10-23-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Aw MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL. MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 23, 1195 • PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS Park Commissioner Howells invited the Council to attend the Park Commission meeting of November 6, 1995, at 7:00 p.m_ for the Friends of the Park Award. Callahan informed the public that this award is given to citizens in appreciation for their service to parks in Orono. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS No representative of the Planning Commission was present. PUBLIC COMMENTS Scott Brown, 2673 Pheasant Road, who lives in the Mound Westonka School District area of Orono, asked for Council's support of the school levy up for vote on November 7. Brown noted the financial problems within the district. He said in polling the citizens, those that are for the levy understand it; those who are opposed are unable to explain what the levy is for. It is his opinion that if the levy was explained to the citizens, they would in turn vote for the levy. Brown said if the levy was voted down in the upcoming election, the school district has said they would reduce the school week to four days, reduce the number of teachers by 19 (reduced by 9 teachers last year), and the classroom size would increase to 44 pupils per class. He said this would probably result in the • reduction in home value for homeowners living in the district. It is his goal to campaign to inform the citizens of the need to vote for the levy. • Callahan noted that people who voted in his area for the last referendum were generally in favor of it and most school votes are very close in numbers for or against. Hurr asked if it was not a state law requiring a five -day school week. Brown said he understood it to be a matter of school hours versus days. He cited the example if the levy was turned down, the kindergarten classes would go to full days. Another problem with four -day school weeks according to Brown is that it would result in increased costs to families for day care costs. James Nystrom of 1745 Concordia on West Arm Bay of Lake Minnetonka asked the Council to reconsider his application #2057, which was denied at the September 21 meeting of the Council. It was his suggestion that it was no accident that the Planning Commission had unanimously voted for his application. Nystrom said he has spent alot of time and money on this application and ask that the full Council consider it. Only three members of the Council had reviewed the application at the time it was denied. Nystrom said the rebuilding of the house was a $400 - 500,000 project, and the application involved the need for additional 6" on each side of the home. 3