04-13-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2020 6:03 o'clock p.m. 14. LA20-000001— NEIL WEBER O/B/O ORONO APARTMENTS LLC, 2475 KELLEY PARKWAY, FINAL MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN — RESOLUTION NO. 7085 Crosby moved, Seals seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as revised, with Item Nos. 10, 11, and 12 being removed from the Consent Agenda, and Item No. 14 being added to the Consent Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 5 (Johnson, Crosby, Seals, Printup, Walsh), Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Richie Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, Orono LMCD representative, said he would like to bring the Council up to speed on LMCD events. He noted there is an ongoing lawsuit with a Minnetonka Beach resident. He's asked how much they are responsible for and was told it would be 25% of the first $250,000. He asked for a number; they have not given him a definite number. He has also asked for the 2019 P&L and balance statement; that has not been received, either. He indicated at the last meeting they had an agenda item for approval of the audit of the books. He wanted to comment about the lack of a P&L and budget for 2019 and vote for not approving that item. They pulled it off of the agenda. He suggested that Olson or Rief take a look at that information. He also said at the last meeting, before the Governor declared new regulations for COVID-19, the LMCD posted on their website who could and who could not work on the lake. There were 100 people at the Zoom meeting and there was a lot of discussion because people wanted to get their docks in. They declared that dock workers could not work and people could not haul or move boats. He made a motion that they take that part of the website down. It was about a 12-2 vote in favor of taking that down. Currently, the website indicates dock installers should talk to the DNR or COVID-19 people. He said recently an Orono resident was looking for a dock extension to get to 4 feet and dealing with side setbacks, etc. He is looking at that and will make a recommendation to try and get it done. Johnson referenced a letter being created by the City of Minnetonka Beach to send to the Governor making sure dock installers and marinas are considered essential, and they wanted to know if Orono would support a letter like that. He asked Mr. Anderson if he felt that was necessary. Mr. Anderson said because he is a marina owner, he did not think it was fair for him to ask them to pull the information from the website and he would work around it. He said it was his opinion that the City of Minnetonka Beach did not have to say anything, nor should the City of Orono. The LMCD became the expert on who can do what and the Governor has already said who can do what, so it is a non -factor. The dock installers are installing docks; boat haulers are hauling boats; marinas are putting boats in. It is clearly a gray area. He noted Jon Ressler made a good point in the discussion at the LMCD meeting that 20 construction guys are working on houses, and dock people are dock constructors. He used that term when he told the LMCD to take down the information on the website. He asked why anybody would think they have the authority over what is right and what is wrong. His opinion is to stay out of it. Crosby asked Mr. Anderson how much money Orono put into the lawsuit. Mr. Anderson said that he did not know the numbers or whether or not it was Orono. He reminded everyone that the LMCD is increasing Orono's fee of 2.4% and noted there is a rounding error. He heard through the grapevine there was a presentation made to possibly settle the lawsuit and that the City of Minnetonka Beach is going to the mat. Minnetonka Beach indicated in their newsletter they think they can win the lawsuit. He hopes the City of Orono opposes any increase in their percentage paid because 2.4% doesn't add up to much but it is about what is right and wrong. Page 2 of 25