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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 28, 2020 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 9 <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted it will be interesting to see how it goes. <br /> <br />Johnson asked if it will be a singular pass on the trails. <br /> <br />Edwards replied he thinks it will be a down-and-back, and in a typical snow they do a pass with the blade <br />to get the bulk of the snow off and because it’s a walking surface, they often come back a couple days <br />later with a broom to try and get some additional materials off to encourage melting and reduce slip <br />hazards. <br /> <br />Johnson recommends that Orono should publicize what the snow removal policy is going to be in the <br />newsletter, to advertise that they’re doing this as a service to the community and to outline what the <br />removal schedule might look like to set some expectations. He noted that it’s not a City street and will be <br />de-prioritized, as public streets and sidewalks are priority, and this trail will come after those. <br /> <br />Edwards said in the amended policy, they adjusted the re-gain time from 24 hours to 36 hours (the time in <br />a typical storm they think they can get everything cleared. He also laid out in the policy that the trails <br />would be done during normal business hours (they wouldn’t necessarily pull crews in at 4:00 a.m. to work <br />on trails or on a Saturday or Sunday). <br /> <br />Johnson noted when they advertise, they should call it a pilot program so people know the City is trying <br />to see what resources it takes and what use the trails receive from it. <br /> <br />Crosby said they should definitely reach out to the sister cities to see what kind of cooperation and <br />budgeting they can get. <br /> <br />Printup moved, Seals seconded, to approve Winter Maintenance of Three Rivers Park District <br />Regional Trails. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> <br />FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT <br /> <br />10. Adopt 2021 Preliminary Tax Levy <br /> <br />Finance Director Ron Olson gave a presentation for the next two agenda items (10 and 11) noting the <br />Preliminary Tax Levy will be set tonight and once it is set it cannot be increased; it can only be decreased. <br />There are two resolutions for the Preliminary Tax Levy tonight one being what was presented to the <br />Council at a work session in August and the second regarding the discussion about letting the tax rate go <br />up a bit in order to properly fund infrastructure needs. The Council will need to let Staff know which <br />resolution they will be acting upon. Olson stated the final levy and budget will be adopted on December <br />7, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. and public input will be allowed at the meeting. Olson said the major revenue source <br />for the General Fund, at about 53% of the budget, is Property Taxes. Governmental revenue will be <br />going down because of the Toward Zero Deaths grant, a program the Police Department participates in <br />and noted in years when Orono hosts the program, they record the revenue and expenses and next year it <br />will be someone else’s agency so Orono won’t have that in revenue, but also won’t have expenses in <br />regards to that. He said total general government services is also decreasing and public safety charges are <br />going up. <br /> <br />Crosby asked when comparing Orono’s property taxes to other cities, which cities are typically 65% <br />revenue source from property taxes.