06-24-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 10, 2019 7:00 o'clock p.m. but it was sent to the Code Review Committee for review. The Code suggested that it would not be allowed. Ferril indicated her husband has since died, which is why she has not been here sooner. Ferril stated she has come tonight for clarification because she does not quite understand what the City's reasoning was to turn down the variance committee's suggestion. Ferril indicated she has articles from January 31St about how power grids can have a big surge, with the power going down, as well as articles from February 1 about climate change and an article from Science and Health. In addition, there is an article about the City of Minnetonka going all solar. Ferril stated she is wondering, given all this information, whether any of the Council Members' attitudes have changed. Ferril commented they wanted to reduce their footprint and that this was their way of doing it. Ferril requested clarification on why her project was denied. Mayor Walsh noted the public comment section is not a question and answer period, but that there was not support on the Council to make any changes to the current code. Ferril asked if the City Council chose to follow the recommendation of the Code Review Committee over the variance committee. Mayor Walsh noted the City does not have a variance committee and asked whether she means the Planning Commission. Ferril stated it was the Planning Commission. Walsh noted the Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council but that the Council is not obligated to follow those recommendations. Ferril asked if there is some where she can get additional information on that. Mayor Walsh referred her to the City Administrator. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT 8. SWEARING IN OF JUNIOR CADETS Police Chief Corey Farniok stated Christy Fletcher from the Orono School District will talk about the GTO program and how Orono is developing this into the future. Christy Fletcher, Director of Special Services, stated GTO stands for Growth through Opportunity and it is a program that allows students with developmental disabilities gain real life job experiences and job experience and it also gives the Police Department experience with working with a diverse population. GTO is a program that was originally developed out east. Prior to Orono implementing the program, the only other GTO program in Minnesota was in the City of Wyoming. The more that was learned about the program, the more interested they became. After successful listening sessions and planning meetings, Orono School District decided to move forward with the program, and that she would like to thank the Orono Police Department and Chief Farniok and other officers who have made this program possible. Page 2 of 20