01-09-2023 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 9,2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Benson stated in her first council that"it is an incredible honor to sit before you tonight as a member of the Orono City Council and the privilege is one of great responsibility and inspires both humility and gratitude.I was elected to serve as a representative of the people of Orono. It is important to acknowledge this position required continuous support and guidance and many people I want to acknowledge Orono City staff who has been welcoming and generous with their assistance from the moment I was a council member-elect." She noted that she had participated in an orientation and thanked staff members individually. She added she plans to attend the League of Cities elected officials training the next month. She mentioned the importance of interpersonal relationships in city government. She said she would commit to listening and learning and treat with great care the trust that has been placed in her by the community and thanked everyone watching the meeting in person or on video. Seals said they have been working on the needs assessment for fire to get a fuller picture of what's happening and get it out to the public. Thanks to DJ and the team because they had a lot of snow and the roads were better in the city than they were in the County. Johnson noted he and Seals had attended a Future Fire Services meeting the previous week. There was talk of hiring another consultant but there didn't seem to be a lot of interest in that.He said his recommendation is that the city not send any more staff to these meetings as there isn't any real progress occurring. That could change but it's general conversations you could get off the agenda.He thanked the community for re-electing him.He encouraged the public to continue to come,ask questions and read packets. Edwards said he would appreciate it not being a mandatory meeting but would like to keep the door open to attend to meet with staff counterparts in other communities on fire and other issues. Mayor Walsh congratulated Johnson and Benson and commended police and public works for handling of the snow and Long Lake Fire and first responders for taking care of people.He said he hears a lot about the transparency issue. Going back six to eight years the city didn't have videotaping. This is the council that has brought videotaping of the City Council,parks and planning commission meetings.He stated this is the most transparent council the city has ever had.He added they also brought budgeting for sewer, roads and water and infrastructure that weren't budgeted for before. They brought technology into the city the last eight years. It used to be everything was paper and it would take a few weeks. This council put website and permitting online and all the file cabinets they used to have at the city are gone. Papers have been scanned.People now can click on a property and know everything that has happened on a property. The city also bought 3-D technology for public works and now has information on every project done on those roads so it can budget and plan. The code review committee has updated and reviewed codes and looked at what has worked and what doesn't in other cities. The city went through the comp plan a few years ago. The old plan would not vacate land. This council said it would look at every opportunity of old roads and alleys and things going through peoples' yards and in the middle of the lake that shouldn't be there. "We're not giving away land we are solving problems—things that got done a long time ago that doesn't make any sense."There are two open houses coming up.People used to say this is Oro-NO. This council brought"yes"back to Orono simplifying processes and bringing down costs. ADJOURNMENT Page 11 of 12