT IF I LOOK BACKWARDS, I CAN SEE A POOL HOUSE STRUCTURE.

IT GOES AGAINST WHAT THE CODE IS FOR, I GUESS IN MY VIEW.

THE LAKESHORE SETBACK, WE'VE RUN INTO THIS NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE APPLIED FOR VARIANCES, GENERALLY, GET THEM AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEIR STATEMENT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME.

THEY SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACKWARDS TO SEE THIS SMALL LITTLE STRUCTURE.

THERE'S A HOUSE THAT'S IN OUR CLIENT'S VIEW THAT THEY ARE STARING AT, WHICH IS THE WHOLE POINT OF EVEN DESIGNING THE STRUCTURE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THERE'S ALSO MULTIPLE TREES.

I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME EVEN SEEING HOW YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THOSE TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE RIGHT THERE.

BUT THAT ROAD IS NOT, IT'S TO GET TO THOSE DRIVEWAYS AND I THINK THERE'S A LIFT STATION OR SOMETHING AT THE LAKE.

IT'S REALLY IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A MAIN ROAD THAT'S BEING USED ALL THE TIME.

IT'S FOR TWO DRIVEWAYS REALLY IS WHAT IT'S FOR.

THAT'S WHERE THEY SAID, WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY.

YOU'VE GOT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS LITTLE SERVICE ROAD, YOU'VE GOT A ANOTHER HOUSE THAT'S 30 FEET FROM THE LAKE.

WE'RE TALKING ALMOST 200 FEET FROM THE LAKE, AND WE'RE BEHIND EVERY SINGLE OTHER PERSON'S VIEWPOINT OF THE LAKE.

IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT, THIS JUST SEEMS WACKY, [LAUGHTER] THAT THIS ISN'T.

WE'RE NOT. WE PURPOSELY DESIGNED IT THERE, SO NO ONE WOULD SEE IT.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION FELT THE EXACT SAME WAY WITH A FORD AND AND VOTE AND APPROVAL, AND IT JUST MADE SENSE.

THAT'S WHERE WE LOOKED AT THIS.

THAT'S WHY WE DESIGNED IT THERE, WHERE AS TIGHT AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BE SO I CAN'T BE ANY CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY LINE ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AND I CAN'T BE ANY CLOSER TO THE HOUSE.

WE'VE SHRUNK IT TO FIT PER THE REQUEST OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO THAT WE'RE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.

WE'RE SO FAR KICKED BACK THAT IT, I GUESS IT JUST THAT'S OUR THOUGHT.

THAT'S WHY WE DREW THE LINES THERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE LINE AT THE BOTTOM.

THAT'S THE 75 FOOT SETBACK LINE.

THAT WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THAT, AND WE'RE EVEN FARTHER, THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY GOES ACROSS THE DECK STAIRS.

TECHNICALLY, THAT WOULDN'T BE APPROVED. I DON'T KNOW.

IT JUST SEEMS, I THINK THAT'S WHY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGREED WITH US ON WHY THEY FELT THIS SHOULD BE APPROVED.

[00:55:03]

>> WHAT'S YOUR TOP BLUE LINE THERE?

>> THAT'S THE ORDINARY, THAT'S THE SETBACK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TOP BLUE LINE THAT MOST TOUCH IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE OF THE OTHER TWO PROPERTIES AND THE WAY THE SHORELINE IS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MUCH CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL WE'RE NOT IMPEDING THEIR VIEW, THAT'S THE ORDINARY SETBACK.

IT ALMOST TOUCHES MY CLIENT'S HOUSE.

IT DOES GO THROUGH THE DECK OF, [LAUGHTER] THE OTHER NEIGHBOR.

IF THAT ROAD WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE, THAT SERVICE ROAD FOR THOSE OTHER TWO HOUSES, WE WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN CLOSE TO THIS.

AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ARGUED FOR APPROVAL.

>> BECAUSE IF THE ROAD WASN'T THERE, WHAT TYPE OF.

>> THAT WOULD BE IT. THAT PURPLE LINE.

>> ULTIMATELY, IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF A ROAD WAS THERE OR NOT.

IT'S DEDICATED RIGHT OF WAY TO THE CITY FOR ACCESS PURPOSES, WHETHER OR NOT A ROAD IS IN EXISTENCE OR NOT, IT'S DEDICATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE THAT GUIDANCE FOR THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> I GUESS THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.

IF THAT WAS ACTUALLY NOT A RIGHT OF WAY IF THAT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY, THAT CHANGES THE VARIANCE OR THE SETBACK, CORRECT?

>> ULTIMATELY, IF YOU HAVE LET'S SAY, THE LOT LINE ON HERE.

DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE IT. ULTIMATELY, IF THIS PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, IF IT'S TOUCHING THE LAKESHORE AND THIS PROPERTY AS TOUCHING THE LAKESHORE AND THEY HAVE A SHARED BOUNDARY, THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK WOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF HERE.

EVEN IF THE RIGHT OF WAY TOUCHED THE LAKE WITH A SLIVER PRETTY MUCH AND PREVENTED THESE LOTS FROM BEING ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK WOULD BE, AGAIN, JUST OFF THE SINGLE MEASUREMENT OF THIS HOUSE.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF THERE WAS NO ROAD THERE AT ALL, LET'S JUST PRETEND THERE WASN'T.

THEN THAT PURPLE LINE IS WHERE THAT SETBACK WOULD BE.

IF THEY JUST PRETEND THERE WASN'T A SERVICE ROAD THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH FARTHER, IN FACT, WITHIN THAT.

I THINK IT EVEN CUT CROSSED THE 75 FOOT SETBACK.

>> I'LL JUST MAKE THAT LAST CORRECTION AGAIN THAT RIGHT AWAY INSTEAD OF THE ROAD ACTION.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY. NO.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR.

>> CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE SETBACK BLUE DASH? NO, I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] TWO.

>> THAT ONE.

>> YOU BLOW THAT ONE UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> TELL ME AGAIN, IF THERE WAS NO RIGHT OF WAY.

WHAT'S THE FRONT BLUE LINE REPRESENT?

>> THE LOWER BLUE LINE THAT I'M HOVERING OVER RIGHT NOW IS THE 75 FOOT SETBACK.

THIS IS THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK AT A MEASUREMENT OF 129 FEET.

>> WHAT'S THE PURPLE LINE?

>> THE PURPLE LINE WOULD BE THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK LINE SHOULD ALL THREE OF THESE PROPERTIES BE ADJACENT AND THERE WERE NO RIGHT OF WAY IN THE PICTURE.

>> I CAN START IF THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS. EXCUSE ME.

I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH STAFF ON THIS AND IT'S IN PART BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS MENTIONED ACTUALLY BY THE APPLICANT, WHICH IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE, THERE'S A TENDENCY TO WANT TO ACCOMMODATE, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S VIEW ON THIS.

MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT CAN BE A TRICKY SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE APPLICANTS IN THE FUTURE COMING BACK AND SAYING, WELL, WHY IS IT THAT THESE PEOPLE GOT THAT AND I'M TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

I'M INCLINED IN THIS CASE TO FOLLOW STAFF'S DIRECTION.

I DON'T FIND THAT A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN MET HERE.

WE HAVE SETBACKS FOR REASON AND THEY'RE INTENDED TO APPLY TO THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE, AND THIS IS AN OUTBUILDING, IT'S A SECONDARY STRUCTURE.

WHILE IT MAY BE DESIRABLE, IN MY VIEW, IT DOES NOT PREVENT REASONABLE ENJOYMENT AND USE OF THIS NEW DESIGN.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE.

[01:00:01]

IT'S NOT A NEED TO HAVE AND WHETHER IT'S SHADE THAT COULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH OTHER MEANS OR WHATEVER ELSE.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT HERE.

I DON'T FIND THAT IT MEETS A PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY TO ALLOW FOR THIS IN LAKESHORE SET BACK BECAUSE WELL, WE CAN TALK ABOUT HYPOTHETICALS.

IT'S THE CASE THAT THESE EXIST ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY AS WE JUST ESTABLISHED.

AGAIN, I'M NOT INCLINED TO SET A PRECEDENT OR TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR VARIANCES WHEN A DIFFICULTY HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED.

THERE'S A LOT OF WONDERFUL WORK BEING DONE AND THE MAXIMUM AREA HAS BEEN UTILIZED HERE IN TERMS OF THAT BUILDABLE AREA TOWARD THE 75 FOOT, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE.

IT'S A NICE DESIGN.

HOWEVER, THIS COMPONENT HAS HEIGHT TO IT, AND THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO APPLY THE STANDARD THAT THE STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED TO IT, AND I DON'T SUPPORT THIS VARIANCE FOR THAT REASON.

>> THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS.

>> QUESTIONS.

>> I GUESS I'D HAVE TO ASK THE ARCHITECT.

IS THERE ANYWHERE ELSE THAT THEY COULD MOVE THIS BUILDING TO THAT WOULD BE, I KNOW THEY WANT TO USE IT AS A POOL CABANA.

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY TO MOVE IT CLOSER TO THE OTHER, TOWARDS THE TREES, I GUESS? TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE, I GUESS, OR ANYTHING?

>> THERE'S NOT. THAT'S ACTUALLY THE FARTHEST SPOT WE COULD HAVE PUT IT.

WE CAN'T PUT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THE ONLY PLACE WE COULD PUT IT WOULD BE THE FRONT YARD.

I'D HAVE TO MOVE THE SHADE STRETCH OF THE FRONT YARD.

I MEAN, IT'S A ROOF LINE WITH PHANTOM SCREENS.

IT'S NOT LIKE SOLID WALLS, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE FRONT YARD.

BUT AGAIN, JUST I GUESS I JUST GO BACK TO THE CODE.

I FIGURED THAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A VARIANCE IS REASONS LIKE THIS.

IS IT EVEN NEGATIVE WITH WHAT THE CODE IS SAYING, WHICH IS DO NOT IMPEDE PEOPLE'S VIEW OF THE LAKE AND I FEEL LIKE, WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK BACKWARDS TO SEE OUR STRUCTURE.

JUST HAPPEN TO BE ON A CORNER LOT.

>> THIS IS A KITCHEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE?

>> WHERE ARE YOU AT? OVER ON, THAT'S JUST SHOWING A GRILL STATION UNDERNEATH THE DECK AND STUFF, SORRY.

>> IS THERE A DECK ON TOP OF ALL THIS?

>> NO. THERE'S A DECK ALONG THE HOUSE.

SEE THE GRAY SHADED AREA.

THEY'VE GOT COLUMNS. RIGHT OVER THERE.

THAT'S AN EXISTING DECK. RIGHT UP.

>> WHAT'S UNDER THAT DECK?

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> WHAT'S UNDER THAT DECK?

>> JUST PATIO SPACE.

IT'S MORE OF A WALKWAY.

IT'S GOT COLUMNS AND JUST A WAY TO GET IN AND THERE'S A DOOR RIGHT UNDERNEATH THERE, SO IT'S A WAY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE POOL AREA.

IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY TIGHT BECAUSE OF THE 75 FOOT SETBACKS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS STRUCK BY IN THE LETTER THAT WE GOT TODAY WAS IF THIS IS GRANTED AND IT CHANGES THE AVERAGE LAKE SOURCE SETBACK SUCH THAT NEIGHBORS COULD START BUILDING AND BUILDING CLOSER TO THE LAKE, AND IT BECOMES A BIT OF ONE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER SITUATION.

>> MR. MAYOR, I CAN JUMP IN ON THAT ONE.

I WILL GO BACK TO THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK VARIANCE AS I SPEAK HERE.

I'LL JUST READ IT OFF FOR YOU.

NO PRINCIPAL OR ACCESSORY BUILDING SHALL BE LOCATED CLOSER TO THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER LINE ON A LAKESHORE LOT THAN THE AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM THE SHORELINE OF EXISTING PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS.

AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IN THIS CASE WOULDN'T ALTER THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK.

IT'S ULTIMATELY THE EXCEPTION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE, PRINCIPLE OR ACCESSORY, BUT WE WON'T DRAW THE AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK OFF OF AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THESE CONDITIONS EXIST ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY THAT WILL THEN INFORM FUTURE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE.

>> IT TEND TO BE PERSUADED BY THE FACT THAT NONE OF THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY TESTS WERE MET. NONE OF THEM.

IT DOES BECOME A NICE TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE OF THE PARTICULAR LOT THAT THIS IS SITTING ON.

[01:05:08]

ANYBODY WANT TO CARE TO MAKE A MOTION HERE OR HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I DON'T HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS.

>> I CAN MAKE A MOTION. I CAN FIND IT HERE.

MOTION TO DENY THE VARIANCE APPLICATION FOR 1530 ORCHARD BEACH, PLEASE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION?

>> A SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

>> NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING?

>> YES. I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT.

I KNOW THAT AVERAGE LAKESHORE, THE TOPIC COMES UP A LOT, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT.

TAKING A LOOK AT THAT WITHIN OUR CITY CODE TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I'M ONE THAT, THIS IS A HARD ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE IN THE BUILDER, REALLY HAVE WHAT LOOKS TO BE JUST A REALLY NICE PLAN FOR DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY, AND IT JUST LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT AVERAGE LAKESHORE SETBACK STANDARD SHOULD BE IN THE CITY OF ORONO SO AS TO NOT RUIN PEOPLE'S VIEWS OF THE LAKE IN ANY WAY NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

BUT WE ALSO BALANCE THAT WITH TRYING TO FIND AN ACCOMMODATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO PROJECTS. THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

>> FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENT.

NOT ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DENIAL OF THE VARIANCE. SAY, AYE?

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 19,

[19. Request for Proposals - Professional Auditing Services]

WHICH IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AS MENTIONED AT THE MAY 12TH COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICE IS UP FOR REVIEW BASED ON THE CITY'S PAST PRACTICE OF A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW CYCLE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTED BY THE CITY.

THE LAST RFP FOR AUDITING SERVICE WAS PERFORMED IN 2019, AND SINCE THEN, THE CITY SWITCHED FROM CLIFTONLARSONALLEN TO ABDO FOR ITS AUDITING SERVICES.

EVEN WITH SATISFACTORY SERVICE, IT IS BEST PRACTICE TO STILL GO OUT FOR RFPS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY CONTINUES RECEIVING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR A COMPETITIVE PRICE.

THE RFP TIMELINE FOR THE AUDITING SERVICE WOULD CONCLUDE IN OCTOBER IF APPROVED TONIGHT, IN TIME FOR THE 2025 AUDIT KICK OFF.

WITH THAT, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE RFP THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE COUNCIL PACKET AND TO ESTABLISH AN AD HOC REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR INTERVIEWS AND FOR REVIEWING PROPOSALS AND CONTRACTS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO.

>> BUT YOU DO NEED A COUNCIL APPROVAL TO GO OUT FOR THE RFPS, SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL AUDIT SERVICES RFP AND ESTABLISH AN AD HOC PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES RFP.

>> SECOND.

>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. I GUESS I SKIPPED RIGHT OVER OUR FINANCE REPORT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE FINANCE REPORT?

>> NO. JUST PREPPING FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL WORK SESSION FOR ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET REVIEW AND THEN UPDATE ON THE UTILITY RATE STUDY.

>> THANK YOU. ATTORNEY REPORT.

[Attorney Report]

MR. MATTICK, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?

>> A BRIEF REPORT. MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, ADAM AND I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE VARIOUS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND THE UNIONS.

I THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

WE DO PLAN ANOTHER ROUND OF MEETINGS, AND IT'S OUR HOPE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING YOU SOME UPDATES IN THE UPCOMING MEETINGS.

OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK IT'S BEEN BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WITH REGARD TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, DO YOU KNOW IF CERTAIN TYPES OF THIRD-PARTY REVIEWS ARE TYPICALLY MADE PUBLIC?

>> THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THE DATA PRACTICE ACT.

THE THIRD-PARTY REVIEW IS NOT A CLASSIFICATION OF DATA PER SE.

WHAT GOVERNS THAT DOCUMENT IS WHAT'S IN IT.

[01:10:03]

IF IT CONTAINS PERSONNEL DATA, WE ARE GOVERNED BY THE RULES OF THE DATA PRACTICE ACT AS IT RELATES TO THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INTERVIEWED AND THEY'RE THE SUBJECT OF THAT DATA.

IN GENERAL, THERE'S CERTAIN DATA THAT IS CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC AS IT RELATES TO PERSONNEL DATA, OTHERWISE, IT'S PRIVATE.

IN THIS INSTANCE, IF YOU ARE REVIEWING AN EMPLOYEE'S PERFORMANCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UNLESS THERE'S DISCIPLINE, THAT DATA IS PRIVATE INFORMATION ON THEM.

THERE IS NO LEGAL CONCEPT UNDER THE DATA PRACTICE ACT THAT BECAUSE I MADE A COMPLAINT, I GET TO SEE THE REPORT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION ON THAT, BUT IF THERE WAS NO DISCIPLINE, THEN THAT REPORT REMAINS PRIVATE PERSONNEL DATA.

THAT'S THE NATURE OF THAT REPORT.

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY SEND SOMETHING TO EXPLAIN THAT TO HER? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WASN'T VERY CRYSTAL CLEAR TO HER THAT'S THE REASON THAT IT WASN'T SHOWN.

>> TO KELLY?

>> THE CLERK RESPONDED A COUPLE TIMES EXPLAINING THAT AS A RESPONSE TO THE DATA PRACTICE ACT.

>> THAT WE WEREN'T SHOWING IT BECAUSE IT WAS AN EMPLOYEE.

WE CAN'T DISCLOSE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION?

>> THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DATA PRACTICE ACT, WE WERE UNABLE TO RELEASE THAT REPORT.

THAT'S WHY THAT THERE'S A SUMMARY PROVIDED.

>> IT JUST MAKES ME THINK THAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT COMMUNICATION THAT WE COULD BE DOING BETTER IN THESE INSTANCES, IT WOULD BE NICE TO DISCUSS AT SOME POINT.

WHAT WE RELAY AND HOW WE RELAY IT IS CERTAINLY RELEVANT HERE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING MISSED OR NOT COMMUNICATED, SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTION.

>> SPEAKING TO WHAT RACHEL TALKED TO US BEFORE, IF SOMETHING WAS RELAYED TO HER AND SHE STILL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY JUST PUT IT MORE IN LAYMAN'S TERMS OR SOMETHING FOR HER TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE REASONS THAT WE'RE NOT SHOWING IT, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY DO ANOTHER RESPONSE.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THAT THE MESSAGE HASN'T GOTTEN THROUGH.

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER RESPONSE WITH HER AFTER SHE'S COME [INAUDIBLE] STUFF LIKE THAT, HAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF A RESPONSE.

>> I AGREE. IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME, AND I APPRECIATE WHEN PEOPLE COME TO COUNCIL TO GIVE COMMENTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT MAKES US AWARE, SO THE FOLLOW UP IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SURE.

>> I CAN WORK WITH ADAM ON THAT.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR.

>> THANKS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO.

>> THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT,

[20. Work Session and Council Training Schedule]

WHICH INCLUDES WORK SESSION AND COUNCIL TRAINING SCHEDULE.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE SCHEDULE ON THE SCREEN, THE NEXT WORK SESSION SUBJECT WILL BE BUDGET, WHICH IS ENTERPRISE FUNDS WILL BE THE FOCUS.

THE ONE QUESTION WE HAVE ON THIS WOULD BE, WOULD THE COUNCIL WANT TO DO ANOTHER EARLY START, AS THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME THROUGH THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS> A 4:00 PM START AS OPPOSED TO A 5:00 PM START?

>> I'D LIKE THAT. ANYBODY ELSE?

>> WORKS FOR ME.

>> LET'S PLAN ON THAT. FOUR O'CLOCK START NEXT WORK SECTION OF THE 25TH, YES.

>> UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS, STILL HOLDING JUST A PLACEHOLDER ON THE SECOND PART OF THE TABLE, YOU CAN SEE HERE.

WHAT I'VE CURRENTLY TITLED RESILIENCY IN ENVIRONMENT, BUT STILL WAITING FOR WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO YOU SEE THERE.

>> I'LL UPDATE ON THAT. I HAD REQUESTED A SPECIAL SESSION WHEN WE CAN FIND TIME FOR ANOTHER WORK SESSION BECAUSE WE'RE PRETTY FULL HERE.

THEN WITH VACATIONS AND SCHEDULING AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN AUGUST OR NECESSARILY SEPTEMBER.

I'M GATHERING INFORMATION AND WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING IT BACK FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FALL, BUT REALLY, THE IDEA HERE IS WHAT'S INFORMING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND AS I DISCUSSED IN THE WORK SESSION EARLIER, THE IDEA OF PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION, HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES ACROSS DEPARTMENT AND ACROSS THE CITY.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A HIGH DEGREE OF URGENCY, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THIS YEAR.

>> YOU'RE THINKING WE NEED TO A SPECIAL WORK SESSION OUTSIDE OF OUR NORMAL SCHEDULE?

>> IF WE HAVE TIME FOR IT AND IF NOT, IF PEOPLE ARE AMENABLE TO ANOTHER WORKING SESSION, AND IF THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO, WE CAN SCHEDULE IT IN NEXT YEAR.

I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO GIVE ATTENTION TO BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALL RECEIVED A FEW EMAILS ON THESE ISSUES, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP A LOT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAND USE AS WELL.

[01:15:03]

ARE WE BOOKED OUT THEN? COULD YOU INCREASE THE SIZE OF THAT, PLEASE, ADAM? WHERE ARE WE SITTING?

>> THE REMAINING WORK SESSIONS FOR THE YEAR.

>> I CAN HOLD ON THIS UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. I KNOW WE'RE BUSY.

>> WE HAD PUT IT DOWN HERE IN THE SPECIAL WORK SESSION.

>> TVD AND UNDERSTANDING.

THIS WILL INFORM GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR, SO IF THAT'S OKAY WITH OTHER FOLKS, I'M WILLING TO PUSH IT OUT.

>> I'D ALSO BE WILLING TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION FOR IT TOO.

>> THAT'S OKAY. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE BUSY.

>> I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>> THEN LET ME GET SOME MORE THOUGHTS ON THIS AND I CAN COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH A PLAN FOR IT AND WE CAN MAKE A DATE AND AN OUTLINE.

>> THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE, MR. EDWARDS?

>> NO. I'M JUST RETURNING FROM VACATION OF LAST WEEK, SO I'M STILL CATCHING UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT AS SOREN MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE SOME CBA NEGOTIATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK.

WE ALSO HAVE RECEIVED THE DRAFT BACK ON THE JOINT FIRE JPA FROM LONG LAKE.

I KNOW WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE NEGOTIATING TEAM TOMORROW ON THAT TO PREPARE A RESPONSE.

THEN IN THE ENGINEERING WORLD, BOTH PROJECTS ARE FULLY UNDERWAY AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE STILL SUFFERING SOME DELAYS FOR WEATHER, BUT THOSE ARE PROCEEDING AND WE'RE TO START OUR SEWER REHABILITATION PROJECT SHORTLY.

>> GREAT.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> THANK YOU. I GUESS AT THIS POINT, WE CAN MOVE TO THE TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED, LID LIAISON DISCUSSION.

TURN OVER TO MS. BENSON TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU. LAST TIME I TOUCHED ON THIS, IT WAS IN A MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT.

AT THAT POINT, I'D SHARED WITH COUNCIL THAT WITH THE NEWLY APPROVED STUBBS BAY LID, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF A LIAISON OR A NON VOTING BOARD MEMBER, SOMETHING TO INCREASE AND HAVE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION.

AGAIN, WITH PRESERVATION PROTECTION, THIS ABILITY OF HAVING SOMEBODY APPOINTED BY COUNCIL TO BE A LIAISON AND TO BRING INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH SO THAT MESSAGING OR COMMUNICATION OR EFFORTS WITH LAND USE CAN BE INTEGRATED AND BECAUSE THE ABILITY OF THE LID IS ONE THING, BUT OUR ABILITY AS A CITY TO TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN STEWARD BOTH THE LAND, AND IN THIS CASE, WORK TO CONTROL AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES, I THINK, WOULD BENEFIT FROM A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

IT DIDN'T SIT PARTICULARLY WELL WITH ME.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO DON'T SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE OR THAT WEREN'T SUPPORTIVE IN THIS CASE.

THAT MADE ME REALLY RECONSIDER THE ROLE THAT A CITY COULD HAVE IN KEEPING LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN AND SHARING RESOURCES.

WE TALKED ALSO ABOUT A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH AS PART OF THAT APPLICATION TO DO EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AND CONTINUE DIALOGUING ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY, THE ALGAE BLOOMS, AND THE INVASIVE ISSUES.

I DID FIND THAT PART OF THE APPLICATION MENTIONED FROM THE DIRECTORS IS THAT THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE CASE OF ST. ALBAN'S LID, WHERE ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SITS ON THAT BOARD.

NOW, I DID CLARIFY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, WE HAD A NICE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, THANK YOU, THAT ONE OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATUTE IS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHO IS A VOTING MEMBER, IN THIS CASE, OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, THEY HAPPEN TO BE RESIDING WITHIN THIS LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SO THAT ENABLES HIM, IN THIS CASE, TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.

IT'S NOT THE CASE HERE.

THE WORD, I BELIEVE IS LIAISON VERSUS BOARD MEMBER, NON VOTING BOARD MEMBER, WHATEVER ELSE.

IT'S A DISTINCTION THAT ALLOWS STATUTE TO BE REGARDED, BUT ALSO, ALLOWS FOR THAT PARTICIPATION.

I FOUND IN MY CONVERSATIONS DURING THAT COMMUNICATION, I BELIEVE, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS, YOU'D ALSO ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETING.

> I DID.

>> THE RECENT BOARD MEETING. I'M FINDING THAT THERE WAS AN OPENNESS TO COLLABORATE.

THERE'S AN OPENNESS TO BE COLLECTIVELY COMMUNICATING ABOUT THE DNR, THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT, AND I FIND THAT PROMISING.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE SETTING OUR PROCESS HERE IN TERMS OF HOW WE, AS A CITY, HANDLE THESE APPLICATIONS, AND WHAT WE DO ONCE WE'VE GRANTED A LID TO HAPPEN.

I WANTED TO GAUGE THE COUNCIL'S REACTION TO THE IDEA OF PROPOSING A TYPE OF

[01:20:09]

LIAISON POSITION FOR SOMEBODY APPOINTED I N THE CITY TO HOLD WITHIN THAT LID TO BE ABLE TO FOSTER COMMUNICATION, GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMUNICATION EARLIER.

IT'S SOMETHING THE CITY CAN HELP WITH WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVASIVE CONTROL, LAND MANAGEMENT, RUNOFF, ALL THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR THIS THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

I WANTED TO GET OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON THIS GIVEN NOW WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THIS LID BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE THE TIME WOULD BE NOW IF WE HAVE ANY DESIRE TO COME UP WITH THIS TYPE OF A PLAN NOW THAT WE'VE JUST SEEN THIS APPLICATION COME THROUGH, AND IT'S NASCENT IN THE WAY THAT THE BOARD IS WORKING AT THIS POINT WITH THEIR NEW MEMBERS.

>> MAYBE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BUT HAVING ALREADY APPROVED THE LID AND ITS BYLAWS AND ITS BOARD SIZE AND ALL THE REST OF IT, HAS A TRAIN LEFT THE STATION IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO SAY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LIAISON WITH THE BOARD AS PART OF THAT APPROVAL PROCESS?

>> I THINK FOR THOSE TWO, ANY LIAISON WOULD BE A VOLUNTARY ACT AT THIS POINT.

ANY FUTURE APPLICATIONS COMING FORWARD, THOUGH, I DO THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT FOR THE BYLAWS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S, EITHER A COUNCIL MEMBER OR HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE, IF IT'S A STAFF PERSON COUNCIL MEMBER.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN MY OPINION.

IT COULD BE [INAUDIBLE]

>> YEAH. COULD BE, BUT I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A LIAISON POSITION BECAUSE OF THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.

>> MY GUESS IS IF WE APPROACH THE STUBBS BAY FOLKS, THEY WOULD SAY, SURE.

THEY'RE VERY OPEN WITH INVITING US TO THEIR INITIALLY MEETING, THEIR BOARD MEETING.

THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IS COMING UP [INAUDIBLE] IF WE WANT TO GO.

>> I THINK THAT IS A POINT AND IT'S A GOOD POINT THAT I ALWAYS THINK THAT THE IDEA OF SOMETHING BEING VOLUNTARILY IS A REALLY NICE PLACE TO START.

I DID FEEL THE OPENNESS AND I HAD GOOD COMMUNICATION AFTER THAT MEETING WITH A FEW OF THE DIRECTORS.

I GUESS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS A CONSENSUS AROUND THE IDEA OF AS A COUNCIL, AS A CITY PROPOSING SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES TO THE LID BOARD AND TO SEE WHERE THAT LANDS.

THAT WILL INFORM, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, MY VIEW OF THE INTENTIONS HERE AND THE EFFORTS TO REALLY BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION OF STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF OUR WATERWAYS AND OUR LAKES.

BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE A REAL DOWNSIDE TO THE IDEA OF SHARED COMMUNICATION AND CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER IN THIS AREA.

BECAUSE AGAIN, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE, AND I THINK THAT'S A CRITICISM THAT'S BEEN LEVELED HERE, THAT IT'S A WAY OF JUST BEING CONVENIENT ABOUT THINGS, AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY I VIEW WHAT'S HAPPENING, I VIEW.

IT IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW FOR THAT LOCAL LEVEL OF IMPACT ABOUT INVASIVES.

BECAUSE IT IS REAL, AND I WILL SHARE THAT OVER THE WEEKEND.

I SPENT MULTIPLE HOURS IN A VOLUNTARY POSITION WITH THE U OF M GOING OUT TO VARIOUS LAKE SHORE ACCESSES IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY AND COLLECTING VEGETATION SO THAT IT COULD BE CATALOGED AND TO DO EARLY DETECTION EFFORTS FOR SOME OF THESE NEW INVASIVES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE LAKES THAT WE WANT TO PREVENT.

MY HOPE BELIEF IS THAT WE COULD BE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE TO CREATE AN IMPACT HERE AND TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU. THEY WERE VERY ACCOMMODATING TO ME AND WELCOMED ME TO THEIR BOARD MEETING.

I DID SIT OFF, BUT I WAS ABLE TO INTERJECT AT A COUPLE OF POINTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THEY WERE VERY KIND TO LET ME DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY WHY IT WAS THERE.

I DID JUST SEND A NOTE TO A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WHO'S EXPERT IN AIS, TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO JOIN THE LID MEETING, THEIR ANNUAL MEETING TO SPEAK OF THE SUBJECT AND MAYBE ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR FOLKS.

BECAUSE PART OF WHAT CARINA CASEY [PHONETIC] HAD SAID IS THAT THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE EDUCATION BE PART OF THE LID AND EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING WITH THE LAKE AND STUFF.

I REALLY LIKE THIS IDEA.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEXT STEPS WOULD BE FOR THAT SORT OF THING, BUT I KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED FROM THE COUNCIL AS OPPOSED TO ONE MEMBER,

[01:25:02]

SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THE GUIDANCE WOULD BE HERE.

>> I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE YOU'RE ASKING FOR US TO REACH OUT TO THE LEADS AND SEE IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT A VOLUNTARY LIAISON FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL TO EACH OF THE EXISTING TWO LEADS.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK THEN THE WAY THAT WE WOULD MAYBE HANDLE THAT IS THEN TO AMEND OUR ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS TO IDENTIFY WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE ASSOCIATED AS THE VOLUNTARY LIAISON TO WHICH LEAD? AS AS A WAY.

>> I THINK SO. THEN THE ONLY OTHER FOLLOW UP WOULD BE YOU HAVE THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WRITTEN OR IF IT'S AN INFORMAL POLICY OF HERE'S HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SIGN THE PETITION WHEN IT COMES IN FOR ORONO.

YOU MAY WANT TO INDICATE IN THAT SET OF RULES AND EXPECTATIONS THAT PART OF YOUR BYLAWS SHOULD INCLUDE A LIAISON POSITION FOR THE CITY, JUST SO THEY KNOW UPFRONT WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT I'M THINKING IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A CONNECTION POINT.

DO WE THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE A REQUIRED COUNCIL MEMBER POSITION TO BE THE LIAISON? WOULD THERE BE ANY CONFLICT THERE, VERSUS HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CITY STAFF MEMBER?

>> WELL, THE CONFLICT, I GUESS, IT WOULDN'T BE NOT BEING A PART OF THAT HOMEOWNERS OR THAT COMMUNITY AROUND THERE.

I'LL SPEAK PERSONALLY. I'D BE LOOKING AT IT AS I WOULD WITH ANYTHING ELSE, THE IDEA OF BRINGING INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH, SAME WAY AS WE WOULD DO IN A APPLICANT ABOUT A LAND USE AND TRYING TO LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES AND A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF STEWARDSHIP.

I THINK IT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMP PLAN.

PERSONALLY, WERE I TO SERVE IN THAT TYPE OF ROLE, WOULD BE LOOKING AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HOW WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT STEWARDSHIP OR PRESERVATION, GUIDED BY THAT.

IN TERMS OF A CONFLICT, I FEEL THAT AT LEAST PERSONALLY, I WALK THAT PATH ON A CONTINUAL BASIS ACROSS ISSUES.

THIS TO ME FEELS SIMILAR BECAUSE IT ISN'T SITTING ON THE BOARD AS A NON VOTING THING.

I, AT LEAST PERSONALLY, WOULDN'T BE OWNING LAND WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.

IT'S SIMPLY A GUIDANCE AND A COMMUNICATION AND A CONNECTION FOR RESOURCES, AND AN ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE KNOW TO BE OF ASSISTANCE IN THIS CASE.

THAT'S MY THOUGHT ON IT.

I GUESS I HAVE A REAL FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES.

IT'S NOT TO SAY WE'D WANT TO SADDLE THE CITY IN THE FUTURE, AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE STAFF, I THINK AT AT THIS POINT WHEN IT'S NEW, I WOULD PREFER THAT IT BE PERHAPS A COUNCILMEMBER TO GET STARTED BECAUSE IT IS NEW AND I THINK THE PROCESS THAT WE SET FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, HOWEVER WE DO IT.

I WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T FEEL, AT LEAST PERSONALLY, THAT THERE'S A CONFLICT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW [OVERLAPPING].

>> I DON'T SEE A CONFLICT. I GUESS I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE TOO PRESCRIPTIVE AND SAY IT HAS TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER.

WE MAY DECIDE DOWN THE ROAD THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE OF THESE AND THAT WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON OUR STAFF THAT IS CHARGED WITH KEEPING US UPDATED AS OPPOSED TO ONE OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I THINK LIAISON IDEA IS A GREAT IDEA.

FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE CHOSEN BY THE [OVERLAPPING].

>> YEAH. I WASN'T CONSIDERING THAT.

GIVEN A LOT OF CONSIDERATION, I DON'T FEEL STRONGLY.

I THINK AGAIN, THE ISSUE, FROM MY STANDPOINT, IS TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERATE ABOUT THIS POSITION AND NOT HAVE IT TURN INTO A BOX CHECKING, BUT TO KEEP IT REALLY ENGAGED AND ACTIVE.

THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON THIS, BECAUSE, AT LEAST WHAT I'VE LEARNED, IS THESE ISSUES ARE ONES THAT ARE REALLY LOOMING IN THE FACE OF OUR CITY AND OTHERS, ABOUT THESE, AND SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN GIVEN GOOD CONSIDERATION, BUT I'M CERTAINLY OPEN. YEAH.

>> IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE FEEDBACK. IT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

>> I THINK THE FOLLOW UP YOU SUGGESTED IS APPROPRIATE HERE.

>> THEN I WILL JUST TAKE THIS AS COUNSEL GUIDANCE TO STAFF.

WE'LL REACH OUT TO THE TWO LEADS, AND THEN WE CAN BRING, CALL IT AN AMENDMENT TO THE ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS, TO THE NEXT MEETING.

[01:30:04]

>> GREAT.

>> ASSUMING THAT WE CAN MAKE CONTACT AND ALL THAT IN THE INTERVENING COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THE STAFF WOULD BE REACHING OUT TO ESSENTIALLY SAY THIS WAS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN LIAISON POSITION IS WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED HERE.

>> BUT NOT HAVING TO GIVE DETAILS AT THIS POINT ABOUT WHO OR HOW THAT MIGHT?

>> CORRECT. NO. WE'LL REACH OUT ABOUT THE CONS [OVERLAPPING].

>> WHETHER THEY'RE AMENABLE.

>> YES. WE CAN'T ENFORCE THEM AT THIS POINT.

[INAUDIBLE] ONES THAT ARE EXISTING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I'LL TRY TO WRITE THE E MAIL.

>> MY SENSE IS THEY WILL BE.

>> NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> IT'LL BE AMENABLE.

>> TALK THEM INTO IT. YEAH.

>> PARKS COMMISSION LEADERSHIP IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. MS. RICKS.

>> YEAH, I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I GUESS I'VE OBSERVED THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION CHAIR.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S OUR NEW PARKS COMMISSION.

WHAT THEIR VISION IS SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN WHAT I SEE THE PARKS COMMISSION CHAIR.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A PARADIGM SHIFT IN WHAT THE NEW EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE VERSUS THE COMMISSION OR THE CHAIR.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THINGS AND COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS AND HAVING THAT BEING DISMISSED.

I FEEL LIKE HE'S BEEN DRAGGING HIS FEET ON A LOT OF IT, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE, AS COUNCILMAN PERSIAN'S BROUGHT UP, WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR PARKS TO A CERTAIN STANDARD.

IT'S GOING TO COST US SOME MONEY, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO REINVEST IN WHAT WE HAVE RATHER THAN JUST KEEP LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE TO KEEP COMING UP WITH SOMETHING NEW THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

I JUST FEEL LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE ON THERE NOW NEED SOME LEADERSHIP THAT'S GOING TO MOVE US INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS OF REALLY BRINGING OUR PARKS UP TO WHERE WE'D LIKE IT TO BE, THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF THEM.

I'D LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS IF ANYONE [OVERLAPPING].

>> SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND SHUT DOWN BY THE CHAIR? I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHAIR.

>> YEAH. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CHAIR.

I GUESS, IN THE MEETING THAT COUNCILMEMBER PERSIAN AND I WERE AT, THERE WAS A SUMMARY OF ALL THE PARKS THAT WAS DONE IN A VERY CLEAR FASHION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, EVERYTHING WAS DOCUMENTED, LABELED AND STUFF, AND THE CHAIR CAME AND SAID, "NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THAT." HE BROUGHT OUT A PIECE OF PAPER, AND HE WROTE DOWN THE THINGS THAT HE THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND PASSED THAT OUT TO PEOPLE.

WHEN I CHECKED BACK IN WITH THE PARKS, NOTHING HAD EVER BEEN DONE AGAIN.

THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP TO HIS PROCEDURE, AND THE PERSON WHO DID ALL THIS WORK, I FELT WAS DISMISSED.

I WAS JUST SHOCKED BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER PERSIAN HAD ASKED FOR, HOW MANY SIGNS DO WE NEED, AND WHERE DO WE NEED THEM AND STUFF, AND THIS REPORT TOLD US IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT WAS IT TOOK ANOTHER MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE ANYTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.

I JUST FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AND GIVING YOU THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO THAN ASK YOU TO STEP DOWN.

>> WELL, I'LL SHARE. I WAS GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MEETING I WENT TO WITH THE PARKS LAST WEEK.

BUT JUST TO REITERATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RICKS MENTIONED, THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS WHERE THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO REALLY FOLLOW AN OPERATIONAL FLOW OR AN AGENDA OF SORTS.

THE COMMENT THAT JACKIE'S MAKING ABOUT, ONE OF THE FIRST INITIATIVES WE ASKED WAS WE WOULD GET TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OR DO SOME TYPE OF INVENTORY FOR THE PARKS.

I KNOW THE PARKS COMMISSION, MANY OF THE MEMBERS ALONG WITH THE PARKS DIRECTOR, JOE WENT OUT AND COMPLETED THOSE, AND PART OF WHAT WE'VE SIMPLY ASKED THEM TO DO OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS TO USE THE DOCUMENT THAT THEY HAD THAT OUTLINED THE STANDARDS AND THE COSTS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR STANDARDS, AND BUILD SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PRESENTED BACK TO THE COUNCIL, OR AT LEAST EACH OF THE COMMISSIONS, TO PRIORITIZE WHERE THEY WANTED TO INVEST AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

ALL OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE, AND I THINK THE FRUSTRATING PART IS THAT AT LEAST THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN AT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LACK OF EMBRACING THIS,

[01:35:02]

GETTING THE STANDARDS INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS, I DON'T MEAN TO BLUNDER INTO THIS COUNCILMEMBER UPDATE, BUT PART OF WHAT SEEMS TO BE A GAP IS A HISTORY THAT'S BEEN BUILT UP ABOUT NOT BEING SUPPORTED ON INITIATIVES SUCH AS JUST MAINTAINING STANDARDS.

THE PIVOT WAS, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SHINY NEW OBJECTS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE STOOD UP.

I THINK THAT WHERE WE'RE AT IS WE'RE EAGER TO HEAR WHAT THE NEEDS ARE TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO WORK WITH STAFF TO GET THOSE NEEDS AND THE FUNDING FOR THOSE NEEDS PUT INTO MOVEMENT.

LAST TIME WE APPROVED SIGNAGE, SAYING, YEAH, MAKES SENSE, IT MEETS STANDARD.

I THINK THE FRUSTRATION THAT JACKIE AND I HAVE SEEN IS THAT'S STARTING TO, IN MY OPINION, HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON SOME OF THE NEWER FACES WITHIN THE PARKS COMMISSION.

I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO POTENTIALLY RE ENGAGE AND RE-ENERGIZE THAT GROUP, THERE MAY BE A NEED TO, WHETHER IT'S HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD CHAIR, THE COMMISSION CHAIR, OR JUST UNDERSTAND WHERE HE SEES THAT ENERGY NEEDING TO GO QUICKLY TO GET LIFE REALLY BROUGHT BACK INTO THAT COMMISSION, BASED ON THE SUPPORT THAT I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I HAVE, AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER RICKS HAS TO REALLY SAY, LET'S GRAB SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES AND JUST MAKE OUR PARKS BEST IN BRAND.

>> YEAH. I'VE SEEN THE PARK MEETINGS AND I WOULD CONCUR.

I'VE ALSO ACTUALLY SPOKEN, AS MAYBE OTHERS HAVE, TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

I SENSE THE SAME FRUSTRATION AND THE SAME SENSE OF HESITANCY TO MAYBE VOICE IDEAS, OR THAT MAYBE WON'T BE SUPPORTED OR TO INNOVATE SOMEHOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS YOU SAY, I'VE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT, WHICH IS THAT THERE'S A SENSE THAT SOMEHOW THE CONTROL OR THE LOCUS OF CONTROL EXISTS SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THAT BODY, BUT MORE WITH POTENTIALLY THE CHAIR.

I WILL SAY FROM MY OWN INTERACTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS, MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT IT STEMS POTENTIALLY RIGHT FROM THE TOP, WHICH IS AN INABILITY OR LACK OF AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.

I THINK THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF A STRUGGLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PARK COMMISSION SERVES AS AN ADVISORY ROLE TO THE COUNCIL, AND THAT THE CHAIR OF THE PARK COMMISSION IS NOT DICTATING TO THE COUNCIL, IT'S NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

THAT HAS BEEN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN CONVERSATION, AND SO I WOULD CONCUR THAT WE'RE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO FACE THE SAME SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES HERE AND NOT SEE A REAL IMPROVEMENT OR AVAILABILITY FOR THOSE FOLKS, ESPECIALLY NEWER PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO TAKE THE ROLE, WANTING TO RUN WITH IT, COME UP TO THE STANDARD WHEN THERE IS A REAL SENSE BASED ON EXPERIENCE, THAT SOMETHING IN THAT DYNAMIC IS NOT ENCOURAGING OF THAT PROCESS HAPPENING.

I GO BACK TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT OUR MISSION AND VISION AROUND PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION, WHICH IS SPELLED OUT IN THE PARK COMMISSION'S GUIDELINES, THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE REALLY BEING CONSIDERED, THAT THE BASIC CARE, MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE TREES, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND OTHER ISSUES HAS REALLY FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE.

I DON'T SEE THAT THAT FOCUS STILL IS BEING CARRIED FORWARD IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.

MY REAL CONCERN IS THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THAT WE'RE AT ODDS.

THAT'S MY FEELING AS A COUNCILMEMBER, THAT WE'RE AT ODDS WITH THE CHAIR AS TO HOW THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO INFORM US AND ALSO HOW THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO WORK AS A BODY TOGETHER.

>> I GUESS MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PARKS COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN ONE OF LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM US, LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE.

[01:40:01]

SOME OF WHAT'S BEING SAID HERE IS A LITTLE BIT AT ODDS WITH THE INTERACTIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE CHAIR.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'M IN THE MINORITY HERE.

IF THERE'S A DESIRE TO MOVE ON IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, I'M ONE VOTE OUT OF FOUR, SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ENTERTAIN, I'D ENTERTAIN IT.

>> HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> I MEAN IT'S AN APPOINTMENT.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF THE COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN ASKING THE CHAIR TO STEP DOWN, THEN THE ISSUE WOULD BECOME WHO THEN WOULD FILL THE POSITION OF PARK CHAIR IN THE INTERIM, OR IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER SEARCH, WE HAVE A VICE CHAIR.

I GUESS IN THE INTERIM, THERE WOULD BE A [OVERLAPPING].

>> DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY [OVERLAPPING].

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> THE MIDDLE OF THE TERM [OVERLAPPING].

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YOUR RULES FOR APPOINTMENT AND THEN FOR REMOVAL, SO I'M NOT IN A GREAT POSITION TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW ON THE SPOT.

IF IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA, I THINK SOME QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE IS, IS IT A REMOVAL FROM THE CHAIR POSITION OR FROM THE COMMISSION IN ITS ENTIRETY? IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, ALLOW ME TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR RULES AND PROCEDURES ON THAT AND BRING YOU BACK THE INFORMATION, SHOOT YOU IN E MAIL BEFORE YOUR NEXT MEETING, SO WE COULD MAYBE DO IT MORE FORMALLY THEN.

I HATE TO SHOOT FROM THE HIP ON IT.

IN GENERAL, THE BODY THAT APPOINTS HAS THE POWER TO REMOVE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY NOTICE PROVISIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

>> YEAH. I CAN HAVE THAT DONE FOR SURE.

>> FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO COVER IN TERMS OF ANY OFFICIAL ACTIONS? I GUESS WE'D MOVE TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Council Committee Reports]

ANYTHING TO UPDATE ON COMMITTEES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE OUR LAST MEETING?

>> BOB ALREADY TOUCHED UPON THE BOARD MEETING HE ATTENDED.

I THINK YOU GUYS GOT AN EMAIL ON THAT.

>> I THINK MR. PERSIAN MENTIONED THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING ON THE JPA.

ALSO MR. EDWARDS COMMENTED ON THAT.

WE ARE MEETING TOMORROW TO GO THROUGH THE MOST RECENT DRAFT.

ANY MAYOR, COUNCIL REPORTS THAT

[Mayor/Council Report]

ANYBODY WANTS TO BRING UP BEYOND THAT? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

>> I DO. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE TREE LIGHTING.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT PARKS A MOMENT AGO AND I UNFORTUNATELY, WAS ABSENT FOR THE LAST WORK SESSION AND COUNCIL MEETING.

I DID WATCH THE PARK MEETING, WHICH IS HOW I KNOW THAT IT WAS APPARENTLY DISCUSSED, MAYBE AT OUR WORK SESSION.

THE TREE LIGHTING, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SHED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ON BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT USE OF STAFF TIME, AND I WENT BACK MAYBE THREE, FOUR YEARS AND STAFF BACK IN 2020 HAD ENUMERATED THE AMOUNT OF STAFF HOURS, LABOR TIME WITH POLICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT.

IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT.

MY THOUGHT IS THAT WHILE WE MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC THIS YEAR AROUND THAT TIME OF YEAR, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT THE ENGAGEMENT ASPECT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MAY HAVE ATTENDED THIS EVENT IN THE PAST.

I VOLUNTEERED ONE YEAR AS A PARK COMMISSIONER AND I'VE ATTENDED OTHER YEARS.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING THAT REQUIRES A GREAT DEGREE OF, A, STAFF TIME, WHICH JOE DID MENTION IN A RECENT MEETING.

HE MENTIONED THAT STAFF IS PULLED IN A LOT OF DIRECTIONS RIGHT NOW.

AS WE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THEY HAVE A LOT IN THEIR PLATE REGARDING STANDARDS AND OTHER THINGS.

THIS EVENT REQUIRES SOLICITATION OF DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS, COORDINATION FOR ALL OF THE LOGISTICS WITH OUR FIRE AND POLICE.

I JUST WANTED TO GET THOUGHTS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAYBE HAVE NOT ATTENDED THIS OR SEE IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE MAYBE AS I DO, HAVING LIVE ROUGH IT IN A FEW CYCLES WITH A NEW PARKS DIRECTOR, NEW COUNCIL AND NEW MAJORITY ON PARKS COMMISSION THAT WILL BE TASKED WITH UNDERTAKING THIS ENTIRE OPERATION.

I'M WONDERING IF WE MIGHT WANT TO JUST RECONSIDER RETOOLING, RETHINKING,

[01:45:02]

OR POTENTIALLY JUST PULLING BACK A BIT FROM THIS ONE THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A TRADITION THAT'S NOT 100-YEARS-OLD, IT'S MAYBE FIVE-YEARS-OLD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SHOULD FEEL PRESSURE TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE EXPENSE AND THE LABOR INCLUDED HERE, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO REPORT ON.

>> HOW MUCH IT'S AN ESTIMATE OF STAFF TIME.

DID YOU [OVERLAPPING].

>> ADAM, YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK THIS BETTER.

AT LEAST BACK FROM WHAT I SAW IN OCTOBER 2020, THE ESTIMATED TOTAL FOR COSTS FOR THE EVENT WAS $15,000.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LABOR HOURS.

YOU'VE DETAILED IN HERE.

CLUBHOUSE ATTENDANT, POLICE.

FOUR HOURS TIMES TWO CLUB ATTENDANT, FOUR HOURS DECORATING COMMITTEE TENTS.

I KNOW WHEN I DID IT, I WAS HELPING THE PARKS DIRECTOR TAKE DOWN DECORATIONS AFTER REVEREND HAD LEFT.

HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE THERE DOING THAT AFTER THE EVENT.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LABOR, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW, IT'S AN UNDERTAKING.

IT'S NOT A SMALL EVENT.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

>> ALL I'D SAY IS A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD ABOUT IT ARE MAYBE THERE'S A DIFFERENT OPTION OTHER THAN SOMETHING THAT INCURS SO MUCH EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH CREATING A CELEBRATION AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE GO UP THERE AND THEY GET THEIR HOT CHOCOLATE AND WHAT THE THINGS ARE, BUT IN TALKING TO ONE STAFF MEMBER AND TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, SOME DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT EVEN TOOK PLACE, AND THEN THE STAFF HAS SAID IT IS A VERY EXTENSIVE WORK EFFORT TO GET IT PULLED TOGETHER.

I THINK LOOKING AT SOMETHING ALTERNATIVE THAT CREATES THAT SAME CELEBRATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COULD BE FAR LESS EXPENSIVE, FAR LESS WORK AND MEET THAT COMMUNITY EXPECTATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> I DO SEE VALUE IN HAVING COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, GATHERINGS LIKE THIS.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ANY COMMUNITY, BUT I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO OTHER WAYS OF DOING THAT HERE.

I DON'T KNOW GIVEN THAT IT'S AUGUST, HOW MUCH TIME WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AROUND THAT TIME.

I'D CERTAINLY BE AMENABLE TO THAT ON WHAT YOUR FEELING IS.

>> I LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING A COMMUNITY EVENT.

LONG LAKE HAS THEM EVERY OTHER WEEKEND AND WE HAVE NOTHING.

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THIS ONE IS REALLY HARD ON OUR STAFF AND IT'D BE FUN TO DO SOMETHING WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY IT TO RATHER THAN JUST HAVE TO PUT IN EXTRA HOURS TO TRY TO FULFILL IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I'D CERTAINLY LOVE TO HEAR SOME IDEAS.

>> A COUPLE ITEMS JUST FOR THOUGHT.

ONE IS, IN ORDER TO PULL OFF THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, AND WE START PLANNING IN THE SUMMER NOW.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT OR IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE NEED TO HAVE AN INDICATION OF WHICH DIRECTION TO GO.

JUST GOT AN EMAIL TODAY, IN FACT, ASKING TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO DO FIREWORKS.

THE BOOKING OF THOSE THINGS, THE FIREWORKS, THE SANTA, THOSE OTHER THINGS NEED TO BE DONE WELL IN ADVANCE.

THE OTHER THING IS, YES, IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR THE STAFF, PARTICULARLY IN THE COUPLE OF WEEKS PRECEDING THE EVENT, BUT HAPPY TO DO IT IF THAT IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO.

BUT IT'S ALSO IN ONE OF THE PLACES THAT IT'S EBBED AND WANED FLOAT OR WHATEVER IN THE PAST, IS IT'S ALSO VERY DEPENDENT ON COUNCIL MEMBER AND COMMISSION VOLUNTEERISM BECAUSE WE DO, AND WE'VE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE NEED HELP SETTING UP, WE NEED HELP TEARING DOWN.

IN PARTICULAR, THE STAFF CAN'T BE OUT SOLICITING DONATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HAVING VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE DOING THOSE THINGS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IN THE PAST, THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING THE CURRENT CHAIR, AS WELL AS SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS USING THEIR CONTACTS.

I THINK THE OTHER THING, AND THIS IS JUST MY TWO CENTS, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS BUILD COMMUNITY.

[01:50:04]

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER REALLY SUCCEEDED IN THAT.

IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE ANOTHER ENTITY OR ENTITIES THAT ARE ALSO INVOLVED LIKE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT THE CITY IS PARTNERING WITH [OVERLAPPING] TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SUCCESSION.

WE HAVE THE LIONS CLUB HAS VOLUNTEERED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO RUN THE BROTS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A BIG GROUP THAT IS LIKE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHO MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THE FIREWORKS OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS AND LET THE CITY AND THE CITY STAFF FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THE VENUE SITE AND THE SETUP AND THE PARKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS, WHAT OUR POLICE AND OUR POLICE RESERVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT CAN DO AND OUR PARK STAFF CERTAINLY HELPS SET UP THINGS, BUT THERE'S THAT WHOLE OTHER PIECE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO OR YOU DECIDE TO DO IN THE FUTURE, THAT IS ONE THING I WOULD JUST PUT A PLUG IN IS WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, IN MY OPINION, A WAY TO ENGAGE WITH SOME OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE IT NOT JUST A CITY PUSH, BUT RATHER WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING THAT'S BIGGER.

>> IS THERE A BUDGET ALREADY SET FOR IT?

>> MAGGIE, DO YOU KNOW TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT WE?

>> I'M NOT SURE SURE THE EXACT AMOUNT, BUT NORMALLY WE BUDGET AROUND $15,000 -20,000 FOR THE EVENT, AND THEN WE TRY AND OFFSET ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS WITH DONATIONS AS WELL.

>> THAT'S JUST BEEN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AS WE'VE HAD TO BUDGET BECAUSE IN SOME YEARS THERE'S BEEN DONORS WHO'VE COME FORWARD AND FUNDED, THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING IS THE FIREWORKS.

FIRST YEAR, I THINK THE FIREWORKS COST $15,000 AND THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS HAS BEEN $10,000.

SOME YEARS WE'VE HAD DONORS THAT HAVE COVERED MOST OF THAT COST, AND OTHER YEARS THEY COVERED ALMOST NONE OF IT.

WE'VE HAD TO BUDGET THIS CONTINGENCY FUND IN CASE THAT STUFF [OVERLAPPING].

>> THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH, IN CASE THAT STUFF FALLS THROUGH.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE TO BE PLANNING NOW AND PUTTING THOSE CONTRACTS IN PLACE EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE A DEDICATED DONOR AT THIS POINT.

THERE'S A CHALLENGE THERE EVERY YEAR.

THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS, IF WE DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PROPERLY PLAN IT.

THESE THINGS, I WOULD RECOMMEND SIX MONTH WINDOW TO TRY TO GET GET THERE.

>> WE'RE PAST THAT POINT.

>> I THINK SO. WE'RE BEING TASKED WITH RE-IMAGINING SOMETHING WAS REALLY BECAUSE I SAW THE LAST FEW YEARS IT WAS DEPENDENT ON CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS THAT THE COUNCIL OR COMMISSIONERS HAD AND ALL THAT CAME WITH THAT.

THAT'S NOT IN EXISTENCE AT THIS TIME.

WE TALKED IN THE WORK SESSION ABOUT COMMUNITY BUILDING AROUND THE CLEAN UP DAY AT THE PUBLIC WORKS, AND I'M A BIG FAN OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND I THINK ANY OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S ABOUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS HOW ARE WE AS A COUNCIL CREATING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND TELLING EVERYBODY THAT WE WANT TO SEE THEM, WE WANT TO MEET THEM.

IT WAS ALMOST HARD TO DO WITH THAT EVENT BECAUSE IT'S SO DARK AND IT WAS SO COLD SEVERAL YEARS, YOU'RE BARELY ABLE TO SPEAK AND PEOPLE AREN'T HANGING AROUND LONG.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM TO SAY FOR THIS YEAR WE JUST NEED TO SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE DO AND RE-IMAGINE WITH THE PARK COMMISSION IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT WHAT A COMMUNITY EVENT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THE OTHER CONSIDERATION IS, I KNOW ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, ALL FOUR PARTIES THAT I ATTENDED WITH COUNCILMEMBER RICKS AND COUNCILMEMBER SCHWINGLER WAS AT SOME OF THOSE AS WELL, THERE WERE MOBILITY ISSUES AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF [OVERLAPPING], MOBILITY PERSONS WHO COULD NOT AMBULATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

IT'S BEEN A CONSIDERATION OF MINE DURING THESE YEARS THAT THAT COURSE, YOU HAVE NO ABILITY FOR ANYBODY WITH THAT TO ATTEND BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO UP A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY, YOU CANNOT DRIVE A CAR UP THERE.

IT'S ALL BLOCKED OFF. IF WE'RE RE IMAGINING WHAT COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE TO BE INCLUSIVE, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE OLDER FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY FROM GILLESPIE TO RE-IMAGINE SOMETHING MAYBE IS AT A TIME OF YEAR THAT HAS MORE ACCESSIBILITY AND THAT IT IS EASIER TO COMMUNICATE AND THE WEATHER IS NOT AS INCLEMENT.

THAT'S JUST ANOTHER SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

BUT FOR THIS YEAR, I'D SAY, MAYBE WE CAN HAND OUT COOKIES AT CITY HALL.

DO SOMETHING, BUT THIS IS A BIG ONE TO DO.

>> I THINK WE TAKE A BREAK THIS YEAR AND TRY TO RE-IMAGINE WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NOT JUST AT THAT TIME OF YEAR, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING WHEN IT'S NOT COLD AND DARK.

[01:55:07]

>> BECAUSE WHEN THE HOT CHOCOLATE [OVERLAPPING].

>> WHAT MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT SAD BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS ONE OF THEM THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO PULL THE PLUG AND TRY TO RE-IMAGINE HOW WE DO THAT.

>> GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO PARTNER MAYBE WITH THE SCHOOL? IT WOULD BE A NICE WAY TO GET A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES I WOULD HOPE INTERESTED IN STUFF.

I'M JUST THROWING OUT IDEAS.

>> I THINK THERE'S ALL KINDS OF IDEAS WE SHOULD BE THROWING AT THE WALL HERE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT WORK.

BUT THE INTENT OF WHAT THAT EVENT WAS DESIGNED TO DO IS WHAT WE SUPPORT.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW DO WE WANT TO DO THAT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> I'M GETTING THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS TO NOT RUN THAT EVENT THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

>> WE MIGHT GO BACK TO EXACTLY THE SAME THING NEXT YEAR AFTER WE STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT, BUT IT MIGHT LOOK VERY DIFFERENT.

YES, THAT'S THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE COUNCIL.

ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DISCUSS TONIGHT? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHIEF FOR TAKING US OUT.

JOHN AND COUNCILMEMBER SCHWINGLER AND COUNCILMEMBER BENSON AND MYSELF, IT WAS NICE TO ARRIVE TO A PARTY IN POLICE CAR WITH THE BOOHOO AND BIKES.

THEN TO BE FOLLOWED WITH THE FIRE TRUCK, WHICH MOST PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THAT THAN OUR ARRIVAL.

BUT IT WAS REALLY A FUN NIGHT.

WE ATTENDED FIVE MEETINGS AND THERE WERE OTHER GROUPS THAT WERE ATTENDING DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT NIGHT TOO, SO IT WAS A GREAT ONE. ALL THANKS TO HIM.

>> IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN NORWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.

>> EXACTLY. I COULD BE MORE PLANFUL NEXT YEAR.

>> CAN I GIVE JUST A QUICK UPDATE?

>> I JUST WANTED A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST, I WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES UP AT THE GOLF COURSE.

WE WERE UP THERE FOR [INAUDIBLE] THIS YEAR.

THEY HAD THREE DIFFERENT EVENTS OF DIFFERENT GROUPINGS GOING UP THERE, AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO BE RUN VERY SMOOTHLY.

THE COURSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE.

I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO IMPROVE ON AND WHETHER IT'S DRAINAGE OR CART PASS OR WHATNOT.

BUT THE STAFF UP THERE SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM PUBLICLY.

ALSO WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE JPA AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME QUESTIONS FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS.

BOB MENTIONED THIS, BUT HE, ADAM, AND I ARE MEETING TOMORROW TO RESPOND TO WHAT WE RECEIVED BACK FROM THE CITY OF LONG LAKE THAT AND SOME DISCUSSION AROUND THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION TO THE PUBLIC, THERE ARE SOME THEMES WITHIN THE DOCUMENT THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO SHARE.

FIRST, THE DOCUMENT IS REALLY BASED UPON COLLABORATION.

IT'S BASED UPON THE NATURE OF THAT COLLABORATION BEING A COMMITMENT TO BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP.

IT ALSO IS AIMED AT REALLY TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL MODEL THAT WORKS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND IS SOMETHING THAT IT CAN STAND THE TEST OF TIME IN A VERY POSITIVE MANNER.

THAT IT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE AND SUPPORTS THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT ALSO VALUES THE MEMBERS OF THE JPA AND THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND COMMITMENT TO THAT.

THE JPA, WE MISSED OUR MARK.

WE TRIED TO HIT JULY 1 AS A TARGET DATE, BUT THE MESSAGE THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WAS WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO CREATING AND CRAFTING AN AGREEMENT THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATES BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE SERVICE. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.

>> ON TOP OF THAT. I WAS JUST GOING TO SHARE AND YOU GUYS MAYBE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS THAT MAPLE PLAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS JOINING WEST SUBURBAN.

THE PUBLIC DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.

[02:00:02]

>> LOT OF COLLABORATION GOING ON IN THAT REGARD.

ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?