10-25-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 11, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 9 CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick had nothing to report. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT City Administrator/Engineer Edwards stated he is working with the County on a bridge reconstruction plan on North Shore Drive for the following year. He met with the County design team and the final phase of the Wayzata Boulevard turn-back project will be in 2023. Edwards noted they had approximately 25 people at the Parks Commission work session regarding an increased demand for pickleball courts across the metro. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Seals said it was homecoming and there were many people at the game. She shared regarding the soccer club at Bederwood field that every soccer club parent that uses the field loves it and has not complained about being restricted by other parties. She has not heard from any of them. They think it is great that there is a parking lot and playground and many of them bike to the park. Is it busy? Yes. That is a sign that people are using resources that tax money has gone into. She lives near the park and is happy to go down and walk the park with neighbors who are concerned. Johnson noted it is also a trailhead. Crosby thinks it is important during public comments to allow people to speak; however, if it is about reiterating the same thing, it gets old. He noted the City is improving their parks, kids are playing in parks and being active outside, and that is the way it is going to happen in Orono. He stated they do not need to apologize for improving their parks and having children use them. Crosby shared regarding water meters that were changed out to the upgraded ones and the issue he has is that he cannot actually see it for the water usage. He noted he had an irrigation leak that he did not know about and his last bill was $700. Crosby said if the City puts a new meter on someone’s house, they need to have access to see it if something is going on so if there is a leak it can be addressed. Edwards thinks it may be an installation issue and Crosby may be able to just turn it so it is facing him. Johnson moved, Printup seconded that the City request that the Three Rivers Park District plow the Dakota Rail Trail this year. VOTE: Ayes 5. Nays 0. Johnson noted they had very talented people wanting to give their time to the parks at the earlier meeting. He asked how do they improve the City’s parks so it attracts more people; on one hand they want to bring in a different group and then people do not want it. He said one of the Park Commissioners lives across the street from the golf course and wants more activity at the golf course and wants it to be a year-round attraction. Johnson noted there are a lot of people that live near the parks who want them used more, Seals included. He said they added three new Park Commissioners tonight. Johnson shared about the public works facility plans including traffic flow. Mayor Walsh stated homecoming was great and the kids had a blast. He met with Charlie Minor, the mayor of Long Lake, regarding the fire department. Each City will hire an appraiser and get some proposals on the worth of municipal facilities. He said it looks like the conclusion is whatever the two appraisers come up with, they will take the average, and would then buy it to move forward. They hope this process would culminate in 2023 and they could take over the whole contract in 2022 or 2023.